Executive Master for Family Entrepreneurship, Master of Arts

Part-time program @ Zeppelin University 

👉 The Executive Master for Family Entrepreneurship (eMA FESH) at Zeppelin University is a 21-month, part-time master's programme (M.A.) specifically designed for successors, shareholders, and (aspiring) executives in family businesses. The focus is on business administration content tailored to family enterprises and the direct practical transfer between study modules. The programme comprises twelve week-long modules, including international learning expeditions, and is supported by the expertise of the Friedrichshafen Institute for Family Businesses. Academic credits (90 ECTS) can be supplemented by professional experience. The programme fee amounts to a total of 31,800 euros.

At a Glance

🏫 University Zeppelin University, University based in Friedrichshafen (Germany)
The Zeppelin University (ZU) in Friedrichshafen is a private, state-recognized university known for its interdisciplinary approach. Founded in 2003, ZU combines business, culture, and politics, offering bachelor's and master's programs as well as executive education programs. With two campus locations on Lake Constance and over 97 international partner universities, ZU places special emphasis on internationality and applied research.
🎓 Field of Study EconomicsEntrepreneurship
📜 Degree Master of Arts (M.A.)
⏳ Duration 3 Semesters
🎯 ECTS 90 Credit Points
🌍 Language of Instruction German
📖 Course contents Specific challenges of family businesses as well as their special features and characteristics, corporate and family governance as well as inheritance law, significance and handling of advisory boards, family strategy and succession planning, introductory day on scientific methods, introduction to professional asset management, asset allocation and asset classes, getting to know the family office concept, imparting knowledge about accounting from a controlling perspective, gaining an understanding of investment and financing calculations, practical exercises to prepare for contacts with banks, tax advisors and auditors, current research in the field of financing family businesses, discussion of classical strategy models and their specific applicability to family businesses, importance of negotiation skills in all strategic decisions, strategic options for family businesses, strategy processes by and for family businesses, implementation of strategy processes based on practical examples, fundamentals of leadership and leadership models for family businesses, possible leadership roles of the senior and junior generations, leadership and its integration into the corporate culture, personnel recruitment, employer branding and incentivisation, dealing with issues of labour law and employee representation, brand building and brand management for family businesses, familiness and its advantages and disadvantages in marketing, practical exercises on PR for family businesses, external and internal communication of family businesses, dealing with the press and media representatives, various models for innovation processes in family businesses, necessary framework conditions for successful innovation projects, resistance to innovation in the specific case of family business structures, open innovation, lead-user and crowd-sourcing approaches, maintaining innovativeness in generational succession, structural analyses of M&A markets with a view to family businesses, differentiation of motives for corporate mergers and their peculiarities in family businesses, development of relevant aspects concerning the growth challenges of family businesses, challenges and solutions for growth strategies in terms of sustainability, discussion of all relevant interfaces of family businesses and their environment, political environment of family businesses and possibilities for participation, insights into processes in politics and administration with a focus on family business-related topics, associations, networks, support for SMEs, corporate social responsibility, content-related preparation and sensitisation for the international learning expedition, discussion of country-specific facts from the target region, preparation and topic development for the master’s thesis, joint exploration of the special challenges and opportunities of family businesses in the international context, challenges of globalisation for family businesses, integration and reflection of current research findings with the experienced reality in the target country, comparison of the content of the preceding modules with the realities of the target regions, presentation of project work, current topics concerning family businesses, personal succession process and its reflection, project work, active connection between learned theory and one’s own personal practice, individual choice of a project topic, transfer experience and practical benefit for the family business, continuous supervision by a professor of the study programme, final module, master colloquium, master’s thesis, disputation.
📍 Location Friedrichshafen
📅 Enrollment Winter semester
💶 Fees
from 9630 € Semester fee
from 28900 € total
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Who is the Executive Master for Family Entrepreneurship suitable for?

The part-time master's programme Executive Master for Family Entrepreneurship is aimed at the next generation of successors, shareholders, as well as (aspiring) executives in family businesses. Family entrepreneurs, family officers, and people who are closely connected to entrepreneurial families or play a central role in the environment of family businesses are also part of the target group. Participants come from various industries and company sizes, bring diverse first degrees and different professional experiences. However, they share one thing: the desire to take on responsibility in the family business or family office and to prepare specifically for the challenges of succession, entrepreneurship and leadership in family businesses.

Admission requirements in detail

  • First professional university degree: Usually, a completed university degree (e.g., Bachelor, Diplom, Magister) is required for admission.
  • Professional experience: Relevant professional experience is expected. Zeppelin University points out that professional experience already gained in addition to the study duration (at least 30 ECTS) can be credited towards the programme.
  • Application and selection interview: Admission usually takes place after a personal application and a selection interview at Zeppelin University.
  • Good German language skills: The programme is predominantly conducted in German, therefore secure language skills are required.

In individual cases, comparable qualifications and individual experience profiles may also be taken into account – for example, if applicants without a classic university degree but with sound practical experience in family businesses can prove that they meet the requirements for successful study. The binding criteria are regulated in the admission regulations of Zeppelin University.

Personal requirements and expectations

  • Interest in the structures and challenges of family businesses: The willingness to engage with succession processes, governance, innovation, leadership and strategic development specifically in the context of family businesses is central.
  • Ability to reflect and willingness to change: Since the programme also supports one’s own role change as a (future) entrepreneur, the ability to self-reflect and critically further develop oneself is important.
  • Practical relevance and willingness to learn: The connection between theory and practice is the focus. Those who want to bring in and systematically work on their own challenges from the family business benefit particularly.
  • Teamwork skills and openness to exchange: The teaching approach relies on active dialogue among participants from different family businesses. Openness to different perspectives and industries is desired.
  • Time management: The programme is part-time with face-to-face phases in Friedrichshafen and international modules. Willingness to invest time for attendance weeks and accompanying self-study is expected.

In summary: The programme is ideal for you if you take on or want to take on responsibility in a family business, have an academic degree and professional experience and want to build specific skills for the management, succession, and development of family businesses.

What do you learn in the Executive Master for Family Entrepreneurship?

The Executive Master for Family Entrepreneurship (eMA FESH) at Zeppelin University is a part-time degree programme specifically designed for the next generation of family entrepreneurs, shareholders, family officers, and individuals closely associated with the business.

The focus is on the particular challenges and characteristics of family businesses. You will deal, among other things, with:

  • Specifics and governance structures of family businesses
  • Legal aspects, such as inheritance law and dealing with advisory boards
  • Succession planning and development of family strategies
  • Professional asset management, allocation, and family office concepts
  • Accounting and controlling from the perspective of family businesses
  • Financing and investment decisions as well as their practical implementation
  • Strategic management concepts adapted to family businesses
  • Leadership fundamentals, leadership models, and the special leadership roles of different generations
  • Recruiting, employer branding, labour law, and incentivisation
  • Brand building, marketing, and the importance of “familyness”
  • Communication, PR, dealing with the media, internal and external communication
  • Innovation management, resistance within the family structure, open innovation, and generational change
  • M&A, growth, challenges of sustainable development
  • Political framework conditions, associations, and networks for family businesses
  • Practice-oriented project work, master’s thesis, and a final module

An important component is the transfer of theoretical knowledge directly into your own practice through individual project work and continuous support by experienced lecturers.

How does the course proceed?

The programme is designed to last around 21 months (standard period of study). The study is part-time in modules, allowing you to continue your job without long interruptions.

  • A total of 12 weekly modules of 4 days each on-site
  • Breaks of about four weeks between modules for preparation and follow-up in self-study
  • 90 ECTS credits are earned through the studies (a further 30 ECTS can be credited through relevant professional experience)
  • 10 modules take place in Friedrichshafen, 2 modules within the framework of an international learning expedition
  • Accompanying coaching and close support by the Centre for Family Businesses (FIF)
  • Completion in the form of a master’s thesis and a scientific colloquium

What career opportunities are available to you?

The Executive Master for Family Entrepreneurship qualifies you to assume leadership roles in family businesses – whether in succession, as a shareholder, as a member of a family office, or in the extended management circle.

  • Assuming leadership responsibility in your own or a family-affiliated company
  • Employment in family offices as an expert in asset matters
  • Working in consultancies focusing on family businesses
  • Integration into regional, national and international networks in the field of family businesses
  • Continuing an academic career, e.g. through a doctorate in the area of family business

The network of lecturers and fellow students fosters sustainable contacts, experience exchange and grows beyond the programme.

Where does the course take place?

One of the main study locations is the campus of Zeppelin University in Friedrichshafen. The on-site modules are predominantly held there. In addition to the location on Lake Constance, the programme includes two international modules within the framework of a learning expedition. These offer insights into family businesses in other countries and exchanges with international experts.

What costs are incurred and how is financing structured?

The tuition fees for the entire programme amount to 31,800 euros. Payment is usually made in instalments at the beginning of each semester. Individual financing models and options for instalment payments can be discussed personally with the study advisory service.

  • Total costs: 31,800 euros for the entire master’s programme
  • Included are: all courses, examinations and support during the studies
  • Additional costs may arise from the international learning expedition (not covered by the total price)

Information about scholarships and funding opportunities is available in the consultation with the university.

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