RTU Riga Business School

RTU Riga Business School (in Latvian RTU Rīgas Biznesa Skola) (RBS) is a management–education institution within Riga Technical University (RTU). Founded in 1991, in a close cooperation with the State University of New York at Buffalo, (USA) and the University of Ottawa, (Canada), it was as the first higher education institution in the Baltic states which offered Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs in English. The school currently has more than 800 MBA graduates, mostly middle- and upper-level level managers both in Latvia and abroad. The education standards and structure are adopted from the North-American style MBA, which contains case studies, working in groups, and active participation in classrooms.

Professional MBA classes are held on workdays from 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm and each semester students can register for one to four courses depending on course offer, suggested sequence and personal consideration. Choosing 2 courses each semester, the MBA can be completed in 2.5 years. International students need to take 4 courses per semester that corresponds to full-time studies in line with immigration rules. Students can choose one out of 4 specializations of the program:

• MBA Marketing
• MBA Finance
• MBA IT
• General MBA

Case method

Case method is a method of learning that requires from students an active participation and discussion of real-life business situations. RBS largely uses case studies of Harvard Business School. Each course in Professional MBA has a certain number of case studies that students need to discuss during the course.

Faculty

The faculty of RBS consists of both full-time and part-time professional local lecturers, as well as visiting professors from North America.

Diploma

RBS graduates receive two certificates. First, an MBA (Master of Business Administration) degree, which is fully recognized and accredited by the Republic of Latvia. Second, they receive a certificate, which is co-signed by Riga Technical University, the State University of New York at Buffalo and the University of Ottawa.

Admission

Riga Business School has two, Fall and Spring, admission periods. Thus students can start their studies either in September or January.

Admission criteria:

4-year Bachelor’s degree or equivalent nationally recognized undergraduate degree

TOEFL score (at least 550 for paper-based test or 80 for internet-based test). IELTS score is also accepted (at least 6.5). Students are not obliged to certify their English proficiency if the previous degree is obtained in English speaking country or if English is their native language.

Intellectual test (at least 50% correct answers) that measures logical and critical reasoning. GMAT score is also accepted.

Executive MBA (EMBA) – is a management education program intended for senior-level managers and experienced professionals. The study format is based on North-American Executive MBA program, which is complemented with European experience.

'Program Format

The studies are structured in 20 monthly modules that are combined with studies in small groups. During the EMBA course students go on a two-week study trip to the University at Buffalo (USA) or University of Ottawa (Canada). The trip includes both academic learning and company visits and knowledge exchange with American executives and American EMBA students.

Diploma

Upon graduation RBS EMBA students receive Internationally Accredited Master of Business Administration degree that is awarded by Riga Business School and certified by all partner institutions.

Admission

Admission procedure takes place in two periods: Fall and Spring. Thus students start their study process in September or January.

Admission criteria:

4-year Bachelor or equivalent nationally recognized undergraduate degree

Executive or senior-level management experience for at least 5 years

TOEFL score (at least 550 for paper-based test or 80 for internet-based test). IELTS score is also accepted (at least 6.5). Students are not obliged to certify their English proficiency if the previous degree is obtained in English speaking country or if English is their native language.

Passed structured interview

Riga Business School provides preparation course for the first level of Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exam. Issued by the CFA Institute the CFA Charter is one of the most respected certificates among finance professionals. The offered preparation course includes study materials SchwesterNotes Package, studies in small groups, individual consultations, and mock examination.

www.rbs.lv, The web page of RTU Riga Business School.

www.rtu.lv, The web page of Riga Technical University.

[1], The web page of the CFA® Institute.