Study Entrepreneurship & Entrepreneurship in Germany: All Master's and Bachelor's degrees at business schools in comparison

  • 23Academic Programs
  • 1Dual
  • 11On-Site
  • 6Part-time
  • 5Online
  • 4Bachelor
  • 19Master
 · Last updated 04.07.2023

Inhalt

There are currently only a handful of study programmes in entrepreneurship at private universities, especially Master's programmes, but also two Bachelor's programmes. I will present all the degree programmes in detail here and compare them in terms of admission requirements, tuition fees and study content. In addition, I will show you what distance learning or online study programmes in entrepreneurship are available.

Overview of all Courses

We have a total of 23 courses in the field of Entrepreneurship.

Fresenius University of Applied Sciences

  • On-campus program
  •  Master of Arts (M.A.)
  •  4 Semester
  •  Wiesbaden
  •  German

IU International University of Applied Sciences

  • Distance learning program
  •  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
  •  6 Semester
  •  online
  •  German or English
  •  International Marketing, Introduction to Academic Work, Introduction to User Research, Project: Development of Business Ideas, Business 10, International Contract Management, Start-Up Financing, Accou…

In the Bachelor's degree programme Entrepreneurship, students learn how to develop and implement innovative ideas and business models. They acquire a broad knowledge of business administration as well as special knowledge in the area of start-up management and corporate governance. The focus is on practical experience and the promotion of entrepreneurial skills such as creativity, risk-taking and network building. Graduates are thus ideally equipped for a career as a founder, in business development or in the management of start-ups and established companies.

IU International University of Applied Sciences

  • Distance learning program
  •  Master of Arts (M.A.)
  •  4 Semester
  •  online
  •  English
  •  Innovation and Entrepreneurial Ecosystems, Entre- and Intrapreneurship, Strategic Management, Business Model Design, Product Development, Advanced Research Methods, Applied Marketing Research, Sales a…

The Innovation and Entrepreneurship master's program at IU is designed to prepare students for careers in business creation and innovative business models. The program provides students with both theoretical and practical knowledge and skills in business planning, innovation management, market research, financing, risk management, and business creation. There are also opportunities for projects in collaboration with companies and startups, as well as internships to give students a practical understanding of how to apply their knowledge in the real world.

IU International University of Applied Sciences

  • Distance learning program
  •  Master of Arts (M.A.)
  •  2 Semester
  •  online
  •  English
  •  Advanced Growth Hacking, Business Model Design, Lean Start Up, Project: Growth Hacking Tools, Applied Research, Seminar: Current Topics of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Project: Growth Hack Develop…

The master's program "Growth Hacking for Entrepreneurs" at IU International University provides students with comprehensive knowledge and practical skills in the area of developing growth strategies for startups and companies. The focus is on applying data-driven methods and agile processes to identify and optimize growth potential. Students learn how to achieve rapid and sustainable growth for their companies through targeted testing and experimentation with new marketing and sales approaches. The course is suitable for aspiring entrepreneurs and for professionals who are already working in a company and want to expand their knowledge in the field of growth management.

IU International University of Applied Sciences

  • Distance learning program
  •  Master of Arts (M.A.)
  •  2 Semester
  •  online
  •  German

Fresenius University of Applied Sciences

  • Part-time program
  •  Master of Arts (M.A.)
  •  5 Semester
  •  Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Cologne, Munich, Online Campus, Wiesbaden
  •  German

FHM University of Applied Sciences

  • Dual studies
  •  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
  •  9 Semester
  •  Bielefeld, Cologne, Hannover, Rostock, Bamberg, Online-University
  •  German

WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management

  • On-campus program
  •  Master of Science (M.Sc.)
  •  4 Semester
  •  Vallendar
  •  English
  •  Accounting and Financial Analysis, Sprint2Berlin, Advanced Entrepreneurial Finance, Platform Markets and Regulations ​​​​​, Corporate Entrepreneurship, Internationales Modul, Praktikum, Business Model…

Hochschule der Bayerischen Wirtschaft

  • On-campus program
  •  Master of Arts (M.A.)
  •  3 Semester
  •  Munich
  •  German or English

SRH Berlin University of Applied Sciences

  • On-campus program
  •  Master of Arts (M.A.)
  •  4 Semester
  •  Berlin
  •  English

University of Applied Management

  • Part-time program
  •  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
  •  7 Semester
  •  Ismaning (Munich)
  •  German
  • On-campus program
  •  Master of Arts (M.A.)
  •  3 Semester
  •  Heidelberg
  •  German

Leibniz University Hannover

  • Part-time program
  •  Master of Arts (M.A.)
  •  7 Semester
  •  Hannover
  •  German

BSP Business and Law School

  • On-campus program
  •  Master of Science (M.Sc.)
  •  4 Semester
  •  Berlin
  •  German

SRH Fernhochschule - The Mobile University

  • Distance learning program
  •  Master of Arts (M.A.)
  •  3 Semester
  •  online
  •  German

RFH – University of Applied Science

  • On-campus program
  •  Master of Arts (M.A.)
  •  4 Semester
  •  Neuss
  •  German
  • Part-time program
  •  Master of Arts (M.A.)
  •  3 Semester
  •  Friedrichshafen
  •  German

Munich Business School

  • On-campus program
  •  Master of Arts (M.A.)
  •  4 Semester
  •  Munich
  •  English

International School of Management

  • On-campus program
  •  Master of Arts (M.A.)
  •  4 Semester
  •  Cologne, Berlin
  •  English

FHM University of Applied Sciences

  • Part-time program
  •  Master of Business Administration (MBA)
  •  4 Semester
  •  Bielefeld, Frechen, Hannover
  •  German or English

International School of Management

  • On-campus program
  •  Master of Arts (M.A.)
  •  4 Semester
  •  Cologne, Berlin
  •  English

FHM University of Applied Sciences

  • Part-time program
  •  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
  •  4 Semester
  •  Bielefeld, Frechen, Bamberg
  •  German

Brand University of Applied Sciences

  • On-campus program
  •  Master of Arts (M.A.)
  •  3 Semester
  •  Hamburg
  •  English
  •  Brand Strategy, Brand Thinking, Digital Marketing Technologies, Brand Entrepreneurship, Agile Product Development, Market Data Science, Consumer Behavior, Digital Customer Experience, Business Modelli…

Which business school is the best? Universities at a glance

Entrepreneurship programmes are offered at numerous private universities in Germany. Most universities are universities of applied sciences, some are even private universities. Many of these universities are so-called business schools, i.e. they also focus on courses in the field of economics.

Unfortunately, I cannot give you a general answer here as to which university is the best. Relevant factors for your decision should be, for example, the location of the university, the amount of tuition fees as well as the course content and specialisation options.

Here is a brief portrait of the most important universities with entrepreneurship programmes:

Logo HS FreseniusFresenius 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 2020/2021, a total of 14,910 students were enrolled at the university. The Fresenius University of Applied Sciences is located in Idstein, Hesse, and also has campuses in Cologne, Hamburg, Munich, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Berlin and New York. The university mainly offers degree programmes in the fields of business and natural sciences. HS Fresenius offers the Master's degree in Business Creation & Entrepreneurship at its campuses in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Munich and Wiesbaden.

Logo IUIU International University of Applied Sciences: With over 100,000 enrolled students, IU is the largest university in Germany. The university is based in Erfurt, but IU offers its campus programmes in Erfurt, Berlin and Bad Honnef. In addition to the campus programmes in Business Administration & Management, among others, the university offers more than 80 distance learning programmes as well as a large number of part-time and dual study programmes. IU is the only university in Germany to offer a Bachelor in Entpreneurship.

Logo WHUWHU Otto Beisheim School of Management: WHU is a private, state-recognized university located in Vallendar, Rhineland-Palatinate, with a campus in Dusseldorf. The business school was founded in 1984 and a total of 1,371 students were enrolled at WHU in the winter semester 2019/2020. In addition to its Bachelor's degree in International Business Administration/Management, the university offers a range of Master's and MBA programs, such as a Master's in Entrepreneurship.

logo akadAKAD University of Applied Sciences: AKAD Hochschule Stuttgart is a private, state-recognised university of applied sciences based in Stuttgart. The university was founded in 1959; in the winter semester 2019/2020, a total of 5,241 students were enrolled at the university. The university mainly offers distance learning or online study programmes in the subject areas of technology & information technology, business & management, communication and health & social affairs. AKAD University is the only university in Germany to offer an MBA in Entrepreneurship.

Logo CBSCBS International Business School: CBS International Business School is a private, state-recognised university of applied sciences based in Cologne. The school was founded in 1993, and a total of 1,771 students from 75 nations were enrolled at the university in the 2019/2020 winter semester. As a business school, the CBS offers a range of business degree programmes according to international standards.

logo srh berlinSRH Berlin University of Applied Sciences: SRH Berlin is a state-recognised, private university of applied sciences based in Berlin. The university was founded in 2009 and a total of 2,145 students were enrolled at SRH in the winter semester 2019/2020. The degree programmes are offered at the campuses in Berlin, Dresden and Hamburg - the Master in Entrepreneurship at the Berlin location.

logo bspBusiness School Berlin: The BSP is a private, state-recognised university of applied sciences based in Berlin. The university was founded in 2009; in the winter semester 2019/2020, a total of 1,324 students were enrolled at the business school. At its Faculty of Business and Management, the university currently offers a range of Bachelor's programmes as well as a Master's in Innovation & Entrepreneurship, among others.

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Distance learning & online studies: Study entrepreneurship part-time

Currently, there are only three private universities that offer entrepreneurship as an online or distance learning programme. The advantage of distance learning courses: You can study from home and, due to the flexibility, you can also study while working.

I will briefly present all three programmes here.

B.A. Entrepreneurship at the IU International University of Applied Sciences

logo iubhThe Bachelor in Entrepreneurship at IU is currently the only Bachelor distance learning programme in Entrepreneurship at a German university. The full-time programme lasts 6 semesters, but can be extended to 12 semesters of part-time study. A university entrance qualification is required, but admission is also possible without an Abitur for those with vocational training and 3 years of relevant work experience.

The exemplary study structure for full-time study is as follows:

  • Semester 1: Marketing, Introduction to User Research, Introduction to Scientific Work, Project: Development of Business Ideas, Applied Sales I, Law
  • Semester 2: Start-up Financing, Bookkeeping and Accounting, Agile Project Management, Applied Sales II, Collaborative Working, Project: Prototyping and Validation of a Business Idea
  • Semester 3: Cost and performance accounting, economics and the market, pricing policy, corporate planning and control, intercultural and ethical action skills, project: setting up a company
  • Semester 4: Market Research, Fundamentals of Product Management, International Brand Management, Personnel Psychology, Agile Management, Project: Business Model Development
  • Semester 5: Project: Minimum Viable Product, Seminar: Current Topics in Digitalisation, Online Marketing, Organizational Behaviour, Elective Subject A
  • Semester 6: Elective subject B, elective subject C, Bachelor thesis

In the last semester, you choose your two electives from this pool of modules: Social Entrepreneurship, User Testing and Prototyping, Business Ethics and Sustainability, Organisational Development and Change Management, Digital Entrepreneurship, Intrapreneurship, Sustainable Entrepreneurship.

The amount of the tuition fees depends on which study model you choose. In the full-time programme, you pay 359 euros per month, a total of 12,924 euros. In part-time study I, you pay 309 euros per month, for a total of 14,834 euros. In part-time study II, you pay 209 euros per month, for a total of 15,048 euros.

M.A. Entrepreneurship at SRH  Fernhochschule - The Mobile University

Logo SRHThe Master's programme Entpreneurship at SRH is the only distance learning Master's programme in entrepreneurship at a private university in Germany besides the MBA at AKAD University of Applied Sciences. The Master's programme lasts 4 semesters in full-time study, but can be extended to 8 semesters. A university degree or equivalent and 1 year of professional experience are required.

The study structure as follows:

  • Semester 1: Empirical Research & Strategic Digital Communication for Founders, Application Project Founding - Part I, Entrepreneurship in Digital Times, Project and Change Management
  • Semester 2: Application Project Foundation - Part II, Digital Strategies and Business Models, Financial Economics and Business Decisions, Empirical Market Research, Leadership
  • Semester 3: Application Project Foundation - Part III, four elective modules
  • Semester 4: Scientific thesis and colloquium

In the 3rd semester you choose 3 of these elective modules: Digital Sales & Marketing, Business Intelligence & Analytics, Design Thinking & Innovation, Controlling, Corporate Governance, Culture & Ethics, Data Analysis, Industry 4.0 and Production in the Digital World, Market and Advertising Psychology, Personnel Psychology, Public Relations: Opportunities and Perspectives, Strategic Management, Human Resources and Organisation, Values and Conflict.

The total tuition fees are 12,936 euros, payable in monthly contributions of 539 euros.

MBA Entrepreneurship and Innovation at AKAD University of Applied Sciences

logo akadThe Master of Business Administration Entrepreneurship and Innovation is the only MBA distance learning programme in Entrepreneurship at a private university in Germany. The programme takes 4 semesters of full-time study, but can be shortened to up to 12 months for those who already have a diploma, such as a degree in business administration. The distance learning programme can be extended to up to 8 semesters of part-time study. A first university degree and 1 year of relevant professional experience are required.

The study structure is as follows:

  • Semester 1: Key qualifications for study and work, tax and business law, investment and financing, entrepreneurial marketing, project and quality management, leadership in change processes.
  • Semester 2: Innovation Management, Technology Management, Research and Development Management, Business Ethics and Value Management, Corporate Governance, Capstone Start-up Management/Corporate Entrepreneurship
  • Semester 3: Business game General Management, case study work, elective module
  • Semester 4: Master thesis

As an elective module, you choose from these topics:  Business Model Development, International Innovation Management, Electronic Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurial Finance, Intellectual Property Rights and Technology Law.

The tuition fees for full-time study are 13,560 euros in total, 565 euros per month. The part-time 6-semester programme costs a total of 14,040 euros, 390 euros per month. In the part-time programme 8 semesters you pay a total of 15,024 euros, 313 euros per month.

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Entrepreneurship from Hamburg to Munich: Which study city is the best

Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Entrepreneurship are offered at private universities in many cities in Germany. Some universities, such as the Fresenius University of Applied Sciences, even offer their courses at several locations.

Here is an overview of the most interesting study cities for Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Entrepreneurship:

Sorting: Cost of living descending. Cost of living is an index of cost of living + rent. A cost of living index of 120 means that living in this city is 20% more expensive than living in New York City. Quality of life is the quality of life index, a combination of different indices. Details on the indices can be found at https://de.numbeo.com. Population density in inhabitants per km2
CityCost of livingQuality of lifePopulation densityUniversities
Munich 66.53 176.16 4,736 Fresenius University of Applied Sciences, Hochschule der Bayerischen Wirtschaft, University of Applied Management, Munich Business School
Hamburg 56.32 162.48 2,447 Fresenius University of Applied Sciences
Berlin 54.18 160.49 4,115 Fresenius University of Applied Sciences, SRH Berlin University of Applied Sciences, Business School Berlin
Cologne 52.94 158.48 2,686 CBS International Business School, International School of Management
Dusseldorf 52.61 175.02 2,860 Fresenius University of Applied Sciences

Business studies as an alternative to entrepreneurship studies

Although there are currently only two bachelor's degrees in entrepreneurship at private universities, the range of business administration and management programmes is enormous. I recommend that high school graduates in particular study business administration or economics. In most degree programmes, you can then focus on entrepreneurship or entrepreneurship, for example through elective modules or the final thesis.

Here is an overview of interesting business programmes at private business schools:

CourseUniversityStudy siteDurationFees

On-campus program
Frankfurt am Main7 Semesterfrom 46800 € total

On-campus program
Düsseldorf, Heidelberg, Hamburg, Cologne, Munich or Wiesbaden6 Semesterfrom 30600 € total
from 850 € monthly

On-campus program
Berlin6 Semesterfrom 21240 € total
from 590 € monthly

On-campus program
Hamburg7 Semesterfrom 20670 € total
from 485 € monthly

On-campus program
Wiesbaden6 Semesterfrom 46020 € total
from 1223 € monthly

On-campus program
Berlin, Frankfurt, Freiburg, Hamburg, Cologne, Leipzig, Munich, Stuttgart7 Semesterfrom 26100 € total
from 725 € monthly

On-campus program
Frankfurt am Main7 Semesterfrom 46800 € total

You can find more study programmes here: Study business administration: all universities, all business schools, all degree programs

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