The first three semesters of the six-semester Business Administration (work-integrated learning/cooperative education) study programme covers the classic foundations of business administration. The cooperative education students complete courses together with the students completing the classic Business Administration study programme. The professional practice phase in the fourth semester is exclusively spent in the cooperating company. The fifth and sixth semesters are dedicated to courses heavily focussed on digitalisation and relevant aspects of current digital challenges and the fields of application of Business Administration exclusively for cooperative education students. These last two semesters are organised in the cooperative education format with alternating three-month study and professional practice phases. The Business Administration (work-integrated learning/cooperative education) bachelor’s degree programme aims to give students the opportunity to gain valuable practical experience during their studies and provide a direct career pathway through the cooperating companies. For cooperating companies, the study programme provides an opportunity to give students a permanent position from the very start of their studies, tie them to the company for the duration of their studies at the Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences and provide education and training with practical study projects or in extended professional practice phases in the company. This gives the company an important edge in the competition for talented young specialists and managers.
Study with an employment contract in the hand
Do you like dealing with facts and figures? Are you interested in the corporate world and want to study business administration? Is it also important for you to gain key experience in a company during your studies? Then the work-integrated learning (WIL) programme in business administration at Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences is just right for you. For the WIL business business administration programme at Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences, you are already employed by a cooperating company at the start of your studies and are sent to the university by your company for the study phases. The advantage of WIL over a classic business administration degree is that you already gain valuable experience in the company during your studies and have firm job-market prospects. Ideally, after graduation you will become a fixed-term employee of the company.
Why choose this programme
Work-integrated learning concept
The alternating phases of study and professional practice offer a variety of opportunities for developmentFocus on digitalisation
Digital concepts and applications are the focus of the specialisationsRelaxed study atmosphere and personal contact
1:1 mentoring and coaching by professors in the study programme, small learning groups and close consultation between the university and the cooperating companies
Your job-market prospects after graduation
Permanent employment and good career prospects at the cooperation company
Ideally, as a graduate of the business administration study programme (WIL), you will be offered a permanent position in the cooperation company. This makes sense because you will have already familiarised yourself with the company during your studies and been shown medium- to long-term prospects for further development as a specialist and manager there. In the medium to long term, as a trained generalist with in-depth knowledge of the digitalisation of specialist areas in business administration, a wide range of further career opportunities will be open to you. You can apply the knowledge and skills you have learned from your studies in a wide range of business sectors (e.g. industry, retail, logistics banking and insurance). The content of the study phases is basically cross-sectoral and independent of company size. This means that you are well equipped to work in either large companies or small and medium-sized enterprises. The path to entrepreneurial self-employment is also open to you. Thanks to the strong focus on practice and application in the contents of the programme and the specialist and interdisciplinary expertise acquired during your studies, you will be optimally prepared for a career in the business world in keeping with your own individual preferences.
Facts about the study programme
Degree of Studies
Bachelor of ArtsStudy Form
Full-time study (practice integrated dual)Term of Admission
admission-freeTerm of Admission
Winter semester (one-time for the summer semester 2023)Main Course Language
German/EnglishStandard Period of Study
6 Semester
Unlock your potential
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 the first few semesters, you will work on practical projects in the cooperating company that are already integrated into your studies. In the fourth semester, you will complete a professional practice semester in the company, and the fifth and sixth semesters will follow in the classic WIF format, with alternating three-month phases consisting of study at the university and professional practice in the company. At our institution, the courses we offer exclusively for WIF students have a strong emphasis on digitalisation, with a relevant focus on current digital challenges and fields of application in business administration.
Programme overview
In addition to the professional practice phase in the cooperating company, the Business Administration (work-integrated learning/cooperative education) study programme is focussed on current digital challenges and the fields of application of Business Administration. In the fifth and sixth semester, students learn about the individual corporate divisions with a strong focus on digitalisation. This teaches them important skills in the application of digital instruments and tools. They understand digital trends and can critically reflect on the associated opportunities and challenges. The following courses with a focus on digitalisation are held in the fifth semester: Digitalisation in Marketing and Sales, New Digital Business Models, Human Resource Management in the Context of Digital Processes, Organisation Design, Digitalisation in Accounting and Controlling, Finance and Investment Against the Background of Digitalisation. The following courses with a focus on digitalisation are offered in the sixth semester: Production and Materials Management in the Context of Digitalised Processes, ERP Systems and Business Analytics, Methods and Systems in Digital Transport Logistics, Digital Risk Management. 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.
In the first three semesters, the dual students gain their first practical experience through study-integrated practical projects in the cooperating company. They also get to know the working environment there better. The entire fourth semester then takes place as a practical phase in the cooperation company. The fifth and sixth semesters also include three-month practical phases at the cooperation company. During the practical phases, there is a close exchange between the students, the cooperating companies and the professors of the study program. An advisory board ensures close networking between the university and the cooperating companies.
Admission and application
Admission to the programme requires 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 requirements:
1. English B1.
The admission requirement for foreign students is an C1 language level in German.
2. Application is only possible with a training or study contract from a cooperating company.
Employment at the company is a condition of the application. You may already have found your dream company. Great! Alternatively, we can look for a potential cooperating company in the region for you. Please get in touch!
The Business Administration (work-integrated learning/cooperative education) study programme admits students in the winter semester each year. The application deadline is 15 July. Applicants who are accepted by a company need to enrol through the eCampus online application portal together with all the necessary documents and all the associated documents will be posted out to you. A prerequisite for this is a corresponding university entrance qualification.
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 take advantage of the offers for prospective students to help you find out more before your study commences.
Learn more about the study programme
Business Administration (