International Business Management

Hochschule Furtwangen University

Programme objectives

The International Business Management degree programme (IBM) at the HFU Business School is a forward-looking, practice-oriented degree which teaches broad business skills within a global perspective and with over 50% students from abroad. With an International Business Management degree you not only have a recognized academic qualification in your hands, you also have all the theoretical, practical and soft skills you will need when starting out in the business world. We give you the best possible start for a successful future career worldwide.

Foreign languages & regional focus

Language and communication skills are an integral part of the programme. You will learn to communicate effectively even in the most challenging business situations. All language courses are taught by experienced professionals who are native speakers of the language they teach.

For non-native speakers of German
1st foreign language:
Business English (advanced level)

2nd foreign language:
For non-native speakers of German: German

For German native speakers:
Chinese (no previous knowledge)
OR Spanish (4-5 years of previous studies)
OR French (4-5 years of previous studies)

For native speakers of English
1st foreign language:
German
2nd foreign language::
Chinese (no previous knowledge)
OR Spanish (4-5 years of previous studies)
OR French (4-5 years of previous studies)

In addition to learning the language of the regional focus, you will also examine economic structures, history and culture, business practices and the laws and social systems of that region. You will also examine the international competitiveness of that region and carry out regional analyses.

Internship and study semester abroad

The degree programme encompasses 7 semesters, the first 4 of which are spent studying in Schwenningen. A study semester and an internship abroad are an integral part of the IBM programme. These take place in the 5th and 6th semesters. The 7th Semester is spent back at HFU attending advanced lectures in order to hone your managerial skills and to write your bachelor's thesis.

German nationals do their mandatory internship abroad. Non-German nationals complete their mandatory internship and foreign study semesters in Germany, Austria or the German-speaking part of Switzerland. The internship semester gives you insight into the real business world and the opportunity to apply some of the knowledge and skills you have gained on the course. Students usually organize their own internships according to their particular interests.The Business School can provide assistance in finding an internship with specific companies, as contacts have been established with many companies in the region and around the world.

For the semester abroad: HFU has links with over 140 universities worldwide, some offering the possibility of a double degre. Check our link to the database (enter international business management under text search) to find out where you can go.

Career perspectives

Your career outlook and our network of successful graduates

The 7-semester International Business Management programme will set you on the right path for a successful career in the global economy of the 21st century. There are many exciting career pathways open to our graduates, for example as a financial analyst in Zurich, a key account manager in Mexico City, an entrepreneur with offices in Shanghai, Toronto and Freiburg, a chief purchasing officer in Toulouse or as a controller for sports articles in San Salvador.

Our alumni are employed in companies such as Microsoft, McKinsey, Siemens, Bosch, IBM, Daimler, Accenture, Swiss Re and BMW, have joined High Potentials Trainee programs at EADS, Deutsche Telekom, E.ON and Siemens, and some have even started their own successful businesses.

CHE Ranking 2022/23- HFU Business School on top again

In the current „dieZEIT“ university ranking 2022/2023, HFU Business School was once again awarded outstanding grades with “green points“ in all four selected criteria by the CHE. Green" is the top category, followed by "yellow" for the middle group and then "blue". The ranking, devised by the Centre for Higher Education (CHE), is based both on facts and on evaluations by more than 120.000 students and 3.000 professors in Germany.

HFU Business School gained top marks for the support in the study environment entry phase, the overall study environment, teacher support and contact with work environment. By these criteria the Faculty is rated outstanding and one of the best in Germany.

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