The Master’s Thesis is the culminating experience in graduate level education for Master degree candidates. It is an individual endeavour of analytical nature, which contains elements of originality and is performed in conformity with general requirements of academic papers and scholary projects. For the student, the Master’s thesis should be a learning activity that is stimulating and engenders a sense of pride and accomplishment.

The intent of the thesis is to provide an opportunity for Master’s degree candidates to refine, in some cases acquire, a range of skills at an appropriate level to do capable and competent research. A successful thesis is evidence that the candidate has acquired the minimum level of research skills required and can therefore be accredited a Master‘s degree. Skills required of thesis writers are those associated with research design, data collection, information management, analysis of data, synthesis of data with existing knowledge and critical evaluation of the writer’s own ideas and those presented in the literature reviewed. The thesis should be written in English, within a given period of time and comply with commonly accepted principles of academic ethics.

Course annotation

It is a practical course which is designated for practical application of knowledge and skills that were acquired during the studies. The major focus in the course is on practical managerial and business aspects that are usually not evident to students because of the lack of practical experience in business.

During the internship students work in selected company. There are two ways of finding a company for an internship:

1. Place of internship is found by a student.
2. ISM Career centre supports in finding an internship place.

While working in a company student gets knowledge on the factors that affect international activity of a company. Therefore they collect general information on a company and implement strategic analysis for the entire company or selected product/brand/branch in the foreign market. Students submit internship report to Study department on appointed time and present (defend) it in class on appointed time.

Overall volume of internship is 15 credits (405 academic hours). Out of them:

1. 360 hours are internship in company;
2. 10 academic hours as in-class consultations and feedback on reports;
3. 35 hours are student‘s self-study.

Goals of the internship

1. To increase students‘ understanding about international business practice.
2. To consolidate specialization knowledge that was acquired during the studies.
3. To provide practical skills that are necessary in analysing company’s situation.

Learning outcomes

• To implement analysis of internal and external company factors.
• To collect data on a company which operates in local or foreign market for the analysis.
• To be pursue PESTEL analysis, SWOT and TOWS analysis, consumer needs, market size, positioning analysis for the company (product, brand, branch).
• To identify strategic position and suggest strategic guidelines for the company (product, brand, branch).
• To present findings in written form, reasoning proposed decisions.
• To assess a written report on a company.