IPBS Double Degree Programme

Applications are open to all students enrolled in the first year of the Master of Science in Global Business Management at Piacenza Campus who are properly matriculated at Università Cattolica at the moment of enrolment on the double degree programme and during the time spent abroad.

The programme selection phase and procedures regarding the validation of application documentation will be managed by the IPBS network (International Partnership of Business Schools).

The final decision regarding the student’s acceptance into the programme will be made by the receiving institution (DCU or ESB).

Students have to pass all the exams of the first year of the Master of Science in Global Business Management before departure, together with the following modules or exams of the second year:

• Advanced International Business (Mergers and Acquisitions)
• Intercultural Marketing - Module I: International Marketing & Customer Experience Management
• Global challenges and impacts

DCU requires a minimum grade of 24/30 for the following modules or exams:

• Managerial Economics - Module II: Advanced Economic Scenario Analysis
• Sustainability Management
• Strategy and International business - Module I: Corporate Strategy
• Advanced International Business (Mergers and Acquisitions)
• Intercultural Marketing - Module I: International Marketing & Customer Experience Management
• Global challenges and impacts

ESB requires a minimum Bachelor’s Degree grade of 24/30 (2.5 German grading scale). In addition, to be eligible, all candidates will have had to complete a total of 6 months (need not be consecutive months) of work experience prior to departure for their semester abroad. This can be in the form of internships, work experience post graduation from the bachelor degree, part-time job, ecc. Students can combine different work experiences for a total of 6 months. No work experiences prior to the beginning of the Bachelor Degree will be considered.  

As evidence of fluency, applicants must achieve either:

• a minimum TOEFL result of 88 ibt with a minimum of 21 in Speaking and Writing (Toefl Home Edition is also accepted), or
• a minimum IELTS of 6.5 overall band score, with a minimum of 6.0 in each of the components, or
• Pearson Test of English (Academic – 60 overall, minimum 50 in any component) or,
• Cambridge First Exam with a minimum score of 175 or,
• Cambridge Advanced or,
• Cambridge Proficiency

Only tests that are maximum two years old at the time of application can be recognized.

Applicants are exempt from doing one of the above stated English language tests if they have completed their entire studies in English or completed at least 50% of their bachelor programme in an English-speaking country. Proof must be provided.

Please note that students applying to ESB need to submit all documents (incl. language certificates) except their final degree transcript by the closing date of 15th June. For DCU, students have until end of July to submit their language certificates.

Students participating in the programme will write their Final Thesis with a DCU / ESB supervisor. Students will present their final Thesis at DCU / ESB. However, they will have to follow the Cattolica procedure to register for a Cattolica official Graduation day (i.e. in terms of steps, deadlines and fees).

All costs pertaining to the stay abroad will be borne by the student (travel, meals and accommodation, health insurance coverage and any visa fees) together with the tuition and university fees of €7.325 and a non-refundable application fee of €50 at the host institution, which is a set Double Degree programme tuition fee for all destinations.

In case of admission to the programme, the total amount of the tuition fees will be reduced from €7,325 to €7,275.

Students involved in the programme will benefit from the standard Erasmus Exchange scholarships for the period they spend abroad.

Students will get information about the procedure to follow in order to apply for the Erasmus+ scholarship. The following documents could be requested:

• ISEE Universitario
• Receipts of payment (e.g. accommodation, transports, flights, ecc.)
• Online Learning Agreement, duly filled in with courses attended
• Statement Period of Study, duly filled in (instructions will be provided)

All students selected for the programme will keep their enrolment at Cattolica during their semester abroad and will therefore have to maintain regular enrolment status by respecting all deadlines regarding payment of their tuition and university fees, submission of their study plan and graduation application, etc.

Scholarships will be confirmed during the month of July 2024.

Selected students will benefit from the health insurance provided by AXA in collaboration with Cattolica. In addition, the “Student Safety Package” will be activated, and the students will be able to download the Safety Check Students app for the geolocation and instant communications in case of emergency. More information about the activation procedure will be provided to the selected students.