MSc in
Management and Leadership with CEMS
Two internationally ranked degree in one: CEMS, the world’s #11 management program* combined with Corvinus’s Management and Leadership program ranked by Financial Times in TOP100 since 2005**
This unique 120 ECTS master degree programme incorporates the exclusive CEMS Master in International Management program. CEMS assure a truly international exposure with a compulsory study abroad semester at one of the 33 top-ranked CEMS schools worldwide. After the two-year program, graduates join the 20,000-member CEMS alumni of 100+ nationalities working in 75+ countries, as well as the alumni of the Corvinus Management and Leadership programme that has 30-year track record of advancing top Hungarian and regional companies by future leaders.
The programme links management areas – strategy, processes, technology – with leadership aspects such as innovation, organisational culture, and motivation.
You will learn how to design new business models, agile organisations, or future-proof human resource (HR) processes in a digitalized world, and also how to implement them by leading people. You will also develop your soft skills – such as critical thinking, creativity, collaboration and communication.
You will grow your international network and have the chance to live and study in Budapest and one semester abroad. The programme will give you all-round, senior-level business acumen to become a key, global decision-maker.
This programme is the ideal next step for recent graduates with business-related degrees. A strong academic background in business-related studies is required for this programme (please see minimum credit requirements below). Excellent command of English must be certified by specific language exams accepted by CEMS (please see details below). Professional experience is not required (as opposed to the Corvinus MBA program), though most of our students have internship-based or part-time work experience.
* QS Masters in Management Ranking 2024
** FT Masters in Management Ranking 2023
Programme name: Management and Leadership
Programme award: Master, MSc
ECTS: 120
Duration: 4 semesters (2 year)
Teaching hours: 16-20 hours/week
Start date: September 2025
Tuition fee (EEA):
990 000 HUF/semester
cca. 2 500 EUR/semester*
Tuition fee (Non-EEA):
3 700 EUR/semester
When to choose...
Your place is here if you are considering an international career, as the biggest advantage of the programme is that if you are admitted, you are automatically admitted to the CEMS programme, too, which is the world’s No. 11 management master programme (QS MIM Ranking, 2024). In the second year of the English language Management and Leadership programme, you will specialise in global strategy and leadership, and spend one of the two semesters at a CEMS partner university.
Naturally, this study programme is good for you if you prefer studying in Hungarian. In this study programme, we do not train general-type managers, so the programme can be ideal for you if you want to become a specialist in HR, controlling, strategy or organisational development. Here you can compile your knowledge portfolio from modules, and not from specialisations: you can choose two of the above four fields.
The Hungarian programme has been ranked by Financial Times in TOP100 since 2005.
If you are looking to gain a comprehensive knowledge beyond the specialised contents, including both basic and advanced skills, we highly recommend this programme. In the first year, you will learn about the most important theories and how to manage efficiently and well, so you can benefit from the programme even if you have been only slightly involved in management and organisation issues. So even if you have a bachelor’s degree in law, engineering or social sciences, but you have a minimum professional knowledge in some subjects, you are still welcome to apply.
What will you study?
Core Modules***
- Organisation Behaviour and Leadership
- Managing Organisations
- Global Marketing and P&L Performance
- Decision Making Skills
Core Modules***
- Global Strategy
- Global Leadership
- CEMS Business Project
- Compulsory exchange semester
*** The above is not an exhaustive list. Corvinus University of Budapest reserves the right to change modules.
Application Requirements
- Completed bachelor/undergraduate degree (Note: there is no exemption from the oral admission exam based on EQUIS/AACSB accredited degree!)
- CEMS English language requirements: TOEFL iBT100; IELTS 7.0; CPE C; CAE B; BEC Higher B; PTE 68; Corvinus Oeconom C1; OR have a Bachelor’s diploma entirely taught in English from an English speaking country or in a CEMS or EQUIS/ AACSB-accredited institution; OR English as the mother tongue
- GRE, GMAT, NMAT exams
- Entrance interview (oral exam)
- Meet minimum credit requirement
- For more, please click here!
The only way to apply for this programme is as self-funded applicant.
Credit Requirements
The minimum number of credits for admittance into the Master’s programme based on previous studies is 60 credit:
- 15 credits in the field of methodology (mathematics, statistics, computer science);
- 10 credits in the field of economics (micro- and macroeconomics, international economics, environmental economics, economic theory, economic statistics, history of economic theory, economic modelling, economic policy, sectoral and functional economics, community economics);
- 15 credits in the field of business studies (business economics, business law, marketing, finance, accounting, decision theory and methodology, business ethics, business communication, taxation, corporate finance);
- 10 credits in social sciences (EU studies, public policy, economic history, sociology, philosophy, psychology);
- 10 credits in the field of professional knowledge (value chain management, leadership and organisation, business planning, enterprise management, strategic planning, controlling, human resource management, management development, information systems).
To be admitted to the Master’s programme, students must have at least 30 credits in the above areas based on their previous studies. The missing credits in the Master’s programme must be acquired in accordance with the study and examination regulations of the higher education institution.
Tip: to quickly calculate your credits in ECTS, divide learning hours by 30!
Learning hours should be formally described, but can be constituted of classroom hours, private study and assessment.
For this programme, there is only one way to apply as an international student
Scholarships
Self-funded students meeting eligibility criteria may apply for Visegrad scholarships.
Corvinus University of Budapest endorses the Visegrad Scholarship programme for MA, MSc and MBA applicants from Central Eastern Europe.
The scholarship makes the outstanding possibility of international higher education at Corvinus accessible and financially viable for more students in this region and beyond!
Dr. Péter Móricz
Programme Director
Associate Professor
From the Programme Director...
As a result of the 30-year history of our Management and Leadership programme, our alumni are key decision makers at the most influential companies in Hungary and the CEE region. Based on the theoretical knowledge and the extraordinary practical experience of our broad and renowned faculty, even our recent graduates are young talents who design and drive the 21st century (digital, agile etc.) transformation of organizations and ventures. With the CEMS programme incorporated, the international CEMS student body and the participation of global CEMS partner companies in the programme will strengthen your holistic vision, outstanding skills and professional success, crowned by an extra-prestigious double degree.
Accreditations and Rankings
#2 Best Business School
Eduniversal Eastern Europe rankings. 2020 (1st in 2019, 2nd in 2017, 2018)
#11 CEMS program in QS 2024 Masters in Management Ranking
#94 Corvinus MiML in Financial Times Masters in Management Ranking 2023
#300-350 for Business and Management studies
Master in International Management
This programme automatically enrolls you to CEMS Master in International Management double degree programme. CEMS, which is the second year of this programme, is developed since 1988 by scientific and business leaders to create an exclusive club of best-in-class business schools, students, and companies worldwide who join forces for this world-successful global leadership training.
Career Opportunities
Our graduates secure roles such as Head of Strategic Development, Director of Business Development, Chief Financial Officer, Senior Consultant, Partner.
Our graduates are working at prestigious companies like Google, HILTI, L’Oréal, Mastercard, McKinsey, MOL, Raiffeisen.