What contribution can you make? This guiding question is something our students learn to answer for themselves throughout their studies. At the University of St.Gallen, the integration of functional knowledge to address the major economic and societal challenges of our time lies at the heart of all thinking and action.
The MGM curriculum is composed of three parts: core studies (54 ECTS credits), contextual studies (18 ECTS credits), and the Master’s thesis (18 ECTS credits). While the core studies focus on developing students' expertise in corporate management and sustainability, the contextual studies aim to foster social and cultural competencies.
The Contextual Studies programme is another unique feature of the University of St.Gallen (HSG). It integrates knowledge across disciplines and strengthens the social and cultural competencies of our students distinctively. Students take a holistic approach by "thinking outside the box" and enrol in courses within focus areas and skills areas. The cultural and social science offerings in the focus areas are highly diverse and aligned with the study programme. In the skills area, students acquire additional competencies and practical skills necessary for success in the business world. The Contextual Studies programme complements your main field of study and is awarded with 18 ECTS credits.
Globally, several other excellent Master’s programmes in Management are available, but upon closer examination, the MGM at the University of St.Gallen (HSG) stands out. The programme's core is built around a triad of Entrepreneurship, Strategy, and Financial Management. Additionally, HSG students develop a deep and critical understanding of modern corporate management in a VUCA world — a world that demands strategies to navigate volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity.
Students also receive critical insights into Leadership, Business & Data Analytics, and Personal Development. The knowledge gained in core courses can be further deepened through Europe’s most comprehensive offering of Advanced General Management Courses, enabling students to apply their learning directly to current economic and societal challenges through Managerial Impact Projects and Grand Challenges of Business & Society.
Beyond academic and methodological expertise, HSG's innovative Co-Creation Spaces facilitate entirely new forms of learning and interaction, highlighting the outstanding conditions that make the MGM programme truly unique.
Your core studies consist of two main components: compulsory courses and an elective component (Advanced General Management Courses, Managerial Impact Project, Grand Challenges of Business and Society), which are presented in detail below.
The compulsory courses provide you with a clear academic profile, highly attractive to recruiting companies, as well as ideal preparation for business succession or founding your own enterprise. Over two semesters, you will receive a unique academic education in our three core disciplines: Entrepreneurship, Strategy, and Finance & Management Accounting.
Additionally, you will gain valuable insights into Leadership, Business & Data Analytics, and Personal Development. The Leadership module focuses on new work models and leadership styles. The Business & Data Analytics module teaches you how to manage large datasets to make evidence-based business decisions. The compulsory Personal Development course, spanning two semesters, is guided by experienced coaches who help students advance in areas such as self-reflection, well-being, and resilience.
Autumn Semester | Spring Semester |
Strategy I | Strategy II |
Entrepreneurship I | Entrepreneurship II |
Finance and Management Accounting I | Finance and Management Accounting II |
Leadership | Personal Development: Self-reflection and Well-being (2 semesters) |
Business Analytics, Data Engineering, and Data Management
|
Personal Development: Self-reflection and Well-being (2 semesters)
Building on the solid foundation of the compulsory courses, the elective core area allows you to further refine your academic profile, deepen your individual interests, and expand your entrepreneurial perspective.
At the University of St.Gallen's MGM programme, the following elective core components are offered:
These options provide you with the flexibility to tailor your studies to your career goals while addressing real-world challenges and advancing your expertise in key areas.
The Advanced General Management Courses allow students to deepen, expand, and/or combine their knowledge and skills in the core disciplines from the compulsory area (Strategy, Entrepreneurship, Finance and Management Accounting) and the complementary area (Leadership and Business & Data Analytics). MGM students are required to complete at least two Advanced General Management Courses.
Autumn Semester | Spring Semester |
Asia Compact: International Management | Alliances, Platforms, and Ecosystems |
Applied Valuation | Holistic Governance and Financial Management |
Leading Corporate Development and Innovation | Business Simulation |
Introduction to Machine Learning and Deep Learning | Strategy Evolution – Case Studies of Corporate Histories |
Managing SMEs | Leading for Excellence: Achieving Extraordinary Results through Leadership and Negotiation |
Responsible Leadership | High-Growth Entrepreneurship: An International Applied Perspective |
Managing Collaborative Innovation for Net-Zero | Applied Organizational and Strategic Analytics |
Decision Making under Risk and Uncertainty | Venture Ideation |
Lean Startup | Asia Compact: Social Entrepreneurship in Singapore and South-East Asia |
The Asia Compact Courses offer an alternative to a semester exchange programme at a partner university abroad. These Asia-specific courses are conducted during the semester break at the HSG campus in Singapore and are recognised as Advanced General Management Courses (4 ECTS).
These one-week courses combine lectures with company visits, on-site tours, and networking events to provide students with a compact and context-rich learning experience about Asian culture and business.
Organised by the St.Gallen Institute of Management in Asia (SGI), the Asia Compact Courses provide a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the dynamics of the Asian market. Please note that these courses are considered standard HSG courses but require a special application process and cannot be selected through the traditional HSG bidding process.
For further details, please visit SGI Asia Compact.
As part of the MGM programme, you will complete at least one Grand Challenge of Business and Society course. These courses are not only a mandatory component but also a unique opportunity to explore and expand your impact on business and society.
Through these courses, you will delve into critical global economic and societal challenges, such as sustainability, the future of mobility, or climate change. MGM students tackle these issues from an entrepreneurial perspective, learning how to solve complex problems in a VUCA world. The Grand Challenges of Business and Society focus on in-depth engagement with selected United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In a Managerial Impact Project, you will develop solutions for real and current challenges faced by our corporate partners. Students can choose from six different projects in areas such as Strategic Management, Corporate Entrepreneurship, Leadership and Human Resource Management, and Sustainability. Each project spans two semesters, providing an in-depth view of management practices.
The concepts developed by our students often find long-term implementation in the business practices of our partner companies. Projects in Start-up Entrepreneurship frequently result in students founding their own companies, often in collaboration with other stakeholders from the highly diverse and well-connected HSG community.
The Managerial Impact Projects are designed to strengthen students' technical, methodological, social, and communication skills. Throughout the project, you will receive valuable input on project management and final presentations from experienced consultants of our exclusive partner McKinsey & Company, many of whom are HSG alumni themselves.
Duration: 2 semesters
In recent years, awareness of the importance of sustainability in corporate management has grown significantly. Developments over the past years have demonstrated that the economy depends on the integrity of nature. We believe that sustainable management should therefore be an integral part of a top-tier management education. Wherever appropriate, our individual MGM courses incorporate sustainability, ensuring that it is seamlessly integrated throughout our entire curriculum.
Many of our MGM students choose to spend their third semester at one of our partner universities worldwide. While studying abroad, they can transfer up to 18 ECTS credits and, most importantly, develop intercultural competencies without interrupting their studies.
Students also have the opportunity to earn a double degree through the prestigious CEMS programme. Selected participants can obtain two Master’s degrees in a short period, giving them an additional competitive advantage in the global job market. CEMS is among the world’s top programmes, consistently ranked 9th in the Financial Times global ranking for several years. Applicants are strongly advised to review the application criteria, especially the language requirements, in advance.
The MGM features a hybrid language model, offering a well-balanced mix of German- and English-taught courses. This approach prepares graduates exceptionally well for careers in German-speaking companies or internationally oriented organisations.
Students complete at least one-third of their core studies, consisting of compulsory and elective courses, in German, another third in English, and the remaining third in either language, according to their preference.
Here you will find a compilation of the most important legal regulations for the Master's programme.
