Structure of the program

On this page you will find information about the structure of the program in the three years of study, the key qualifications, your options and the bachelor thesis. Further details on the course of studies can be found in the module handbook, which will be an indispensable companion during your studies.

The B.Sc. in Business Administration has a standard period of study of six semesters (three academic years). The unique onboarding module ensures a good start to studies. In addition to the compulsory subjects, valuable key qualifications such as business games and scientific work are added during the course of study. In the third year of study, you can specialize by choosing your elective modules. In the track modules, what you have learned is taken up and integrated. In the bachelor thesis, you will work on a relevant research question and can make a small research contribution yourself. In the following you will find more information about the contents of the program.

  • Compulsory modules Business Administration (66 ECTS)

    The compulsory Business Administration modules include all important topics and basic theories of business administration and its application and also deal with business administration research. In addition to the unique onboarding module, modules such as Accounting, Marketing Management, Investment & Finance, Controlling, Management & Governance, Strategy Science, Accounting & Taxes, Corporate Finance and Marketing Analytics are offered. A detailed description of the compulsory modules can be found in the module handbook.

    • Welcome to Business Administration! Basic Theories & their Practical Application (12 ECTS): Introduction to the theoretical foundations of the study of business administration and business research
    • Fundamentals of Accounting (6 ECTS): Teaching basic knowledge of external and internal accounting
    • Marketing Management (6 ECTS): Introduction to Marketing
    • Investment and Finance (6 ECTS): Introduction to Finance
    • Controlling (6 ECTS): Focus on the application and use of cost and revenue accounting for business management decisions and control aspects in terms of corporate objectives
    • Management & Governance (6 ECTS): Teaching of fundamental aspects of corporate governance
    • Strategy Science (6 ECTS): Introduction to strategic management with a special focus on corporate strategy and related empirical-quantitative research
    • Accounting and Taxes (6 ECTS): Extension and deepening of the course contents in the field of external accounting and first insights into the field of taxes
    • Corporate Finance (6 ECTS): Study of basic financial decisions in companies with special emphasis on risk
    • Marketing Analytics (6 ECTS): Combination of the contents of the modules Marketing Management, Analysis, Data Science I and Data Science II

  • Compulsory modules Economics and Law (21 ECTS)

    The compulsory modules Economics and Law offer an introduction to both economics (micro- & macroeconomics) and law for economists. A detailed description of the compulsory modules can be found in the module handbook.

    • Introduction to Economics (3 ECTS) & Microeconomics (6 ECTS): Basis for further Economics courses
    • Fundamentals of Macroeconomics (6 ECTS): Description and explanation of the macroeconomic relationships that are fundamental to a national economy
    • Law for Economists (6 ECTS): Introduction to civil law, in particular to the legal areas of the BGB General Part as well as the Law of Obligations General Part and the Law of Sale of Goods

  • Compulsory modules Methods (18 ECTS)

    The compulsory modules in the area of methods offer an introduction to analysis and data science and thus also provide the basis for research in economics. A detailed description of the compulsory modules can be found in the module handbook.

    • Calculus for Business/Economics (6 ECTS): Mathematical instruments of calculus for business students 
    • Data Science 1 (6 ECTS): Introduction to Data Science with a focus on data processing and description
    • Data Science 2 (6 ECTS): Introduction to Data Science, especially probability theory and statistical inference

  • Specialization: Track modules (36 ECTS)

    In the third year of study, the free elective area and the additionally certifiable tracks open up a wide range of options for in-depth study and specialization, e.g. in the subjects of accounting, marketing or management. Possible modules are Corporate Restructuring & Transformation, Entrepreneurial Marketing or Fundamentals of Innovation Management. A detailed overview of offered elective courses can be found in the module handbook. A preliminary overview of the tracks in the elective module area can be found here:

    Business Administration Core Areas:

    • Accounting
    • Finance
    • Management 
    • Marketing 

    Overarching areas:

    • Corporate Transformation
    • Digital Transformation
    • Entrepreneurship & Innovation
    • General Business
    • International Studies
    • Operation & Supply Chain Management
    • Economics
    • Information Systems

  • Key qualifications and internship (15 ECTS)

    The module Key Qualifications is an important component of the study program. The aim of the module is the acquisition and further development of key qualifications, such as presentation techniques, communication and methodological skills. In addition, a relevant internship in a company completed during the bachelor's program with a duration of at least one month can be credited. A lecture in business and corporate ethics is an integral part of the key qualifications.

    • Economic and business ethics: Introduction to the basic ethnic conceptions (consequentialism, deontology and virtue ethics) and application of these to economically relevant issues

    In addition to the lecture and an optional internship, key skills events may be selected from a changing course offering. Examples are:

    • Business Languages: Treatment of English and French technical vocabulary and phrases commonly used in business. 
    • Basic Chinese course
    • TOPSIM business simulation
    • Personality and social skills 
    • Case Study Analysis
    • Scientific work

  • Free elective modules (12 ECTS)

    You can use the free elective modules to take further English-language modules, to complete a semester abroad or to participate in interdisciplinary courses in other departments. You can choose further modules of the Business Administration area as well as max. one further module from the Economics area or max. one further module from the Business Administration area, or you can choose a module from the General Studies offer of Münster University.

  • Semester abroad (optional)

    The fifth 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 Economic Sciences. 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 over 125 partner universities. Possible partner universities include (as of academic year 2022/23):

    • Copenhagen Business School (Denmark)
    • National Taiwan University (Taiwan)
    • University of Sydney (Australia)
    • Nottingham Trent University (Great Britain)
    • University of Lisbon (Portugal)
    • Vancouver Island University (Canada)
    • University of California, San Diego (USA)
    • University of Sao Paulo (Brazil)
    • and many more

    Internships abroad are also possible. The Career Development Center offers you an initial consultation to discuss the possibilities for an internship abroad and further steps. You can find more information here.

  • Bachelor`s Thesis (12 ECTS)

    In the bachelor thesis, you apply the knowledge you have acquired during your studies to a current business issue. The bachelor thesis should show that you are able to work on a problem independently with the help of scientific methods. In order to answer a complex business question, you will learn to independently study scientific literature and formulate scientific texts.

Important documents:

 There are a number of documents related to the bachelor's degree program in business administration that you will need to organize your studies: