Overview
This English-language Master of Arts is aimed at graduates with a Bachelor's degree who want to create, implement and evaluate innovations in products, services and processes within international organisations. The course blends core innovation-management theory with up-to-date, practice-oriented topics and is delivered with a mix of on-campus weekend block sessions and substantial online content, enabling completion in three semesters. The programme’s schedule and format also make it possible to study while working.
Curriculum and practical focus
Teaching covers foundational innovation-management concepts alongside current specialisms such as consumer insights and communication, digital innovation, data science and artificial intelligence applied to business innovation, and sustainable innovation. Seminars and lectures are supplemented by practical innovation field trips to give students hands-on exposure to real-world challenges. The interdisciplinary approach prepares graduates for a broad range of roles in international business and organisations.
Why this matters for your career
Innovation is a central driver of the global economy, and organisations increasingly need staff who combine economics-oriented understanding with agile methods and a capacity to foresee future trends—from new mobility concepts to AI impacts and climate-driven changes to products, services and processes. An international perspective is built into the programme to reflect global competition and opportunities beyond national borders.
Key facts / requirements
This master’s programme combines core principles and advanced topics in innovation management to prepare students for leadership roles in international organisations or further academic study (for example, a PhD). Teaching is designed to balance practical application and theoretical depth, so graduates gain both methodological know-how and hands-on experience managing innovation projects.
The programme is offered part-time across three semesters. Teaching in the first and second semesters uses a mix of concentrated on-site blocks and online formats to accommodate working professionals. The final (third) semester is dedicated to the Master’s thesis, which is written and defended and carries 30 ECTS. Successful completion of the degree qualifies graduates to apply for doctoral programmes.
Coursework covers foundational innovation management topics as well as specialist modules addressing sustainability, digital transformation and data-driven innovation. Students practise futures research, explore legal and financing aspects of innovation, develop market and customer strategies, and implement real innovation projects. By the end of the programme students should be able to design and manage innovation processes in international contexts, apply data science and AI methods to business innovation, and contribute to sustainability and mobility transformations.
Key modules
Program requirements & study format
This three-semester Master's programme requires a completed undergraduate degree and specific prior coursework, language ability and practical experience. Admissions are based on documentation of your first professional qualification and relevant module content; official module descriptions from your university are an appropriate form of proof. All applicants are reviewed by an admissions committee that decides whether the entry requirements have been met.
You must hold a Bachelor’s-level degree with sufficient ECTS credits and an acceptable grade average, ideally in business-related subjects. You also need demonstrable prior coursework in several core areas (management, mathematics/statistics, and business computing/informatics/research tools). Practical experience in the form of an internship or relevant work must be completed before starting the Master’s; internships completed as part of your undergraduate degree are accepted.
English-language proficiency is required at a level of at least B2+ on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Admission requirements (summary)
Winter Semester (International)
Information on current application deadlines can be foundhere.Application procedurefor international students
Graduates are prepared for roles that initiate, implement and evaluate innovations across international organisations and industries — for example innovation manager, product or service manager, business development manager, strategy consultant or data-driven innovation specialist. The programme’s interdisciplinary mix (innovation management, futures research, AI/data science, sustainability and mobility) suits positions in corporates, public institutions, consultancies and startups where cross-functional and international perspectives are required.
The programme also supports academic progression (eligibility to apply for doctoral studies). Its emphasis on agile methods, practical project experience and international field trips enhances employability for candidates seeking to combine professional work with study or to transition into leadership roles driving organisational transformation and sustainable innovation.
HWR Berlin (Berlin School of Economics and Law) — Berlin
Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts — Dortmund
Furtwangen University — Villingen-Schwenningen
Harz University of Applied Sciences — Wernigerode