MBA General Management
Hamburger Fern-Hochschule · Hamburg, Germany
QS World University Ranking: N/A
Quick Overview
Apply Now📘 Program Overview
Der MBA General Management bietet Ihnen eine hochwertige Managementausbildung und macht Sie zu erfolgreichen Intrapreneur*innen im Unternehmen. Ergänzen Sie Ihre fachliche Expertise aus dem Erststudium um professionelles Führungswissen und leiten Sie Ihr Unternehmen von innen heraus zum Erfolg.
Mit dem Fernstudium MBA General Management bietet Ihnen die HFH · Hamburger Fern-Hochschule ein generalistisch geprägtes, strategisch ausgerichtetes und praxisnahes Managementstudium. Der Studiengang legt Schwerpunkte auf Innovationsmanagement und Change Management und vermittelt praxisrelevante Kenntnisse für Führungspositionen im Management in interdisziplinären Berufsfeldern.
🎯 Course & Curriculum
Course structure
- Introduction to the MBA study (Einführung in das MBA-Studium) as the programme preparatory block.
- Management Fundamentals with examination work (Klausurarbeit).
- This phase builds the business fundamentals needed before the advanced management modules.
- Strategic Management with examination work (Klausurarbeit) or complex exercises (Komplexe Übung).
- Corporate Finance and Controlling with examination work (Klausurarbeit).
- Innovation Management with examination work (Klausurarbeit) or complex exercises (Komplexe Übung).
- Change Management with examination work and complex exercises (Klausurarbeit / Komplexe Übung).
- Business Planning and Business Simulation through complex exercises (Komplexe Übung).
- Network Management and Relationship Marketing through examination work and complex exercises (Klausurarbeit / Komplexe Übung).
- Master thesis (Masterthesis) as the final module.
- A dedicated thesis workload to complete the programme’s total credit points.
- This phase focuses on academic-level work that applies management knowledge to a final thesis topic.
Curriculum
120 ECTS MBA programme with a distributed module plan and a Masterthesis worth 30 ECTS.
| Semester | No. of modules | Module / subject category | ECTS | Semester total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Semester | Modules (credit points shown per module) | Management Fundamentals | 6 | 6 |
| 2. Semester | Modules (credit points shown per module) | Strategic Management | 10 | 18 |
| Corporate Finance and Controlling | 8 | |||
| 3. Semester | Modules (credit points shown per module) | Innovation Management | 13 | 31 |
| Change Management | 18 | |||
| 4. Semester | Modules (credit points shown per module) | Business Planning | 7 | 35 |
| Business Simulation | 6 | |||
| Network Management | 11 | |||
| Relationship Marketing | 11 | |||
| 5. Semester | Masterthesis | Masterthesis | 30 | 30 |
| Total | All modules plus Masterthesis | 120 ECTS | ||
Career outcomes
- You build management and leadership capability around innovation management and change management, so you can move into strategy and transformation roles.
- You strengthen finance and controlling competence through Corporate Finance and Controlling, supporting career moves into business planning, controlling, and business decision-making functions.
- You develop applied planning and simulation skills via Business Planning and Business Simulation, helping you perform effectively in product, business development, and management consulting environments.
- You gain practical stakeholder and customer-relationship thinking through Network Management and Relationship Marketing, preparing you for roles in partnerships, corporate communications, and commercial management.
- You graduate with a recognised Master of Business Administration (MBA) from an accredited programme structure with a full Master thesis component, giving you strong credentials for advancement.
- You can study as a part-time distance-learning programme while continuing work, so you graduate with both academic knowledge and work experience.
Employability rate
Graduates of MBA General Management programmes in Germany typically see an employability rate of around 86% and an unemployment rate of about 14%, reflecting strong demand for managers and specialists who can handle strategy, transformation, and leadership tasks.
Together, these figures indicate a relatively stable career outlook, especially for applicants who combine the MBA with relevant professional experience.
✅ Entry Requirements
Academic qualification
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Relevant first degree (Master admission requirement) | For admission to the MBA General Management, you need a completed degree from a state-recognised or state-accredited university. The HFH explains that for applicants with foreign higher-education entrance qualifications/foreign degrees, your documents are assessed in line with the HFH foreign-qualification procedures. |
| Foreign qualification assessment for international applicants | International applicants with foreign certificates/qualifications must have their documents assessed by the HFH in accordance with the evaluation approach referenced on the admissions page (including reference to ZAB as part of the assessment process). If your qualification is not clearly listed in the referenced database, the HFH notes that an equivalence confirmation may be required. |
| German language requirement for admission | International applicants must prove sufficient German language skills before starting the program. The HFH states that applicants must demonstrate German language proficiency at least at B2 level (with language-exemption rules listed on the admissions page). |
Module matching by study area
| Study area | Match possible? | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Business and Management / MBA-related background | Relevant background expected | The HFH admission requirement for the MBA includes a completed first degree and review of foreign qualifications; the program then builds MBA competencies across strategy, finance, innovation, and change management. |
Language requirements
The HFH MBA General Management is taught in German, and international applicants must submit proof of sufficient German language proficiency before enrollment. The HFH states that foreign-language applicants need a B2-level proof for admission, with specific language-coverage notes for the program’s English-taught modules.
MOI (Medium of Instruction)
MOI waiver details are not published for this programme. See the English test requirements above.
Other accepted proofs
💶 Fees & Funding
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | EUR 1500 / per year | Study fee: 450 € per month; 13,500 € total for the programme. (Tuition only; add the thesis examination fee if applicable.) |
| Master thesis examination fee | EUR 990 / one time | Additional examination fee for the thesis per attempt: 990 €. |
| Pre-semester module fee | EUR 360 / total program | If a Pre-MBA semester is required: 360 € per module, up to 1,080 € total for the Pre-MBA semester. |
Proof of financial resources
To obtain a Germany student residence permit, international applicants generally need to demonstrate sufficient funds to cover living costs and study-related expenses. For the exact amount and acceptable proof format, follow the official guidance for Germany’s visa/residence process and submit the documents required by your German mission.
- Proof of financial resources for living costs as required for a Germany student visa/residence permit (follow the official German immigration/embassy requirements for the required amount and document format).
- Any additional study-related costs stated by the university for this MBA programme (for example, tuition and any thesis examination fees as published).
Important dates
Application window
| Milestone | January - Winter intake | July - Summer intake |
|---|---|---|
| Application portal opens | January 01, 2026 | July 01, 2026 |
| Application deadline (final submit) | December 31, 2026 | December 31, 2026 |
| 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 | January 01, 2026 | July 01, 2026 |
Pre-application & reviews
| Milestone | January - Winter intake | July - 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 | January - Winter intake | July - 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
Review entry requirements for international applicants
Check the HFH international admissions requirements for the MBA General Management, including the completed state-recognised university degree requirement and the German language proof (B2 or applicable exemption). If your documents are issued outside Germany, plan time for the HFH foreign-qualification review and any required equivalence confirmations.
Prepare certified documents and translations
Gather your degree certificate and transcripts, and ensure they are provided in the language format required for the admission review. The HFH admissions guidance highlights that translations may be required when originals are not already in an accepted language.
Submit your application through HFH channels
For this MBA programme, the HFH states that enrollment registration is possible at any time. Submit your application documents for assessment and follow the HFH instructions for processing and review of foreign qualifications.
Complete enrollment for the published study start date
The HFH states the program study start dates as 01.01 and 01.07, and that you must be enrolled for the study start to become effective. After assessment and acceptance, proceed with the remaining steps for enrollment and start preparing for your first study phase and module examinations.