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Who is the Master’s programme in Change Management and Decision Making suitable for?
The Master’s programme Change Management and Decision Making is aimed at professionals who want to actively shape change processes in organisations and take on leadership responsibilities. It is especially targeted at specialists from business, communication, human resource management, and consulting who wish to acquire or deepen specific expertise in dealing with change projects, decision management, and interdisciplinary team leadership. The distance learning course is suitable for those who have already completed a university degree or have relevant professional qualifications with practical experience and want to specifically steer their career towards management roles in project management, organisational development, or as a coach and consultant.
What formal requirements do you have to meet?
The following criteria apply for admission to the Master of Arts Change Management and Decision Making:
- With a completed first degree: You need a completed university degree (Bachelor, Diploma, Magister) with at least 180 Credit Points, ideally related to business, psychology, social sciences, communication, or management.
- With a first degree and professional experience (continuing education Master’s): Admission is granted if you can demonstrate at least 1 year of qualified, professionally relevant work experience after your first university degree.
- Without a university degree: You can also be admitted if you
- have a university entrance qualification (e.g. Abitur/Fachabitur),
- have completed a vocational training,
- have at least 2 years of work experience in the relevant field, and
- have passed an aptitude test (e.g. essay, letter of motivation) as well as an admission interview.
- Proof of further programme-related competencies (e.g. relevant CP, further qualification or English language certificate) may be required on a case-by-case basis.
A specific final grade or a numerus clausus is not required. The course can be started flexibly on the first day of any month.
You should have an interest in shaping organisational change processes and interdisciplinary collaboration. Self-motivation, independent working, and confident communication skills are important, as change management requires intensive cooperation with diverse stakeholders and decision-making under uncertainty. Relevant are initial practical experiences in team or project leadership, enjoyment of solution-oriented thinking, as well as openness to digital forms of work and international contexts.
What content can you expect in the Master’s in Change Management and Decision Making?
In the master’s programme Change Management and Decision Making at Hochschule Fresenius, you engage with the core disciplines of business psychology, economics, and communication studies. These three areas form the foundation for designing successful change processes in organisations. You develop a deep understanding of the success factors in change management and decision-making behaviour in companies.
- Interdisciplinary research perspectives: theory formation, different research approaches, and a practical project.
- Business psychology: topics such as intercultural psychology, leadership psychology, social interaction, and communication.
- Media psychology: effects of media and their use in change processes.
- Communication: here you choose, for example, between social media in internal and external communication, crisis communication, corporate communication, or media planning.
- Management: elective choice among modules such as digital transformation, international and intercultural management, value-oriented corporate governance or virtual working and leadership.
- Change Management: designing change processes, success factors, use of storytelling, and working on case studies.
- Decision Management: thinking and problem-solving, decision theories, and decision-making behaviour in an economic context.
By choosing two out of three specialisations (business psychology, communication, management), you can tailor your studies individually to your interests and career goals. The study content is closely linked to practice – with a focus on developing solution strategies, implementing change projects, and targeted communication of changes.
How is the study process in the distance learning programme Change Management and Decision Making structured?
The programme is organised 100% online and offers you maximum flexibility. You can start on the first day of any month and set your own learning pace. The standard period of study is 48 months (4 years), but due to the flexible scheduling, you also have the possibility to complete your studies faster or slower – depending on your individual life situation.
- You complete 120 ECTS over four semesters (full-time).
- Study and examination assessments can be completed independent of location and time, with many exams possible online.
- You use the digital learning platform for teaching materials, lectures, group work, and communication with lecturers.
- Individual support from study coaches and lecturers ensures you receive assistance throughout the entire course of study.
- There is particular flexibility as examinations can also be taken in the evenings and on weekends.
- Option to access international certificates from Arizona State University.
The programme is aimed at working professionals and is explicitly designed for part-time studying alongside work. Independent learning, working on practical projects, and elective specialisations ensure you deepen the content according to your own career plans.
What career prospects does the Master’s in Change Management and Decision Making open up?
With the Master of Arts in Change Management and Decision Making, diverse career paths in various industries open up. Your profile combines leadership and communication skills with sound expertise in designing and implementing change processes.
- Leadership roles in change projects: taking on leadership tasks in organisational transformation.
- Project management: initiating and managing change initiatives both nationally and internationally.
- Coaching: advising executives and teams in dealing with change and decision-making.
- Management consulting: developing customised strategies for change processes and their implementation.
- Communication consulting: specialising in crisis communication, internal communication, or storytelling in the context of change.
- Other fields of application: personnel development, organisational development, or management development in companies, associations, or public institutions.
The degree qualifies you for responsible roles in leadership positions and opens up the possibility to strategically help shape the future of organisations. Competences at the interfaces of management, psychology and communication are particularly in demand.
Where does the study take place and how is the spatial organisation arranged?
The distance learning programme Change Management and Decision Making (M.A.) is offered completely online by Hochschule Fresenius. Throughout the entire course of study, you have location-independent access to all teaching content and digital services.
- No attendance obligation at a physical campus.
- Learning and examinations take place via the digital learning platform – independent of your place of residence or work.
- Individual online support from lecturers and study coaches.
- For some examinations, on-site components may be necessary; their number is kept to a minimum and may be conducted at a Hochschule Fresenius location.
- You receive an official student ID and have access to digital libraries and e-learning materials.
Hochschule Fresenius is one of the largest private universities in Germany with its locations, but your study place is not tied to any of these cities – you study 100% online.
How are the costs for the distance learning programme Change Management and Decision Making composed – and what financing options are available?
The programme costs 329 € per month for the standard duration of 48 months, which corresponds to a total amount of 13,176 €. If you opt for a shortened study period, the monthly fee increases accordingly; any promotional discounts can further reduce the total price.
- 48 months: 329 €/month
- 36 months: 410 €/month
- 24 months: 549 €/month
- Promotional discount: Up to 10% reduction on tuition fees possible with code
The tuition fees include access to the learning platform and online library, all learning materials, support, and examination fees. Additional costs may arise for travel to certain on-site exams.
- Financing options: study loans from KfW, scholarships (e.g. Deutschlandstipendium), BAföG (for first undergraduate studies), support from employers
- Payment models with flexible instalments depending on the duration of study
Hochschule Fresenius supports you upon request in finding the appropriate financing option and provides an overview of all funding opportunities.
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