Global Business - Austria/Canada/Taiwan (ACT)

A three-continent Master's degree program offering a unique experience by studying over nine months in three different countries with fellow students of diverse nationalities and different cultural backgrounds.

The ACT program consists of a year at the Johannes Kepler University (JKU) in Linz and an international year at all three partner universities (UVic, University of Victoria; JKU Linz; NSYSU, National Sun Yat-sen University Taiwan). The program has been designed and structured to prepare you for a career in international management. We offer:

• Angloamerican, Asian, and European Business Contexts. You will spend approximately three months in Canada, Taiwan, and Austria, learning more about business practices in North America, Asia, and Europe. As you will work on business projects in cooperation with Austrian and Taiwanese companies, you will acquire hands-on, real-world experience, gaining insight into local business practices.
• Global Mindset and Intercultural Skills. This program provides you with a unique opportunity to develop a global mindset and  strengthen your social and cultural skill sets. Cultural sensitivity training, mandatory courses in a second foreign language, and working closely with international classmates from different countries allows you to embrace diversity and cultural differences.
• Personal Development. The ACT program is a life-enriching experience designed to improve your personal development and grow both personally and professionally. The program has a lasting impact, strengthening characteristics that are highly valued in the area of international management, including changing attitudes and outlooks as well as helping you become more confident, open, and flexible.

Master's Program Structure

The program is divided into two sections:

National Year
During the national year, you will study at your home university (JKU), attending courses in general management, business, qualitative and quantitative research methods, and Business English, as well as begin working on your Master's degree thesis. You can choose 5 out of 8 management subjects. You will attend these subjects together with students in other Master’s degree programs, giving you an opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with other students.

International Year
Each year, the respective partner universities select approximately 10 students. The joint degree program is offered in the form of trimesters, beginning in August and ending in April. Over the course of approximately 8 months, you spend an equal amount of time at each university. The program begins in Canada, continues in Taiwan, and concludes in Austria. Local faculty members from each university teach the ACT courses.

During the international year, the joint study program includes courses in international finance, economics and business, cultural awareness, global governance, advanced management competences, and language classes in Chinese or German. Aside from theoretical input, during your stay in Linz you will also have an opportunity to work with companies on real-world business projects as part of a culturally diverse group. Over the years, this part of the program has become a program highlight!

Successful Completion of the Joint Master's Degree Program
After the joint study period, you will return home to take final examinations and complete a thesis as required by your home university. JKU students are required to write a Master’s thesis with a supervisor from JKU. Your home university will award the degree. The diploma indicates that the program was offered in cooperation by all three universities. At the JKU, you will be conferred with the title Master of Science (MSc) in Global Business.

Recommended Study Plan
As part of the Master’s degree program, you are required to complete courses totaling 120 ECTS credits in the following areas (for detailed information about the courses visit our Study Guide or our Recommended Study Plan). You can either start with national or international year courses.

National Year

• General Management Competence (5 out of 8 modules)
• Language Skills English
• Methods in Management Research
• Master Thesis and Master Thesis Seminar

International Year

• Introduction to Global Business (Canada)
• Global Business Development (Taiwan)
• Global Business Consulting (Austria)
• Global Business in Context (all locations)
• Global Leadership & Cult. Intellig. (all locations)
• Language Skills II (Chinese/German) (all locations)

Partner Universities
The ACT program takes place at the University of Victoria, Canada, the National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan, and the Johannes Kepler University Linz, Austria. The program aims to prepare you to pursue a career in a global environment. You spend approximately three months in each country and focus on business practices in North America, Asia, and Europe.

Double Degree Option
The JKU and NSYSU offer an option to earn a double degree, meaning you can earn a second Master's degree from the other respective university (an MBA at NSYSU, an MSc at the JKU). Those wishing to earn a double degree must fulfill the following requirements: 

• Successful completion of the international year
• Outstanding academic performance in the program
• Prepare, translate, and verify documents
• Take additional business classes at NSYSU after the end of the international year (approx. 2 months)
• Write a second Master's thesis

If you have any questions, please send an e-mail to: [email protected]