International Business Management, BA Full-time
Charakter Fresenius Hochschule · Köln, Germany
QS World University Ranking: N/A
Quick Overview
Apply Now📘 Program Overview
The bachelor’s study program in International Business Management (B.A.) prepares you for a career on the international stage by combining business and economics with a focus on intercultural management and digital transformation. All modules are taught in English so you can be ready to work for international companies in Germany and internationally after graduation.
In the first three semesters, you build the basic principles of international business management, and in later semesters you can deepen your profile through selected majors, including options for study abroad during your degree. The program also includes practical, career-relevant learning such as case studies and internship or project-based modules.
🎯 Course & Curriculum
Course structure
- International Business and Strategic Management
- Mathematics and Statistics I (including Calculus and Linear Algebra and Descriptive Statistics) and Mathematics and Statistics II (including Financial Mathematics and Inferential Statistics)
- Financial Accounting, Bookkeeping and Cost Accounting, and Financial Mathematics
- Microeconomics and Macroeconomics, plus Market Research and Empirical Research Methods
- Business Communication and Academic Writing, Self and Time Management, Presentation Techniques
- International Human Resources and Diversity, Digital Transformation and Change Management, and Consumer Behavior and Market Psychology
- International Business and Management Consulting, International Business Ethics and Sustainability, and Digital Project Management and Practical Project
- Advanced Practical Project and Marketing, Social Media Marketing and E-Commerce
- Business English or German: Theory and Practise, Strategic Networking and Personal Branding, and Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management
- Project work / case studies linked to international business topics and practical application
- Global Supply Chain Management and Logistics, Management Game
- Strategic Networking and Personal Branding (elective/advanced focus in the final study phase)
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management (advanced focus in the later phase)
- Strategic consolidation of business competences and readiness for final thesis work
Curriculum
210 ECTS bachelor programme structured across six academic semesters, with core business and economics modules in the early semesters, additional business-management modules including electives, and a final thesis component.
| Semester | No. of modules | Module / subject category | ECTS / CP | Semester total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | 1st semester (core business and business language modules) | International Business and Strategic Management | ||
| Bookkeeping and Cost Accounting | ||||
| Mathematics and Statistics I - Calculus and Linear Algebra | ||||
| Marketing, Social Media Marketing and E-Commerce | ||||
| Career Prep I: Business Communication in English | ||||
| Academic Writing; Self+Time Management; Presentation Techniques | ||||
| Semester 2 | 2nd semester (core foundations in economics, analytics and project work) | Financing and Investment Appraisal | ||
| Mathematics and Statistics II - Financial Mathematics | ||||
| Mathematics and Statistics II - Inferential Statistics | ||||
| Microeconomics | ||||
| Market Research and Empirical Research Methods | ||||
| Digital Project Management and Practical Project | ||||
| Semester 3 | 3rd semester (advanced business management modules) | Macroeconomics | ||
| International Human Resources and Diversity | ||||
| Digital Transformation and Change Management | ||||
| Consumer Behavior and Market Psychology | ||||
| Advanced Practical Project | ||||
| Financial Accounting | ||||
| Semester 4 | 4th semester (international business management and electives linked to majors) | Strategic und Functional Management in International Companies | ||
| Applied International Strategic Management | ||||
| International Economic Relations | ||||
| Semester 5 | 5th semester (major-dependent structure and electives) | |||
| Semester 6 | 6th semester (advanced business modules and final practical work) | Global Supply Chain Management and Logistics | ||
| Management Game | ||||
| Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management | ||||
| Strategic Networking and Personal Branding | ||||
| Total | All required modules across the programme including core modules and end-of-programme components | |||
Career outcomes
- You graduate with a bachelor’s degree that is designed to equip you for careers in international companies, with a strong focus on intercultural management and digital transformation.
- The curriculum builds job-ready capabilities across core business functions such as accounting, finance foundations, market research, marketing, and HR management.
- You can connect what you learn to real professional practice through project work and internship options included in the degree concept.
- By choosing majors and (where available) study-abroad semesters, you build a truly international profile that helps you stand out in global business roles.
- You are prepared for entry-level positions in areas such as management consulting, business development, accounting, financial auditing, project management, HR management, marketing, and market research.
- This degree also supports your progression into further academic study, so you can continue with relevant master’s programmes after graduation.
Employability rate
Graduates of business and management programmes in Germany typically see an employability rate of around 85% and an unemployment rate of about 15%, reflecting steady hiring demand for business professionals with international and analytical skills.
Together, these figures indicate a generally stable career outlook when you pair your degree with practical projects, internships, and internationally relevant competencies.
✅ Entry Requirements
Academic qualification
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Secondary school leaving certificate | International applicants need a university entrance qualification (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung). If your secondary school leaving diploma qualifies you to enter a bachelor program in your home country but does not meet German university entrance requirements, you are entitled to take the Fresenius University entrance examination (free of charge). |
| English-language admission path | If you apply for an English-language study program, you do not need German language skills for admission to the program. |
Module matching by study area
| Study area | Match possible? | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Business & Management | Direct match | The program covers international business management with business administration, economics, and management-related themes, so applicants with relevant prior education are typically aligned with the program’s focus areas as described on the official program page. |
Language requirements
For this English-language bachelor’s program, you must provide proof of English proficiency equivalent to Level B2. English (B2) can also be recognised in certain cases based on prior study experience or work experience abroad, as described in the university’s foreign-language recognition guidelines.
IELTS Academic
TOEFL iBT
MOI (Medium of Instruction)
💶 Fees & Funding
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | EUR 0 / per year | This programme page states a monthly semester fee amount; full tuition breakdown per year is not explicitly published on the page we used. |
| Semester fee | EUR 0 / per semester | Semester fee shown as 950 EUR per month on the programme page; an official per-semester total is not explicitly published there. |
| Application fee | EUR 695 / one time | Application fee (Anmeldegebühr) shown as 695.00 EUR on the programme page. |
Proof of financial resources
You may need to provide proof of sufficient financial resources for your Germany student visa process. If you are a non-EU/international applicant, check the requirements for your visa appointment and keep your funding evidence ready for the application stage.
- Blocked account (Sperrkonto) may be needed to secure your German visa, as explained by the university’s application process guidance.
- Proof of health insurance or an exemption letter is required for enrolment, as stated in the university’s application process guidance.
Important dates
Application window
| Milestone | Winter intake | Summer intake |
|---|---|---|
| Application portal opens | N/A | N/A |
| Application deadline (final submit) | N/A | N/A |
| Application deadline (EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Application deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Recommended apply-by | N/A | N/A |
| Semester begins | N/A | N/A |
Pre-application & reviews
| Milestone | Winter intake | Summer intake |
|---|---|---|
| VPD request - recommended | N/A | N/A |
| VPD result expected | N/A | N/A |
| APS - recommended | N/A | N/A |
| Start eligibility check | N/A | N/A |
Document submission deadlines
| Milestone | Winter intake | Summer intake |
|---|---|---|
| Application submission deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A | N/A |
| Language certificate deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Official transcripts deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Certified translations deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Postal / hard-copy documents deadline | N/A | N/A |
| Missing documents (if requested) | N/A | N/A |
📝 How to Apply
Prepare your application eligibility documents
Review the admission requirements for bachelor’s study programs and confirm that your secondary school leaving qualification gives you access to a bachelor program in your home country. If your qualification does not meet German entrance requirements, the university states that you may be entitled to take the Fresenius entrance examination. Also prepare your English proof (Level B2 minimum equivalent) according to the university’s language recognition guidance.
Submit your application and upload required documents
Apply via the university’s application portal for the selected bachelor program and location. Upload at least your CV and your secondary school leaving certificate to have your application considered, and do so within the stated upload timeframe on the university’s application process page. Keep a copy of your language proof and supporting documents ready for later steps if requested.
Attend an admission interview (if you meet requirements)
After the university reviews your application and you fulfil the admission requirements, you are invited to an admission interview. The university states that the interview is scheduled for 15 minutes and is not a knowledge test. The interview is used to understand your personality, reasons for choosing the university, and motivation to study.
Complete the study contract and next steps
After a successful admission interview, the university sends you the official study contract with details of the next steps. For non-EU applicants, the university indicates that a security deposit transfer is required as part of completing the study contract. You may also need to submit or confirm language documents as stated by the university guidance before proceeding with the visa-related steps.