Operating worldwide
In this degree programme, we combine traditional business administration with an international focus and intensive language training. You will be able to choose one of four regional specialisations within the first two weeks of your semester. Would you like to combine Chinese, French, Spanish or German with English?
As an international student without previous knowledge of German, Germany will automatically be your regional specialisation.
Your key contacts
Interested in an international career? We're happy to advise you on IBM!
International Business Management (BA) (IBM)
International Business (BA) (IBW)
Professor of Transcultural Management
Programme content and structure
100% taught in English - IBM is a forward-looking, practice-oriented degree programme that teaches broad business management skills from a global perspective. We teach you all the theoretical, practical and social skills you need to enter the international business world. In addition to foreign languages, we also attach great importance to teaching you soft skills such as teamwork and planning skills.
Entry requirements
- German university entrance qualification:
- Allgemeine Hochschulreife, Fachhochschulreife, Fachgebundene Hochschulreife
- or a foreign university entrance qualification equivalent to the German one.
You can easily verify equivalency using the DAAD admissions database. If the database indicates that you are required to take the “Feststellungsprüfung”, direct equivalency is not granted. In that case, you would typically need to complete either one year of university studies in your home country or a one-year preparatory course in Germany (Studienkolleg) to qualify for admission to a bachelor’s programme in Germany. However, in such cases, Furtwangen University offers a unique direct admission pathway (“Smart Admission”) to this programme. Detailed information is available on our dedicated Smart Admission page.
- English language proficiency:
- International applicants:
- TOEFL internet-based iBT (total score 72 or higher)
- IELTS (overall band score 6,0 or higher)
- TOEIC (total score 785 or higher)
- PTE Academic (overall score 59 or higher)
- Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) (Grade A, B, C)
- Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) (Grade A, B, C)
- Cambridge English Scale 160
- A-Levels
- English grade from a secondary school in the European Union
- International Baccalaureate (IB-Diploma)
- Language A HL grade 4, language A SL grade 4 (or higher)
- Language B HL grade 5, language B SL grade 6 (or higher)
- completed bachelor’s degree in English Language or Literature
- German applicants: The German university entrance qualification (Abitur / Fachhochschulreifezeugnis) is considered proof of your language skills.
- International applicants:
Please note: only citizens of the following countries are exempted from providing proof of English language proficiency:
- Australia
- Canada
- Ireland
- New Zealand
- United Kingdom
- United States of America
- South Africa
If you have completed your secondary school certificate in one of the listed countries but are NOT a citizen of either of them you are also exempted.
- German language proficiency:
No prior knowledge necessary
- Language skills in your regional focus of choice:
- Francophone world: 2 school years /A2
- Hispanic world: 2 school years /A2
- China: no previous knowledge necessary
- Germany/EU: no previous knowledge necessary
Tuition fees
The Baden-Württemberg state government introduced tuition fees of €1500 / semester for non-EU students in Winter Semester 2017/18.
Further information: External link opens in a new window:https://career-start-bw.com
In addition, all students pay administrative, student union and student services fees totaling €176/semester.
What's covered
Special features
This study programme is taught 100% in English.
Would you prefer to study bilingually in German/English? Then click here for our Internal link opens in the same window:International Business(IBW) degree programme.
Your career prospects
Ready for take-off?
With the know-how and skills we teach you on your way to your bachelor's degree, the doors to the world of work are open to you! During your internship semester and perhaps also during your thesis, you have already had the opportunity to make contacts with companies - this often pays off now.
Whether you are a financial analyst in Zurich, a key account manager in Mexico City, an entrepreneur in Shanghai, a purchasing manager in Toulouse, a controller for sporting goods in Cape Town, or Head of Global CSR in Germany - you have the best chance of landing your dream job anywhere in the world!
Our graduate network also offers exciting contact opportunities. Our successful graduates stay in touch with each other, even after they've completed their degree, whether they are working at home or abroad. HFU Business School graduates are employed by companies such as Microsoft, McKinsey, Siemens, Bosch, IBM, Daimler, Accenture, Swiss Re and BMW, have participated in high potential trainee programs at EADS, Deutsche Telekom, E.ON and Siemens, and have even founded their own successful companies.
What's new in the Business School
Find us on Instagram: External link opens in a new window:@hfu.business.school!