On this page you will find information about the structure of the program in the two years of study. Further details on the course of studies can be found in the module handbook, which will be an essential part of your studies. The examination regulations can also be found under the following link.

The M. Sc. Business Development has a standard study period of four semesters (two academic years). The master's degree is divided into the following parts:

• Six compulsory modules (36 ECTS)
• Five elective modules (30 ECTS) based on your individual interests
• Two seminars (24 ECTS)
• Master thesis (30 ECTS)
• Optionally, you can also take exams from your semester abroad

In the following you will find more information about the contents of the program. Otherwise you can find all relevant information in the module handbook (more details coming soon).

• Compulsory modules (36 ECTS)

  In the four compulsory modules "Innovation Management", "Go-to-Market & Business Development", "Business Modeling", "Managing Growth", which build on each other, an initial entrepreneurial idea is developed in a team up to a sophisticated business plan and to "market maturity". The modules allow an intensive theoretical and practical examination of the topic of business development. There is also close interaction and exchange with the EUREGIO Excellence Start-up Center REACH. In the four modules, students acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to implement an innovative start-up idea in all areas of the company, from organizational structure to company financing, IT infrastructure and marketing. Since these modules also include pitches and presentations that have to be developed in teams, you will learn skills that are necessary for a later independent business start-up, for example, to convince investors of the business idea or to be able to lead a team to concrete implementation.

  In addition, in the compulsory modules "Corporate Entrepreneurship" and "Foundations of Economic Ethics" you will acquire extensive theoretical and practical content and skills. These include how grown companies can act entrepreneurially in order to maintain or regain flexibility and innovative strength. Furthermore, this includes which ethical, social and sustainable knowledge is relevant in leadership and organizational forms as well as the individual responsibility of managers.

  Innovation Management (6 ECTS)

  • This course teaches how to create value through products and services (value equity) by (technology-driven) innovation in both entrepreneurial and established firms. We examine innovation-based strategies as a source of competitive advantage and then examine how to build organizations that excel at identifying, building and commercializing technological innovations. The course examines how entrepreneurs can shape their firms so that they continuously build and commercialize valuable innovations. Many of the examples also focus on how established firms can become more entrepreneurial in their approach to innovation.

  Go-to-Market & Business Development (6 ECTS)

  • This Module expands on the findings of the course Innovation Management. Based on activities of Business Canvas and after successful idea generation and preperation of basic concept in particular activities of the market entry, the growth of the core business and options for diversification of the business segment will be discussed. Students learn which strategic decisions in relation to market positioning and the corresponding customer and channel management have to be made to establish a jung company long-term on the market.

  Business Modelling (6 ECTS)

  • This module will deepen what has been learned in „Innovation Management“ and „Go-to-Market & Business Development“. Starting from the Business Model Canvas activities that have already been discussed, and based on a decision about the kind of business model intended, the product planned (platform vs. network) and the approach to software development (custom development vs. standard software, the entire path from an enterprise architecture to an IT architecture will be studied. Students learn about methods for modeling all relevant processes and will be enabled to answer the core questions arising in the context of process implementation.

  Managing Growth (6 ECTS)

  • This course covers organizational and financial challenges managers are confronted during periods of strong organizational growth. Formal organizational design, management control, and (more) sophisticated financial management are critical in such environments to ensure organizational routines, alignment, and liquidity. Approaches such as “management by walkaround”, financing of activities via personal networks, personal monitoring of employees or informal feedback are not suitable at a certain size and structure of the organization. However, these approaches and instruments have also faced critique for limiting creativity and freedom and for preventing companies from being agile and adaptive to dynamic environments. Managing this tension for growth is the key topic of this course. The module relies on a mix of lectures, tutorials, workshops taught by guest speakers, case studies, the introduction of concepts from research, and a very interactive teaching style. The course builds on knowledge in general management, financial accounting, and corporate finance.

  Corporate Entrepreneurship (6 ECTS)

  • The course corporate entrepreneurship provides students with an understanding of the different options and approaches for grown corporates to take entrepreneurial actions in order to maintain or gain back flexibility and innovativeness. These entrepreneurial activities will be analyzed and put in contrast with corporate reality. In addition, the lecture will introduce students to the topic of change management, as well-established companies need to reflect on entrepreneurial activities and change thoroughly.

  Foundations of Economic Ethics (6 ECTS)

  • You will acquire necessary ethical knowledge and be trained to become a responsible entrepreneur and leader. You will be able to form an informed opinion on social issues. (exclusive module - more Information coming soon)

• Elective modules (30 ECTS)

  In the elective area, you can develop your own profile by setting the appropriate focus and select five modules from a wide-ranging elective pool of approx. 40 modules that are aligned with your interests. You can choose business administration modules from the areas of accounting, finance, marketing or management, or selected modules from economics or business informatics.

  Possible elective modules in the first or third semester may include, for example, the following:

  • Introduction to Advanced Finance
  • Strategic Management Accounting
  • Technology and Innovation Strategy
  • Advanced Market Research
  • Derivatives 1
  • Economics of Innovation
  • IS Basics - Managing in the Digital Age
  • Managing Information Technology for Business Value
  • Sales Management
  • Consumer Behavior
  • Behavioral Finance
  • Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Performance Management & Strategy Execution
  • Empirical Lab 1
  • Emprirical Lab 2
  • Media Marketing
  • Entertainment Media Marketing
  • Networks, Platforms and Ecosystems

  Possible elective modules in the second semester may include, for example, the following:

  • Market-and Resource-Based View of Strategy
  • Brand Management
  • Advanced Corporate Finance
  • Asset Pricing
  • Entrepreneurial Finance
  • Advanced International Accounting
  • Advanced Sustainable Finance
  • Network Economics
  • The Societal Impact and Value of Digitalization
  • IT/IS-Strategy Development & Implementation
  • From Data to Insights: Driving Corporate Performance

• Seminars (24 ECTS)

  Seminar Business Development (12 ECTS)

  The Business Development Seminar was introduced exclusively for this degree program. In the case study seminar, case studies are worked on which, building on the compulsory area, allow you to practically apply the knowledge and skills you have acquired in various contexts. This seminar is a kind of capstone event for the Master in Business Development, in which the knowledge acquired in the course of study and especially in the compulsory area is brought together and applied again. Individual presentations and moderating group discussions are also learned in the seminar.

  Seminar at one of the four centers - Accounting, Finance, Management or Marketing (12 ECTS)

  In order to integrate the latest research results within the lecture, student analyse empirical datasets with the help of empirical and methodological technqiues. While broad knowledge is taught in preceding lectures, the students are prepared to generate and analyze open issues. Here there is a choice of four seminars on the faculty's areas of expertise (accounting, finance, management or marketing).

  During the seminars, students are supposed to work on current problems in the area of „Accounting“, „Finance“, „Marketing“, „Organization and Human Resources“, „Business Management“, „Strategic Management“ and „Entrepreneurship“. They will be able to autonomously draw an academic term paper and defend it within a scientific discussion. Therefore, the students organize themselves to discuss and transpose their research findings and prepare a group presentation. They apply qualitativeanalytic techniques and formal-methodological instruments. Besides they can handle relevant key qualifications, especially communication and presentation techniques. Altogether students deepen their knowledge, which is beyond the scope of the preceding lectures and use this knowledge to solve current problems in the area of Organization and Human Resources, Business Management and Strategic Management. The student are able to productively work in groups, to coordinate with peers, to create precise and convincing presentations, to professionally present and defend a coherent argument, to use feedback from the discussion in class in order to improve their written account of the case analysis.

• Semester abroad (optional)

  The third semester is available to you as a mobility window to study one semester at one of the numerous foreign partner universities of the Faculty of Busienss & Economics. A semester abroad brings numerous advantages. In addition to the language qualification and the expansion of your personal and professional horizon, you will strengthen your independence, expand your network internationally and acquire important soft skills.

  The Faculty of Business and Economics offers numerous exchange programs with partner universities around the world. Currently, students of the department can apply for exchange places at about 75 partner universities. Possible partner universities include (as of academic year 2023/24):

  • Copenhagen Business School (Denmark)
  • University of Sydney (Australia)
  • Nottingham Trent University (Great Britain)
  • University of Lisbon (Portugal)
  • EDHEC Business School (France)
  • BI Norwegian Business School (Norway)
  • Vancouver Island University (Canada)
  • University of North California Wilmington (USA)
  • And many more

• Master thesis (30 ECTS)

  The preparation of the master's thesis includes the research and elaboration of the current state of research, the formulation of research questions based on this and the development of scientifically substantiated statements. The processing of the problem by means of the professional methods and techniques is completed by the elaboration of a scientifically substantiated judgment.