International Business and Economics (B.A.)

In International Business and Economics, you will study five semesters of business administration and economics in Thuringia in English. Additionally, you have the option to take elective courses in Spanish or German.

A special feature of the system-accredited degree program is the integrated and thus guaranteed semester abroad at one of our more than 70 partner universities in Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia or Australia. Optionally, you can also complete several semesters abroad. Abroad, you can attend lectures in English as well as those in the local language.

The study program is generally to be completed in English, although some modules may be studied in German or Spanish as an option. You have a great opportunity to specialize your studies individually, since 110 of the 180 ECTS are achieved through elective courses. Within the framework of the elective courses, you will often work in small groups on practical case studies.

As a graduate of our competitive degree program, you will have career opportunities especially in export-oriented and international companies. Alternatively, it is possible to obtain a master's degree in our International Business and Economics program, which is also taught in English and again includes a semester abroad. In recent years, more than 80 percent of the Master's students have come from abroad. Excellent Master's graduates have the opportunity to pursue a cooperative doctorate, which is possible at the faculty with our international partner universities.

As with all public universities in Germany, no tuition fees are charged at Schmalkalden University of Applied Sciences. As is also customary, there is a semester fee for the student services, the student union, and a semester ticket (free local transport ticket).

Overview

Type of study:	Full-time programme
Duration of study:	6 semesters
Lecture language:	English, optional Spanish and German
Degree:	Bachelor of Arts
ECTS:	180
Next start:	Summer and Winter semester each year
Application deadline:	1st of Feburary - 15.th of June (winter intake) 1st of September - 15th of December (Summer intake)

International Business and Economics programme curriculum and design

The 6-semester Bachelor's program International Business and Economics consists of five elements:

12 mandatory modules (60 ECTS credit points)
elective modules (110 ECTS credit points)
one semester abroad at one of our over 70 partner universities
course work (in preparation for the Bachelor's thesis)
8-week Bachelor thesis (10 ECTS credit points)

Our international business and economics students start their studies well informed and networked:

First semester orientation days
Optional preparatory courses in mathematics for first-year students
Tutorials to supplement selected courses (by students for students)
Key qualifications for all (rhetoric, psychology, soft skills and scientific work)
Career Centre to support your practical applications
Practical excursions and practical lectures

International Business and Economics covers a broad range of knowledge that provides students with professional and methodological competences in economics. In addition to the basics of business administration and economics, students should also consolidate and train their language skills. Click here for the module descriptions.

Mandatory modules:

Mathematics, Statistics, Soft Skills, Marketing, Finance and Investment, Intercultural Management, Principles of Economics, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Financial Accounting, Cost Accounting and Digital Business. (60 ECTS credit points)

At our faculty, several modules are offered in each of 13 different elective areas. You determine your own personal focus by selecting different modules. 110 ECTS credit points have to be acquired. You have a wide choice of electives from our elective areas. Further options exist within the framework of the recommended semester abroad.

Electives in business administration:

Procurement and Production
Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management
Corporate and Behavioural Finance
Management Accounting and Management Control
Marketing
Human Resource Management and Organisation
Taxes and Accounting
Tourism Management

Electives in economics:

Finance
Health and Evironmental Economics
International Economic Relations
Legal, Behavioural and Strategic Economics
Transport and regional policy

At least 135 of the 170 ECTS credit points to be acquired through lectures in the International Business and Economics program must be completed in English. Elective courses can also be taken in Spanish and up to 35 ECTS can be completed in German.

At least 25 of the ECTS credit points to be earned in elective modules must be earned during the semester at a foreign partner university.

Admission requirements

You can start the Bachelor's programme "International Business and Economics" with a general higher education entrance qualification (allgemeine Hochschulreife), a subject-linked higher education entrance qualification (fachgebundene Hochschulreife) or a higher education entrance qualification for a university of applied sciences (Fachhochschulreife).

In addition, applicants whose native language is not English must prove a ToEFL with at least 86 points (internet based) or an IELTS with at least 6.5 points.

Special admission requirements for non-EU citizens

Normally the admission of non-eu citizens is difficult and usually involves attending the Studienkolleg in Germany.

Our faculty established a simplified admission process:

You will be provisionally admitted to the study program if you have a university entrance qualification from your country. If you earn 30 credit points in the first two semesters (which is half of the credit points you should normally earn), you will be admitted definitively. In addition, applicants whose native language is not English must prove a ToEFL with at least 86 points (internet based) or an IELTS with at least 6.5 points. Applicants with a degree obtained in China, India or Vietnam must provide an APS certificate.

Application

Since October 2024, applications for study places at Schmalkalden University of Applied Sciences have to be made online for most degree programmes. If you would like to apply, you must first register for the online application. Once you have successfully registered, you can submit your application(s) there.

To apply, documents no longer need to be printed to be sent to the university by post. Instead, the required documents will be uploaded online during the application process. Make sure you prepare the necessary certificates (especially proof of identity, degree or school certificates, proof of language proficiency) so that you can use them directly for your application.

Apply now