Contents of studies
International Business Administration
Generalist or professionally focused - your choice!
During your studies, you will benefit from a variety of innovative didactics: In addition to courses in small groups, you will work on case studies, work intensively with haptic and computer-based business games, develop solution concepts in project teams, and be in close contact with companies from the region in the project workshop.
In the 4th or 5th semester, the project workshop and the business game of the chosen focus expand your field of vision. By choosing four additional courses from each of the following subject areas, you decide for yourself whether you want to take a generalist or professionally focused path.
The electives as well as the business game are taught in English, mostly by international lecturers.
For many full-time graduates, the professional practical training and the Business Consulting Challenge in the 6th semester provide the impetus to enter the professional world.
Study programme structure
| Course unit | ECTS | SHW |
| Introduction to business administration | 5 | 4 |
| Accounting | 2 | 2 |
| Introduction to private law | 2 | 2 |
| Basics of academic work | 2 | 1 |
| Business Mathematics | 5 | 3 |
| Statistics in economics | 5 | 3 |
| Communication and self-reflection | 3 | 2 |
| Digitization basics | 3 | 2 |
| Professional Presentations *E | 3 | 2 |
| Total | 30 | 21 |
| Course unit | ECTS | SHW |
| Cost and performance accounting | 3 | 2 |
| Academic writing practice | 2 | 1 |
| Introduction to corporate law | 2 | 2 |
| Team competence and interaction | 2 | 1 |
| Market-oriented corporate management | 3 | 2 |
| Procurement, production, logistics | 5 | 4 |
| Human Resource Management | 3 | 2 |
| Accounting according to UGB | 3 | 2 |
| Introduction to business process management | 2 | 1 |
| Introduction to programming | 3 | 2 |
| Moderating Business Discussions *E | 2 | 2 |
| Total | 30 | 21 |
| Course unit | ECTS | SHW |
| Project Management | 2 | 2 |
| Investment and financing | 3 | 2 |
| Corporate Taxation | 3 | 2 |
| Modeling of operational processes | 3 | 2 |
| Quantitative methodology and market research | 3 | 2 |
| Marketing Management | 3 | 2 |
| Basics of Supply Chain Management | 4 | 4 |
| Industrial Psychology and Organizational Behavior | 3 | 2 |
| Data management and database systems | 3 | 2 |
| Formal Writing in Business Studies *E | 3 | 1 |
| Total | 30 | 21 |
| Course unit | ECTS | SHW |
| Applied decision theory | 3 | 2 |
| Economics | 3 | 2 |
| Basics of information systems | 3 | 2 |
| English for Job Appications *E | 3 | 2 |
| Project Workshop Focus *S | 6 | 0 |
| Electives *E | *WV | 12 | 8 |
| Total | 30 | 16 |
| Course unit | ECTS | SHW |
| Substainability in Economic Development *E | 3 | 2 |
| International Economics and Financial Markets *E | 3 | 2 |
| Conception of the bachelor's thesis | 2 | 1 |
| European and International Business and Management and Consumer Law | 2 | 2 |
| Mediation and conflict behavior | 2 | 1 |
| Storytelling in Business *E | 3 | 2 |
| Business game Focus *E | *S | 3 | 2 |
| Electives *E | *WV | 12 | 8 |
| Total | 30 | 20 |
| Course unit | ECTS | SHW |
| Business Consulting Challenge | 1 | 1 |
| Company analysis | 3 | 3 |
| Professional practical training (credit for professional activity possible) | 15 | 0 |
| Bachelor's thesis *S | 9 | 0 |
| final bachelor's examination | 2 | 0 |
| Total | 30 | 4 |
*E | Courses in English
*S | Emphasis possible in the areas of:
- accounting & finance
- Marketing & Sales
- Supply Chain Management
- Human Resources & Organization
- Digital Management & IT
- Entrepreneurship & Innovation
*WV | to choose from are a variety of elective courses, each with 3 ECTS from all areas.
ECTS: Performance points according to the "European Credit Transfer System". According to international standards, 180 ECTS points must be earned over 6 semesters.
SWS: One hour per week (SWS) corresponds to 15 educational components of 45 minutes each.
Learning content in detail
Professional practical training - your entry into the working world!
In your studies, the 12-week professional practical training in the 6th semester is an important component (15 ECTS). In the last semester, it allows you to apply the knowledge you have acquired in a company! At the same time, it opens doors to future professional challenges and possible employers.
You will often write your bachelor's thesis during the professional practical training. You will work on and document a practical problem and its solution according to scientific criteria.
The organization of the professional practical training is your responsibility. The internship contract must be approved by the programme director - relevant work in the subject is a prerequisite. Also a professional practical training abroad is possible - it will provide you with further important international experience!
At home in Europe
The FHV is located in the center of the international Lake Constance region with Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. In summer, take a dip in Lake Constance to cool off in winter, head to the mountains for snowboarding. Vibrant European cities like Munich, Milan, Zurich and Paris are within easy reach.
Many companies value this attractive economic and living space as a home base everything is represented, from high-performance SMEs to a successful service and tourism sector to outstanding international industrial companies. This combination makes the region an innovative hotspot in Europe.
We also maintain good partnerships with companies and organizations from the region. As a student you will benefit from this strong network during and after your semester dates.