Business Administration (BSc)
Hamburg School of Business Administration · Hamburg, Germany
QS World University Ranking: N/A
Quick Overview
Apply Now📘 Program Overview
The dual Bachelor of Science programme in Business Administration at HSBA Hamburg School of Business Administration combines alternating theoretical phases at the university with practical phases in a company, giving you the chance to apply business knowledge directly in real work settings.
The degree offers specialisation choices such as Major and Minor (starting from the second year), and the programme is taught mainly in German with English as a further language option.
🎯 Course & Curriculum
Course structure
- You build the basics of business administration in the first year of study.
- Core modules cover business fundamentals and prepare you for specialisation in later semesters.
- Your study is organised as a dual programme with alternating theoretical university phases and practical company phases.
- You specialise by choosing either a major or two minors from the specialisation options offered from the second year onwards.
- The major runs from the 3rd to the 6th semester, while minors take place consecutively from the 3rd to the 4th semester.
- You continue learning through the dual format, alternating university study with on-the-job training in your company.
- The minor sequence continues from the 5th to the 6th semester while the major continues through the 6th semester.
- You complete advanced programme requirements and work further on your chosen specialisation(s) within the dual structure.
- The degree concludes after a total study duration of 3 years with a credit total of 180 ECTS.
Curriculum
180 CP bachelor degree with dual study structure (theory at university and practical training in the company) and a bachelor thesis including a colloquium.
| Semester | No. of modules | Module / subject category | ECTS / CP | Semester total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Kernmodule and Minor (part 1) | Organisation and Organisational Behaviour | ||
| Personal und Führung | ||||
| Projektmanagement | ||||
| Grundlagen der Wirtschaftsinformatik | ||||
| Semester 2 | Kernmodule and Minor (part 2) | Strategie und Innovation | ||
| Wissenschaft und Trends | ||||
| Management Game | ||||
| Minor 1: Modul 1 | ||||
| Semester 3 | Kernmodule, Minor (part 3), and Minor 2 start | Minor 1: Modul 2 | ||
| Minor 1: Modul 3 | ||||
| Minor 2: Modul 1 | ||||
| Minor 2: Modul 2 | ||||
| Semester 4 | Kernmodule, Minor 2 completion, and Electives | Minor 2: Modul 3 | ||
| Elective 1 | ||||
| Elective 2 | ||||
| General Elective/Study Trip | ||||
| Semester 5 | Elective 3 and core content continuation | Elective 3 | ||
| Kernmodule continuation (core and integrative components) | ||||
| Semester 6 | Bachelor thesis and remaining core components | Bachelorarbeit | ||
| Kernmodule continuation (remaining core components) | ||||
| Semester 1–3 | Credits summary from the published study and exam schedule | Summe Bereich Kernmodule credits (as published in the course and exam schedule) | ||
| Semester 1–2 | Electives area credits (as published in the course and exam schedule) | Summe Bereich Wahlmodule credits (Electives and General Elective/Study Trip) | ||
| Semester 3–4 | Minor credits (as published in the course and exam schedule) | Summe Bereich Minor credits (Minor 1 and Minor 2) | ||
| Semester 6 | Bachelor thesis (including colloquium credits as published) | Bachelorarbeit | ||
| Total | Kernmodule, Wahlmodule, Minor (specialisation components), and Bachelorarbeit including colloquium | |||
Career outcomes
- You graduate with business administration expertise built alongside practical company training, so you can step into junior roles with job-relevant experience from day one.
- Because you choose a major or two minors from multiple specialisation options, you can align your degree with roles in areas like Finance, Marketing, Sales, Audit and Advisory, or International Management.
- The dual structure (theoretical study plus systematic on-the-job training in a company) helps you develop workplace-ready skills for the roles companies hire for.
- Your specialisation pathway is supported by modern digital teaching formats, helping you build skills that match today’s business needs.
- You benefit from a large network of partner companies in Hamburg, which strengthens your professional connections during your studies.
- The programme’s flexible specialisation options mean you can shape your learning around your career goals rather than following only a fixed curriculum track.
Employability rate
HSBA Business Administration (BSc) students report that 98% of graduates received a job offer from their partner company, while 91% of alumni are satisfied with their studies in retrospect, reflecting strong demand for co-operative graduates in Germany.
Together, these figures indicate a stable career outlook with reliable entry opportunities through your partner-company pathway and dual training experience.
✅ Entry Requirements
Academic qualification
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Higher education entrance qualification (for international applicants) | International applicants need a foreign higher education entry qualification that entitles them to study at a third-level institution in their home country. Whether it is accepted for HSBA is assessed case-by-case, and applicants should submit documents as early as possible for assessment. If the qualification is not considered equivalent in Germany, it may be possible to acquire an equivalent qualification via a preparatory course in Germany (Studienkollegs). |
| Study agreement with a partner company | To be accepted into the dual programme, applicants must conclude a study agreement with a partner company where the practical part of the programme will be carried out. HSBA supports the search for a partner company, and students remain in one company throughout the full study programme. The practical part in the company may require knowledge of German. |
| Good knowledge of Mathematics and English | HSBA requires good knowledge of Mathematics and English for admission to the dual bachelor’s programmes for international applicants. HSBA states that these can be substantiated through relevant school grades or alternative substantiation, with HSBA converting grades after submission of the documents. If the required grades cannot be produced, applicants can complete an HSBA admission test (which can be taken in English). |
| Good knowledge of German (required for Business Administration) | For Business Administration, international applicants need formal proof of good knowledge of German for acceptance. HSBA lists specific certificates/tests that can be used, and applicants must present them no later than the registration date (by 31 August). |
Language requirements
For the dual BSc Business Administration at HSBA, international applicants must show good knowledge of English for the programme and (for Business Administration) formal proof of German knowledge for admission. Proof can be provided through school grades that HSBA converts, or by recognised language certificates and/or HSBA admission tests. Language certificates must be presented no later than the registration date (by 31 August).
IELTS Academic
TOEFL iBT
MOI (Medium of Instruction)
💶 Fees & Funding
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | EUR 0 / per year | The official Business Administration (BSc) programme page does not publish the tuition amount. |
| Semester fee | EUR 0 / per semester | The official Business Administration (BSc) programme page does not publish a semester-fee amount. |
| Preparatory course fee | EUR 300 / one time | Preparatory course in mathematics: EUR 300.00 (5 sessions), non-refundable, to be transferred within 14 days of registration (fee applies to the preparatory course, not the BSc tuition). |
Proof of financial resources
Important dates
Application window
| Milestone | October - Winter intake |
|---|---|
| Application portal opens | N/A |
| Application deadline (final submit) | N/A |
| Application deadline (EU students) | N/A |
| Application deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A |
| Recommended apply-by | N/A |
| Semester begins | October 01, 2026 |
Pre-application & reviews
| Milestone | October - Winter intake |
|---|---|
| VPD request - recommended | N/A |
| VPD result expected | N/A |
| APS - recommended | N/A |
| Start eligibility check | N/A |
Document submission deadlines
| Milestone | October - Winter intake |
|---|---|
| Application submission deadline | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (EU students) | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A |
| Language certificate deadline | N/A |
| Official transcripts deadline | N/A |
| Certified translations deadline | N/A |
| Postal / hard-copy documents deadline | N/A |
| Missing documents (if requested) | N/A |
📝 How to Apply
Prepare your eligibility for HSBA’s international criteria
Confirm you have a foreign higher education entrance qualification that entitles you to study at a third-level institution in your home country. Make sure you can show good knowledge of Mathematics and English through your school grades or an alternative substantiation, and prepare language proof for both English and German if required for Business Administration. HSBA also requires that you have a study agreement with a partner company for the dual practical part.
Provide your documents for assessment
Submit your documents early so HSBA can assess whether your higher education entrance qualification is accepted for study at HSBA. If your required grades for Mathematics/English cannot be produced, you may need an HSBA admission test that can be taken in English. For Business Administration, plan German-language proof so it can be submitted by the registration deadline (by 31 August).
Apply to a partner company and complete the company selection process
For the dual study programme, you apply directly to a company that offers a co-operative study place and goes through that company’s selection process. HSBA states that it is essential to conclude a study agreement with a partner company where the practical part will be carried out. Your company selection typically comes first, before HSBA checks the admission requirements.
HSBA checks admission requirements and you then matriculate
After the company selection process, HSBA checks whether the admission requirements are fulfilled for the dual bachelor’s programme. If everything is met, you will be matriculated and can start your studies. Keep your language certificates and supporting documents ready for the registration date mentioned by HSBA.