This English-taught Master of Arts prepares students to become managers for international retailers and brand manufacturers by combining strategic, conceptual and practical skills specific to the retail and consumer goods sector. The programme builds on a completed Bachelor’s degree and focuses on contemporary topics such as internationalisation, digitalisation, marketing concepts and retail strategy. Graduates are ready for careers across a range of industries — from lifestyle and fashion to consumer electronics and automotive distribution — where they can apply expertise in retail management and brand development.
The curriculum emphasizes cross-cultural competence, retail analytics and consumer analytics alongside hands-on learning. Core teaching covers areas including International Retail Operations; Market Research and Consumer Behaviour; Retail Law and Trademark Law; Global Retailing and Internationalisation; Retail Lab and Consumer Projects; Digital Commerce in Retail; Retail Branding and Store Marketing; Strategic Retail Management; Mergers & Acquisitions in Retail; Digital Marketing for Retail; Sales and Customer Lifecycle Management; and Supply Chain Management in Retail. Elective modules and practical projects (business cases and practice assignments with international companies) give students direct industry exposure and applied experience.
The programme is delivered by THI Business School, which holds AACSB accreditation — the first business school in Bavaria to earn this recognition and one of roughly six percent of business schools worldwide with that status — providing an internationally recognised quality mark for the degree.
Requirements
Overview
This full-time Master’s programme runs over two taught semesters, with a third semester set aside for the Master’s dissertation. It blends rigorous academic study with practical examples and an applied project, giving students both theoretical foundations and hands-on experience in retail and consumer contexts. The programme is aimed at preparing graduates either for professional roles in the retail sector or for further academic research.
Programme structure and key modules
During the first and second semesters students cover core areas such as principles of retail operations, market research and the market environment, retail concepts, and value management. In addition to these taught modules, each student completes a retail and consumer project that applies classroom learning to a concrete business or research question. Full module listings and detailed descriptions are available in the module handbook on the course website.
Learning outcomes and career relevance
On successful completion, students will be able to analyse retail operations and consumer markets, design and evaluate retail concepts, and apply value management principles to commercial decision-making. The applied project develops practical research and project-management skills, while the Master’s dissertation consolidates independent academic research ability. Graduates receive the Master of Arts degree, qualifying them for specialist entry-level positions in the retail industry or for entry to postgraduate research programmes.
Requirements to complete the programme
You should hold an economics- or retail-focused bachelor's degree worth at least 210 ECTS from a German university, or an equivalent qualification from a university in Germany or abroad. The university’s examination committee assesses whether a non-German degree is equivalent. You must submit a certificate as evidence of your prior degree.
Applicants must also complete and pass the programme’s selection procedure. The exact steps and requirements for this selection are specified in Annex 2 and § 4 of the Programme and Examination Regulations. In addition, you need to demonstrate sufficient English skills at the B2 level of the Common European Framework.
Please note that the university can only make a legally binding decision about your eligibility after it has reviewed all documents you submit with your application. If you want a preliminary check of whether your international qualifications are likely to be accepted before applying, you can use uni-assist’s admission-check tool. Full details and the formal study and examination regulations are available via the links below.
You are welcome to apply; once your complete application is received, the admission office will examine your documents and inform you of the outcome.
Admission requirements (concise)
Useful resources
Winter Semester (International)
15 July 2026
Summer Semester (International)
15 January 2027
Winter Semester (EU/EEA)
15 July 2026
Summer Semester (EU/EEA)
15 January 2027
Graduates are prepared for management and specialist roles across retail and consumer goods industries, including positions in retail operations, brand management, digital commerce, market research, supply chain coordination and sales lifecycle management. Typical employer sectors include lifestyle and fashion brands, consumer electronics, automotive distribution and multinational retail chains.
The programme also provides a solid foundation for further academic research or doctoral studies for those interested in pursuing an academic career in retail, consumer behaviour or related fields.
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