Innovation Management (MSc)
Hamburg School of Business Administration · Hamburg, Germany
QS World University Ranking: N/A
Quick Overview
Apply Now📘 Program Overview
The HSBA Innovation Management Master of Science (MSc) is a part-time programme taught entirely in English in Hamburg, focused on innovation, entrepreneurship, strategy and product development, AI, internationalisation and further development of existing business areas.
You can complete the programme in five semesters or optionally in four semesters via a Fast Track option, and you will collect 120 ECTS credits across modules in the first and second study years, concluding with your thesis.
🎯 Course & Curriculum
Course structure
- Innovation Management and Strategic Business Development build your core understanding of innovation, business planning, and business model innovation in a digitalised, globalised environment
- Project Management teaches frameworks and methods such as Design Thinking, Scrum, and Agile
- Data Analysis strengthens your quantitative and data-supported decision-making skills using IT tools, mathematics, and statistics
- Scientific Methods & Competences supports research and negotiation-oriented skills needed for later consulting and thesis work
- Consulting Project applies innovation and management theory to real problems or client-like projects
- Case Studies in Innovation develops deeper analytical and strategic capability for innovation decisions
- Specialisation Part I and Part II let you focus from the second semester onward on one of the available specialisations
- Selected specialisation modules include (depending on your chosen track) topics such as AI, digital economics, sustainable innovation, business planning, and economics of digital innovation
- Research Seminar Scientific Methods prepares you for independent academic research and supports your thesis preparation
- Business Plans and Legal Foundations connects innovation and business model design with legal foundations for planning
- Master’s Thesis (Master Thesis IVM) concludes the programme and is worth 25 credits
Curriculum
120 ECTS part-time MSc Innovation Management (regular duration 30 months) with core modules, general/business modules, a three-part specialisation, electives (including the study trip), and a Master’s thesis.
| Semester | No. of modules | Module / subject category | ECTS / CP | Semester total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Core and general modules (start year 1) plus Specialisation Part I | Innovation Management | ||
| Service and Product Design | ||||
| Case Studies in Innovation | ||||
| Research Seminar Scientific Methods | ||||
| Consulting Project | ||||
| Future of Work & HR Trends | ||||
| Science Communication | ||||
| Negotiations & Storytelling | ||||
| Programming | ||||
| Data Analysis | ||||
| Entrepreneurial Finance | ||||
| Project Management | ||||
| Applied Econometrics | ||||
| Strategic Digital Economics | ||||
| Sustainable Innovation Camp | ||||
| Specialisation Part I | ||||
| Semester 2 | Core and general modules continue with Specialisation Part II | Core Modules (remaining from year 1 block) | ||
| Specialisation Part II | ||||
| Applied Econometrics (if scheduled in year 2 block) | ||||
| Semester 3 | Core and general modules with Specialisation Part III and electives (study trip) | Specialisation Part III | ||
| Study Trip | ||||
| Semester 4 | Master’s thesis | Master’s Thesis | ||
| Total | Core modules, general modules, specialisations (Parts I–III), elective Study Trip, and Master’s Thesis | |||
Career outcomes
- You build innovation-management capability that supports leadership roles in product, service, and business model innovation in data-driven companies.
- You gain project-based consulting and case-application skills that prepare you to advise stakeholders on innovation strategy and execution.
- Your specialisation choices (starting from the second semester) let you align your MSc with job-relevant pathways such as AI transformation, finance, start-ups, marketing and sales, shipping and logistics, or sustainable intrapreneurship.
- You develop negotiation, research, and analytics skills that are directly useful for innovation consulting, corporate strategy, and innovation analytics roles.
- The programme’s thesis preparation supports you to go from applied problem-solving to evidence-based recommendations, helping you stand out for graduate-level roles.
Employability rate
For MSc Innovation Management graduates in Germany, employability is typically around 88% and unemployment around 12%, reflecting ongoing demand for innovation, strategy, and data-informed business roles.
Together, these figures point to a stable career outlook with reliable opportunities in business and innovation-focused employers.
✅ Entry Requirements
Academic qualification
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree equivalent (180 ECTS minimum) | International applicants must hold a completed third-level degree with at least 180 ECTS. The degree should include a good knowledge of mathematics and statistics. |
| Economics-related content (60 ECTS minimum) | Of the 180 ECTS, at least 60 ECTS must be in economics-related subjects. From these 60 ECTS, up to 15 ECTS may be substituted by credits in scientific or quantitative methods, and up to 30 ECTS may be substituted by one year of relevant professional experience. |
| Minimum grade requirement | The degree should have been completed with a grade of at least 'Good' (2.5). If the grade is below this level, additional relevant professional experience must be provided. |
| English proficiency and recommendation | Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in English at least B2 (CEFR) and submit a letter of recommendation from a current or former employer or an academic reference. |
| Successful application process | Admission requires successful completion of the HSBA application process, including an online application and an individual interview. |
Language requirements
The MSc Innovation Management (MSc) at HSBA is taught in English. International applicants must demonstrate English proficiency at least B2 level (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).
💶 Fees & Funding
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | EUR 22500 / total program | Tuition fees for MSc Innovation Management total 22,500 EUR for the entire master’s programme (regular track); all figures below reflect published tuition only. |
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 |
🎓 Scholarship
| Provider | Scheme name | Coverage | Eligibility notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAAD | EPOS — Development-Related Postgraduate Courses | Tuition fees, monthly stipend, travel allowance, health insurance | EPOS funds selected development-related postgraduate courses in Germany and is awarded to graduates from developing countries with relevant professional experience. This MSc is a postgraduate (Master’s-level) programme in Germany that may be eligible depending on the DAAD’s current EPOS course list for the application year. |
📝 How to Apply
Check eligibility and prepare your background
Review the international admission requirements for the MSc Innovation Management, including your degree level (180 ECTS minimum), economics-related study share (60 ECTS minimum), and English proficiency (B2). If you are unsure whether your first degree covers the required content, HSBA states that they can check in advance whether you meet the admission requirements. Prepare your documents early so you have time for translations and document formatting before uploading your application.
Submit the online application and upload one PDF
Complete your application via HSBA’s online application portal. Upload your documents as one PDF containing the required items. HSBA lists the application documents (motivation letter, CV, degree certificate/transcripts/grade scale, work experience letter, letter of recommendation, and an English certificate at least B2).
Attend the individual interview
After HSBA reviews your documents and you meet the formal admission requirements, you will be invited to an individual interview. HSBA explains that this interview can also take place virtually. The interview is conducted in English for the MSc Innovation Management.
Admission decision and enrollment
If the admissions committee gives a positive decision, HSBA offers a study place and sends a contract and additional information to you. After countersigning the contract and providing proof of finance, you can be welcomed to HSBA. HSBA states that studies start on 1 October of each year.