The first three semesters are devoted to teaching the classical foundations of business administration. Subsequently, in the fourth and sixth semesters, students can choose among three focus areas, which allows individual specialisation. In addition to specialised studies, modules for soft skills and elective areas are also integrated into the programme. The fifth semester is intended as a professional practice semester. This semester, as well as the fourth and sixth semesters, can also be used for a semester abroad. The seventh semester is divided into two parts. The first half consists of modules to prepare students for the labour market or to continue on to a master's study programme. In the second half, time is allotted to writing the bachelor's thesis. The professors in the study programme undertake close supervision of the students both during this final study phase and during the professional practice semester. The aim of the BA programme in Business Administration is to qualify students as junior managers for a wide range of business operation areas. As a result, graduates of the Business Administration programme satisfy the qualification requirements of the regional and supra-regional economy to the greatest possible extent. After a short induction period, they are able to independently take on challenging professional tasks and managerial responsibility.
Study with business – for business
The demand for Business Administration graduates on the labour market is high and the occupational fields for graduates in this area are diverse. Whether you are aiming for a career in industry, public administration or as an entrepreneur, whether in human resources, marketing or accounting: studying Business Administration at Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences offers students ideal preparation for a career in business through practice-based teaching and learning in direct exchange with regional businesses. The Business Administration programme deals primarily with the management, governance and organisation of companies. The focus is on using the resources of a company – i.e. personnel, material and financial resources, as well as information – as effectively and efficiently as possible in line with the company's corporate strategy in order to achieve key performance targets.
Why choose this programme
Generalist educational pathway
Mixture of business administration basics, specialisations, soft skills, professional practice phase, study abroad and preparation for the job market.Practice-based teaching and learning
Professional practice phase in the 5th semester, practical projects with regional companies during the semester and regular impulse or keynote lectures by experts who are practising in the field.Double degree options
Study at the Vigo University in Ourense, Spain (6th & 7th semester) or at the King Mongkut´s University of Technology in Bangkok, Thailand (7th & 8th semester) and obtain a double degree
Your prospects after graduation
A wide range of entry-level career opportunities in business
With a generalist education, you will have good career opportunities in a variety of industries after completing your BA in Business Administration. You can apply the knowledge and skills you have learned from your studies in a wide range of business areas (e.g. industry, consumer goods sector, banking and insurance). The programme intentionally steers away from taking an industry-specific approach. Ideally, the specialisation subjects chosen during your studies (e.g. marketing, human resource management or accounting) will lay the foundation for your later work in a company. As a general principle, the business administration skills you acquire are completely independent of the size of the company. Therefore, it is possible to apply in large companies as well as in small and medium-sized enterprises. The path to entrepreneurship is also open to you. Thanks to the strong practical and application-based approach of the programme, you will be ideally prepared for a management or specialist career in business, depending on your individual preferences.
Facts about the study programme
Degree of Studies
Bachelor of ArtsStudy Form
Full-time studyTerm of Admission
admission-freeTerm of Admission
Winter semesterMain Course Language
german/englishStandard Period of Study
7 Semester
Dive into the world of Business Administration
In the first three semesters, the foundation subjects will provide you with solid business administration skills in all the classic business operation functions as well as a sound knowledge of management. In addition, in semesters 4 and 6 you will acquire an in-depth understanding of specialised business areas, such as marketing, human resource management and accounting. Participation in practical projects will enable you to transfer the knowledge you have acquired in the basic and specialised modules in order to tackle concrete business administration problems in practice. During your professional practice phase in semester 5, you will not only gain insights into the everyday life of a company, but will also grow with the new challenges you encounter in practice. An optional semester abroad in semester 4 or 6 (instead of choosing a focus area) will provide a character-building intercultural experience. Acquiring additional key qualifications in compulsory modules and elective subjects will allow you to think outside the business administration box. You will be able to critically reflect on social trends and developments and discuss them in an interdisciplinary context. In addition, in general courses offered centrally throughout the university, you will acquire relevant soft skills, especially in the areas of communication, self-organisation, teamwork, social responsibility, social commitment and ethical conduct.
Programme overview
In semesters 4 and 6, it is possible to choose from the following focus areas:
Focus areas in semester 4: – Human Resource Management – Financial Management – Marketing
Focus areas in semester 6: – International Management – Accounting/Controlling – Business Information Systems
An especially unique feature of the programme is the three-week introductory phase that commences at the start of semester 1. This is when the new business administration students are 'onboarded' at the university. To provide them with the best preparation for their studies, the first-year students are given a self-assessment test to identify areas for development, an aptitude assessment, and guidelines for effective study techniques. In addition, they gain exciting introductory insights into the corporate world through a business simulation game, guest lectures by practitioners from partner organisations, and work on practical real-world projects. The multifaceted start to the study programme is rounded off by team-building activities and the kick-off to the 1:1 mentoring and coaching between professors and students.
The fifth semester of the study programme is intended as a professional practice semester. Over the course of 20 weeks, the students are expected to gain an understanding of everyday working life in a company or organisation and apply the skills they have acquired up to that point in their studies. In addition to the practical experience that the students gain during this semester, they have the opportunity to establish their first contacts there and engage in real-life networking. The professional practice semester can be completed either in Germany or abroad. During their professional practice phase, the students are under the supervision of a professor.
Admission and application
The prerequisite for admission to the study programme is a general higher education entrance qualification, an entrance qualification for studies at universities of applied sciences or an educational qualification recognised as equivalent. The Registration Office and the Student Advisory Service can provide information on the options for studying without a higher education entrance qualification. Special admission requirement B1 English.
The admission requirement for foreign students is an C1 language level in German.
'The Business Administration (BWL) study programme admits students in the winter semester every year. The application deadline is 15 July. Please apply online through our ecampus application portal where you can upload all the necessary documents.
The Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences is a member of UNI-ASSIST (Application Services for International Students). Prospective students who have gained their university entrance qualification outside the European Union (EU) can therefore submit their application directly to UNI-ASSIST. To ensure adequate processing time, the application for the winter semester should be submitted to UNI-ASSIST by 30 June. Following a successful review, this is forwarded on to the Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences. UNI-ASSIST charges applicants a fee to process the application.
You can find further information on the application procedure on the Registration and Examination Office’s website.
Please use the offers for Prospective students to contact us before starting your studies