English 
Deutsch Who thrives in International Business Administration – and what you need to qualify
This English-taught B.A. suits you if you want a recognised business degree in Germany with a strong international outlook. Typical profiles include: recent school leavers aiming for careers in marketing, finance or consulting across Europe; early professionals with vocational training who now seek an academic foundation to move into management; and aspiring founders who want practical projects, internships and an international cohort to build a global network.
Admission requirements
Entry is competitive but straightforward. You study on campus in Berlin, Hamburg, Heidelberg, Cologne, Leipzig or Munich. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and an admissions interview may be part of the process. You will need:
- General higher education entrance qualification or a technical college entrance qualification (German Abitur/Fachhochschulreife or an equivalent foreign secondary school certificate recognised for university study in Germany).
- Admission with foreign qualifications: international school-leaving certificates and diplomas are accepted if they grant university access; document review is part of the application.
- Admission without Abitur: professionally qualified applicants with at least two years of vocational training plus three years of work experience can qualify for this specific programme after passing an aptitude test.
- Proof of English language proficiency for this English-medium programme. If you do not meet the standard criteria, you may take the SRH English Proficiency Certificate test.
- Curriculum vitae, and a copy of your ID card or passport.
Intakes start on 1 April and 1 October. Non-EU/EEA applicants should plan application timing carefully; a study visa may be required. Your place is secured after you sign the study contract and pay the enrolment fee.
Personal requirements
Expect a full-time workload. With 180 or 210 ECTS over 6 or 7 semesters, plan for roughly 35–45 hours per week in lecture periods, combining classes, case work, presentations and self-study; internships are typically full time. You should be comfortable with quantitative basics (business maths, accounting), be ready to present and discuss in English, and enjoy teamwork in diverse groups. Strong self-organisation, steady perseverance and realistic time planning are essential to balance modules, internship phases and, if chosen, a semester abroad.
- Confident English communication for seminars, reports and group projects.
- Openness to intercultural collaboration and feedback-heavy learning.
- Reliable planning for living costs and tuition; have funding and accommodation arranged before arrival.
- Proactive attitude toward careers: use projects, internships and the international track to build experience in your chosen specialisation.
If you apply from abroad, prepare certified copies/translations early, keep digital scans ready, and allow time for the interview and visa steps where applicable. This practical programme rewards students who take initiative, manage deadlines well and link classroom learning to real business contexts.
What will you study in the International Business Administration at SRH University?
The programme is taught entirely in English. You build a broad management foundation and specialise later. You learn accounting and finance (e.g. Financial Accounting, Investment & Financing), operations and data (e.g. Operations Management, Applied Statistics), and strategy and leadership (e.g. Strategic Management, Human Resources & Organisation). Proof of English proficiency is required; if you do not yet have a standard test, SRH offers its own English Proficiency Certificate option.
Markets, customers, brands: You explore Marketing for the Digital Era, Digital Business and Future Trends to understand how companies design products, services and communications for global audiences.
Numbers and decision-making: You develop financial fluency through Foundations of Finance, Cost & Performance Accounting and International Financial Reporting, so you can read statements and support investment decisions.
Law, economics, and strategy: International Law, Micro- and Macroeconomics and Sustainable Management give you the wider economic and regulatory context in which firms operate — key for international roles.
People and organisations: Human Resources & Organisation and Business Psychology electives train you to manage teams, design modern workplaces and make better people decisions.
Entrepreneurship and tools: Business Software, Management Information Systems and Entrepreneurship & Business Simulation connect theory with the software and simulations used in practice.
Electives and specialisations: By the end of semester 2, you choose your path. Options include General Management, as well as focused tracks such as Automotive Technology & Management, Supply Chain Management, Healthcare Management, Business Psychology and Digital Marketing. Electives like Market & Advertising Psychology or New Work allow you to sharpen your profile further.
Practice, tracks and thesis: You can study the Fast Track (6 semesters, 180 ECTS) or the International Experience Track (7 semesters, 210 ECTS). Both include a career-entry internship; the longer track adds a dedicated semester or internship abroad. Practical projects, case studies and presentations run throughout. You complete a Bachelor Colloquium and a Bachelor Thesis in the final phase.
SRH University is a private, state-recognised (staatlich anerkannt) German university. State recognition means its degrees are legally equivalent to public university degrees in Germany. The B.A. follows the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) within the Bologna framework.
How does studying in the International Business Administration work?
English-taught from day one: language of instruction and certificates
The entire degree is delivered in English. You need to provide proof of English proficiency during application. If you lack an external test, you can sit the SRH English Proficiency Certificate, which the university accepts for admission. Learning groups are international, so you train academic English and intercultural skills in parallel.
Full-time on campus in Germany: choose your city
This is a full-time, on-campus programme with intakes in April and October. You can study at SRH campuses in Berlin, Hamburg, Heidelberg, Cologne, Leipzig or Munich. These are major German study cities: Berlin and Hamburg offer dynamic start-up and corporate scenes, Munich is a tech and industry hub, Cologne and Leipzig combine media and services, and Heidelberg is a classic university city with strong research and healthcare ties. Campuses are modern and centrally connected to public transport.
Learning model, class sizes and personal support
SRH teaches with its practice-oriented CORE principle: compact module blocks, frequent feedback, applied projects and presentations instead of a single high-stakes exam season. You study in small classes with close contact to lecturers and academic advisors, which is helpful if you are new to the German system or relocating from abroad.
Assessments you can prepare for
Typical assessments include project work, case studies, presentations, written assignments and exams. You will also complete an internship (timing depends on your track) and finish with a Bachelor Thesis plus a colloquium. This mix mirrors common workplace tasks and builds a portfolio you can show to employers.
What enrolment means if you are a non-EU applicant
After admission and signing your study contract, you receive a letter of admission. If you require it, you then apply for a German study visa in your home country before travelling. Plan enough time for the visa process and tuition payment deadlines so you can attend Welcome Week on campus.
What does the International Business Administration cost?
Tuition depends on your citizenship, campus and track. For EU/EEA citizens, fees are charged monthly; current rates range roughly from €690 to €840 per month over 6 or 7 semesters, with the total budget varying by campus and whether you choose the Fast Track (180 ECTS) or the International Experience Track (210 ECTS). For non-EU/EEA citizens, fees are charged per semester; current bands are about €4,500–€5,500 per semester, again depending on city and track. A one-off registration fee applies: €750 (EU/EEA) or €1,000 (non-EU/EEA). Tuition is fixed for the standard study period stated in your contract.
How this translates into a study budget: over 6 semesters, EU/EEA students typically finance 36 monthly instalments; non-EU/EEA students plan 6 semester payments. The 7-semester route adds one more semester (or equivalent months) but includes extended international experience.
SRH offers information on scholarships and educational loans, and many students combine studies with part-time jobs once they have settled in Germany. Payments from abroad are possible; make sure international transfers allow for currency conversion time so you meet due dates.
Living costs vary by city. As orientation only: plan around €950–€1,250 per month in Berlin or Leipzig, around €1,050–€1,350 in Cologne or Hamburg, and up to €1,200–€1,500 in Munich, depending on housing and lifestyle. Your actual costs may be lower with shared accommodation and a semester transport ticket.
What careers and recognition does the International Business Administration offer?
The degree awards a Bachelor of Arts with 180 or 210 ECTS, aligned with the Bologna Process. SRH University is state-recognised in Germany, and the programme is accredited. In practice, this means your qualification is equivalent to one from a public university, facilitates entry to master’s degrees in Germany and across Europe, and is understandable to international employers through the ECTS framework.
Your skill set is broad and applied. You learn to analyse markets, read financials, manage operations and lead teams in intercultural settings. The internships, projects and, on the 210-ECTS route, the extended semester or internship abroad, give you German and international workplace experience — a strong advantage for post-study job searches.
Typical roles in Germany, the EU and worldwide include:
- Marketing or Digital Marketing Specialist; Brand or Product Manager
- Human Resource Manager or Talent Acquisition Partner
- Project Manager or Business Analyst in tech, services or industry
- Consultant (strategy, operations, digital), incl. junior roles in advisory
- Banking/Finance analyst roles, e.g. corporate banking or FP&A
- Supply Chain/Operations Coordinator, especially with the SCM specialisation
Career entry in Germany depends on city, sector and your German language level. Many international graduates start in English-speaking environments (e.g. multinational firms, start-ups) and improve their German for broader roles and progression.
Who is the International Business Administration right for – and who not?
This programme suits international applicants who want an English-taught business degree in Germany with clear practical exposure, flexible specialisations and a choice between a faster 3-year route and a 3.5-year track with extra international experience.
- You want to study in English in Germany and join international cohorts across major cities.
- You prefer applied learning with projects, case studies and internships over purely theory-driven study.
- You value specialisation options (e.g. Digital Marketing, Business Psychology, Supply Chain) without losing a general management base.
- You plan to build a career in Germany or the EU and want ECTS-recognised credits plus state-recognised status for master’s access.
- You are open to relocating within Germany or going abroad for a semester or internship on the 210-ECTS track.
It is not the right fit for everyone. Consider alternatives if the following apply to you:
- You are looking for a German-taught programme from the start; this degree is delivered in English.
- You cannot or do not want to relocate to Germany for on-campus studies; there is no distance-learning option for this programme.
- Your priority is the lowest possible tuition; private universities in Germany charge higher fees than public universities, although still moderate compared with many countries.
- You seek direct entry into a regulated profession (e.g. law, medicine). Business administration does not lead to such licences.
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