International Business Administration B.Sc.
Your ticket for success in a career in the global marketplace
Are you aiming for a business career as a specialist or manager in an international company? Then a bachelor’s degree in international business administration is just the right thing for you.
This degree programme takes into account the increasing globalisation and provides you with the skills you need as a young professional in multinational companies.
Already during your studies you will spend one semester abroad in order to improve your foreign language skills and gain intercultural experience. The study programme prepares you to work in multicultural teams and to deal with the specifics of various country markets.
"I am Dominik and I study International Business Administration at Fulda University of Applied Sciences. The strong international orientation and application-oriented content were particularly important to me when choosing my degree programme. I can recommend my studies to anyone who wants to position themselves well professionally in business administration in an international context."
"Hi, my name is Hanna. I study International Business Administration at Fulda University of Applied Sciences and can definitely recommend the programme. The study programme gives a super comprehensive and practical overview of operational procedures and processes. This is especially valuable for those who plan to become an entrepreneur themselves someday."
Apply now until 31 March!
Please note:
- Select the degree programme in the application portal:
Bachelor Internat. BW (PO 2019) 1st semester - The enrolment period ends on March 31, 2023
Info Events
You can get first-hand information from our lecturers and students at our information events.
You can find current dates in the schedule here.
Lecture light
Would you like to know how a lecture with us works and get your own impression of it?
Then take a look at our following video "Lecture light"!
Enthusiastic students & graduates report
Everything for an optimal start
It is important to us that you start your studies in IBWL well networked and with enthusiasm and that you get the opportunity to think "outside the box" during your studies. We support you with the following services:
- Introductory week for first-year students for initial orientation at the university incl. a team-building workshop (online event)
- Mentoring programme to support first-year students
- Preparatory courses in mathematics for first-semester students
- Tutorials (exercises conducted by students of higher semesters to accompany selected courses)
- Excursions to companies
- Projects with foreign partner universities
- Additional seminars on various topics (e.g. job application and assessment centre training, style and etiquette, tax tips for students, etc.).
Important points about the programme
Study programme
| Programme name and degree | International Business Administration Bachelor of Science (BSc) |
|---|---|
| Target group | Students with a general higher education entrance qualification, a technical college leaving certificate or an equivalently accredited qualification, who
|
| Goal | To qualify for a position in a business enterprise as
|
| Start | Summer and winter semester, each calendar year |
| Standard duration | 7 semesters |
| Teaching methods | Seminars (combination of lectures and practical sessions), case studies, presentations, discussions, role plays, simulations, e-learning and video conferences - consistently with a practical and international focus |
| Language of instruction | German and English |
| Lecturers | Professors, external lecturers and (international) guest speakers |
| Accreditation | The study programme has been successfully reaccredited and has been offered in the current form since the winter semester 2020/21. |
Profile and objectives
The Bachelor's programme in International Business Administration has a long tradition at Fulda University of Applied Sciences. It has been offered in its current, optimised form since the winter semester 2020/21. Our programme has a strong focus on international and practical experience and lasts 7 semesters. It comprises 35 modules and includes one semester abroad, which is completed as a study semester or as an internship in a country where a foreign language is spoken.
Our goal is to provide students with comprehensive knowledge of the content, concepts, methodology and instruments of general business administration, corporate operations and related disciplines. We ensure that students are equipped to apply this knowledge, in theory as well as in actual practice, to both familiar and new challenges that arise in international environments. Our students enjoy the significant benefits of small class sizes and gain direct experience of international life in our multicultural student groups.
Contents and structure
The standard duration of studies is 7 semesters.
| 1st Semester | 2nd Semester | 3rd Semester | 4th Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Business Administration I | General Business Administration II | Taxation | Marketing Management |
| Financial Accounting | Cost Accounting | Management Accounting | Logistics |
| Introduction to Economics & Research | Financial Reporting | Fundamentals of Human Resource Management | Enterprise Resource Planning Systems |
| Business English | Business Law | Investment and Finance | Digital Business |
| Mathematics I | Professional and Academic English | Microeconomics & International Trade | Macroeconomics & International Monetary Economics |
| Statistics | Mathematics II | Commercial and Company Law | Employment Law |
In the first two semesters, you will learn the basics of business administration and business law. You get to know fundamentals of mathematics and research methods. In the third and fourth semester you will get in-depth insights into business functions of a firm and expand your knowledge in law and economics.
What is more, you will improve your English language skills at an academic level. Moreover, you learn about how to use application software to support a company’s resource planning.
| 5th semester | 6th semester | 7th semester |
|---|---|---|
(A period of study abroad or an internship in a country where a foreign language is spoken) | Specialist Subject Module 1 | Specialist Subject Module 3 |
| Specialist Subject Module 2 | Elective Module 2 | |
| Elective Module 1 | Entrepreneurship | |
| Decision Training and Business Simulation | Applied Business Management | |
| Sustainable Business Management | Bachelor's thesis | |
| Leadership, Interculturality and Communication |
Work placement/Period abroad (fifth semester):
In the 5th semester, you will either complete a study abroad /exchange programme at a foreign university or a work placement module (BPS) in a company based abroad. Optionally, the work placement module can also be carried out in an international business unit of a company based in Germany.
The semester abroad requires that you have fully completed the modules of the 1st and 2nd semesters and have acquired 75 ECTS by 15.04. or 15.10. prior to the start of the studies/internship.
Profile studies (sixth and seventh semesters):
You can design the profile studies according to your interests by choosing a specialist subject from the following offer - consisting of three subject-related modules - in order to deepen your knowledge in them. This specialization is supplemented by two elective subjects, which give your study a very individual touch. You will also acquire in-depth knowledge in the area of corporate management and apply the knowledge you have acquired in the previous semester in a business simulation game.
| Area of specialisation | The three modules included |
|---|---|
| Accounting, Taxation and Auditing | International Accounting Taxation Tax Balance Sheet Statutes, Corporate Reorganizations and Auditing |
| Management Accounting | Cost Accounting Systems Advanced Corporate Finance Project Management and Controlling |
| Human Resources | The Core Functions of HR Management Leadership and Staff Development Current Challenges in Human Resource Management |
| Marketing | Market Research and Strategies for Markets Marketing Mix and Implementation Applied Methods of Marketing Research |
| Logistics | Corporate Logistics Introduction to Supply Chain Management Current Challenges in Logistics |
You will complete your study programme by writing a Bachelor’s thesis on a practical business administration topic.
Details of the courses are provided in the module handbook. This and the legal framework for our study programme are included in the Examination Regulations.
Admission requirements
You will be admitted to the study programme in International Business Administration if you have a university entrance qualification. These qualifications include the general univerity entrance qualification awarded to secondary school graduates, a subject-related qualification granting admission to a university or a university of applied sciences, a master craftsman certificate or an equivalent professional qualification.
You also need to have sufficient knowledge of German and English to enable you to understand lectures and subject material in both languages. Applicants must have English skills equivalent to at least level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Students whose mother tongue is English or who have graduated from a university or college programme conducted predominately in English are exempted from meeting this requirement. You can find more information about the language certificate here.
Applicants from a higher education establishment abroad must provide evidence of having German skills that meet the requirements of or are equivalent to the German language test for admission to university (DSH II).
You can start the programme in International Business Administration in the winter or summer semester. There are 110 places available each semester.
The Examination Regulations provide detailed information about admission requirements. Just click here.
Click here for an unofficial English translation of the Examination Regulations
and the module handbook/descriptions.
Internships abroad/Studies abroad/Erasmus
Internships abroad
All students are required to complete an internship in the practical phase of the programme or to spend a period of study abroad. The internationally oriented internship lasts six months and is arranged at a company or organisation in a country where a foreign language is spoken.Students are expected to work the standad hours of a full-time employee. If you need help to find an internship abroad, please contact Ms Martina Langsch (Internships).
The internship abroad is complemented by two seminars, in which you will be supervised by a professor. You will have fulfilled the internship requirements if the company or organisation issues a certificate of completion, if you have submitted the required internship report on time and if you have successfully completed the two seminars. Details are provided in Annex 3 (Internship Regulations) of the Examination Regulations.
Please contact Ms Martina Langsch (Internships) if you have any questions.
Studies abroad
The semester abroad is an integral part of the study programme in International Business Administration.
You can study at a partner university or look for a university yourself. Alternatively, you can do an internship abroad (see above). Your studies abroad will offer you many opportunities to deepen your theoretical knowledge and to strengthen your intercultural competence.
At the beginning of the second semester, you will be given basic information about the options for studying abroad, e.g. where you can study and which support and programmes are available for you.
The Department of Business has partnerships with universities in Europe, the USA and Australia. There are also well-established partnerships with Fulda University of Applied Sciences and the German federal State of Hesse.
While studying abroad, you will earn at least 20 credit points by completing at least four modules in Business Administration.
Within the study programme double degree options are available. Please follow this link for further information on them, Erasmus+ and International options.
Please direct questions about your studies abroad to our International Coordinator Ms Laura Yilmaz or the Team at the International Office.
Instruction and instructors
The high quality of this study programme stems from the organisational framework and appropriate study conditions combined with didactic skills of our experienced educators. Our team consists of professors as well as highly qualified staff and external lecturers. We communicate pertinent knowledge and expertise derived from actual practice - and we do so with enthusiasm. We are application-oriented and have a global focus. You will benefit from our years of practical experience. We also introduce you to the techniques of academic writing, thereby enabling you to complete your semester/project papers and the Bachelor’s thesis in accordance with academic standards.
Tuition sessions at the Fulda University of Applied Sciences are usually seminar-style, a combination of lectures and practical exercises. We favour an active exchange between teachers and students and encourage you to be actively involved in the learning process. Under the supervision of the lecturer, you analyse examples and case studies, work with professional and academic articles, perform role plays and solve e-learning problems.
You will attend German and English language modules and absorb expert knowledge through German and English. We want to provide you with the tools that you will need to find your way through the international business world and that is why many classes are held in English. You will thus have a valuable opportunity to become familiar with subject-specific terminology in English and to engage in sufficient practice so that you are able express yourself accurately. There are also frequent opportunities to participate in lectures given in English by renowned guest speakers.
Teaching material is placed on the Department’s electronic platform “eFBW“, which is also a platform for communication between students and their professors and instructors.
To ensure that our classes and teaching are evaluated on a regular basis and to enable us to further enhance the quality of our study programme, a standardised questionnaire is handed out toward the end of each semester. All data is treated anonymously.
Excellent career opportunities for graduates
Your studies and your Bachelor's degree in International Business Administration will equip you to obtain a position as a general manager, in management support, or in another function that requires international business expertise.
Potential employers include multinational companies as well as medium-sized firms with an international orientation in Germany and abroad. Our programme will boost your chances of quickly obtaining gainful employment in manufacturing, trade or the service sector.
Globalisation means that qualified graduates with a globally orientated Bachelor's degree in Business Administration are in great demand. Your prospects in the future job market are therefore excellent.
Alternatively, you may wish to study for a Master's degree. The Department of Business offers the following MSc programmes: