Mikel Larreina is the Associate Dean for International Affairs at Deusto Business School and Director of the EIBM Master’s Degree, an elite programme ranked among the Financial Times Top 50 worldwide. A finance professor since 2000, his academic prestige is backed by an extensive global track record, having served as a visiting scholar at a dozen universities across nine countries. Notably, his specialised research on financial clusters achieved significant geopolitical impact when it was cited in official policy reports by both the British and Scottish Parliaments. An expert in sustainable finance and banking systems, he actively shapes the financial ecosystem as a strategic advisor and contributor to major international research projects.

For someone who has never heard of a Master in European and International Business Management (EIBM), how would you describe the programme and who is it designed for?


In the first place, I would stress that our programme is run by Deusto Business School, the pioneer in Spain established in 1916.

EIBM is a challenging programme with three main focuses: internationalisation (including working in three different languages), innovation, and sustainability. After four months at Bilbao, where studies are conducted in Spanish and English, there is a mandatory 3-month mobility period at a French business school, where tuition is in French and English. After the final project (two more months), there is a mandatory period at a company before graduation (through internship or work contracts, between 3 and 6 months).

We at Deusto have been running different versions of this programme uninterruptedly since 1991 (last major redesign occurred in 2024-25), and more than 1,300 graduates can testimony that for many of them it’s been a life-changing experience.

Students must be open-minded, understand different cultures, be polyglottal (or have the willingness to work hard to become one), and decide that they want to engage in a challenging learning journey.

What is the most common misconception prospective students have about what a Master’s degree will do for their career and how do you set the record straight?


Most candidates have sensible and well thought perspectives about their future careers, and the support of our career services helps them to fine-tune their targets and expectations.

Despite this general situation, some students may think that any previous studies and skills prepare them for any kind of different job careers. In reality, a MSc like ours allows students to enlarge and significantly improve their working options, though some paths (investment banking, for instance) will not be opened for everybody (not that everybody is interested, neither).

Others think the senior management positions will be open from the beginning. We need to explain to them that entry jobs are not “forever jobs”, and that their education will allow them to progress in their companies and eventually reach management positions. But seldom does it occur immediately after graduation.

Where does your programme place the emphasis in training young professionals and how does this bring value career-wise?


We believe in a healthy mix of approaches. They need to combine theory with practice and be open to interdisciplinary topics, as most current challenges require a diversity of knowledge to be addressed. Our courses are collaborative, involving different academics and professionals, so as to give a balanced perspective about business problems.

How can students customise their individual study experience?


In this particular programme, the final research project and the period at a company are the spaces where students can show their different interests and needs.

In light of changing workplace dynamics, technological advancements, and global trends, how does your Master’s programme adapt its curriculum or teaching methods to build the skillset in demand in the workplace?


By design, our programme requires adaptability (to different cities, languages, university approaches, and business cultures), which is greatly appreciated by companies. Besides, every year we revise our syllabi and when necessary incorporate new elements, like the possibility to do a Blended Intensive Programme of 1 week at a partner institution.

Which industries or roles are your graduates moving into today that didn’t exist (or barely existed) a decade ago?


We have graduates moving into AI-related start-ups, or into Sustainability departments in more traditional companies.

Have you noticed any new trends in terms of companies or sectors that attract graduates from your programme?


Not really. Finance, Consulting and Retailers still make where most of our graduates start their careers. It is also true that there may be more interest than in the past in SMEs, start-ups, and cooperatives, and that some graduates go to manufacturing companies, due to our presence in the Basque Country where industry 4.0 and high-added value manufacturing are key elements of the socioeconomic tissue.