The questions that follow pertain specifically to the MIB program. Please also review the general Admissions FAQs.
Degree Program & Academics
1.How is the Fletcher MIB different from an MBA?
The Fletcher MIB is a hybrid international business/international relations
degree. It was founded on the principle that business professionals today
must be well-versed not only in business management and strategy but also the complex reality of external governmental, legal, social, and environmental factors that influence business. The Fletcher curriculum goes beyond the walls of multinational corporations to understand the contexts in which these companies operate. While Fletcher MIB students acquire the concrete skills that an MBA provides, they also study the full spectrum of issues that are inherent to doing business in an international environment. Topics such as international geopolitics, economics, trade legislation, business law, negotiation, the role of international NGOs, and regional studies allow students to prepare themselves for the reality of working in a dynamic and complex business environment.
2. What courses and topics does the MIB cover?
MIB students receive a strong core education in business subjects including finance, marketing, statistics, accounting and strategic management. All students pick one business focus area and one international affairs focus area. Business focus areas include: International Finance and Banking, Strategic Management and Consulting, International Marketing, and International Public and NGO Management. International Affairs focus areas are listed here.
3. What types of students choose the MIB?
The MIB is intended for people who are energized by global events and seek a business career. Our students are, above all, devoted to working in an international environment and grappling with the complex global issues that affect businesses today.
To prepare, most students come from professional backgrounds where they have been exposed to these issues on a day-to-day basis and have lived and/or worked abroad. This is not only limited to corporate professionals but also people who have held management and strategy responsibilities within the military, NGOs, or government. With over 40% of our students hailing from outside the U.S., Fletcher's diverse international student body is a key part of the MIB learning experience. The result of such a committed and experienced student body, the spirit of international business is a fundamental part of life at Fletcher.
4. Do you have exchange programs? Are students able to have an international experience while enrolled in the program?
While enrolled in the MIB program, students have several opportunities to experience the international work environment first-hand. It is expected that students will have a professional internship between their first and second years. With a dedicated career services office, there are many international opportunities available. MIB students will also have the opportunity to participate in one of several exchange programs at leading business institutions including Instituto de Empresa (Madrid, Spain), HEC (Paris, France), China Europe International Business School (Shanghai, China) and Indian School of Business (Hyderabad, India).
5. What are the foreign language requirements or components of the program?
Navigating the international business environment with ease necessitates linguistic, cultural and professional fluency. As such, Fletcher MIB students choose a region / language to develop linguistic, cultural and professional fluency. One of the innovations of the MIB curriculum is to offer courses "in the language” that provide insights into the culture, history, and politics of the region while building language skills. Such courses are offered in Spanish, French, Arabic, Chinese and Russian.
The program requires that all Fletcher MIB students demonstrate professional proficiency in a foreign language before they leave Fletcher.
For non-native speakers of English, the native language in combination with fluent English suffices, though these students are still encouraged to participate in the regional courses mentioned above. English proficiency is demonstrated through the TOEFL or IELTS examinations or by having graduated from an undergraduate institution where the primary language of instruction is English.
Native English speakers must demonstrate proficiency in one of the major world business languages. While many students will choose one of the five languages discussed above (Spanish, French, Arabic, Chinese, and Russian), speakers of other major business languages & - German, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese & - are eligible for admission to the program. Regardless of language, students demonstrate advanced proficiency by passing an oral and written exam while enrolled at Fletcher and must pass these exams in order to graduate.
6. Can I pursue a joint degree in conjunction with the MIB?
Some students with very specific career goals are interested in combining the MIB with another degree program to develop a particular skill set. Fletcher MIB students can choose to pursue a joint JD degree with either Harvard Law School or Boalt Hall (University of California at Berkeley). Ad hoc law programs will be considered on a case-by-case basis. MIB students cannot pursue a joint degree with either an MBA or Fletcher’s MALD program because of the curricular overlap. Other joint degrees such as journalism, nutrition, or medicine will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
For more information on the joint degree application and approval process, please visit fletcher.tufts.edu/academic/joints.shtml.
Careers & Professional Development
7. Where do Fletcher graduates work after graduation?The MIB program positions its graduates for unique careers in a variety of sectors. Fletcher graduates have had successful careers in international businesses. Examples include:
- large multinationals such as Citigroup, Hitachi, AIG, and ExxonMobil;
- financial services companies such as Goldman Sachs, Lehman Brothers, Smith Barney, BNP Paribas, and Merrill Lynch;
- consulting groups like Booz Allen Hamilton, Boston Consulting Group and Mercer Oliver Wyman;
- international organizations including the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation, and the International Monetary Fund;
- large NGOs with cross-sectoral interests such as On the Frontier and Bridgespan; and
- firms with more focused national or developing market interests.
Fletcher's particular expertise in emerging markets prepares graduates for careers that focus on high-growth economies such as India, China, and Brazil. Graduates go on to work in areas ranging from in-country positions to specialized jobs with major financial institutions, research organizations and multinational corporations.
MIB graduates are also well-prepared for "non-traditional" jobs within the traditional job market. Large employers find the Fletcher education uniquely prepares students not only for general management positions but also for jobs within governmental and regulatory affairs, environmental affairs, risk management, and other functional areas that necessitate an education that goes beyond traditional business skills. Additionally, country managers and risk analysts who must understand the complexity of national and local situations are well-qualified with MIB education.
8. What resources do you offer for professional development?
Fletcher considers professional development to be as important as academic development. The Office of Career Services has a staff with dedicated coaches for each sector that help students realize their career goals. All students participate in a ten-week professional development program that helps them manage international careers during and after Fletcher. Topics covered in this interactive program include self-assessment; hiring theory; and personal marketing including resumes and cover letters, networking, and interviewing skills. Throughout their Fletcher careers, all students can take advantage of sector-specific coaching, career trips to Washington, DC and New York City, on-campus recruiting and employer information sessions, and a comprehensive internship database. One of Fletcher's greatest assets, our vast alumni network of more than 7,000 graduates, is an incomparable resource for contacts around the globe.
Admissions & Financial Aid
9. How much work experience do your students have?
Most successful applicants will have at least three years of full-time work experience in the private sector or a job with business or management responsibilities such as corporate law, corporate research and analysis, an advisory position with a government or NGO, or as a military officer.
10. How much international experience do your students have?
There is no rigid requirement as to length or nature of international experience, but because the MIB is inherently focused on international business, students should have a demonstrated interest in the international environment. For some students, this could mean experience living and/or working abroad. For others, a working or research environment where international issues are the focus could be sufficient. The nature of each applicant’s international experience is assessed in the context of his or her individual application and professional goals.
11. What kind of quantitative experience do I need?
All students must be able to thrive in a rigorous academic environment that includes substantial quantitative coursework. This capacity can be demonstrated in several ways: an undergraduate academic record that shows success in quantitative coursework such as macroeconomics, microeconomics, calculus, statistics, and/or econometrics; a strong quantitative GMAT score; or full-time work experience with significant and demonstrable quantitative responsibilities.
12. Do you offer scholarships?
Yes, Fletcher offers scholarships to help defray tuition costs. While we encourage candidates to seek outside sources of funding including scholarships and loans, all Fletcher applicants are considered for scholarship aid on the basis of both need and merit.
13. Do you have a minimum GMAT score? What is the average GMAT score?
The Fletcher School's Committee on Admissions views standardized test scores as one part of the applicant's total application but not the most important part. Along with your academic transcripts and an academic letter of recommendation, the GMAT is one of several ways in which we assess your academic capabilities. We do not have a minimum requirement for the GMAT. In recent years, the middle 50% of GMAT scores of admitted students has been in the 640-720 range.