Global Management (MA)

This English-language Master’s programme gives a comprehensive foundation in management with a clear international focus. Course content covers key areas such as sales, supply network management, operational excellence, digital marketing and global business strategy, all geared toward the needs of innovative international value chains. It is designed for graduates of business-related Bachelor’s programmes who want to deepen their knowledge of international management topics.

Practical, intercultural skills are central to the degree. During the third semester students complete a practical internship with an internationally operating company (for example in marketing or HR), and the Master’s thesis is project-based and developed in cooperation with that company. This structure lets you apply theory directly to real-world problems and build relevant professional experience while studying.

Teaching is practice-oriented and delivered by staff with international backgrounds and many years of managerial experience, helping you develop both market insight and cross-cultural competence—qualities important for careers in global management.

Key points / requirements

• Programme language: English
• Target applicants: graduates of business-related Bachelor’s programmes with an interest in international management
• Practical component: third-semester internship at an internationally operating company (e.g., marketing or HR)
• Internship requirement: must take place in a country other than the student’s nationality
• Master’s thesis: project-based and written in cooperation with the host company

The program combines core business disciplines with a strong international perspective, delivered across the first two semesters. You will study topics such as International Digital Marketing, Global Business Strategy, and Global Sales & Key Account Management alongside Finance & Accounting for multinational firms. Operational topics include International Value Chain Management, Business Process Management and Automation, and Operational Excellence & Innovation Management. Complementing these are modules on Leadership and Change Management, Nations and Firms in a Globalised World, and Marketing Research — together they build a rounded toolkit for managing complex, cross-border business challenges.

Key learning outcomes emphasize both strategic and practical skills. You will learn to design and implement global marketing and sales strategies, manage key accounts across markets, and interpret financial information in a multinational context. The curriculum trains you to map and optimize international value chains, apply process-management and automation approaches, and lead organizational change while fostering innovation and operational excellence. Training in marketing research equips you to generate evidence-based decisions, and the “nations and firms” perspective deepens your understanding of how national institutions and cultures shape global business behavior.

The third semester is devoted to applied experience: you complete a master’s thesis in partnership with an internationally operating company and undertake a mandatory practical placement abroad. These components let you apply classroom theory to real company problems, build international industry contacts, and gain hands-on experience in a foreign business environment — all of which strengthen employability in multinational firms, consulting, supply chain, international marketing and related careers.

Requirements and practical details

• Master's thesis completed in cooperation with an internationally operating company (third semester)
• Mandatory practical work experience abroad (internship) of at least three months
• The internship must be carried out in a country different from the student’s nationality
• First and second semesters cover the taught modules listed above; the third semester focuses on thesis and internship

Graduates are prepared for roles in international business and management such as global sales/key account management, international marketing, supply chain and operations management, and roles in business development or consulting focused on global value chains. The mandatory internship and company-linked Master’s thesis give direct professional experience and employer contacts, improving employability in multinational firms and internationally active SMEs.

The programme builds both technical management skills (finance, process management, digital marketing) and soft skills (leadership, intercultural competence, project work), enabling graduates to move into operational, strategic or client-facing positions in cross-border business environments.