Bachelor of Arts

International Business

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Fit for the global digital business world

Do you want to combine foreign languages and time spent abroad with a degree in business administration? Then you've come to the right place! Our bilingual bachelor's degree opens the doors to a worldwide career. You'll face this challenge in a friendly atmosphere and as an individual personality, and not as an anonymous (matriculation) number.

  • ECTS: 210 ECTS
  • Programme duration: 7 semesters
  • Campus: Schwenningen
  • Faculty: HFU Business School
  • Programme begins: winter semester (October), summer semester (March)
  • Application deadline: 15 July (winter semester), 15 January (summer semester)
  • Entry requirements: university entrance qualification
  • Teaching language: German and English
  • Accreditation: yes
  • Top study programme Time and again, our International Business degree programme has achieved top positions in rankings. We are particularly praised for our high level of practical relevance.
  • Two semesters abroad You spend your internship semester at a company abroad. And for your study semester abroad, all doors are open to you at our partner universities. Shanghai, Paris, Buenos Aires, Bali... where do you want to go?
  • Digital and workplace-oriented Business decisions are based on data, lots of data. We teach you how to interpret it. All our lecturers have many years of practical experience, which they pass on to you.
  • Ethics and sustainability Climate change, child labour, plastic waste - decision-makers in companies need a compass of values. We guide you to empower you for sustainable, ethical management.

Details of the programme

Programme content and structure

You'll be studying with us in three different languages and spend at least two semesters abroad. We prepare you for this with intensive language courses and events on intercultural aspects. In addition to in-depth knowledge of company management, IBW also teaches you to think outside the box as the decision-maker of tomorrow. It is important to us that our students are aware of their responsibility for the environment (e.g. climate change) and society (e.g. working conditions). Digital processes and business models have become a central component of the corporate world and also play an important role in your studies.

  • 60% Business
  • 30% Languages
  • 10% Soft skills

We build a solid foundation

At the beginning of your studies, we cover the basics. In addition to the fundamentals of business administration, economics and law, your timetable will also include digitalisation and statistics. Of course, the degree programme is designed to be multilingual from the outset – you will have courses throughout to perfect your language skills and intercultural competence.

You've got the choice

In your advanced studies, you can choose from many optional courses in addition to the compulsory International Business Administration – do you want to specialise in International Marketing, Behavioural or Digital Business Management, Human Resources or Finance?

The best comes last

You can go abroad in the fifth and sixth semesters. During your practical semester and the following semester abroad, you'll enjoy unique experiences! After your return in the seventh semester, you'll write your bachelor's thesis. Of course, you can rely on our close support and advice when writing your thesis!

Entry requirements

You must have the following language skills to study IBW:

German: CEF B2/C1

English: approx. 7 years of school English (CEF B2/C1) or TOEFL iBT 79 points plus

Language skills in the chosen regional focus:
Francophone world: 2 years of school French or equivalent knowledge
Hispanic world: 2 years of school Spanish or equivalent knowledge
China: no previous knowledge necessary

What's covered

Special features

This degree programme is bilingual in German/English.
Would you prefer to study 100% in English? Then click here for our Internal link opens in the same window:International Business Management (IBM) programme.

You study IBW in three languages, together with international students and lecturers who themselves come from abroad or have extensive experience in international business.

You will spend two to three semesters abroad at one of our partner universities worldwide and even have the chance to earn a double degree! You can also hold a bilingual degree in your hands after your IBW studies.

Your career prospects

Many possibilities await you

After your IBW studies, you will not only have a recognised academic degree in your hands, you will also have the specialist, methodological and social skills you need for a position of responsibility in the globalised world of work. Our graduates start their careers both directly abroad and at domestic companies with a strong international focus.

Or you can use your bachelor's degree as a ticket to a postgraduate master's programme.

There are many exciting career paths for IBW graduates, for example as a Financial Analyst in Zurich, Key Account Manager in Mexico City, Chief Purchasing Officer in Toulouse or Marketing Manager at a car manufacturer in Germany. Some of our former students have also realised their dream of setting up their own start-up.

HFU Business School gives you an "all-in-one" experience - international business knowledge, interaction with different cultures and the opportunity to learn different languages in a short period of time.
Gabriela M. aus El Salvador – IBW graduate

HFU Business School

At the HFU Business School, you'll meet an unusually large number of international fellow students; intercultural competence is important to us. We prepare you for exciting and future-oriented tasks – and support you in preparing for your stays abroad.

Our learning formats develop global cooperation skills and prepare you for an international career. We work interculturally and transculturally in all our degree programmes.

Find out more about the HFU Business School

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