Historic number of applicants to MIB
The competition for a place on NHH's international master programme is tough. After initiating a new, targeted marketing project two years ago, the number of applicants has increased by an incredible 126 percent.
26.04.2006 - Sigrid Folkestad (Text and photo)
Alexandrina Sukhanova and James Hosea use a targeted approach to recruit applicants to the international master programme.
Compared with last year the number of applicants has increased by 45 percent.
"We are extremely satisfied", says Alexandrina Sukhanova. Sukhanova and Laura Domke worked as coordinators for the marketing project. They are also students on the MSc in International Business programme.
Improved quality
Project manager James Hosea thinks the emphasis on marketing and providing good information to potential applicants has been decisive in attaining such a good result. He says that the large amount of applicants has exceeded expectations.
"This does affects not only the quantity of applicants, but also the quality", stresses Hosea.
This year the MSc in International Business has received over 260 applications. NHH can offer around 30 foreign students places in this sought after study programme, something which allows the school to choose between many good candidates.
"This year there the quality of grades was higher amongst applicants. Much more applicants have taken the obligatory GMAT test before sending in their applications, and the average results for the test are at a higher level than previously".
Active contact with the applicants
The amount of applicants from Western Europe has increased by approximately 80 percent. This year there was also a large increase in the number of applicants from Latin America and East Asia, amongst other regions.
The total number of applicants has increased considerably, but the percent of female applicants has gone down from 33 percent last year to 26 percent this year. The final number admitted will show how high the percentage of female students onthe programme will be, and from which countries the students come from.
An important portion of the marketing project is directed towards those who have taken the GMAT test. The marketing coordinators have contacted a group of potential applicants and have sent them information on the study programme and NHH via email. They are also responsible for fielding calls from everyone who has considered coming to Norway to take the international master programme at NHH.
What applicants ask about
"They have questions about almost everything possible. They ask about the degree, of course, about NHH as an institution, about CEMS and we get practical questions as well as many applicants wondering about how to finance their studies and job opportunities", says Sukhanova, who is herself a first year student from St. Petersburg.
She invites Norwegian students also to apply to the MSc in International Business, but thinks that perhaps many choose not to because the lessons and lectures are in English.
"The programme opens the door to big job opportunities, and it really has an international environment. I would think that these aspects would also be exciting for Norwegian students", remarks Sukhanova.
Very happy
Currently there are 10 nationalities represented on the MIB programme. There are students from India, Germany, USA, Thailand, Peru, Finland, France, and Ghana, amongst others.
"The students who take the MIB programme at NHH are candidates who for the most part leave Norway after they are finished with their degree. They go out and spread the knowledge they have gained from their studies and they spread the word about NHH. So the programme creates long term benefits", points out Sukhanova.
"What are your own thoughts about studying at NHH?"
"I am very happy. Everything is perfect: the school, the programme, the people and all the possibilities here. This autumn I'm going on exchange to Spain", smiles Sukhanova.
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