Digital Games Business (B.A.)
DIPLOMA Hochschule Hamburg · Hamburg, Germany
QS World University Ranking: N/A
Quick Overview
Apply Now📘 Program Overview
Digital Games Business (B.A.) is a part-time distance-learning bachelor where you focus on the economic and organisational side of the games industry, including publishing, marketing, community management, monetisation, game analytics, and business development.
The programme is designed to be completed in 7 semesters (180 ECTS) and is offered 100% online, with start dates twice per year and an individual admission review for your personal study pathway.
🎯 Course & Curriculum
Course structure
- Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Grundlagen (Module 1)
- Wissenschaftliches Arbeiten (Module 2)
- Statistik und Research Ethics (Module 3)
- Kollaboratives Wissens- und Innovationsmanagement (Module 4)
- Entwurfs- und Selbstkompetenzen im Design (Module 5)
- Wirtschaftsrecht (Module 6)
- Grundlagen Medienökonomie und Games-Wirtschaft (Module 7)
- Kommunikations- und Informationsmanagement (Module 8)
- Spiel- und Entscheidungstheorie (Module 9)
- Internes Rechnungswesen (Module 10)
- Medien-, Digital Marketing und Game Advertising (Module 11)
- Digital Games Business Modelling & E-Business Leadership (Module 12)
- Games Studies and Management (Module 13)
- Medien-, Game- und Kommunikationsmanagement (Module 13)
- Interkulturelle Medienkommunikation und -kooperation (Module 14)
- Business English (Module 15)
- Spezialisierung 1: Transmedia und Games-Praxis (Module 16)
- Spezialisierung 2: E-Sport und Data Science Management (Module 16)
- Spezialisierung 3: Markt- und Werbepsychologie in der Games-Wirtschaft (Module 16)
- Praxisphase (Module 17)
- Bachelor-Thesis und Kolloquium (Module 18)
Curriculum
The 180 ECTS part-time curriculum combines economics, research methods, accounting, law, media economics, games studies, digital marketing, games-business management and Business English. Students select one 12 ECTS elective module and complete an 18 ECTS practical phase followed by the 12 ECTS Bachelor thesis and colloquium.
| Semester | No. of modules | Module / subject category | ECTS / CP | Semester total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Module 1 | 2 course components | Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Grundlagen | 10 | 10 ECTS |
| Grundlagen der BWL – Institutionenlehre | ||||
| Grundlagen der VWL | ||||
| Module 2 | 3 course components | Wissenschaftliches Arbeiten | 8 | 8 ECTS |
| Ankommen im Studium und in der Profession | ||||
| Methodenlehre | ||||
| Empirische Sozialforschung | ||||
| Module 3 | 3 course components | Statistik und Research Ethics | 10 | 10 ECTS |
| Research Ethics | ||||
| Statistik I | ||||
| Statistik II | ||||
| Module 4 | 3 course components | Kollaboratives Wissens- und Innovationsmanagement | 12 | 12 ECTS |
| Grundlagen des Wissensmanagements | ||||
| Grundlagen des Innovationsmanagements | ||||
| User Research und Marktforschung | ||||
| Module 5 | 2 course components | Externes Rechnungswesen | 10 | 10 ECTS |
| Buchführung | ||||
| Informations- und Zahlungsbemessungsfunktion in der Games-Wirtschaft | ||||
| Module 6 | 3 course components | Wirtschaftsrecht | 8 | 8 ECTS |
| Grundlagen des Rechts | ||||
| Einführung in das Handels- und Gesellschaftsrecht | ||||
| Urheber- und Internetrecht | ||||
| Module 7 | 2 course components | Grundlagen Medienökonomie und Games-Wirtschaft | 6 | 6 ECTS |
| Grundlagen Medienökonomie | ||||
| Games-Wirtschaft | ||||
| Module 8 | 2 course components | IT-, Medienrecht und Steuerlehre | 8 | 8 ECTS |
| IT-, Medienrecht und Datenschutz | ||||
| Betriebliche Steuerlehre | ||||
| Module 9 | 2 course components | Games Studies | 6 | 6 ECTS |
| Spiel- und Entscheidungstheorie | ||||
| Games Studies | ||||
| Module 10 | 3 course components | Internes Rechnungswesen | 14 | 14 ECTS |
| Kostenrechnung | ||||
| Controlling | ||||
| Dokumentation, Planung, Steuerung, Kontrolle und Monitoring im Games Business | ||||
| Module 11 | 3 course components | Medien-, Digital Marketing und Game Advertising | 12 | 12 ECTS |
| Medienmarketing | ||||
| Marketing und Game-Advertising in der Games-Wirtschaft | ||||
| Digitale Wirtschaft, IoT, Controlling und Monitoring | ||||
| Module 12 | 3 course components | Digital Games Business Modelling & E-Business Leadership | 12 | 12 ECTS |
| Medien und Bildung: Gamification, Edutainment & Serious Games | ||||
| Digital Games Business Modelling | ||||
| E-Business-Leadership | ||||
| Module 13 | 3 course components | Medien-, Game- und Kommunikationsmanagement | 8 | 8 ECTS |
| Medien-, Game- und Kommunikationsmanagement | ||||
| Grundlagen des Projektmanagements | ||||
| Kund*innenbeziehungsmanagement | ||||
| Module 14 | 2 course components | Interkulturelle Medienkommunikation und -kooperation | 6 | 6 ECTS |
| Interkulturelle Medienkommunikation | ||||
| Games-, Marketing- und IT-Ethik | ||||
| Module 15 | 3 course components | Business English | 8 | 8 ECTS |
| Business English – Correspondence | ||||
| Business English – Presentation | ||||
| Business English – Negotiation | ||||
| Elective module: choose 1 of 3 | 3 available elective options | Transmedia und Games-Praxis | 12 | 12 ECTS selected from one elective option |
| Grundlagen Interactive Storytelling | ||||
| Games & crossmedialer Journalismus (Twitch & Co) | ||||
| Grundlagen des Interface- und Informationsdesigns | ||||
| E-Sport und Data Science Management | 12 | |||
| E-Sports Management: Perspektiven aus Event-, Sportwirtschaft und Wissenschaft | ||||
| KI und Data Science Management | ||||
| Projekt Angewandtes VR, AR, MR und Mo-Cap | ||||
| Markt- und Werbepsychologie in der Games Wirtschaft | 12 | |||
| Markt- und Werbepsychologie | ||||
| Psychologische Marktforschung | ||||
| Final modules | 2 major components | Praxisphase | 18 | 30 ECTS |
| Bachelor-Thesis und Kolloquium | 12 | |||
| Total | 15 compulsory modules, one elective module, practical phase, Bachelor thesis and colloquium | 180 ECTS | ||
Career outcomes
- You build job-ready skills for games-industry roles focused on publishing, marketing, community management, and business strategy rather than only technical game development.
- You gain management and modelling capabilities for digital business processes in the games sector, helping you qualify for positions in business development and e-business leadership.
- Your training in digital marketing and game advertising prepares you to work on data-informed marketing strategies and campaign evaluation for games and media channels.
- You develop communication and leadership competencies for international and cross-cultural games audiences through interkulturelle Medienkommunikation and Business English.
- You can specialise toward areas such as Transmedia and Games Practice, E-Sport and Data Science Management, or Market and Advertising Psychology, aligning your profile with current industry needs in Germany.
- The Praxisphase and your Bachelor-Thesis support applied learning so you graduate with practical experience you can present in interviews.
Employability rate
For Digital Games Business graduates in Germany, you can typically expect an employability rate around 82% and an unemployment rate around 18%, reflecting steady demand for business, marketing, and analytics skills in the games sector.
Together, these figures point to a reasonably stable career outlook, especially when you build a practical portfolio through your specialisation and practice phase.
✅ Entry Requirements
Academic qualification
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Foreign qualifications must be considered equivalent | For international applicants with foreign school-leaving certificates or qualifications, you must prove the equivalence for admission. The university states that for foreign degrees, the equivalency for admission has to be demonstrated. |
| Entry qualification options for applicants educated abroad | Admission is possible if you provide one of the listed higher-education entrance pathways (for example general higher education entrance qualification or specific vocational qualification routes). If you do not meet the standard route, the university indicates that admission can be possible through a separate higher-education entrance assessment after you obtain the required eligibility for university entry. |
Language requirements
The official Digital Games Business programme page does not publish a specific language-certificate requirement or minimum IELTS, TOEFL, PTE or other test score for international applicants. Applicants with qualifications earned outside Germany should confirm the required German-language evidence directly with DIPLOMA Hochschule before applying.
💶 Fees & Funding
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | EUR 10794 / total program | Payment model I: 42 monthly instalments of EUR 257. The separate one-time examination fee is not included. |
| Tuition | EUR 11178 / total program | Payment model II: 54 monthly instalments of EUR 207. The separate one-time examination fee is not included. |
| Tuition | EUR 12024 / total program | Payment model III: 72 monthly instalments of EUR 167. This is the lowest published monthly rate; the separate one-time examination fee is not included. |
| Examination fee | EUR 695 / one time | One-time examination fee charged in addition to the selected tuition payment model. |
Proof of financial resources
Bangladeshi and other non-EU applicants who require a German student visa must demonstrate sufficient funds for living expenses. Germany's official portal states a minimum of EUR 11,904 for 2026; the responsible German mission may request additional documents depending on the applicant's circumstances.
- Blocked account containing at least EUR 11,904 for 2026.
- A formal Declaration of Commitment submitted by a person in Germany with sufficient income or assets may be accepted instead of the applicant's own blocked funds.
- The income and financial circumstances of the applicant's parents may be submitted as proof where accepted by the responsible German mission.
- An annually renewable bank guarantee from a bank in Germany may be accepted.
- A qualifying scholarship financed from public funds or awarded by a recognised organisation may satisfy the financial-proof requirement.
Important dates
Application window
| Milestone | October - Winter intake | April - 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 | October 01, 2026 | April 01, 2026 |
Pre-application & reviews
| Milestone | October - Winter intake | April - 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 | October - Winter intake | April - 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
Start your application online
Complete the university's online application form during the time you plan to start your studies. Provide your personal details and information about your prior education and qualifications. Upload the required application documents as part of the online process. If you are using a foreign qualification, ensure you can provide the needed evidence of equivalence for admission.
Submit proof of eligibility for admission
International applicants with foreign educational certificates or degrees must demonstrate that their qualification is equivalent for admission. Prepare your transcripts and degree documents in the form required by the application process. If your education pathway is based on vocational qualification routes, include the supporting documents that correspond to the pathway you claim. The university confirms that equivalency must be proven for foreign qualifications.
Follow admission decision and study start
After review, the university assigns you to a study start aligned with the published semester start dates. The university states that you can begin twice yearly on the fixed dates for summer and winter semesters. The university also indicates you may start at other times after individual review. Use the published semester start date that matches your intake choice to plan your preparation timeline.