International Management – General | Creative Leadership | Entrepreneurship (MA)

Program overview

This English-taught Master of Arts in Business Administration focuses on managing businesses in an international environment. You will study global economic challenges, international and European law, and subjects such as strategy, innovation and risk management, plus international company law — all aimed at preparing you for demanding roles in international management.

The structure offers strong practical orientation toward leadership and entrepreneurship while equipping you with legal and strategic frameworks needed in cross-border business. The programme is designed to build both specialist knowledge and transferable leadership and communication skills that support careers in multinational firms, public institutions, or international projects.

Specializations and mobility options

You choose one of three foci:

• General track: A highly mobile option that can be completed across up to three cities (examples include Paris, Dublin, Rome or Shanghai). You may remain in Berlin or study in a variety of cities and countries. This track also gives you the chance to obtain a second master’s degree or certificate from partner institutions, for example:
  • a French Grade Master's in Paris or Bordeaux
  • a Spanish Master's in Granada
  • a Czech Master's (Mgr) in Prague
  • an Italian Master of Science in Rome
  • an Irish Master of Science in Dublin
  • a Chinese Master's degree in Shanghai
  • a Russian Master's degree in St. Petersburg
• Creative Leadership track: Blends international management theory with creative leadership methods. You will learn to apply creative, artistic and entrepreneurial approaches in management and develop soft skills and leadership capabilities.
• Entrepreneurship & Intrapreneurship track: Focuses on developing entrepreneurial competencies and business expertise to design, develop and launch your own venture or to drive innovation within existing organisations.

Key facts and entry notes

• Language of instruction: English
• Degree awarded: Master of Arts (MA), field: Business Administration
• Three specialization tracks with options for international mobility and partner-issued second degrees/certificates

Admission requirements (e.g., academic prerequisites, language tests and application documents) are determined by the university and may vary by track and partner institution — check the official programme page or contact admissions for exact entry criteria, visa guidance and application deadlines.

Curriculum overview

This Master’s program combines core management theory with hands-on practice to prepare you for leadership roles in global organisations or to start your own venture. The first year builds a foundation in operational, contractual and intercultural aspects of international business, alongside targeted skill-development courses that differ by track—General, Creative Leadership or Entrepreneurship. In the second semester you move from foundational topics into innovation and business model work, plus a substantial company-focused project (or incubator-based project for entrepreneurship students) that applies classroom learning to a real organisational or creative context.

In the third semester the focus shifts to strategy, leadership, legal and people-management issues needed to run international enterprises, while also addressing financing and marketing from a cross-border perspective. The final semester is dedicated to a master’s seminar, an internship that provides professional experience in your area of interest, and an independent master’s thesis that demonstrates your ability to integrate research and practice.

Key modules (by semester)

• First semester: Risk Management in Value Creation; International Contractual Management; Operations and Project Management; Intercultural Management; Negotiation and Conflict Management; Developing Managerial Skills I — either Case Studies (General & Creative Leadership) or Developing Managerial/Entrepreneurial Skills I: Mindset, Action & Reflection (Entrepreneurship)
• Second semester: Technological Foresight and Innovation Strategies; Business Model Generation; Developing Managerial Skills II: Business Simulation; Company Project (General) OR Creative Company Project / Artistic Methods (Creative Leadership) OR Company Project / Incubator (Entrepreneurship)
• Third semester: Leadership and Global Strategic Management; Legal Environment of International Business and Foreign Trade; Human Resource Management and Ethical Leadership in International Enterprises; Risk Management in Financing; Strategic Network Management; International Marketing Management
• Fourth semester: Master’s seminar; Internship; Master’s thesis

Learning outcomes — what you will be able to do

• Assess and manage operational and financial risks across value chains
• Negotiate and structure international contracts with awareness of legal and trade environments
• Lead multicultural teams and apply ethical human-resource practices in global organisations
• Design and validate innovative business models using foresight and strategic tools
• Apply project and operations management techniques in real company settings or incubator environments
• Use artistic/creative methods (where applicable) to develop leadership practices and organisational innovation
• Translate coursework into professional experience via a supervised internship and demonstrate independent research and applied problem-solving in the master’s thesis

This curriculum is practice-oriented and track-flexible, allowing you to tailor your studies toward general management, creative leadership, or entrepreneurship while gaining international, legal and strategic competencies valued by employers and start-ups alike.

Graduates are prepared for international careers in management, strategy, innovation and project leadership across multinational corporations, consultancies, start-ups and public organisations. Depending on the chosen track, you can pursue roles in creative leadership, product and innovation management, corporate or start-up entrepreneurship, international marketing, risk and compliance, or business development.

The programme’s applied components—company projects, simulations, partner collaborations and the final internship—help build a professional portfolio and industry contacts, easing the transition into employment or the launch of your own venture.