Master of Science in Business Administration

Program overview

This English‑taught master’s programme equips you with the core management knowledge and practical skills needed to succeed in an international, fast‑moving economic environment. It is designed as a broadly based business administration degree — similar to those at leading international universities — while still allowing you to deepen your expertise in selected subject areas. The curriculum and courses are regularly evaluated and structured so that completion within the standard period of study is achievable.

Teaching emphasizes research and quantitative methods: contemporary business administration relies heavily on analytics and empirical work, so you will build a solid foundation in the tools needed to understand and evaluate scientific results. At the same time the programme follows the Humboldtian ideal of academic freedom and internationality: Berlin’s global atmosphere, a large international student body, and partnerships with universities worldwide support student exchanges and a truly international learning environment.

Learning also focuses on social and professional skills through seminars and small‑group formats that encourage active participation and teamwork. The programme offers considerable flexibility in course choice, which gives you freedom to shape your studies but also requires self‑initiative and a proactive approach to academic life.

What the programme expects from applicants and students

• Openness to a broad, generalist business curriculum while choosing areas for deeper study
• Readiness to engage with quantitative methods and empirical research
• Proficiency in English (all courses are offered in English)
• Willingness to participate in seminars and small‑group learning to develop social and teamwork skills
• Proactive attitude and ability to manage the flexibility the programme provides
• Interest in an international campus experience and potential participation in student exchanges

Curriculum overview

This programme is structured to combine a research-focused core with a wide range of specialised electives, giving you both depth and breadth in business administration. The core component is the 20 CP Master’s thesis. In addition, you complete 90 CP of specialised elective coursework drawn from four thematic catalogues, plus a 10 CP ungraded interdisciplinary elective area. Taken together the components sum to 120 CP of study workload.

Key modules and expected learning outcomes

• The General Management catalogue (18 CP) covers central, up-to-date topics across business administration (e.g., Marketing Management, Finance Theory, Organisation and Management). These modules are designed to broaden and complement your prior training so you graduate with a well-rounded understanding of current business-practice areas.
• The Economics & Methodology catalogue (18 CP) equips you with analytical and empirical tools for scientific work (e.g., Applied Econometrics, Econometric Methods, Game Theory). Learning outcomes include the ability to interpret modern research, apply quantitative methods, and make original contributions in your Master’s thesis and future professional or academic roles.
• The Business Administration catalogue (30 CP) focuses on research-related specialist knowledge across subjects such as Accounting, Financial Economics, Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Management and Information Systems. Teaching typically emphasizes small-group work on contemporary business-administration questions.
• The Business & Economics catalogue (24 CP) lets you choose modules from the School’s offerings in Economics, Business Administration and Quantitative Methods—useful for recognising coursework with an economics emphasis (for example, from a semester abroad).
• The interdisciplinary elective area (ÜWP, 10 CP) provides ungraded, cross-cutting coursework to broaden transferable skills.

A note on grading: from the 90 CP of specialised electives, the 70 CP with the highest grades are used in the calculation of your overall programme grade.

Programme requirements (concise)

• Core module: Master’s thesis — 20 CP
• Specialised electives (total) — 90 CP, split into:
  • Catalogue A — General Management: 18 CP
    • Example modules (each 6 CP unless noted): Marketing Management; Financial Accounting and Analysis; Principles of Taxation; Finance Theory; Organisation and Management; Business Analytics and Data Science
  • Catalogue B — Economics & Methodology: 18 CP
    • Example modules: Applied Econometrics (6 CP); Econometric Methods (12 CP); Multivariate Statistical Analysis (6 CP); Introduction to Advanced Microeconomic Analysis (6 CP); Introduction to Advanced Macroeconomic Analysis (6 CP); Game Theory (6 CP); Competition Policy (6 CP)
  • Catalogue C — Business Administration: 30 CP
    • Research-focused specialist modules across Accounting, Financial Economics, Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Management, Information Systems (smaller-group formats)
  • Catalogue D — Business & Economics: 24 CP
    • Modules from Economics, Business Administration, Quantitative Methods (suitable for recognising economics-focused courses)
• Interdisciplinary electives (ÜWP, ungraded) — 10 CP
• Grading rule: 70 CP of the highest-graded specialised elective modules are included in the overall grade calculation

Suggested study plan (in German): https://www.wiwi.hu-berlin.de/de/studium/studiengaenge-1/ma-betriebswirtschaftslehre/studienverlaufsplan-ma-bwl.pdf (PDF)

Graduates are prepared for analytically demanding roles in consulting, finance, marketing, business analytics, and corporate management where strong quantitative and empirical skills are valued. The programme’s focus on research methods also makes it a solid foundation for positions involving data-driven decision making or policy analysis.

For students interested in academia or research-oriented careers, the Master’s thesis and methodological training provide a pathway to doctoral studies or research roles in think tanks and corporate research units. The programme’s international profile and Berlin location additionally support careers in multinational firms and organisations.