Program Components

The International Management Major is designed for students who wish to combine business studies with regional or thematic global studies and foreign language proficiency.  Students in this program must complete:

International Business Concentration

The objective of this 15 credit Concentration is to help the student develop conceptual and analytical skills needed to formulate feasible and effective management policies in an international setting.

Minor Concentration

(18 credits)

Consult the list of Minor Concentrations you can pursue toward the International Management Major (Minors in Management excluded).

Contact the bcom.mgmt [at] mcgill.ca (BCom Student Affairs Office) if you plan to pursue a Language Minor.

Language component

9 Credits (one full-year language course)

12 Credits (two levels, 6 credits each)

*Portuguese is available to McGill students through the IUT program at either Université de Montreal or UQAM. For more information consult www.mcgill.ca/student-records/iut/.

Choosing the language:

  • Students interested in Theme 1 (Comparative Global Studies) should try to match the language with their area of study.
  • For students who would like to find future employment in a specific area of the globe, it is advisable to learn a language used by businesses in this region or country.
  • Students with a general interest in international issues, who have chosen a Minor Concentration from Theme 2  (Global Politics & Economy) or Theme 3 (Global Well-Being & Development), may select a language of their choice.
  • Students who speak more than one language and wish to have this component waived or partially waived should meet with an IM adviser in the BCom Office.

Experiential Learning Component

Students meet this requirement by choosing one of the following three options:

International Exchange Option

International Exchanges are recommended for all IM students. Exchanges help students polish their language skills and develop a nuanced understanding of the politics, culture and business climate of their host region. Experiencing another culture and a different way of doing business gives IM students an edge in cross-cultural management and a personal understanding of today’s global marketplace.

To meet the program requirement, students will complete at least one term of exchange or an international educational experience approved by the BCom SAO. Credits received for courses successfully completed while abroad will count towards other components of the IM Major or electives (determined by the program/exchange adviser). Students who choose to go on Exchange or Study Away will only receive credits for the courses successfully completed and not an additional 3 credits for studying abroad. 

For information about the Faculty's exchange program, visit: International Exchange.


Internship Option

Internships are an exciting way to obtain meaningful work experience while exploring career paths. On internship, students can expect to develop a better understanding of living and working abroad as well as a different perspective on issues of global importance.

To meet the program requirement, students locate internships, of at least 150 hours, independently and work in a role located outside Canada or in a local position with an international focus. Prior to starting the internship, students must receive approval of the position and arrange for a faculty member to serve as their supervisor for the graded, written portion of the internship. For a detailed explanation, please review the BUSA 497-International Internship Approval Form.

McGill offers several resources in order to help students find and finance an internship :


Research Option

Students arrange for a faculty member to serve as their supervisor for an International Business research project on a topic of interest to the student. For further details, please review the BUSA 401 - Independent Research in International Business Form.

This independent study course is reserved for students enrolled in the International Management (IM) Major only.

Awards and fellowships may help ease the financial burden of the International Learning Component. For more information, visit McGill Scholarships & Student Aid. Check the the BCom Office to see if additional support is available.

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