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. With our personalised, AI-powered coach PINKpro and in-depth modules on artificial intelligence, you will develop exactly the skills that companies are looking for today. This way, you are fully prepared to start your professional career!
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.
of graduates received a job offer from their partner company.
of alumni are satisfied with their studies in retrospect.
of alumni felt (very) well prepared for their professional activities.
The Business Administration degree programme comprises six semesters. 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.
The course is offered in two formats: the block and the weekly model. In the block model, three-month periods of theoretical study at the university alternate with practical placements in a company. In the weekly model, you spend 2.5 days a week at the HSBA and 2.5 days a week in a company.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Tax consultancy firms are important partners for companies, providing support in tax matters and tax optimisation. The minor in Business Taxation provides the theoretical foundations and insights into the work of a tax consultant in various industries. The course of study lays an essential foundation for a future career in tax consultancy.
The minor builds on the content of the modules Marketing Management, Statistics, Quantitative Methods and Science & Trends and represents a component of the two majors Marketing & Customer Insights and Sales & Customer Insights.
The minor provides practical fundamentals, management skills and technical insights into information and cyber security. The aim is to raise awareness among students of current threats, compliance requirements and protective measures, and to empower them.
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.
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.
The minor in Digital Media Management imparts subject- and media-specific knowledge that is relevant for media and communication management. Modules: Media Management, Online Marketing Intelligence, Content Development.
The Minor Finance is related to the modules Mathematics, Statistics, Accounting and Principle. 3 modules: Finance Basics, Risk Management, Mergers & Acquisitions.
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.
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.
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.
The minor in Media Transformation imparts subject- and media-specific knowledge that is relevant for media and communication management. Modules: Media Markets & Products, Communication & Public Relations, Technologies & Content Production.
The minor in auditing combines business fundamentals with the requirements of auditing and consulting. Auditors review accounting and advise top management on the future viability of the company. The course of study provides theoretical foundations and insights into the work of an auditor in various industries, thus laying an important foundation for a future career.
The minor builds on the content of the Marketing Management and Quantitative Methods modules and is a building block for the Sales & Customer Insights major.
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.
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.
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.
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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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:
The study trip in the fifth semester is always a highlight for our bachelor’s students. In small groups, they spend a week travelling to destinations across Europe, visiting companies, organisations and partner universities. Along the way, they gain valuable insights into regional economic issues as well as the cultural and political context of their host country. They also have the opportunity to explore local sights and experience everyday life from a different perspective. It is a shared experience that stays with them long after the trip has ended.
This year, our students travelled to fifteen different destinations: Athens, Barcelona, Budapest, Chișinău, Hamburg, Copenhagen, Limassol, Lisbon, Reykjavík, Rome, Schleswig-Holstein, Tirana, Valletta, Vienna and Zurich.
We have put together the highlights from each group, along with a selection of photos and impressions from the week.
Many thanks to all students for sharing their experiences and providing such great photos!
With many new faces, first introductions and plenty of new impressions, the new academic year has begun at HSBA. Over the past week, around 350 new Bachelor's and Master's students from Germany and around the world started their studies at HSBA.
Ceremonial farewell at the Grand Elysée with family, friends and supporters
No, you apply directly to the company. If you have successfully completed a selection procedure and are offered a place, the partner company will contact HSBA and register you. You can find all current study place offers from our partner companies on our Study Place Exchange.
Our Hamburg Business Speed Dating offers an additional opportunity. It takes place twice a year.
If you have any questions about an admission test, you are welcome to contact us.
Yes. Most HSBA Bachelor students spend time abroad during their studies, sometimes several times. For example, in one-semester exchange programmes at our partner universities, in the one-week study excursions in the third year of study, or by participating in a summer school. Some partner companies also enable students to spend time abroad during the practical phase. Internationality also plays a major role in everyday study life in Hamburg, as HSBA attaches great importance to the internationality of the course content and offers a wide range of English-language seminars.
It is best if you fulfil the admission requirements for our Bachelor's degree programmes beforehand. Or if your previous grades at degree level are in the right direction. Otherwise your application will not usually be successful. IF you have to take an admission test and would still like to apply beforehand, be sure to mention this in your letter of application. Then it will be clear to the company representatives that you know what you are doing!
