FAQ

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 -- we cultivate contextual intelligence in our students.

While Fletcher MIB students acquire the concrete skills that an MBA provides through the core curriculum, 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. In addition, variations on traditional business are the norm here at Fletcher, such as political risk analysis, social impact, private sector development, and public-private partnerships.

MIB students receive a strong core education in business subjects including finance, marketing, statistics, accounting and strategic management. The international affairs core includes classes in law, economics, diplomacy, and policy. All students pick two fields of study, one in business and one in international affairs. Students may take additional electives to add to their areas of expertise.

The MIB is intended for people who are energized by global events and complex interdisciplinary issues and seek an understanding of the role of business in those issues. Our students are, above all, devoted to working in an international environment and grappling with the complex global issues that affect businesses today. Some students seek traditional business careers, while others seek management roles in the public and nonprofit sectors, or work in the social sector of business.

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 responsibilities within the military, NGOs, government, or entrepreneurial ventures. 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.

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 in Spain, France, Russia, India or China.

Additionally, many MIB students find ad hoc opportunities to travel abroad, through offerings such as our Field Studies in Global Consulting course, the D-Prize competition, our student research fund, and our global research fellowship.

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.

Students are not required to demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English, but do have the option to demonstrate foreign language proficiency. Students who choose, and successfully complete, this option will have their passing results noted on their Fletcher transcript. Since the Fletcher course load is demanding and does not leave much time for language study, students wishing to receive this optional credential generally need to have a solid foundation in a foreign language before enrolling.

English proficiency is demonstrated through the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE examinations, or by having graduated from an undergraduate institution where the primary language of instruction is English.

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 UC Berkeley School of Law. 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 Joint and Dual Programs page.

The MIB helps students build relevant professional skills in several ways. Most centrally, the core curriculum ensures that all students have developed key business skills in finance and financial modeling, accounting, economics, and statistics. From there, students may choose to deepen their expertise in the areas of their choosing.

Beyond that, the MIB program and the Institute for Business in the Global Context (IBGC) help expose students to field opportunities and "real world" projects to enhance their skills and professional networks. From consulting projects to independent field work to business plan competitions, these programs allow students to put their professional skills into practice. The IBGC also offers ample opportunities for network-building through conferences, speakers, and corporate relations.

The MIB program believes that connecting students to meaningful professional opportunities throughout their time at Fletcher is critical to post-graduation success.

The MIB program positions its graduates for unique careers in a variety of sectors. Examples include:

• large multinationals such as Amazon, GE, Procter & Gamble, Cisco, and Petrobras;
• financial services companies such as Merrill Lynch and Aberdeen Asset Management;
• consulting groups like Bain & Co, McKinsey, Monitor Deloitte, and Oliver Wyman;
• international organizations including the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation, and the International Monetary Fund;
• large NGOs such as Operation Smile, ACCION and Environmental Defense Fund;
• organizations focused on developing market interests such as USAID, OECD, and Dalberg.

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.

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 individual coaching; career trips to Washington, DC and New York City; sector-specific programming; a comprehensive employer database; and more. 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.

Most successful applicants will have at least three years of full-time work experience after graduating from college. This experience is often in the private sector or in 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. However, there is no absolute minimum work requirement.

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.

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 or GRE score; or full-time work experience with significant and demonstrable quantitative responsibilities.

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.

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) is not an application requirement for the MIB program. Applicants who wish to submit score reports as part of their application are welcome to do so.

If you are an international student and your native language is not English and you have not earned a university degree where English was the primary language of instruction, then you are required to take either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic).

For more information about standardized testing, please visit the Admissions section of our website.