Thunderbird School of Global Management at ASU : Rankings, Fees & Courses Details | Top Universities
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Thunderbird School of Global Management at ASU

Location

ASU Downtown Campus, Phoenix United States

Ranking

# 1QS International Trade Ranking

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6Undergraduate programs

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11Postgraduate programs

Scholarship

AvailableScholarship

About Thunderbird School of Global Management at ASU

Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University is ranked No. 1 in the world for international trade by the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) International Trade Rankings 2023, ahead of Cambridge, Harvard, and Stanford. As part of Arizona State University, ranked No. 1 “Most Innovative School” in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for eight years in succession, Thunderbird draws on a vast spectrum of disciplines of excellence to empower leaders across sectors with future-ready skills. Thunderbird advances inclusive and sustainable prosperity worldwide by educating and influencing global leaders and managers who maximize the benefits of the Fourth Industrial Revolution for business, government, society, and the environment. 


For more than 75 years, Thunderbird has produced leaders capable of tackling the world’s greatest challenges. Originally known as the American Institute for Foreign Trade, Thunderbird was chartered on April 8, 1946, at a World War II airbase in Glendale, Arizona, called Thunderbird Field, where pilots from around the world came for training during wartime. General Barton Kyle Yount obtained the airfield with the express purpose of developing a school for professionals focused exclusively on international trade and global affairs. The guiding principle established at Thunderbird’s founding is best summarized in a phrase coined by original faculty member Dr. William Lytle Schurz, “Borders frequented by trade seldom need soldiers.”


Dr. Sanjeev Khagram, Director General and Dean of Thunderbird, has ushered in the new Thunderbird 4.0 era, imprinting his vision in every detail of the newly opened F. Francis & Dionne Najafi Thunderbird Global Headquarters building, which spans 110,000 square feet over five floors on ASU’s Downtown Phoenix campus. The building is designed to bring the world’s leading technology directly to the hands of Thunderbird students and faculty. The facility enables students to connect with the world and experience what they seek to learn and study in real time.


Thunderbird became the world’s first-ever higher education institution to focus exclusively on international leadership by concentrating its curriculum on global management and business skills, international political economy and regional business environments, languages, and cross-cultural communications. The School has often been called a “mini-United Nations” because of its diverse and inclusive global student body. Thunderbird is now known worldwide for its vast and engaged alumni network of more than 50,000 graduates in nearly 150 nations around the globe. Thunderbird has more than 170 alumni chapters that meet regularly in 70 countries.


Thunderbird’s global footprint has also grown over the years, with operations now in Geneva, Dubai, Tokyo, Seoul, Nairobi, Jakarta, and nearly 15 others, Thunderbird’s regional Centers of Excellence ensure that the School is now the world’s first truly “global multinational business school,” committed to training the next generation of global leaders.

About Thunderbird School of Global Management at ASU

Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University is ranked No. 1 in the world for international trade by the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) International Trade Rankings 2023, ahead of Cambridge, Harvard, and Stanford. As part of Arizona State University, ranked No. 1 “Most Innovative School” in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for eight years in succession, Thunderbird draws on a vast spectrum of disciplines of excellence to empower leaders across sectors with future-ready skills. Thunderbird advances inclusive and sustainable prosperity worldwide by educating and influencing global leaders and managers who maximize the benefits of the Fourth Industrial Revolution for business, government, society, and the environment. 


For more than 75 years, Thunderbird has produced leaders capable of tackling the world’s greatest challenges. Originally known as the American Institute for Foreign Trade, Thunderbird was chartered on April 8, 1946, at a World War II airbase in Glendale, Arizona, called Thunderbird Field, where pilots from around the world came for training during wartime. General Barton Kyle Yount obtained the airfield with the express purpose of developing a school for professionals focused exclusively on international trade and global affairs. The guiding principle established at Thunderbird’s founding is best summarized in a phrase coined by original faculty member Dr. William Lytle Schurz, “Borders frequented by trade seldom need soldiers.”


Dr. Sanjeev Khagram, Director General and Dean of Thunderbird, has ushered in the new Thunderbird 4.0 era, imprinting his vision in every detail of the newly opened F. Francis & Dionne Najafi Thunderbird Global Headquarters building, which spans 110,000 square feet over five floors on ASU’s Downtown Phoenix campus. The building is designed to bring the world’s leading technology directly to the hands of Thunderbird students and faculty. The facility enables students to connect with the world and experience what they seek to learn and study in real time.


Thunderbird became the world’s first-ever higher education institution to focus exclusively on international leadership by concentrating its curriculum on global management and business skills, international political economy and regional business environments, languages, and cross-cultural communications. The School has often been called a “mini-United Nations” because of its diverse and inclusive global student body. Thunderbird is now known worldwide for its vast and engaged alumni network of more than 50,000 graduates in nearly 150 nations around the globe. Thunderbird has more than 170 alumni chapters that meet regularly in 70 countries.


Thunderbird’s global footprint has also grown over the years, with operations now in Geneva, Dubai, Tokyo, Seoul, Nairobi, Jakarta, and nearly 15 others, Thunderbird’s regional Centers of Excellence ensure that the School is now the world’s first truly “global multinational business school,” committed to training the next generation of global leaders.

University information

General

570+
3+
6.5+
80+

Bachelor

1120+
6+
61+

Tuition fee and scholarships

One of the important factors when considering a master's degree is the cost of study. Luckily, there are many options available to help students fund their master's programme. Download your copy of the Scholarship Guide to find out which scholarships from around the world could be available to you, and how to apply for them.

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Rankings & ratings

Thunderbird School of Global Management at ASU is one of the top universities in Phoenix, United States. It is ranked #1 in QS International Trade Ranking 2023.

Available programs

Bachelor’s degrees

Thunderbird offers a variety of undergraduate degree programs that position students for success as global professionals, ready to adapt and thrive in a dynamic world. 

  • Bachelor of Global Management (BGM)

    • Online option available .

  • Bachelor of Science in International Trade (BSIT)

    • Online option available .

  • Hiroshima University Global Initiative


Entry requirements

  • Students must complete a minimum of 120 credits for both the Bachelor of Global Management and the Bachelor of Science in International Trade. 

    • BGM requires 30 credits of Thunderbird specific courses.

    • BSIT requires 39 credits of Thunderbird specific courses. 


  • First-year students must have a 3.00 GPA.

  • Transfer students must have a minimum 2.5 GPA.

  • The estimated base tuition for international students is $36,425 USD. The estimated base tuition for Arizona residents is $12,388 USD and $32,338 USD for out-of-state tuition (tuition only; excludes additional fees, housing, etc).

  • ASU offers merit-based scholarships to international students who demonstrate high academic achievement.

Thunderbird offers five specialized global graduate degrees and programs:

  • Master of Global Management (MGM)

  • Master of Leadership & Management (MLM)

  • Master of Leadership and Management: Global Creative Industries (MLM-GCL)

  • Executive Master of Global Management (EMGM)

  • Executive Master of Global Management (Specialization in Space Leadership) (EMGM- Space)

  • Executive Master of Arts in Global Affairs and Management (EMAGAM)

  • Accelerated Master of Global Management


Entry requirements

To earn a place in a program, applicants will need the following:

  • Undergraduate degree from an accredited university degree program.

  • Competitive TOEFL, IELTS or PTE scores (if required).

  • Official GMAT/GRE score (waivers available).

  • International experience.

  • Submission of online application, including:

    • Resume documenting professional and academic history.

    • Essay answering an application question.

  • Contact information for a professional or academic reference.

  • Official transcripts from all previously attended undergraduate and graduate institutions.

  • Admissions interview(s), if applicable.


The program cost for the MGM is $70,000 USD + fees. There are a number of scholarships available. Students can also apply for TA/RA and student worker positions during their program up to 20 hours per week. Similarly, students who take on leadership roles in student clubs or activities and maintain good academic standing at Thunderbird GPA 3.5 or higher are highly encouraged to re-apply for scholarships during their second year.


Tuition for the other degree programs are below:

  • Executive Master of Arts in Global Affairs and Management = $60,000 USD

  • Executive Master of Global Management = $67,207 USD

  • Executive Master of Global Management (Specialization in Space Leadership) = $67,207 USD

  • Master of Leadership and Management: Global Creative Industries = $60,000 USD

  • Master of Leadership & Management = $39,000 USD

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