International Business / International Business Management

A quick degree despite a semester abroad and practical relevance

Through project-oriented courses and practical relevance, you will learn the basic skills required for a career. In addition, you will acquire the necessary business knowledge and intercultural skills. Another special feature of these study programs is the access to a wide range of electives, which are taught in English and in an international atmosphere (guest students). This gives you access to a wide range of interesting specializations within an appropriate professional framework. In addition, you will take English as a compulsory foreign language and another foreign language - either French or Spanish - as a second foreign language. A stay abroad is also part of the study program.

The 6-semester International Business study program offers specializations in Marketing, SCM/Logistics, Finance, Accounting & Risk Management, Human Resource Management or General Management. You will spend five semesters at Fachhochschule Dortmund and one semester at a foreign university of your choice. The semester abroad can be completed at one of Fachhochschule Dortmund's numerous partner universities, but also at a university of your own choice (as a freemover) if a corresponding study program of 30 ECTS can be studied there and the chosen university meets the qualification requirements demanded by Fachhochschule Dortmund. The advantage of this study option is the fast completion of studies, which enables a quick entry into professional life or into a subsequent four-semester Master's program.

Acquisition of language level and Bachelor of Arts for international specialist and management positions

At the beginning of the 1st semester, you decide on the second foreign language. If you would like to reach language level C1 after the 4th semester, you will attend the courses Français des Affaires I or Español de los Negocios I. However, you also have the option of acquiring or refreshing your basic knowledge of French or Spanish in an intensive bridge course in the 1st semester. This is followed in the 2nd semester by the French-language specialist course Français Commercial I or the Spanish-language specialist course Español Comercial I. With this second option, you will achieve language level B2.

After successfully completing the course, you will be awarded a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree with 180 ECTS.

The Bachelor's study program qualifies you for specialist and management positions in international companies and institutions or for a professional career in companies abroad.

Two study options offer international international and practical experience with different characteristics

If you opt for the International Business Management program, you can choose between two eight-semester options:

• a flexible study abroad program at up to two partner universities (without a double degree) or
• a study abroad program at a partner university that leads to a double degree.

The two study options have a number of things in common. Through project-oriented courses and practical relevance, you will acquire the basic professional skills you need. In addition, you will acquire the necessary business knowledge and intercultural skills. In addition, you will take English as a compulsory foreign language and either French or Spanish as a second foreign language in both study options. Stays abroad of at least three semesters are also part of both study options.
Another special feature of these study programs is the access to a wide range of electives, which are taught in English and in an international atmosphere (guest students). This gives you access to many interesting specializations within a meaningful professional framework, which can even be condensed into a 'Major Field of Studies' in the 8-semester International Business programme. This then identifies you as an expert in a specific core business area.

International Business Management with or without a double degree offers international and practical experience in specific cultures and economic areas

The 8-semester double degree program in International Business Management (240 ECTS) follows the principle of a globally oriented education, with the opportunity to develop a profile in the areas of Marketing, SCM/Logistics, Finance, Accounting & Risk Management, Human Resource Management or General Management. In addition, this study program leads to a special business and cultural area-specific competence: The integrated one-year study abroad with one of the above-mentioned subject specializations at one of our Double Degree (DD) partner universities in one of the selected language areas and an internship semester (of at least 20 working weeks) in an internationally operating company abroad form the central pillars of this variant. In total, students in the double degree study option are required to spend three semesters abroad (two semesters at one of the DD partner universities, one semester in a company). By obtaining a Bachelor's degree from Fachhochschule Dortmund, supplemented by a second Bachelor's (BA) degree from the foreign partner university, in which the previous study achievements from Dortmund are credited to you, you will acquire two professional qualifications (double degree) as a future international manager. In addition, the 8-semester study program can be a springboard for a one-year Master's program in Germany or abroad.

The generalized strategic-analytical International Business Management variant offers international and practical experience in up to three different countries

The 8-semester International Business Management (240 ECTS) variant without a double degree has similar profile-building structures with a total of two semesters of study abroad and a practical semester abroad, but is not tied to a specific Business Studies and cultural area, but instead aims to provide the greatest possible flexibility in terms of internationality. Students on this study program can even study at up to two foreign universities from a selected partner portfolio and, if necessary, complete their internship abroad in a third country.

The course prepares students primarily for the tasks that employees in the strategic departments of internationally operating companies have to deal with. Graduates of the International Business Management study program are sensitized to foreign-related issues after completing their training and have the analytical and strategic tools to support and accompany international companies in the adoption and pursuit of their foreign strategies.
Projects, project seminars, business games, case studies, project management, database research, knowledge management and entrepreneurial action are taught as part of the modules and in conjunction with specialist and methodological knowledge. This means that Business Studies content is offered in a practice-oriented manner and, where possible, using different forms of teaching and learning. For example, in the Managing Cross Border Projects in the fourth semester, the specialist and methodological knowledge acquired is applied by means of comprehensive practical group work with an internationally active company and a partner university abroad.

Notes on the elective specializations in French and Hispanic Business Studies and Culture

Students who would like to choose French or Hispanic Business Studies as a specialization in the 8-semester double degree course should also have the corresponding language skills at level B1 at the start of their studies (corresponds to at least 8 points in the LK or at least 10 points in the GK).
By the end of the 4th semester, you will have reached level C1 in the respective target language in order to be able to obtain a degree at the partner university. In this case, you will choose the courses Français des Affaires I or Español de los Negocios I at the beginning of the 1st semester.
Irrespective of this, all students have the opportunity to acquire or refresh their basic knowledge of French or Spanish in an intensive bridge course in the first semester. This is followed in the 2nd semester by the French-language course Français Commercial I or the Spanish-language course Español Comercial I

Bachelor of Arts for international specialist and management tasks

After successfully completing the program, you will receive a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree with 240 ECTS. Your degree can be upgraded with a Major Field of Study (e.g. International Marketing, HRM), which is shown on the Bachelor's degree certificate. With the double degree option, students are awarded the degree of the partner university in addition to the German degree.

The Bachelor's study program qualifies you for specialist and management positions in international companies and institutions or for a professional career in companies abroad.

The 8-semester International Business Management Double Degree offers the opportunity to receive a scholarship of up to €4,500 from the Franco-German University for the French business and cultural area. You can find more information on this via the following link:

This is a thematic overview of the course content. Detailed information on the exact names of the courses, information on ECTS or semester hours per week can be found in the examination regulations and in the module handbook.

This is a thematic overview of the course content. Detailed information on the exact names of the courses, information on ECTS or semester hours per week can be found in the examination regulations and in the module handbook.

What makes Fachhochschule Dortmund special? What should you know about the city and the region? How is Fachhochschule Dortmund positioned in terms of internationality and what counseling and support do we offer you? Find out more about Fachhochschule Dortmund.

The International Business program may suit you if you are interested in Business Studies and are open to international experience as well as enjoying networked thinking and intercultural communication. Furthermore, native speakers are increasingly involved in teaching in all language programs. University partnerships are also intensively cultivated and in many cases have a long tradition.

It is advantageous if you enjoyed learning German, math and English at school and have a solid basic knowledge of another foreign language as well as an affinity for languages.

The qualification for studying at universities of applied sciences is proven by the certificate of the university of applied sciences entrance qualification or a previous education recognized as equivalent.

Proof of proficiency in English as a foreign language is determined ex officio if the applicant can provide evidence of one of the following qualifications in particular:

• Cambridge First Certificate
• Certificate with an entrance qualification for a university of applied sciences and a grade of at least "sufficient" (4.0) in English
• TOEFL ITP with at least 543 points or 72 points in TOEFL-iBT
• IELTS, Academic level with at least 5.5 average points

Other language qualifications not listed here at level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) can be checked on request.

and the BID and BAN you receive there are required for the application on the Fachhochschule Dortmund website.

The study program starts each year in the winter semester and admission is restricted, so there is a numerus clausus (NC).

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