Top 10 ranked international trade program profiles
To help students identify the best master’s program to fast-track their trade careers, these profiles offer insight into the essential elements that comprise top-ranked programs.
Industry experts note that a quality trade curriculum includes courses on cross-border trade, policy, logistics, international trade finance and cross-cultural leadership.
Top programs have professors with rich trade industry experience, strong industry engagement and innovative teaching approaches for practical learning outcomes.
For insight into these top-ranked international trade programs, read the profiles below and download the PDFs:
#1 Thunderbird School of Global Management
#2 Victoria University of Wellington
#3 Nanyang Technological University
#6 University of California, Los Angeles
=#7 Carnegie Mellon University
View the QS International Trade Rankings
View trade career infographic
View the key elements of top-ranked programs infographicINTRODUCTION
Thunderbird School of Global Management’s Master of Global Management program is ranked first in the world in the International Trade Rankings 2023.
The program equips students with the aptitude and a global mindset for trade leadership through a rich, highly internationalized curriculum. Students will also gain hands-on experience working on the overseas capstone, where they analyze and strategize the dynamics of the global economy to solve real-world business and management challenges.
The Thunderbird school operates over 20 regional offices worldwide to engage with its global networks of alumni and partners for experiential learning opportunities and dedicated career services, including networking events, tailored workshops and job hunt coaching.
HIGHLIGHTS
TRADE PROGRAM CONTENT
The Master of Global Management (MGM) program ranks first in Trade Program Content and focuses on building global competency for international trade graduates.
The program curriculum covers five core trade knowledge areas – cross-border trade, trade policy, trade logistics and supply chain management, finance and accounting, leadership and soft skills. This aims to provide a foundation in international business combined with cross-cultural leadership, technology and innovation management, along with a specialization in the expertise area of the student’s choice.
INNOVATIVE TEACHING
Core to its commitment to developing future leaders is the Global Challenge Lab, a six-week program that gathers MGM students from Thunderbird classrooms globally for a consultancy project.
The capstone course allows students to gain hands-on experience in global business by working on-site overseas and developing solutions to operational and organizational difficulties as well as strategies for transnational market expansion and sustained growth. This unique approach to the MGM lands the program among the top 10 for Experiential Learning.
INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT
From Los Angeles and Amsterdam to Nairobi and Shanghai, the Thunderbird School of Global Management maintains its presence in all regions of the world via the Regional Centers of Excellence. Global representation helps the school build rapport with not only multinational employers but also governmental agencies and non-profit institutions for internships, industry exposure and career services, research and Global Challenge Lab projects.
This rich, diverse range of partnerships across geographic locations and sectors helps Master of Global Management secure its third rank in Industry Engagement.
INTRODUCTION
The Master of International Trade program from Victoria University of Wellington (New Zealand) is ranked second in the world in the International Trade Rankings 2023.
The multi-discipline program curriculum – which covers legal, economic and political aspects of international trade – allows students to develop a holistic view when examining highly fluid trade trends and challenges. Such a unique approach is facilitated by the university’s rich connections to local and international entities in the capital of Wellington, ensuring that students are well-informed about theory and actual practices of trade.
The program maintains a wide variety of course formats, ranging from traditional lectures with internationally renowned faculty and industry leaders to student-led seminars, collaborative hands-on projects on international economic law, and internship placement with the school’s public or private partner institutions.
HIGHLIGHTS
INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT
Taking advantage of its central location in the heart of New Zealand, the Victoria University of Wellington maintains strong academic and working relations with not only governmental agencies and businesses but also social enterprises and grass-root organizations. This diverse range of partnerships ranks the university second in the world for Industry Engagement and grants students access to resources, networks, expertise and opportunities during and after their study.
INNOVATIVE TEACHING
The multitude of the school’s connections to industry and governmental bodies also allows it to diversify how courses are taught and how progress is assessed. In addition to classroom lectures and discussion, students can sign up for the TradeLab Clinic, a pragmatic group project where they address the legal complexity of international economic activities, or take up an internship in the school’s multi-sector partner network, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, European Parliament, business and legal agencies. With high-quality teaching and pedagogy, the university lands the seventh place for Innovative Teaching.
TRADE PROGRAM CONTENT
The Master of International Trade provides a unique opportunity to study trade, offering profound knowledge on international trade economics, law and political economy, as well as a host of social and cultural variables impacting trade on a global scale. Its multi-lens approach places the program among the top 10 of the world for Trade Program Content.
INTRODUCTION
The Professional MBA program with an International Trading specialization, offered by the Nanyang Business School (Nanyang Technological University, Singapore), is ranked first in Asia Pacific and third globally in the International Trade Rankings 2023.
Aimed to educate trained professionals to lead effectively across cultures and markets, the program provides a holistic education that develops cross-cultural intelligence, knowledge of emerging technologies, awareness of sustainability and regulatory issues, and the ability to manage opportunities and risks in the dynamic global trading environment. This industry-aligned approach is made possible due to close ties with the industry as well as its support partner, Enterprise Singapore, for curriculum development, classroom guest speaking and collaborative field trips.
HIGHLIGHTS
PROGRAM DELIVERY
Taking the first place, the Professional MBA (International Trading) program is held on alternate weekends for 18 months with a study trip to Geneva, the global hub of commodity trading, in the last segment of the program. This design not only ensures that PMBA (International Trading) graduates can attain their degrees with minimal time away from work but also promotes direct, immediate application of knowledge and skills learned in the classroom into their daily duties.
TRADE PROGRAM CONTENT
Ranked fourth in this dimension, the program is designed to strengthen mid-career personnel’s knowledge on the core issues facing the industry, including international trade laws and regulation, ethical and environmental responsibilities, technological advance and disruptions. PMBA (International Trading) students are required to complete a curated hands-on consultancy project to address real-life business challenges faced by a sponsor trading company and demonstrate comprehensive leadership skills through modules on cross-cultural people management and negotiations.
INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT
Nanyang Business School developed the International Trading specialization in close consultation with Enterprise Singapore, the national trade agency of Singapore, and industry bodies to ensure direct relevance to industry requirements and challenges. NTU’s Center of Excellence in International Trading connects the school with a network of more than 40 leading employers in the field for academic and employment endeavors. With strong ties to the trading community, the program is ranked among the top in the Faculty Industry Experience and Partnering with Employers indicators.
INTRODUCTION
The Full-Time MBA at Carlson School of Management is ranked fourth in the world in the International Trade Rankings 2023.
This is a fully immersive two-year program with a strong focus on experiential learning. Trade professionals will have a chance to work directly with industry experts to transform their MBA lessons into business solutions for paying clients across trade value chains and develop a solid understanding of global business through overseas trips and international capstone projects.
Trade professionals can benefit from the flexibility in both program delivery and course selection to maximize their learning experience and pursue customized career paths and interests. The Carlson Business Career Center gives graduates access to extensive services and resources, from industry networking opportunities to tailored career coaching and industry placement.
HIGHLIGHTS
INNOVATIVE TEACHING
The program ranks fourth in the Innovative Teaching performance lens with the incorporation of experiential learning via the Carlson School Enterprise Programs. Students are immersed in a business consortium to provide solutions for real-life problems faced by enterprises. Students also benefit from personalized coaching with industry experts and delivering a challenge pitch in front of C-level executives.
Additionally, the Global Discovery Program provides valuable exposure to international business realities through international study trips to ensure that MBA graduates are equipped with a global business outlook.
GRADUATE OUTCOMES
The Carlson Full-Time MBA reports that 96% of its graduates receive job offers within three months upon graduation, placing the program among the top 10 in terms of Graduate Outcomes.
To maximize career support for its graduates, the school maintains close ties with over 130 employers who scout the school for promising talent and organize career-focused initiatives, including counselling, mock interviews, career fairs and networking events.
PROGRAM DELIVERY
Ranking first in Program Delivery, the Carlson school offers five types of learning modality, from traditional on-campus attendance to remote and hybrid learning.
A special feature that helps the Carlson MBA land its top rank is the HyFlex mode, granting students control of their class schedule by allowing them to choose a combination of both physical and virtual classes.
INTRODUCTION
The Global Executive MBA program from Cambridge University’s Judge Business School takes the fifth rank in the International Trade Rankings 2023.
The teaching is delivered in week-long blocks, four at Cambridge, and two in international locations. Approximately 30% of teaching is done online and enables participation from speakers around the globe. The GEMBA combines live online learning with in-person teaching so students can operate around work schedules and participate from different time zones.
Participants will also take on an individual project and a live team consulting project, sponsored by external organizations, to explore new industries and test new approaches within an academic framework.
A constituent of the prestigious University of Cambridge, the Judge Business School attracts and partners with both public and private entities across sectors and the world for collaborations in academic, personal and professional development endeavors.
HIGHLIGHTS
PROGRAM DELIVERY
Ranking first in Program Delivery, the Judge Global Executive MBA (GEMBA) combines in-person teaching in Cambridge (UK) and two international locations with live online teaching, allowing student interaction with the business, financial and cultural environments of other global economies. The part-time mode enables senior professionals to invest in their education without significant time away from work, and participants will receive full support for remote learning though the school’s online platform.
TRADE PROGRAM CONTENT
Placing fourth in the world for Trade Program Content, the GEMBA delivers a highly practical curriculum that builds in-depth understanding of different disciplines of management, from trade macroeconomics and financial imperatives to cultural intelligence and management effectiveness. Core to the GEMBA journey is the International Business Study Trip, where students meet local business leaders and government officials and visit leading domestic and international organizations to understand the varied responses to globalization.
INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT
The Judge Business School is well-connected with both corporate and non-corporate stakeholders for education sponsorship, business projects, guest lectures and executive coaching. Its rich network of partners and wide range of collaborative initiatives place the school among the top 10 globally for Partnerships with Employers and Partnering with Industry Bodies. The GEMBA program hosts a Friday dinner guest speaker program where students will hear from business leaders and trade practitioners on the challenges, triumphs and lessons of running an organization.
INTRODUCTION
The Anderson MBA offered by University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) takes the sixth place globally in the International Trade Rankings 2023.
The two-year MBA journey at UCLA includes core courses that develop a solid foundation for business fundamentals and more than 115 specialized electives for students to choose from, based on their academic and professional interests. Candidates also enjoy employment-focused support such as career advice, networking activities, and industry guest speaker meetings by being a member of the Anderson Career Teams, support groups led by senior students and advisors from similar industry and business functions.
The Anderson School of Management connects MBA students with clients of all sizes, from Fortune 500 companies and startups to non-profits and microfinance institutions, for the management capstone projects as well as panel discussion and experiential learning workshops.
HIGHLIGHTS
TRADE PROGRAM CONTENT
Designed to develop high-impact global leaders, the Anderson MBA provides unique opportunities for students to gain exposure to international business scenarios and develop a global mindset for trade leadership. Among the options is the Global Immersion Course that takes students to one of the school’s target areas in Latin America and Asia Pacific to meet with people of strong influence to the host country’s economy, policy and society. The wide range of offered courses and the prime focus on the transnational nature of business earn the program the fourth rank in Trade Program Content.
GRADUATE OUTCOMES
The Parker Career Management Center provides unparallel support for the Anderson community and helps the program land its fifth place in Graduate Outcomes. The center personnel are well-connected with every sector of the global value chains and provide a wealth of career resources to MBA candidates, including expert-led professional development workshops dedicated to building leadership capacity and an internal job portal with exclusive postings from global-leading multinational enterprises.
INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT
Tasked to develop strategic recommendations, MBA students will be paired with businesses to perform market research, financial modelling and advantage analysis to accelerate and sustain the client’s growth over the course of their study. The Anderson School also coordinates with industry organizations and governmental agencies to facilitate seminars, symposiums and policy briefs aimed at addressing critical issues that impact business, policy, society and management practices. This helps its MBA program rank in the top 20 for Industry Engagement.
INTRODUCTION
The Part-Time Online MBA program, offered by the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University, is ranked the seventh in the world in the International Trade Rankings 2023, tied with City, University of London and Stanford University.
Delivered in a hybrid format that includes weekly online classes and on-site weekends, the Part-Time Online MBA provides great flexibility for working executives to build master’s study into their daily routine with minimal travelling and virtually no leave taken. The first half of the program covers the core curriculum on management know-hows and quantitative analytics, while the second half focuses on electives and team-based capstones that elevate hands-on practice.
All MBA students will be supported by Tepper’s Masters Career Center in their career planning and job search through a portfolio of industry-specific services, including career coaching, networking activities and on-campus recruitment.
HIGHLIGHTS
To earn its position in the International Trade Rankings, the Part-Time Online MBA program delivered strong performance across a number of key areas. Some noteworthy characteristics are:
PROGRAM DELIVERY
Unlike a traditional MBA that requires in-person attendance, candidates will meet twice a week virtually after working hours and attend Access Weekends either remotely or on-campus as they wish. In addition to classes and professional development workshops on managerial capacity, Access Weekends also compliments the MBA journey with extracurricular activities designed to build a close-knit student community and promote interpersonal skills, such as case competitions and hackathons.
GRADUATE OUTCOMES
Ranked highly in this dimension, the program reports that 97% of MBA graduates received a job offer within three months upon graduation. Core to this achievement is the active role of the Masters Career Center in
facilitating career support. It organizes more than 100 recruiting events and 2,000 job advertisements each year while maintaining close recruitment connections with more than 300 companies around the world.
TRADE PROGRAM CONTENT
The MBA curriculum focuses on developing the skills to transform economic data into strategic decisions. Students can hone their industry expertise by choosing their desired tracks from the course catalogue of the business school and across the Carnegie Mellon system. Second- and third- year MBA students will participate in experiential learning capstone projects that require them to utilize data analytics to make informed decisions and collaborate with real-life clients for growth strategy and recommendations.
INTRODUCTION
Bayes Business School’s MSc International Business program shares the seventh position with Carnegie Mellon University and Stanford University in the International Trade Rankings 2023.
The program curriculum is designed to equip students with knowledge and tools to successfully manage an organization across borders and rise to the challenges of a complex and interconnected world. Through its central location in Europe, the program places a strong focus on practicality and experiential learning by incorporating industry speakers, corporate engagement, overseas study trips and a variety of content delivery formats throughout its one-year duration.
With the support of Bayes Business School’s Career Team, students can engage directly with industry partners and gain valuable access to the diverse career opportunities in London, a global economic and financial center.
HIGHLIGHTS
To earn its position in the International Trade Rankings, the MSc International Business program delivered strong performance across a number of key areas. Some noteworthy characteristics are:
INNOVATIVE TEACHING
Its diverse range of teaching and learning formats helps the program achieve its fourth place for Experiential Learning and the tenth rank overall for Innovative Teaching. Central to the program is the International Business Research Project, an in-depth empirical study on a critical business topic. In the last segment of their study, students can choose to participate in Bayes’ International Electives in Europe, Middle East or Asia with foreign experts to develop first-hand experience and a global perspective on key trade issues.
TRADE PROGRAM CONTENT
In addition to the core courses on business management, the MSc International Business curriculum also shine a light on environmental, social and economic impact enterprises can have when they operate across national boundaries with disproportionate influence and resources. This allows students to develop profound understanding of the challenges faced by real-world businesses and how they differ across geographical and functional contexts.
GRADUATE OUTCOMES
The Career and Professional Development Centre at Bayes Business School connects employers with Bayes students for both academic and talent search collaborations. It operates a free online platform dedicated for corporate engagements, where employers could post job advertisements, set up appointments for company presentations and register to participate in industry sharing sessions as well as networking events and career fairs organized by the business school.
INTRODUCTION
Stanford University’s MBA program is ranked seventh in the world, tying with Carnegie Mellon University and City, University of London, in the International Trade Rankings 2023.
The program's faculty strives to stay closely attuned to the needs of real-world industries by tapping into the knowledge of industry guest speakers through joint lectures, symposiums, and professional panels. They also contribute to research and advisory bodies related to trade. Moreover, students are presented with various opportunities to put the knowledge and skills they acquire in the program into practice through experiential learning and business simulations.
The program offers students the opportunity to broaden their worldview through participation in the Global Management Immersion Experience, the Stanford-Tsinghua Exchange Program and Global Study Trips.
HIGHLIGHTS
To earn its position in the International Trade Rankings, the MBA program delivered strong performance across a number of key areas. Some noteworthy characteristics are:
INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT
Stanford Graduate School of Business regularly invites renowned entrepreneurs and international corporate leaders to speak on campus to provide MBA students with real-world insights into critical management issues. Its faculty also actively engages with and holds leadership and consultative roles in industry associations and think tanks, including the American Finance Association, US National Bureau of Economic Research, and US Academy of Management. These robust connections within the trade sector helped the program rank second for Partnering with Industry Bodies.
INNOVATIVE TEACHING
The Stanford MBA curriculum focuses on experiential learning initiatives that develop students’ knowledge and build essential skillsets for effective leadership. During the first year, students participate in the Leadership Labs and Executive Challenge, where they are immersed in business simulations under the guidance of global business experts and accomplished Stanford alumni.
TRADE PROGRAM CONTENT
In addition to the core management fundamentals that are taught, students can customize their learning via more than 100 electives across nine academic areas. Students are also required to complete at least one international initiative to gain a new and deeper understanding of transnational social, economic and political issues. Among the options is the Global Management Immersion Experience, a four-week, hands-on immersive project covering industries such as healthcare, non-profit, energy, technology and media.
INTRODUCTION
The MSc International Business program at the KEDGE Business School (France) is ranked tenth in the International Trade Rankings 2023.
The program is designed to equip students with the necessary technical knowledge and cross-cultural management skills required to succeed in a globalized economy. It offers a range of experiential learning initiatives, including business simulations, case studies, international expansion consultancy projects, and apprenticeships at both French and international institutions. The program's faculty is comprised of practitioner professors and lecturers with extensive industry and academic experience in their fields, further enhancing the quality and value of the learning experience.
In addition, the program leverages KEDGE's extensive network of trade industry partners to provide guest speakers and professional development opportunities to its students. The school's integrated system for professional and personal development, 'Be-U', is dedicated to enhancing employability and connecting students with industry partners and employers.
HIGHLIGHTS
INNOVATIVE TEACHING
The MSc International Business program places a strong emphasis on innovative teaching methods. A key feature of the curriculum is the inclusion of real-world study projects, which provide students the opportunity to develop close relationships with trade-related enterprises. In addition, all students are required to complete a six-month internship, either in France or abroad. Such attributes earned the program a first-place ranking in terms of Internships and placed it among the top 20 overall for Innovative Teaching.
INDUSTY ENGAGEMENT
KEDGE faculty boasts significant industry experience as well as proactive engagement with academic organizations, including the French Finance Association, Network for Business Sustainability and the European Academy of Management. Ample “real-world” experience and strong ties to the industry placed it first for Faculty Industry Experience and seventh overall for Industry Engagement.
GRADUATE OUTCOMES
The MSc International Business program equips graduates with a deep understanding of international business practices, strong analytical skills, and proficiency in business theory. The program prepares them to identify and evaluate global opportunities and challenges, develop effective strategies, and gain practical experience through internships and industry engagement. An impressive 99% of the program's graduates receive a job offer within six months upon graduation, all of which are for international positions. This earned the program a place among the top 15 on the Rankings for Graduate Outcomes.
© The Hinrich Foundation. See our website Terms and conditions for our copyright and reprint policy. All statements of fact and the views, conclusions and recommendations expressed in this publication are the sole responsibility of the author(s).
