MA Business Management

Overview The MA in Business Management builds on your bachelor’s education to prepare you for leadership roles across organisations. Grounded in the system-oriented St. Gallen Management Approach, the programme equips you to understand complex business systems and to manage a wide variety of companies and institutions. The course is delivered in English and designed to improve your strategic and managerial career prospects.

Specialisations and study options You choose one of three main specialisations: International Sales Management, People and Culture, or IT Management. There is also a four-semester variant that allows you to specialise in Digital Leadership; this longer track additionally offers the chance to earn a double degree in cooperation with Sapienza Università di Roma. These options let you tailor the programme to specific career paths, including international roles and digital management positions.

Learning approach and practical experience The curriculum balances theory and practice: lectures use case studies to show how management concepts apply in real situations, and teaching is supported by faculty with practical management experience as well as managers from local partner companies. Local businesses help shape the study programme and contribute to teaching and placement opportunities. All students complete either a mandatory internship or a practice-oriented research project, providing direct industry exposure and preparing you for the master’s thesis and the job market.

Admission & programme requirements

• Completed bachelor’s degree (relevant field) — the programme builds on prior undergraduate study
• Proficiency in English (programme language is English); formal proof of language ability will be required
• The four-semester Digital Leadership track includes an option for a double degree with Sapienza — participation may require study-abroad arrangements
• The curriculum requires a mandatory internship or a research project as part of graduation requirements
• Check the official admissions page for detailed application documents, deadlines and any additional entry criteria (transcripts, CV, motivation letter, etc.)

Structure and study rhythm The programme is organised to support both classroom learning and practical experience: most lectures are scheduled on Thursdays and Fridays, leaving other weekdays free so you can gain hands-on work experience or pursue internships. The Master’s thesis can be completed in cooperation with a company, helping you to transition smoothly into the job market after graduation.

Core content and teaching approach During the first two semesters you build a solid management foundation based on the St. Gallen Model. This approach emphasises a systemic, entrepreneurial view of management rather than a purely control-oriented one, and it divides management into three intersecting levels: normative (purpose and values), strategic (long-term direction), and operative (day-to-day execution). You will also study how organisations interact with and are shaped by their external environments, preparing you to make decisions that consider stakeholder, market and contextual influences.

Practice, research and specialisation Practical application is an explicit part of the curriculum: you undertake an eight-week internship to apply theoretical approaches in real organisations. If your goals are more research-focused, you may instead take part in a leadership research project that directly prepares you for your Master’s thesis in the third semester. In the third semester you choose one of three specialisations—International Sales Management, People and Culture, or IT Management—to develop targeted expertise that supports specific career paths.

Key learning outcomes

• Develop systemic and entrepreneurial management thinking across normative, strategic and operative levels
• Analyse and manage organisational relationships with their external environments
• Apply management theories in practice through an internship or research project
• Specialise in one domain (Sales, HR/Culture, or IT) to gain career-relevant skills
• Prepare and execute a practice-oriented Master’s thesis, optionally in a company setting

Requirements and practical notes

• Lectures mainly on Thursdays and Fridays (other weekdays free for work/internship)
• Master’s thesis may be written in cooperation with a company
• An eight-week internship is part of the programme; a leadership research project is an alternative option
• Third-semester specialisations: International Sales Management, People and Culture, IT Management
• German employers often prefer candidates with German language skills; B2 level or higher is recommended for securing working-student roles
• If you want to learn German during your studies, contact the student advisory service for information and support

Graduates are prepared for management-level roles across diverse companies and institutions, with specialisations guiding career paths into sales management, HR/people & culture functions, IT management, or digital leadership positions. The programme’s mandatory internship or research project, case-based teaching and close cooperation with partner companies support a practical transition into employment and help build professional networks.

The Digital Leadership four-semester option and the double degree opportunity further strengthen international and digital-transformation-oriented profiles. While the programme is fully in English, acquiring German (recommended B2 for the local job market) improves prospects for working-student positions and employment in German companies.