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Deutsch Who is the dual MBA suitable for - and what do you need to bring along?
The dual MBA is suitable for you if you have already completed a first degree and are planning to move into management. Typical profiles:
- Engineer or natural scientist with a first university degree who wants to switch to business development, product management, or leadership.
- Graduate in the humanities or social sciences, already working in the project or communication field, who wants to systematically build up business administration skills and leadership skills.
- Economic newcomer with one year of practical experience after completing a bachelor's degree, who wants to closely link theory and everyday work in the company - with a perspective on line or project responsibility.
You learn with high flexibility in distance learning and work simultaneously in the company. This way, you can directly transfer content from modules such as "Digital Transformation", "Leadership Skills", or "Business Accounting" into your daily work routine.
Admission requirements
For the dual study variant, the following formal requirements apply:
- Completed, at least 6-semester initial degree (university, college, or dual university) or an equivalent domestic or foreign degree.
- At least one year of professional experience after the initial degree.
- English language skills: School English for over seven years or language level B2 (CEFR).
- Dual implementation: For the studies, you need a suitable training company with the corresponding contractual integration.
The course is conducted in German; study materials are also available in English, and exams can also be taken in English. Enrollment without a first university degree is not provided for. An individual recognition of relevant previous achievements is possible upon request.
Personal requirements
Resilience, self-organization, and the willingness to take responsibility are important. You coordinate learning phases, practical assignments in the company, and exams - realistically, this means: regular learning blocks during the week and longer units before exams and seminar days.
- Structure: Create your own learning plans, keep an eye on deadlines, and use feedback from the company in study papers.
- Analytics and numerical understanding: You should be able to work confidently with data for modules such as corporate accounting, controlling, and "Going Global".
- Communication and leadership: Teamwork, exchange in online lectures, and developing leadership skills are part of daily life.
- Motivation over four semesters: Stay on track, even when work peaks, seminar phases, and the thesis all come together.
Plan early with your employer when exams, seminar days, and intensive project phases are scheduled. Aligning expectations openly and firmly anchoring learning times in the calendar helps to manage the additional workload better - and allows you to fully leverage the practical advantage of the dual format.
What do you learn in the Dual Master of Business Administration at IST-Hochschule für Management?
You build a broad-based management profile - with business basics, controlling, and law, complemented by leadership, marketing & sales, as well as digitalization and innovation. The dual structure combines practical experience and distance learning; you graduate with an MBA, 90 ECTS, a master's thesis, and a colloquium.
General management and corporate control: You develop business and legal fundamentals, understand macroeconomic conditions, and deepen corporate accounting and control. In addition, you acquire methodological and social skills for working at a management level.
Leadership and personnel: Leadership skills and human resource management are on your agenda. You learn to lead teams goal-oriented, moderate change processes, and establish a modern people-and-culture perspective in organizations.
Market and customers: Marketing & Sales combines market-oriented strategies with sales expertise. An internationally oriented business game ("Going Global") trains strategy, key figures, and decision-making under competitive pressure.
Digitalization and innovation: Digital transformation, idea and innovation management create a connection to current technology and business model trends - from process digitalization to the systematic development of new offerings.
Specializations and electives: Through elective modules, you sharpen your profile, for example, in "Agile Organizational and Customer Management," "Entrepreneurship and Business Development," "Global Innovation Management," or in the "Research Project Innovation and Management."
The programme is state-recognised, the degree programme is assessed by FIBAA and accredited by the Accreditation Council. Presence is planned for a few selected seminar days (a total of about 7-8 across all semesters), the rest takes place independently in distance learning.
How does the Dual Master of Business Administration programme work?
You work in a company and study simultaneously in distance learning. Study materials, online lectures, and tutorials form the core, supplemented by a few seminar days. You can take exams online almost weekly - alternatively at nationwide examination locations. The standard period of study is 4 semesters with an optional free extension.
Studying dually, learning online
You learn the theoretical content through self-study with prepared study materials, online lectures, tutorials, and exercises - supported by apps and an online campus. The programme is in German; study materials are also available in English, and exams can be taken in English if desired.
Practice location at the company, flexible study location
Your "campus" is primarily your training company - there you continuously gain professional experience and transfer what you have learned into projects. Distance learning makes you independent of location; selected modules include compact seminar days for exchange, application, and feedback.
Support and exchange
Professors and (external) practical lecturers accompany you in your studies. Exchange takes place through online tutorials, forums, and presences. Offers such as mentoring formats and industry networks increase proximity to practice.
Exams, presence, and thesis
You can take exams online in most modules - almost on a weekly basis. Alternatively, examination centres are available in Düsseldorf, Berlin, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, Hanover, Munich, and other cities to choose from. In the 4th semester, you will write the master's thesis including a colloquium.
Time and planning
The standard period of study is 4 semesters (90 ECTS). After completing the regular time, you have three additional semesters available free of charge - with supervision, access to examinations, and the campus. The combination of work and study requires continuous learning times but can be well coordinated with the job due to the high online quota.
How much does the Dual Master of Business Administration at IST-Hochschule für Management cost?
The tuition fee is €415 per month for 24 months, totaling €9,960. In the dual option, your training company usually covers these costs; additionally, you receive a company-agreed salary. There are no additional fees from the university.
You should also budget for personal expenses such as travel to and from, as well as possible overnight stays for seminar days or attendance exams. Compared to state universities that typically charge only semester fees, a private dual MBA is more costly - however, the company's cost coverage and salary significantly reduce the actual burden.
Tax-wise, the MBA can usually be deducted as professional expenses for further education. This means that tuition fees, specialist literature, or travel expenses can have an income-reducing effect. In addition, depending on individual circumstances, there are funding and financing options available.
What careers and salaries are possible after the Dual Master of Business Administration?
You qualify for management and interface roles in medium-sized companies and large corporations. Typical entry and advancement positions range from approximately €50,000 to €110,000 per year - depending on industry, region, company size, and responsibility.
- Business Development Manager or Head of Business Development - approx. €60,000-110,000
- Project Manager (agile/classic) - approx. €55,000-85,000
- Product Manager - approx. €55,000-90,000
- Sales Manager or Sales Manager - approx. €60,000-100,000
- Finance Controlling Manager or HR Manager/HR Business Partner - approx. €50,000-100,000
The ranges represent typical ranges in the German job market. Higher remuneration is possible in highly regulated industries, top locations, or management positions with large budget and personnel responsibility. International roles benefit additionally from the option to design content and exams in English.
Who is the Dual Master of Business Administration suitable for - and who is it not suitable for?
This programme may be beneficial for you if you aim to advance to a management level alongside your job and value a generalist, practice-oriented MBA programme with a clear online focus. The dual structure provides robust professional experience in addition to a degree.
- If you have a non-business first degree and want to systematically develop business administration and leadership skills.
- If you are looking for a combination of business practice and flexible distance learning - including online scheduleable exams.
- If you want to use digitalization, innovation, and entrepreneurship as a career lever.
- If you consider an accredited MBA degree (90 ECTS) with few, well-scheduled presence periods important.
- If your employer covers tuition fees and you want to receive a salary on the side.
The programme may not be ideal if you expect an intensive on-campus MBA with high weekly presence, an international class network, and frequent networking events. If you have to bear the study costs yourself and are specifically looking for the most affordable state alternative with only semester fees. If you are unable to attend any presence seminars - individual seminar days are planned. If you are aiming for a highly research-oriented education with a scientific specialization (e.g. for an academic career).
- If you expect a full-time on-campus MBA with high weekly presence, an international class network, and frequent networking events.
- If you have to bear the study costs yourself and are specifically looking for the most affordable state alternative with only semester fees.
- If you are unable to attend any presence seminars - individual seminar days are planned.
- If you are aiming for a highly research-oriented education with a scientific specialization (e.g. for an academic career).
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