Enquire to study in the UK 
To seize opportunities in today’s digital-first business world, you need refined skills that fully meet the moment. The right qualifications could grow any business exponentially—this was the outcome Tatiana Lialina had in mind when she started looking for a flexible business program that could help her learn how to expand her family’s business beyond its Russian roots.
To achieve this goal, Tatiana strengthened her global business acumen at the D’Amore-McKim School of Business at Northeastern University.
Her launchpad? The Graduate Certificate in Business Administration. The 8-month international student cohort offers a collection of 12–15 credits curated by expert faculty. It’s perfect for helping develop the skills needed for a digitally-driven global business world and could even pave the way for a future MBA or master’s degree.
Tatiana Lialina’s graduate certificate led to a D’Amore-McKim Part-Time MBA. Photo by Adam Glanzman for Northeastern University
This graduate certificate will help you develop the marketable business skills needed to thrive in
the U.S. and beyond. You’ll live and study in Boston, Massachusetts, with advanced courses like Financial Reporting and Managerial Decision Making, Managing People and Organizations, Managing the Global Enterprise, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and Creating and Sustaining Market Strategies. As you learn, you’ll polish your English language skills and become a more resilient and agile business professional.
Boston is a center of business innovation that attracts talented professionals from around the globe who are pursuing their career aspirations. The city’s vibrancy—forged from its strong sense of community, rich culture, and dynamic commercial areas—makes it a great place to network and feel the pulse of the American business world.
You can choose from two F-1 visa-compliant formats.
The Eight-Month International Student Cohort Curriculum, the most popular option, requires full-time study of 12-15 courses. This is a cohort-based certificate where you’ll form a strong community with classmates from around the world as you spend time together studying on campus over eight months. You’ll forge business and personal connections that can benefit you for a lifetime. Those who successfully complete the Eight-Month International Student Cohort Curriculum may become eligible to apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT). To pursue the OPT option, you’ll work with an advisor from the Office of Global Services.
There’s another shorter option available: the Accelerated Four-Month Curriculum. You’ll earn 12 credits in one intensive semester of full-time study. You’ll build your experience by selecting your courses from any courses offered that term. This option allows you to take a study abroad term and transfer credits back to your home university in your home country. Keep in mind, though, that this option will not make you eligible to pursue Optional Practical Training (OPT).
Tatiana Lialina engaging with colleague and Professor Bruce Clark. Photo by Adam Glanzman for Northeastern University
With the foundation Tatiana laid during her graduate certificate, she took a deeper dive into how successful companies build their brands, develop marketing campaigns, create new products, and protect against the latest cybersecurity threats. In true Northeastern tradition, her coursework was powered by experience. For example, a marketing class project entailed adjusting a Peruvian product’s branding and marketing to the American market.
Tatiana chose to apply for admission to D’Amore-McKim’s Part-Time MBA program. The credits she earned through her graduate certificate applied toward her MBA requirements, so she didn’t need to repeat courses.
Tatiana Lialina. Photo by Adam Glanzman for Northeastern University
Like Tatiana, if you complete your certificate with at least a 3.0 GPA, you may be able to apply your credits to an eligible MBA or master’s degree program at Northeastern for up to three years. Read more about Tatiana’s educational journey from GCBA to MBA.
Ready for the next step in your career? Northeastern University’s Graduate Career Center will help you strategize using your certification for professional growth. They’ll help you find job and internship postings, career fairs, networking opportunities, and more. Whether you seek to enhance your career design, career agility, or career connections, the Graduate Career Center team will help you consider career fields while building up the necessary assets you’ll need to land the perfect job.
To experience the Graduate Certificate in Business Administration’s immediate impact for yourself, click here.
Follow Northeastern University’s D’Amore-McKim School of Business on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, X, and YouTube.
