Workshop im Büro Dusan Petkovic – stock.adobe.com

Research

Transfer between science and economy, teaching and research

Research at HSBA

We do research for Hamburg: modern, open-ended and application-oriented

Research Profile

Transfer Between Science and Economy, Teaching and Research

HSBA combines application-oriented teaching with excellent research. With 30 professors, 20 doctoral students (see faculty) as well as national and international Affiliate Fellows, HSBA works on current issues that are relevant for corporations in the field of business administration and related disciplines. Our research activities create added value for the economy and support young academics through our cooperative doctoral programme. All departments of HSBA are involved in research, academic continuing education and teaching. Our university members are committed to the guidelines of good scientific practice.

News from research

News & Stories

CHE-Ranking Logo mit HSBA-Graduierenden
HSBA confirms its top ranking in a nationwide comparison of dual-track universities

In the latest university rankings published by the Centre for Higher Education Development (CHE), HSBA Hamburg School of Business Administration has once again achieved an outstanding result. Undergraduates on the Business Administration programmes and the Business Informatics programme rate their university more positively than average. Particularly noteworthy is the overall study experience as the central overall rating: with top scores of 4.6 (Business Informatics) and 4.5 (Business Administration), the HSBA stands out clearly from other universities. This means that the HSBA is once again among the best dual-track universities in a nationwide comparison.

“We are delighted with the feedback from our students, which confirms that we are on the right track,” explains Prof. Dr Max Johns, Vice-President for Teaching & Didactics at the Hamburg School of Business Administration. “Students come to us seeking personal support, well-organised study programmes and a practical focus. Our aim is to offer the best practice-oriented teaching in Germany within a personal atmosphere and to continue developing it in an innovative way.”

In the comprehensive student survey, HSBA scores highly across the board: in its Business Administration programmes, it ranks well above average in all 13 out of 13 categories, whilst in Business Informatics, 7 out of 8 categories receive above-average ratings. The organisation of studies is particularly outstanding, receiving an excellent rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars from business administration students. The range of courses, academic support, and career and practical orientation also achieved top marks of 4.5 out of 5 stars each, underlining the high quality of the programme.

With around 120,000 students surveyed, the CHE University Ranking has been the most comprehensive and detailed comparison of higher education institutions in the German-speaking world for 25 years now, covering facts on study programmes, teaching, facilities and research, as well as students’ assessments of study conditions at their universities.

The full CHE Ranking for 2026 is now available on HeyStudium, the new portal from Die Zeit, at www.heystudium.de/ranking, and in the new ZEIT Study Guide.

Details
Award-winning: HSBA Impresses With its Innovative Strength and Practical Relevance in the SZ Ranking

In the Süddeutsche Zeitung’s latest ranking of Germany’s best private universities, HSBA is among the leading institutions: it takes first place in both the categories Innovative Strength & Future Orientation and Subject/Thematic Focus. HSBA also impresses with top rankings in other areas – including practical relevance, graduate quality, the university’s reputation and international orientation.

Best University

  • Innovation & Future Orientation
  • Subject/Thematic Focus

Top University

  • Practical Relevance
  • Graduate Quality
  • University Reputation/Image
  • International Orientation

The results highlight the strengths of HSBA’s dual study model: a close integration of theory and practice, clear subject-specific profiles, and a consistent focus on the demands of a global and changing world of work.

The study was conducted by the SZ Institute in collaboration with INNOFACT and is based on a representative survey of HR managers, former, current and prospective students. A total of over 1,200 people took part, including 651 HR decision-makers. Among other things, the assessment covered practical relevance, innovative strength, international orientation, as well as reputation and image.

Read the full ranking here.

Details
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Research and Transfer

HSBA maintains strategic partnerships with 300 cooperation companies and other partners to enable a smooth transfer of current research findings into business practice and to solve problems collaboratively. For this purpose, we offer various cooperation possibilities:

 

Contract Research

Our experts from HSBA as well as our independent institutes, take over research contracts commissioned by third parties. We offer support in solving current corporate issues utilizing modern and scientifically proven methods. The aim of contract research is to generate know-hows, especially for our cooperation companies, to increase their competitiveness and at the same time to strengthen the quality of teaching at HSBA with the latest findings and knowledge.

Grant Research

Externally funded third-party projects are also an important premise of research at HSBA. The research results from third-party funded projects are made available to the general public through publications. Sponsors are, for example, the European Union, federal ministries, foundations, public authorities or supra-regional research funding institutions.

 

Focus Areas of Research

In a regular selection process, we identify the research fields that are competitive and have a potential to initiate new research priorities. The constitution of research priorities is intended to promote cooperation and enable research and teaching activities to achieve a higher level of productivity and visibility.  In addition, the University Council decides on a three-year research strategy in which trend-setting research priorities are institutionally strengthened. The "Foundation for Advancing HSBA Hamburg School of Business Administration" utilizes its funds to support both research projects outside the institutionally anchored focal points as well as research by the faculty that is crucial for higher education strategy.

Business Ethics

Our research in business ethics focuses on strategic corporate social responsibility (CSR), governance and sustainable management. Every year, the Corporate Social Responsibility Summer School discusses the current challenges of this research area with young international researchers.

Medium-sized and Family Businesses

Here, the focus is on specific challenges facing (Hamburg) medium-sized and family-owned companies. Although the majority of German companies are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and they are often family-run, they are rarely taken into account in public and economic policy. Under the direction of the Institute for Mittelstand and Family Enterprises (IMF), we consider the SME sector as a driver of innovation, technology and economy in Germany. With our research we would like to strengthen the competitiveness of small and medium-sized family enterprises.

Digitalisation

Digitalisation is increasingly influencing the way we communicate, live and do business. This research area investigates the development of digitisation in business models, processes and products. So far, the insurance and financial sectors have been in focus. But also, the question to what extent the function of marketing is changed by digital communication and which chances digital business models offer for sustainable business are topics of this research area.

 

Research Projects

An overview of current and completed economic and non-economic third-party funded t3://page?uid=1228research projects can be found here. Further research activities and scientific publications by HSBA professors can be found on the research news page and in the publications database.

Nächste Events

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For any further questions please contact us!

The Research and International Office offers support and a wide range of services.

Sabine Lebedinski
Sabine Lebedinski

Manager Research, Third-party funding & fundraising

+49 40 822160-911
sabine.lebedinski@hsba.de

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