Inhalt
Business administration programs are among the most popular courses of study in Germany, especially at private universities. As a branch of economics, business administration deals with companies and business environments. Graduates of business administration programs usually work as business economists, as team leaders, as managing directors or even founders or entrepreneurs.
Here I present all business programs at private universities in detail and compare them in terms of costs, study content and more. Further down, I will also introduce you to the most interesting business schools as well as study cities for business students.
Overview of all Courses
We have a total of 101 courses in the field of Business Administration. The first 30 top courses are displayed. Use the filter function or our search to discover more courses in the field.
- Dual studies
- Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
- 7 Semester
- Aachen, Augsburg, Berlin, Bielefeld, Bochum, Bonn, Braunschweig, Bremen, Dortmund, Dresden, Duisburg, Düsseldorf, Erfurt, Essen, Frankfurt, Freiburg, Hamburg, Hannover, Karlsruhe, Kassel, Cologne, Leipzig, Lübeck, Mainz, Mannheim, Munich, Münster, Nürnberg, Ravensburg, Regensburg, Stuttgart, Ulm, Virtueller Campus or Wuppertal
- German
Business Administration and Customer Experience Management
IU International University of Applied Sciences
- Dual studies
- Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
- 7 Semester
- Aachen, Augsburg, Berlin, Bielefeld, Bochum, Bonn, Braunschweig, Bremen, Dortmund, Dresden, Duisburg, Düsseldorf, Erfurt, Essen, Frankfurt, Freiburg, Hamburg, Hannover, Karlsruhe, Kassel, Cologne, Leipzig, Lübeck, Mainz, Mannheim, Munich, Münster, Nürnberg, Ravensburg, Regensburg, Stuttgart, Ulm, Virtueller Campus or Wuppertal
- German
International Business Administration
BSP Business and Law School
Business Administration
University of Applied Management
Bachelor in Business Administration
Frankfurt School of Finance and Management
Business Administration
RFH – University of Applied Science
International Business
Munich Business School
Bachelor's in Computational Business Analytics
Frankfurt School of Finance and Management
International Business Administration
RFH – University of Applied Science
Business Administration
Hamburg School of Business Administration
Business Administration
FOM University of Applied Sciences
Business Administration
DIPLOMA University of Applied Sciences
Corporate Management and Economics
Zeppelin University
Which German business school is the best?
Frankfurt School of Finance and Management: Frankfurt School is a private, state-recognized university located in Frankurt am Main, Hesse. The university was founded in 1990, in WS 2019/2020 a total of 2701 students were enrolled at the university. The university is a business school and offers bachelor and master or MBA programs in business and in IT. Special feature: As a private university, the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management is eligible for doctoral studies.
Fresenius University of Applied Sciences: Fresenius University of Applied Sciences is one of the largest private universities of applied sciences in Germany. In the winter semester 2019/2020, a total of 12991 students were enrolled at the university. The university is headquartered in Idstein, Hesse, and also operates campuses in Cologne, Hamburg, Munich, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Berlin and New York. The university mainly offers degree programs in the fields of business and natural sciences. Special feature: Many courses of study are offered not only as face-to-face courses, but also optionally as distance learning courses or evening study courses.
IU International University of Applied Sciences: With over 60000 enrolled students, IU is one of the largest private universities of applied sciences in Germany and the largest private distance learning university in Germany. The university is based in Erfurt, but IU offers its campus degree programs in Erfurt, Berlin, Bad Honnef. In addition to the campus programs in business administration and management, among others, the university offers more than 80 distance learning programs as well as a variety of part-time and dual programs.
WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management: WHU is a private, state-recognized university located in Vallendar, Rhineland-Palatinate, with a campus in Düsseldorf. The business school was founded in 1984, and in the winter semester 2019/2020 a total of 1371 students were enrolled at WHU. In addition to its Bachelor in International Business Administration/Management, the university offers a range of Master's and MBA programs.
Munich Business School: Munich Business School is a private, state-recognized university of applied sciences based in Munich. In the winter semester 2019/2020, a total of 567 students were enrolled at the university. As the first private university in Bavaria, Munich Business School has been training executives for business enterprises since its founding in 1991. It offers bachelor's, master's and MBA programs with integrated semesters abroad.
CBS International Business School: CBS International Business School is a private, state-recognized university of applied sciences based in Cologne. The school was founded in 1993, and in the winter semester 2019/2020, a total of 1771 students from 75 nations were enrolled at the university. As a business school, CBS offers a range of business degree programs according to international standards.
This is what private business studies cost
Studying at a private university has its price, and the price differences between the individual universities are quite considerable. For example, the business administration program at the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management is significantly more expensive than the EUR 25,000 business administration program at the Business School Berlin, with tuition fees of just under EUR 50,000.
Here is a comparison of the costs of a number of Business Administration degree programs.
Incidentally, students at private universities can also receive German BAFöG. Many private universities also maintain their own scholarship programs, through which particularly capable students can be supported.
The best German cities to study business administration

Business schools can be located all over in Germany. Interestingly, many of the popular universities like WHU are not located in metropolises like Berlin, but often in smaller cities like Munich or Frankfurt. Perhaps it is simply easier to study in smaller cities?
Tip: If the nearest university city is too far away for you, simply study virtually. Interesting universities with distance learning programs in business administration are, for example, the IU International University, the Fresenius University of Applied Sciences and the European Distance Learning University Hamburg.
Here is a list of the most interesting cities for business studies at a glance:
City | Cost of living | Quality of life | Population density | Business Schools |
---|---|---|---|---|
Munich | 59,35 | 177,40 | 4736 | IU International University of Applied Sciences, Fresenius University of Applied Sciences, University of Applied Management, Munich Business School |
Frankfurt/Main | 55,36 | 173,16 | 3067 | Fresenius University of Applied Sciences, Frankfurt School of Finance and Management |
Hamburg | 51,34 | 165,92 | 2447 | Hamburg School of Business Administration, European Distance Learning University Hamburg, University of Applied Sciences Europe, Fresenius University of Applied Sciences, Nordakademie University of Applied Sciences |
Cologne | 47,83 | 158,75 | 2686 | HSD Döpfer University of Applied Sciences, IU International University of Applied Sciences, Fresenius University of Applied Sciences, Rhenish University of Applied Sciences Cologne |
Dusseldorf | 47,66 | 176,29 | 2860 | Fresenius University of Applied Sciences, WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management, IST University of Management, Fresenius University of Applied Sciences |
Berlin | 46,62 | 164,42 | 4115 | University of Applied Sciences, Fresenius University of Applied Sciences, IU International University of Applied Sciences, University of Applied Sciences Europe, bbw University of Applied Sciences, Steinbeis University of Applied Sciences, Business School Berlin |
Business studies vs. management: Which is suitable for whom?
While economics deals with the economy as a whole, in particular with economics in addition to business administration, business administration focuses on activities in companies. Management, in turn, is a sub-field of business administration.
For most students, it is optimal to work through as many topics as possible in the Bachelor's degree and, if necessary, to deepen their knowledge of individual topics in the final semesters through elective modules and the Bachelor's thesis. A specialisation such as management or international management can then be tackled via a Master's degree.
In my view, a management degree programme is therefore particularly suited to…
- for students who already have extensive knowledge of business administration and/or economics, for example because they have completed training in business administration;
- for bachelor graduates of business administration or economics who want to enter management professionally;
- for experienced professionals who want to position themselves professionally, for example as a team leader or managing director.
Here are the most interesting management bachelor's degrees at a glance:
Course | University | Duration | Fees | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Corporate Management and Economics, Bachelor of Arts On-campus program | Zeppelin University | 8 Semester | from 42000 € total from 875 € monthly | |
General Management, Bachelor of Science On-campus program | EBS University of Business and Law | 6 Semester | from 46020 € total from 1223 € monthly | |
General Management, Bachelor of Science On-campus program | PFH Private University of Applied Sciences | 6 Semester | from 26620 € total from 700 € monthly | |
Management, Bachelor of Arts On-campus program | Macromedia University of Applied Sciences | 7 Semester | from 26100 € total from 725 € monthly | |
Management, Philosophy and Economics, Bachelor of Science On-campus program | Frankfurt School of Finance and Management | 7 Semester | from 46800 € total |
Study business administration part-time: These options are available
Part-time study programmes, online study programmes and distance learning programmes are in vogue because they allow flexible study from home and alongside work. Distance learning programmes at private universities are also particularly favourable compared to campus study programmes.
Incidentally, the largest German private distance learning university is the IU International University of Applied Sciences, based in Erfurt. More than 100,000 students were enrolled at IU in the winter semester 2022/23, the majority of them in one of the numerous distance learning programmes.
What is the difference between distance learning and part-time study? In distance learning, there is almost no compulsory attendance. Depending on the university, you only have to be on site for exams and other examinations. In part-time studies, you have more on-site events, which are usually organised in block weeks or offered in evening studies.
Here is an overview of the most important distance learning and part-time degree programs in the field of Business Administration:
Course | University | Duration | Fees | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Corporate Management and Economics, Bachelor of Arts On-campus program | Zeppelin University | 8 Semester | from 42000 € total from 875 € monthly | |
General Management, Bachelor of Science On-campus program | EBS University of Business and Law | 6 Semester | from 46020 € total from 1223 € monthly | |
General Management, Bachelor of Science On-campus program | PFH Private University of Applied Sciences | 6 Semester | from 26620 € total from 700 € monthly | |
Management, Bachelor of Arts On-campus program | Macromedia University of Applied Sciences | 7 Semester | from 26100 € total from 725 € monthly | |
Management, Philosophy and Economics, Bachelor of Science On-campus program | Frankfurt School of Finance and Management | 7 Semester | from 46800 € total |
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