Develop and combine dual expertise in business development and international marketing to drive strategic growth in global markets.
Presentation
The MSc in International Marketing & Business Development is an 18-month program that provides specialized training to master international marketing strategies, design growth tactics and implement marketing initiatives tailored to diverse cultural, economic, and regulatory contexts. It emphasizes hands-on learning to strengthen students’ skills in market analysis, data-driven strategy creation, strategic project planning, and negotiation techniques.
A strong international focus further enhances the experience. Students have the opportunity to study abroad for one academic term, participate in a week-long seminar, and connect with professionals from leading global companies.
Graduates of the program are prepared to pursue careers such as Marketing Director, Business Development Manager, International Marketing Manager, Business Development Analyst, or Head of Business Development.
Key points
- Mastering marketing strategies
Learn to analyze consumer behavior, understand the sociology of markets, conduct effective market research, explore global market dynamics, develop professional selling skills, and design impactful branding and marketing strategies.
- Understand the cross-functional role of marketing
Discover how marketing collaborates with finance, supply chain, and corporate strategy to drive value creation and support sustainable business performance.
- Apply your skills to real-world business challenges
Work on company projects, a real consulting mission with a partner firm, where you’ll tackle concrete business challenges and apply your skills to deliver impactful, actionable solutions.
- Learn through international immersion.
In November, you'll take part in a 1-week seminar abroad in Europe and then, from April to June, study at the French Vietnamese Center for Management (Vietnam) or at Stellenbosch Business School (South Africa) to build cross-cultural business skills.
- 4th in France
Program
The Master of Science (MSc) in International Marketing and Business Development, offered by emlyon business school, is accessible to international and French students after completing a Bachelor's degree (valid diplomas include bac +4 or bac +3).
This program enables students to acquire a high-level, specialized education focused on the primary functions of business development and marketing in companies with a resolutely international market scope. This program requires a professional mission at the end of the course, with a minimum duration of 4 months (internship, VIE, fixed-term contract, or permanent contract).
E-LEARNING MANAGEMENT FUNDAMENTALS
You will first follow a core syllabus which will allow you to acquire the fundamentals of management, gain the necessary skill set of international business management and apply it to the industry.
FUNDAMENTALS OF MARKETING AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
The program begins with core courses aiming to understand the marketing function in its entirety, including international marketing strategies, and the creation of value through branding and product development. You will explore how the marketing function integrates with other business functions, especially sales. The program includes insight into customer audience, market analysis, strategic planning, promotion techniques, and understanding cultural factors to master marketing techniques. You will also discover sales and purchasing techniques, and how these contribute to the global market.
Course modules:
- Consumer behavior
- Sociology of markets
- Mindful project management
- Market research and analysis
- Global market dynamics
- Professional selling skills
- Negotiation skills
- New ventures
- Future of marketing
- Branding strategy
- Sales strategy and sales force management
INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR
This International Seminar takes place in Europe and is a significant moment in the program: it is an inspiring and energizing experience in another country, culture, and environment. It is a unique opportunity to engage in insightful conferences and connect with numerous companies. It offers a firsthand understanding of how the economic landscape influences business strategies, while also immersing you in the local culture. Finally, it is also a way to start developing your international network.
ADVANCED TECHNIQUES IN MARKETING INNOVATION & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Marketing means tailoring our products and services to the market. This requires making the right strategic choices, and then implementing them. It also entails defining the right sales strategy, managing salespeople and key customers.
Course modules:
- Culture in Management and Marketing, Sales and Negotiation
- Strategic Access to Markets
- Strategic Partnerships and Key Account Management (KAM)
- Artificial Intelligence for Business
- Pricing Strategy - International Trade Techniques
- Strategy for Emerging Market
- Business automation and optimization
- Master's Thesis Methodology
TRANSFORMING EARLY MAKERS PROJECT
Among marketers and business developers, it's widely believed that successful innovation addresses an unmet market need or offers superior value for an existing one. This course explores innovative international project development across key industries: transportation, fashion, real estate, health, energy, and food. The goal is to create disruptive, CSR-oriented solutions to reshape these ecosystems. It covers brainstorming, team organization, intercultural management, project leadership, customer-centric value propositions, and business plans, while reviewing tools for market assessment, competitive analysis, and international business strategy.
Benefits include:
- Teamwork on relevant topics
- Real-life learning with set objectives
- Coaching support
- Employability focus with company interactions and workshops
- Skills in sales and self-promotion
CONSULTING PROJECT
This course equips students with the skills to analyze and anticipate economic, social, and technological trends in an unpredictable global economy. It focuses on building strategic thinking and competitiveness while challenging the narrow view that consultants should only focus on individual firms. Ideal for those interested in consulting and entrepreneurship, the course prepares students for a consulting project that requires a broad perspective across industries and regions.
International destinations:
- Vietnam: French Vietnamese Center of Management (CFVG) in Hanoi and Ho-Chi-Minh City
- South Africa: Stellenbosch Business School - Cape Town
All students must attend the period abroad - the destination will depend on availabilityand attribution is organized by the program management.
SPECIFIC APPROACHES TO MARKETING & SALES
This module aims to cover some more specific issues related to bringing products/services to the market. On the one hand, students will discover how to manage innovation and how to brand novelties. On the other hand, they will tackle more specific issues related to marketing, such as digital marketing and pricing strategies.
Course modules:
- Local Business Environment
- Global Purchasing
- International Business Law
- Social Media & Mobile Marketing
- Brand communication
IN-COMPANY PROJECT
The in-company project, which is an important part of the curriculum, allows you to enter your internship or first job with solid experience. The I-CP is a consulting project in which a group of students work on a problem provided by a company in its business or management environment. The problem may also concern new projects for developing the business and understanding the environment to decide future business strategies and directions.
Working on a business project will help you to:
- Put your newly acquired academic knowledge into practice
- Gain first-hand experience while working on a tangible project while benefiting from the comfort of a supporting structure
- Learn intercultural skills, navigate different businesses and cultural environments
- Build a network (with local alumni, students and partners)
PROFESSIONAL THESIS
To conclude your graduate studies, you will have to write a professional thesis. The topic will be chosen in coordination with your academic supervisor and must be in line with your missions during your internship or first job.
The objectives of the Master’s Thesis are to:
- Identify a topic addressed during one of your courses or academic activities.
- Build a research framework around concepts and bibliographic resources.
- Build hypotheses and a methodology to validate or invalidate them.
- Collect data using qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods.
- Provide a critical analysis based on objective observation.
- Recommend solutions, best practices, or strategies.
- Present a well-structured, relevant discussion with a proper conclusion.
INTERNSHIP
The professional mission will last from 4 to 6 months and can be an internship, a VIE (international volunteering mission), an entrepreneurial project, a fixed-term contract or a permanent contract. This is a great opportunity to put your academic knowledge to the test and acquire tangible experience within the industry. The school will give you all the support and tools you need to find the right job for you.
Assessment methods
- Assessment methods may include case studies, presentations, mock exercises, tests, etc.
Individual evaluation represents a minimum of 50% of the final grade for all courses. Peer-to-peer evaluation is mandatory for all group projects. - Graduation rate: for the 2022-2023 academic year is 74% (as of October 2024).
100% of students who took the exams have graduated.
Career
Embarking on the Master of Science in International Marketing & Business Development at emlyon business school offers comprehensive career support in international marketing management and business development. This program combines international marketing strategy with practical business development courses, preparing you for roles such as marketing manager, business developer, and positions in global business.
- Sanofi
- Agnès B
- Amazon
- Céline
- Christian Dior
- Hermès
- Lacoste
Students are hired from companies in France and internationally
- Cosmetics & chemical industry
- Trade & distribution
- Real estate
- Luxury
- Consulting & engineering
Survey carried out in 2024. Concerns class of 2023.
About our Career Center
The Career Center provides continual support in identifying career goals and developing action plans. For more information, visit the Career Center page by clicking here.
Jobs after this MSc
- Marketing manager
- Marketing strategist
- Marketing director
- International marketing manager
- Product manager/owner
- Category manager
- Partnership manager
- Business developer
- International sales developer
- Country manager
- Sales manager
- Key account manager
Alumni network
As a future graduate, you will hold lifelong membership of emlyon business school alumni network, a network of near to 48,000 alumni covering more than 130 countries.
You will benefit from all services it offers, including the online assessment modules. Its members will help you further develop your career regardless of which stage you are at, by providing you with career development information, exchange business information with you and share their experience for you to build on.
Learn more about the alumni network by visiting the dedicated page here.
Admission
Are you eligible ?
- A validated Master 1 degree or Bachelor's degree equivalent to Bac +4
- A validated Licence 3 degree or Bachelor's degree equivalent to Bac +3
Admission Process
Start your application online or go to your applicant dashboard to complete your application file to join the MSc in International Marketing & Business Development.
Applications for the 2026-2027 academic year are open at the beginning of October 2025 (subject to availability).
Application deadline: emlyon business school may close applications earlier, if all the seats in the class are filled, as it happens every year for many of our Master of Science programs. Consequently, we do advise students to apply as early as possible to ensure they secure a seat in the program and maximize their chances!
- A resume / CV in English
- A copy of an official and valid identity card or passport
- A certified copy of all degrees obtained in a higher education institution (in English or French)
- A proof of enrolment certificate for applicants currently enrolled in higher education
- A certified copy of your transcripts from the first year of your undergraduate education until now
- An official management aptitude test score: GMAT, GMAT online, GRE, TAGE MAGE, CAT
- An English proficiency test: TOEFL iBT, TOEIC, IELTS, Cambridge
- Recommendation letters
A good level of English is paramount to succeed in the program.
We recommend that students apply only if they have a level of English equivalent to the C1 level. A C1 level is an experienced speaker. This means that you can understand long, demanding texts and grasp implicit meanings. Express yourself spontaneously and fluently without much searching for words.
- GMAT and GRE tests are valid for 5 years
- TAGE MAGE tests are valid for 2 years
- CAT tests are valid for 1 year
- English tests are valid for 2 years
Application fee
The application fee for the 2026 intake is set at €120, payable directly by credit card through the online application system.
- Studends with a French CROUS grant are exempted from paying the application fee if they provide the final notice of allocation of this grant for the current academic year.
- High Level Athletes are also exempted from paying the application fee if they provide a sport resume validated by the director of the Sports department at emlyon business school. If this is your case, please contact Mr Mickaël ROMEZY: romezy@em-lyon.com.
emlyon business school uses a selection process which is in line with today's digital landscape and the practices of major international companies in their search for new talents.
Once your online application file is completed, you will be asked to go through the digital tests. Some key information:
- 1:30 hour long test
- To be done on a computer with a working webcam and a stable wifi connection
- Test includes cognitive exercises, motivation questions and professional role-play in a company setting
- Take the test alone in a quiet environment
- Test can only be taken once
How to best prepare for our digital test
The admissions board will review your application and your digital tests. You will receive an email as soon as possible to inform you that your results are available on your makersboard.
To complete your enrollment and secure your place in the program, you will have 10 calendar days after your admission results to sign the enrollment form on your makersboard and pay the non-refundable tuition deposit of €4,500.
The global acceptance rate for Masters, Masters of Science and Advanced Masters for the 2025 intake was 51% (admitted students on applicants rate).
CGE Accreditation: a mark of excellence
The Master of Science programs at emlyon business school are accredited by the Conférence des Grandes Écoles (CGE), a prestigious French association that recognizes academic excellence, rigorous admissions standards, and strong professional integration. This label guarantees that the MSc programs meet the highest national and international standards, offering students a high-quality education that is both academically rigorous and closely aligned with the expectations of the global job market. Being CGE-accredited also enhances the value of the degree, providing graduates with strong recognition among employers and institutions worldwide.
Financing
Tuition fees
€28,750
The tuition and fee charges are in effect for the 2026-2027 academic year and are subject to change for future years.
✔️ All indicated fees include:
- Tuition
- Enrollment fees
- Career Center services during your program and for 3 years after graduation
- Several hours of individual career coaching during your program
- Lifelong membership of emlyon business school alumni network
❌ Tuition fees do not include:
- Additional fees not payable to the institution, such as CVEC, student social security, sports club enrollment fees, the purchase of personal computer hardware or software, or the purchase of books other than course materials
- Optional courses or certifications
- Accommodation and travel expenses related to the program or work placement
How to finance your program?
emlyon business school helps students finance their MSc in International Marketing & Business Development by offering scholarships up to 50%.
- Individual Scholarship
Open to all admitted candidates, regardless of their financial background. This scholarship considers a combination of factors such as academic excellence, diversity, and motivation. Applicants must submit the scholarship request form as part of their application file.
- Excellence Scholarship
Merit-based awarded for strong academic profiles:
10% scholarship for GMAT 700+ / GMAT Focus 645+ / GRE or Tage Mage equivalent
5% scholarship for GMAT 650+ / GMAT Focus 595+ / GRE or Tage Mage equivalent
Test scores can be submitted after admission, within a set deadline.
- Early Bird Scholarship
A 10% tuition reduction for candidates who apply during the first application session.
To find out more about the specifics of our scholarship policy and how to benefit from it, we invite you to contact your program advisor. To download the Scholarship Policy information, create or log onto your emlyon business school account.
emlyon business school and its partners are committed to investing in tomorrow’s entrepreneurial leaders by helping qualified students to further their education:
- Campus France: discover some scholarship options available depending on your country of residence and your eligibility by clicking here.
- Banking Partners: You may obtain a bank loan through emlyon business school financial partners only if you have a fiscal warrantor in France. If not, we advise you to obtain a loan in your country of origin before your arrival.
- Prodigy Finance loan opportunity: Applicants for the MSc in International Marketing & Business Development are eligible to apply for a student loan with Prodigy Finance. Learn more on how to apply for a Prodigy Finance loan by clicking here (please scroll down the page to read about the benefits and conditions). This opportunity is opened to Non-French students only.
- Lendwise loan opportunity: Lendwise is a student loan provider offering funding to international students at competitive interest rates. Learn more on how to apply for a Lendwise loan by clicking here. This opportunity is opened to Non-French students only.
Please note: Master of Science programs at emlyon business school, including the MSc in International Marketing & Business Development, aren’t eligible for either the CROUS scholarships or the following financing schemes: FAFSA, FONGECIF, DIF, CPF or other funding from Pôle Emploi. For further information regarding potential state scholarships, we recommend you contact your region or your department, as some of them have specific scholarships available for students going to another department in France to study.
emlyon business school is committed to investing in tomorrow’s entrepreneurial leaders by helping qualified students to further their education. Reductions in tuition fees can be offered through needs-based scholarships and may, in certain cases, be granted in addition to guaranteed scholarships.
Student life
Combining academic ambition with an exceptional quality of life, Lyon is a city where students can truly thrive. Discover your campus in a vibrant setting and a city that perfectly blends culture, innovation, and lifestyle.
The Lyon Campus
Our campus in Lyon’s 7th arrondissement offers 30,000 m² of modern learning space, including areas for collaboration and student life. At the heart of the city’s academic and business scene, it fosters innovation, networking, and hybrid learning.
Student life in Lyon
France’s second-largest student city, Lyon offers the perfect balance of academic, cultural, and social life. Whether you're exploring its historic districts or enjoying its famous cuisine, you’ll find Lyon both enriching and accessible.
- A UNESCO world heritage site
Discover the charm of Old Lyon, the scenic views from Fourvière Hill, and the lively riversides of the Rhône and Saône.
- The capital of gastronomy
From Michelin-starred restaurants to traditional bouchons, Lyon is a paradise for food lovers.
- A student-friendly city
With affordable living, excellent public transportation, and a welcoming international student community, Lyon is made for students. Plus, it’s easy to reach Paris, the Alps, the Côte d’Azur, and other European cities within hours.
One of the things I have really appreciated at emlyon is the mix between academic depth and practical relevance. On the one hand, you have professors who have spent their careers in research and really push academic thinking forward. On the other, there are guest lecturers who are active professionals, coming in to teach specific courses and share their practical, hands-on experience. That combination has played a significant role in making the program so valuable for me. I think the way the MSc is designed — covering areas such as international marketing, business development, strategy and sales — has helped me become a much more well-rounded professional. You get a truly 360-degree view.
Meet us during dedicated events
emlyon's Program Advisors are hitting the road to connect with you and discuss your career aspirations. Don't miss the opportunity to meet them at international student fairs for guidance in shaping your future career. You can also stay tuned for information about our campus open days!
Contact our student ambassadors
Want to find out more about student life, program content, campus life or the emlyon business school experience? Connect with our student ambassadors to get a first glimpse of what awaits you. You can ask them all your questions via our dedicated platform.
Disability device
You will find the welcome guide and all the information on how we welcome and support our students and participants with disabilities here.
FAQ
Frenquently asked questions
A master’s in international marketing with a focus on global marketing is a graduate program that teaches advanced strategic marketing strategies, marketing mix management, global market analysis, and cross-cultural consumer behavior to prepare students for marketing roles in international business.
International marketing programs teach skills in international marketing, including designing effective marketing strategies, understanding consumer behaviour across markets, and applying marketing analytics to make data-driven decisions.
At emlyon, the duration of the master's program in international marketing last 18 months. It is not a full-time double degree because of the 4 to 6 months internships at the end of the program.
Costs of studying international marketing may vary. The tuition fees of the MSc in International Marketing & Business Development at emlyon business school are detailed in the 'Financing' section above.
To support students financially and increase their chance to integrate selected institutions like business schools, there are various forms of financial assistance like scolarships, loans and bursaries.
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International Marketing Manager: job description
