Bachelor-Studiengang Business Administration, HSBA

Business Administration

Bachelor of Science – Co-operative

Co-operative Bachelor's degree programme in business administration with alternating theoretical and practical phases

Bachelor's programme in Business Administration at HSBA

Study business administration at one of Germany's best co-operative universities for business administration!

Are you interested in business administration and would you like to directly apply what you have learned in practice? Our dual study programme Business Administration combines academic business studies with systematic on-the-job training in a company.

The Business Administration degree programme has been completely revised and now offers significantly more elective and specialisation options with which you can design your studies even more flexibly and individually. The core curriculum combines contemporary content with modern, digital teaching formats and is complemented in the best possible way by comprehensive specialisations (majors & minors) from the 2nd year onwards. This way, you are fully prepared to start your professional career! 

Apply now for Business Adminsitration

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Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Credits:
180 ECTS
Programme Start:
1 October each year
Study duration:
3 years
Language:
75% German, 25% English
Intern
Programme Accreditation

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The academic head Prof. Dr. Hölter explains the focus and the special features of the dual undergraduate degree programme in Business Administration.

Top Position in CHE University Ranking

  • Bachelor students rate HSBA above average and are very satisfied with their studies.
  • Our dual university is in the top group in 12 out of 12 categories.
  • You can find more information here.

Programme Organisation and Structure

Business Administration (Bachelor of Science) at HSBA

The Business Administration degree programme comprises six semesters. Each semester consists of a theoretical phase at university (20 weeks per year on average) and a practical phase in the company (32 weeks per year on average). In the first year of study, you learn the basics of business administration. In the second and third year, you have the opportunity to specialise by choosing a major (36 ECTS) or two minors (18 ECTS each) from our wide range of specialisations.

Plan of Study & Course Content

Study Content Semester 1
  • Mathematics
    6 ECTS
    48 Contact hours
    German
    Info

    Teaching of basic mathematical knowledge; transfer of economic problems into mathematical approaches; and application in practice.

     

  • Financial Accounting
    6 ECTS
    32 Contact hours
    German
    Info

    Legal regulations auf accounting, accounting procedures, account charts, accounting processes including annual financial statement postings, problem-oriented application of full and partial cost accounting

     

  • Human Resources and Leadership
    6 ECTS
    34 Contact hours
    German
    Info

    Teaching of selected approaches, methods and instruments of personnel management and leadership, analysis of common personnel and leadership situations, application to current practical tasks

     

  • Basics of Business Informatics
    6 ECTS
    48 Contact hours
    German
    Info

    Gain basic knowledge of informatics using business information and application systems for computer-aided design, control and processing of business processes, basics and potential uses of databases and their implementation in companies.

     

  • Science and trends
    6 ECTS
    48 Contact hours
    German
    Info

    Principles and fundamentals of scientific knowledge acquisition in business administration; examination of long-term framework conditions of the economy (megatrends); examination of political-legal, ecological, socio-cultural and technological influencing factors.

     

Study Content Semester 2
  • Statistics
    6 ECTS
    48 Contact hours
    German
    Info

    Usage of statistical concepts; especially probabilities and probability distributions, sample size, significance, causation, correlation, linear regression. 

     

  • Microeconomics
    6 ECTS
    48 Contact hours
    English
    Info

    Understanding the basics and the methodology of microeconomic theory, assess the economic impact of economic develepments, public sector activities and policies on firm behaviour, household behaviour, market outcomes and economic welfare.

     

  • Principles of Finance
    6 ECTS
    48 Contact hours
    English
    Info

    Understand how companies raise money to finance their investments; realise the role of the financial manager in a business organisation and the effects of financing decisions on the market value of a firm.

     

  • Marketing Management
    6 ECTS
    48 Contact hours
    German
    Info

    Get a holistic academic and theoretical understanding of marketing management, its main components as well as the implementation of such knowledge and expertise to real business situations.

     

  • Business Law
    6 ECTS
    48 Contact hours
    German
    Info

    Understand the general principles of law; read and judge contracts on international contractual disputes; discuss legal questions.

     

Study Content Semester 3
  • Quantitative Methods
    6 ECTS
    48 Contact hours
    German
    Info

    Basics of market research and data collection; development of questionnaires for statistical surveys;  time series analysis, cluster analysis, software application.

     

  • Strategy and Innovation
    6 ECTS
    48 Contact hours
    German
    Info

    Become familiar with basic strategic concepts, selected process, organisational and business model innovations, and innovative starting points in new and existing companies, "big-picture" overview of companies and their capabilities and develop an understanding of change.

     

  • Elective 1
    6 ECTS
    48 Contact hours
    German/ English
  • Specialisation (Major / Minor)
    12 ECTS
    96 Contact hours
    German/ English
Study Content Semester 4
  • Operations Research / Operations Management
    6 ECTS
    48 Contact hours
    English
    Info

    Operations Management: basic insight into the physics/logic of operations, recognition of OM problems and finding appropriate methods to solve them Operations Research: unterstanding of different types of optimisation methods and their benefits and limitations in practice.

     

  • Project Management
    6 ECTS
    48 Contact hours
    German
    Info

    Basic knowledge to implement projects within the available time and cost frame as well as the required quality, overview of the most basic instruments and methods of project management; structure, plan, control and manage projects of medium complexity.

     

  • Organisation and Organisational Behaviour
    6 ECTS
    48 Contact hours
    English
    Info

    Understand organisations; exploration of organisation theory; get to know dimensions that describe specific organizational design traits and structures.

     

  • Elective 2
    6 ECTS
    48 Contact hours
    German/ English
  • Specialisation (Major / Minor)
    6 ECTS
    48 Contact hours
    German/ English
Study Content Semester 5
  • Sustainability
    6 ECTS
    48 Contact hours
    English
    Info

    Learn basic concepts and strategic advantages of responsible and sustainalbe leadership, get to know and apply central terms, theories, strategies and management models of sustainability, develop an own sustainability strategy.

     

  • Business Psychology
    6 ECTS
    48 Contact hours
    German
    Info

    Gain basic psychological knowledge regarding human thinking, feeling and behavior in the market and business context.

     

  • Elective 3
    6 ECTS
    48 Contact hours
    German/ English
  • Study Trip
    3 ECTS
    German/ English
    Info

    For the one-week study excursion, students choose a topic which is usually dealt with intensively within one week abroad. Company visits, visits to foreign universities and an exciting social programme make this week an unforgettable experience.

     

  • Specialisation (Major / Minor)
    12 ECTS
    96 Contact hours
    German/ English
Study Content Semester 6
  • Management Game
    6 ECTS
    48 Contact hours
    German/ English
    Info

    During the Management Game students will combine the knowledge and skills from different modules in a simulation, which contains managing a manufacturing company for some years.

     

  • Specialisation (Major / Minor)
    6 ECTS
    48 Contact hours
    German/ English
  • Bachelor Thesis
    12 ECTS
    German/ English

Specialisations

Majors & Minors

In our dual degree programme Business Administration, you can decide whether you want to choose a comprehensive specialisation (major) or two different specialisations (minors). The major runs from the 3rd to the 6th semester, while the minors take place consecutively from the 3rd to the 4th semester and from the 5th to the 6th semester.

If you already know exactly in which area you would like to specialise, you can choose one major or two minors before starting your studies. Some of our cooperation companies even offer you a place to study with a specific specialisation. In case you are still unsure in which direction you would like to specialise, that's no problem either. You simply start your studies and, together with your company, choose one major or two minors in your first year. Just as you like. At HSBA, the choice is yours.

Major (1 option | 36 credits | 3rd – 6th semester)
  • Finance & Data Analytics
    36 ECTS
    4 term/s
    German/ English
    Info

    The Minor Finance must be taken in advance. The content of Finance is related to the modules Mathe-matics, Statistics, Accounting and Principles of Finance. Further modules: Financial Econometrics, Data Science/Artificial Intelligence/Digitalisation in Finance, FINTECHS and Start-Up-Financing as well as Sustainable Finance.

     

  • Marketing & Customer Insights
    36 ECTS
    4 term/s
    German
    Info

    The Marketing Transformation major builds on the Marketing & Sales minor. It also includes the modules Online Marketing Intelligence, Marketing Performance Measurement and Project Work Marketing.

     

  • Media Management & Communication
    36 ECTS
    4 term/s
    German
    Info

    The major provides subject- and media-specific knowledge relevant to media and communication management. Modules: Technical Production and Design, Communication Theories & Public Relations, Transformation of Media Markets & Products, Content Development, Social Media & Digital Marketing, Strategic and Operational Media Management.

     

  • Sales & Customer Insights
    36 ECTS
    4 term/s
    German
    Info

    The Sales & Retail major builds on the Marketing & Sales minor. It also includes the modules E-Commerce & Omni Channel Management, Sales Performance Management and Project Work Sales & Retail.

     

  • Sustainable Leadership, Innovation & ESG
    36 ECTS
    4 term/s
    English
    Info

    How can sustainability and good governance be implemented through ethical leadership as well as governance and compliance. This major is a combination of the two minors "Sustainable Innovation", and “Compliance & Ethical Leadership”.

     

  • Audit, Tax, Advisory
    36 ECTS
    4 term/s
    German
    Info

    The major builds on the Accounting minor. It combines the fundamentals of business administration with the special requirements in the field of auditing and consulting. In addition, it comprehensively conveys the necessary theoretical basics and provides in-depth insights into the activities of an auditor and consultant in different sectors of the economy.

     

Minor (2 options à 18 credits | 3rd – 4th & 5th – 6th semester)
  • Compliance & Ethical Leadership
    18 ECTS
    2 term/s
    English
    Info

    How can sustainability and good governance be implemented through ethical leadership as well as governance and compliance. 3 modules: Ethical Leadership, Corporate Governance, Compliance.

     

  • Data Science
    18 ECTS
    2 term/s
    German
    Info

    The module provides basic knowledge in the field of data science and artificial intelligence. In terms of content, parts of the lecture build on statistics. Modules: Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Case Studies on Data Science and Artificial Intelligence.

     

  • Digital Business
    18 ECTS
    2 term/s
    English
    Info

    The minor builds on the contents of the module "Fundamentals of Business Informatics" and imparts basic knowledge of digitalisation. 3 modules: Digital Business Strategy & Implementation, Digital Process Innovation, Algorithmic Design and Implementation.

     

  • Finance
    18 ECTS
    2 term/s
    German/ English
    Info

     The Minor Finance is related to the modules Mathematics, Statistics, Accounting and Principle. 3 modules: Finance Basics, Risk Management, Mergers & Acquisitions.

     

  • International Management
    18 ECTS
    2 term/s
    English
    Info

    Objective of the International Management Minor is to gain a general overview over the field of International Management. 3 Module: International Management, Law, Accounting and Taxation, International Human Resource Management and Intercultural Communication, International Trade and Regional Studies.

     

  • Marketing & Sales
    18 ECTS
    2 term/s
    German
    Info

    The minor builds on the contents of the Marketing Management and Quantitative Methods module. 3 modules: Customer Management & Sustainable Marketing, Sales & Retailing Management, Data Science & Artificial Intelligence.

     

  • New Work & Personalmanagement
    18 ECTS
    2 term/s
    German/ English
    Info

    The minor builds on the content of the modules Personnel and Leadership, Organisation and Behaviour as well as Statistics and Quantitative Methods. 3 modules: Transformation of organisations and HRM in times of digitalisation, new work, people analytics and evidence-based HRM.

     

  • Shipping
    18 ECTS
    2 term/s
    English
    Info

    The Minor in Shipping provides maritime and shipping-specific knowledge relevant to working in the maritime industry and specifically in shipping companies. Theory, practice and case studies are closely interwoven. Modules: Shipping Markets, Sustainability & Business Models; Shipping Policy, Law & Insurance; Ship Finance, Case Studies & Projects. 

     

  • Sustainable Innovation
    18 ECTS
    2 term/s
    English
    Info

    As one of the global megatrends, Sustainability comprises various opportunities for businesses. The Sustainable Innovation minor covers strategic implications of the topic and well as innovative new business models. 3 modules:  Sustainable Business Models, Sustainable Supply Chains, Sustainable Innovation Camp.

     

  • Business Accounting
    18 ECTS
    2 term/s
    German
    Info

    The Minor in Business Accounting combines the basics of business administration with the special requirements in the field of auditing and consulting. 3 Modules: Auditing 1, Taxation 1, Audit-related services.

     

  • Insurance Management
    18 ECTS
    2 term/s
    Info

    The minor consists of 3 modules: The Insurance Business Model – Functionality and Risk Management Approaches, Strategic Management – Starting Points for Insurers and Intermediaries, and Digital Business Models, Innovations and Digital Business Approaches in the Insurance Industry.

     

Career Prospects

The dual business programme at HSBA opens up excellent career opportunities. Due to the practical training in the company flanking the theoretical degree courses, more than 90% of our students receive a job offer for the next career step immediately after completing their studies. Whether in human resources management, controlling, marketing, sales, auditing or as a data scientist – with a dual study programme at HSBA, a career in the upper management of nationally and internationally operating companies is virtually guaranteed.

"There couldn't have been a better steppingstone."

Tim Adler, Alumnus Business Administration, class of 2022, Global Vertical Excellence Manager at Hamburg Süd – A Maersk Company

Tim Adler successfully completed his dual BSc Business Administration degree at HSBA in 2022 and has since worked as Global Vertical Excellence Manager at Hamburg Süd. His well-structured Bachelor's thesis, tailored to the interests and needs of his partner company, has served as an accelerator for his career and given him visibility as an expert within the company. How can this succeed? We talked to Tim Adler about it.


Dear Tim Adler, first of all, congratulations from us on your Bachelor's degree! You wrote your Bachelor's thesis in close cooperation with your partner company Hamburg Süd and were able to deliver significant added value for the company. What is it about?

I worked out success factors for the implementation and optimisation of a lead management process in my cooperation company Hamburg Süd and its parent company Maersk. Lead management includes all processes from the generation of potential customers (leads) to the further development and qualification of these leads into profitable and long-term business relationships. Among other things, the set-up and cooperation of the marketing and sales departments as well as the use of suitable software were examined for optimisation potential with regard to the lead management process.
The work is based on the latest scientific findings as well as qualitative research through expert interviews.

And how did you decide on this topic, did you work out the approach together with your company? Were there specific requirements or did you take the initiative?

From the beginning, it was important to me to work on a topic in which I could show real interest and in which I could develop my own skills while the company benefited from it. At the same time, my enthusiasm for sales and marketing had already developed during my studies. Therefore, I independently searched for a topic that met these requirements with my colleagues from the corresponding departments as well as with my professor Inga Schmidt-Ross. Lead management was the final topic, which was the focus at Hamburg Süd, had strong ambitions for further development and is also still very much in the early stages of research.

How important was it to you not "merely" to do research, but to truly create something?

For me, the concept of the dual study programme at HSBA is precisely designed to create something real through research and thus offer added value to the cooperating companies. This also had an impact on my Bachelor's thesis. Due to the close connection to my company and the colleagues, it simply is great fun to work on an internal project and at the same time to conduct scientific research with the support of the professors. In addition, of course, there is the impression you make in the company when you can actively drive a project forward and thus create real benefit. For me, this solution-oriented way of doing research is one of the main advantages of the dual study programme.

Can you perhaps give an example of the applicability of your work?

The results of my research help to promote an efficient further development of the lead management process in the company. For the colleagues from the departments involved, the well-founded scientific findings as well as the results of the interviews were very beneficial in order to also consider scientific perspectives in the further implementation. The success factors include close cooperation between sales and marketing as well as the targeted use of IT resources for CRM systems and marketing automation.

Does this open up new opportunities for you? Can you expand on your topic at Hamburg Süd?

I was able to expand my network within the Maersk Group many times over through my bachelor's thesis. This provided me with insights into departments and contacts with colleagues, which had a significant influence on my current position in Sales and Marketing. In my new role, I work with sales colleagues all over the world to turn leads into long-term customers. There couldn't have been a better steppingstone for this.

Read the full article: "There couldn't have been a better steppingstone. (hsba.de)

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Want to learn more about our co-operative Bachelor's programmes? Request your free brochure here.

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Any Questions?

We are happy to help!

Volker Rossius, HSBA
Volker Rossius
Operational Director, Academic Office
+49 40 822160-941
volker.rossius(at)hsba.de
Klaus Waubke HSBA
Klaus Waubke
Senior Manager Student Recruitment & Company Relations
+49 40 822160-933
klaus.waubke(at)hsba.de

Ask a student

Do you have questions that you would rather discuss with our students? In our Ask a student format you will find contact persons for each of our dual degree programmes: Jennifer Kerßens (Business Administration), Clara Wendrich and Yasch Gahi (Business Informatics), Luca Lenniger (International Management), and Kai Hemp (Logistics Management).

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Our partners in the Business Administration degree programme

More than 300 partner companies support HSBA

Velux Deutschland GmbH
SSW-Trading GmbH
Tchibo GmbH
Coloplast GmbH
PIA Media GmbH
Hanseatische Mittelstands Treuhand GmbH
Encavis AG
HOYER Handel GmbH
Hanseatic Bank GmbH & Co. KG
Hamburger Hochbahn AG
Buss Group GmbH & Co. KG
Funk Versicherungsmakler GmbH
Mazars GmbH & Co. KG
Warner Music Group Germany Holding GmbH
Deutsche Bank AG
C. Illies & Co. Handelsges. mbH
EOS Deutscher Inkasso-Dienst GmbH
TOPLICHT Schiffsausrüstung GmbH
EOS Holding GmbH
Hoyer GmbH
HPC HAMBURG PROPERTIES CONSULTING GMBH & CO. KG
Rieckermann GmbH
Jungheinrich AG
Allianz Trade
ECE Marketplaces GmbH & Co. KG
Vattenfall Europe Sales GmbH
British American Tobacco (Germany) GmbH
Baker Tilly GmbH & Co.KG Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft
Shell Deutschland GmbH
Christoph Kroschke GmbH
HELM AG
Bahlsen GmbH & Co. KG
DACHSER SE  Logistikzentrum Schleswig-Holstein
HelloFresh Deutschland Produktions SE & Co. KG
DOMINO'S PIZZA DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
Stern-Wywiol Gruppe GmbH & Co. KG
Bank Deutsches Kraftfahrzeuggewerbe GmbH
Oktan Tankstellen GmbH
Deloitte GmbH Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft
FKS Friedrich Karl Schroeder GmbH & Co. KG
Georg Duncker GmbH & Co. KG
Mühlenchemie GmbH & Co. KG
BDO AG Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft
PwC PricewaterhouseCoopers GmbH Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft
Counsel Treuhand GmbH
ESC Wirtschaftsprüfungs GmbH
Edel SE & Co. KGaA
Alsterspree Verlag GmbH
Hamburg Commercial Bank AG
Robert Schüler Versicherungsmakler GmbH & Co. KG
Montblanc-Simplo GmbH
Engel & Völkers Holding GmbH
TRAILER LLOYD Fahrzeugvermietung GmbH & Co. KG
Scholz & Friends Commerce GmbH
NDR Media GmbH
Brightpoint Fund Services GmbH
Eulenburg Family Office GmbH & Co. KG
Bürgschaftsbank Hamburg GmbH
STULZ GmbH
Service-Bund GmbH & Co. KG
KPMG AG Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft
Sparkasse Harburg-Buxtehude
Lother GmbH
SUND GmbH + Co. KG
PAWLIK Consultants GmbH
GALAB Laboratories GmbH
Wärme Hamburg GmbH
Hermes Germany GmbH
NOREVO GmbH
Klaus Böcker GmbH
Deep Media Technologies GmbH
BRL Boege Rohde Luebbehuesen
Greenyard Fresh Germany GmbH
MUTABOR Technologies GmbH
Ernst & Young GmbH
Mast-Jägermeister SE
OIL! Tankstellen GmbH
ek robotics GmbH
Wintershall Dea AG
MSC Germany S.A. & Co KG
HDI AG
Commerzbank AG
Turnbull Holding GmbH
Sysmex Europe SE
WMC Wüpper Management Consulting GmbH
Rödl & Partner GmbH Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft Steuerberatungsgesellschaft
Detlev Louis Motorradvertriebs GmbH
Signal Iduna Gruppe - Hamburg
BLUME2000 SE
BERENBERG Joh. Berenberg, Gossler & Co. KG
BUDNI Handels- & Service GmbH & Co. KG
Omnicom Media Group GmbH
Marquard & Bahls AG
Hamburger Sparkasse AG
ShibataFenderTeam AG
Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (Deutschland) GmbH & Co. KG
Elis Group Services GmbH
fabfab GmbH - Internetversandhandel von Stoffen
Berg & Schmidt GmbH & Co. KG
Hamburg Süd A/S & Co KG
Aurubis AG
Leonhardt & Blumberg Shipmanagement GmbH & Co. KG
Aon Versicherungsmakler Deutschland GmbH
AC CHRISTES & PARTNER GmbH
Mondelez Deutschland Services GmbH & Co. KG
Delta-Sport Handelskontor GmbH
ProVidens Vermögensmanagement GmbH
COLUMBIA Shipmanagement (Deutschland) GmbH
HSV Fußball AG
Star Finanz GmbH
Neumann Gruppe GmbH
EDEKA ZENTRALE Stiftung & Co. KG
Otto (GmbH & Co. KG)
Mabanaft GmbH & Co. KG
Ebner Stolz Mönning Bachem
HSBA Hamburg School of Business Administration
Peter Cremer Holding GmbH & Co. KG
Ge&Ko Solutions GmbH
ASG | Asche Stein Glockemann Verstl Wiezoreck
HanseMerkur Versicherungsgruppe
Carlsberg Deutschland Holding GmbH
Buhck Umweltservices GmbH & Co. KG

FAQs

Frequently asked questions about the Bachelor's programme at HSBA

Can I apply for a study place directly with HSBA?

No. Students can only study at HSBA if they have concluded a contract of study with a training company. To apply with a company is always the first step in the application process.

What are the options of studying abroad?

About 30% of HSBA's Bachelor students spend time abroad during their studies (mostly short-stay at Summer Schools or as an exchange student with one of our partner universities). In the third year of studies of the dual programmes, students can go on an international study trip. Furthermore, HSBA attaches great importance to the international character of its content, offering a wide range of seminars held in English. Fore more information, please see here.

When should I start with my application?

Anyone interested in taking a dual Bachelor programme should normally start looking for a training company at least one year before they intend to start their studies. The application to the company should include all the usual documents, such as school and examination qualifications and CV. The company then sends the study contract together with the necessary documents to HSBA, which checks whether the criteria for admission are fulfilled, and if so accepts the applicant.

Questions?Klaus Waubke HSBA
Klaus Waubke HSBA

Klaus Waubke

Senior Manager Student Recruitment & Company Relations
+49 40 822160-933
klaus.waubke(at)hsba.de

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