Bachelor in Business Administration (International Management)
International Management is the art of realising what is happening, seeing where your company is heading, preparing for change and having the right teams in place.
Key data
Degree
Bachelor of Science FHNW in Business Administration (International Management) - area of specialisation
ECTS points
180
Next start
September, February (only PT in Brugg)
Studying mode
Full-time, part-time or part-time combi (on-site/online)
Duration
3 or 4 years
Teaching language
English (September), English and German (February) For details see teaching language*
Students and programme heads will answer your questions in an open consultation hour. Simply open the link during the specified time and take part.
Next open consultation hour:
Your Bachelor of Science degree (BSc) will prepare you for a successful career and enable you to understand how firms become and remain competitive in the dynamic international landscape. You will gain a foundation in business administration, such as finance & accounting, marketing, human resource management, organisational behaviour, information management & business analytics, supply chain management and logistics and acquire business management skills. You will also become proficient in management theories and techniques pertinent to managing a company and people in a multicultural business environment and enable you to address business challenges in a systematic and problem-oriented way.
The practical focus of the programme – including project work, business simulations and case studies – will deepen your appreciation of why, and how, the local adaptation of business and management concepts developed in other business environments is crucial for both local and international business. You will develop effective oral and written communication skills and intercultural and interpersonal communication skills that will ensure your ability to consider issues of diversity and to work successfully in global business contexts.
Secure your study place now!
Start in February 2025: We recommend early registration until October 31.
Start in September 2025: We recommend early registration until April 30.
In our bachelor’s programme, you can put together your own portfolio of studies from a broad range of specific and general core electives, areas of specialisation, and practical projects covering topics of your choice. You can choose to do your specialisation either in English or German.
International Management is the art of realising what is happening, seeing where your company is headed, preparing for change and having the right teams in place.
1. Steering business into the future
In today‘s business world, long-established business models and traditional markets are being outpaced by agile players who are rapidly taking the global stage. Your role as a manager is to lead the way in this dynamic environment, spearheading your company’s efforts to enter new markets and optimising internal processes.
2. Business all-rounders in great demand
Your degree will open the door to many exciting opportunities, from being a project manager or a consultant to becoming a member of senior management. You will find yourself highly sought after, with opportunities in small and medium-size enterprises, start-ups, multinational organisations, non-governmental and nonprofit organisations. You will have career prospects in a wide range of industries from manufacturing to services.
3. Learning to listen, evaluate and decide
Our team of lecturers comprises highly qualified academics and experienced professionals who apply their knowledge and practical experience to teach you how to identify and analyse the opportunities and risks in the ever-changing business world.
4. Building powerful teams
Your studies at the FHNW will equip you with the skills you need to successfully collaborate with, motivate and lead a team of your peers, to bring your ideas to life and to set things in motion.
Full-time
The full-time programme can be completed in six semesters (on-site). Classes take place Monday to Friday (08.15 - 12.00 / 13.15 - 17.00). One day per week is free for self-study.
The part-time programme can be completed in eight semesters. Our part-time mode is designed for those students that either pursue a professional career or raise a family or have a care-commitment.
While working as qualified commercial employee
Students who can evidence that they worked at least 50% throughout their studies as qualified commercial employees will be awarded up to 15 credit points if they submit an additional paper related to their employment. They can either be salaried employees or self-employed.
Timetables: Varies depending on your study location.
This programme is taught in English. Therefore, students must demonstrate language proficiency in English (B2 level).
Students intending to start in February must also demonstrate language proficiency in German (B2 level), as half of the key modules will be taught in German. Students who are not proficient in German are encouraged to apply for the Autumn intake instead.
Introduction week
Start in autumn: Your studies start with an introduction week in September (week 37).
Start in spring: Your studies start with an introduction week in February (week 7).
Standardised Assessment Stage
You start the programme with the assessment stage before moving on to the main part of your studies. The fundamentals of business administration are taught at the assessment level. At this stage you will also start to gain an awareness of your own strengths and develop interests for potential areas of specialisation.
Individual Areas of Specialisation
You can also tailor your studies to your goals by choosing from a range of business and non-business electives and specialisations. A practical project and a bachelor’s thesis provide further opportunities for specialisation.
At FHNW School of Business you apply management theories and frameworks to practical problems set by companies and organisations. You work under supervision. You gain valuable experience and contacts in the chosen field. Project topics reflect a wide range of current issues in business and regional politics. Student projects
Bachelor’s thesis
The Bachelor's Thesis is the capstone of your IM studies. This gives you the opportunity to demonstrate that you can apply the knowledge you gained in your studies to solve a concrete problem in a company. You take a methodologically appropriate approach to finding the right solution to the issues raised, with the support of a specialist from the field. You develop an in-depth knowledge in your subject area and new skills. You also make contact with potential employers or demonstrate your ability to your own employer.
Upon programme completion, our graduates either directly join small and medium- sized companies as all-rounders or find their way into larger multinational or more specialised organisations via a graduate training programme - or in some cases, direct entry as a skilled assistant. After a certain amount of experience on the job, you may be given management tasks. Or you might prefer to launch your career as the boss of your very own start-up.
Attractive employment opportunities can be found in areas of financial services and consulting, accounting & finance, marketing or supply chain management in various industries.
Preparatory courses are intended for future students who either have a non-commercial vocational baccalaureate, whose commercial vocational baccalaureate was awarded some time ago or who feel uncertain in one or more core subjects.
For further offers please contact the respective provider.
Gaining international and cross-cultural experience
Studying International Management means studying in English, the international language of business. All communication – including lectures, assignments, and administration – is conducted in English.
As a full-time International Management student you will spend up to two semesters at one of our international partner universities. As a part-time student you are given the same opportunity, if your commitments allow, or you may choose from a number of other international experience options.
We also offer Double Degree programmes, which enable you to pursue two academic degrees from different universities, allowing you to specialise in a particular field of study or explore a new subject area.
Study Abroad
You have the opportunity to spend up to two semesters at one of our more than 200 partner universities.
As a general rule you will be admitted to the programme with a professional Baccalaureate. If required you may need an additional year of practical experience. Find further information here.
Note regarding Matura 2020: We accept all Baccalaureates issued in 2020 (according to admission requirements).
If you fulfil the admission criteria, you should be well-prepared to start studying. English language proficiency is highly recommended. The content of the first semester is geared to the exit level of the commercial maturity programme. For students with other school-leaving qualifications and for those with subject gaps, there are orientation and preparation options available in the following subjects: • Accounting • Mathematics • English
Tuition fees qualify for attendance of any Bachelor course within FHNW, independent of the particular enrolment at a faculty.
Registration fee (1)
once
CHF 200
Personal course fee (2)
per semester
CHF 700*
Copying and materials
per semester
CHF 100
Teaching materials, books, projects
per year
ca. CHF 1'000
Diploma fee
once
CHF 300
(1) A separate registration fee has to be paid for each programme you register for.
(2) For students domiciled in a Swiss canton or in the Principality of Liechtenstein with legal entitlement to a grant, for Expatriate Swiss citizens or for students domiciled in a Swiss canton, who are holders of a residence permit that has not been issued specially for their studies. For other students, please contact the secretariat. *Personal course fee for EU or EFTA citizens: CHF 1'000.00 per semester *Personal course fee for Non-European citizens: CHF 5'700.00 per semester
