Courses are entirely held in English.
German language courses can be taken at different levels and are included in our schedule.
The programme duration is four semesters for candidates from ALL academic backgrounds (no prior business knowledge is needed).
Business graduates are eligible for the three-semester short-track programme.
15 June for October entry
The application deadline for applicants from the EU or those who do not need a visa for studying in Germany is 31 July.
15 December for March entry (business graduates only!)
The application deadline for applicants from the EU or those who do not need a visa for studying in Germany is 31 January.
Early applications are welcome!
The MBA Admissions Committee reviews applications on a rolling basis throughout the year.
The MBA International Management (MBA IM) at Pforzheim University Business School helps you to tackle the challenges of the 21st century. Today's business world is changing at a rapid pace, and executive managers and employees are confronted with immense challenges: an intensifying globalisation of economies, societies, environment, and cultures, the emergence of new technologies, the prevalence of information and communication technology in our professional lives and increasing public expectations with respect to firms' social and environmental responsibilities.
The conditions under which executive managers have to act and make decisions are volatile and more uncertain than ever before. Firms will only withstand future competition successfully if they are able to face these 21st century challenges head on by exploiting opportunities and minimising risks. Companies and their executives must adjust flexibly and innovate to handle continuously changing conditions.
The aim of the Pforzheim MBA International Management programme is to enable you, as a future manager, to meet these challenges for the benefit of your company.
To achieve this, the Pforzheim MBA follows a two-tier strategy that will provide you with a distinct competitive advantage for the business of tomorrow.
An international, generalist and profound classical management foundation is integrated with the most relevant future topics: Innovation Management & Digital Business as well as Sustainable Globalisation.
According to individual interests, you can choose from a variety of electives in the second and third semesters. You can deepen your knowledge in Marketing, Finance & Accounting, Big Data & Artificial Intelligence or Recent Developments in Management & Business Transformation. Moreover, you may take part in a company project that is offered in the third semester. In these real-life projects, students get the chance to put into practice what they have learned in class.
Optionally, the third semester can be spent at one of our partner universities in Asia, Europe or the Americas. We also offer a Double Degree option with the ISCTE University Institute of Lisbon, Portugal.
In the event that you gained your first degree in Germany and have not worked or studied abroad in the past, the programme includes a semester abroad at one of our partner universities.
The Pforzheim Business School was accredited by AACSB International in 2011 and was the first university of applied sciences in Germany to receive this prestigious seal. Since then, it has been re-accredited twice, 2017 and 2022, which certifies that Pforzheim University's degree programmes meet the highest standards in teaching, research and in the transfer of knowledge to business and society. Less than five percent of business schools worldwide have earned this hallmark of excellence in management education. In Germany, only eleven universities out of about 200 with business programmes are AACSB accredited.
SEMESTER ONE
Foundations in Marketing (5)
Foundations in Business Functions (9):
Foundations in Economics (5):
Management Skills I (1)
Research Methods I (2):
Company Experience I (1)
SEMESTER TWO
Innovation & Digital Business (5):
Sustainable Globalisation I (5):
Strategic Management & International Business Development (5)
Accounting & Finance in an International Context (5)
Research Methods II (3):
Management Skills II (4):
ELECTIVES - Management Skills, e.g.:
Company Experience II (1)
SEMESTER THREE
Innovation & Digital Business II (5):
Sustainable Globalisation II (5):
Consulting & Business Dynamics (5)
ELECTIVES - Specialisation, e.g.:
Company Project (6)
Marketing
Big Data & Artificial Intelligence
Accounting & Finance
Recent Developments in Management & Business Transformation
Company Experience III (1)
Management Simulation (2)
SEMESTER FOUR
MBA Thesis (27)
For full curriculum, check PDF.
PDF Download201 EUR per semester
221 EUR for the first semester, including student ID
Approx. 750 EUR per month
TOEFL 100 (Internet-based), 250 (computer-based), 600 (paper-based), or equivalent
IELTS 7.0
This is not necessary if your first degree is from a programme that was entirely taught in English.
15 June for October entry
The application deadline for applicants from the EU or those who do not need a visa for studying in Germany is 31 July.
15 December for March entry (business graduates only!)
The application deadline for applicants from the EU or those who do not need a visa for studying in Germany is 31 January.
Early applications are welcome!
The MBA Admissions Committee reviews applications on a rolling basis throughout the year.
Companies in the area offer working student jobs. For individual students, jobs as student assistants are available at the university.
The student union offers accommodation in student dorms around the campus (via Studierendenwerk Karlsruhe). Many private rooms are also available in the city of Pforzheim and the surrounding area. The university provides lists of private rooms and apartments via the International Programmes Office.
Within your studies, we offer you application and interview trainings. These are specifically for the MBA programme in exchange with real company professionals.
A semi-annual career fair and various networking events are held on campus.
The university's Career Center advises MBA students regarding applications and company contacts. Furthermore, the Career Center runs its own online platform on which students can find information on recruiting events as well as internships and job opportunities.
Additionally, we offer a mentoring programme that connects current MBA students with alumni.
The MBA International Management mentoring programme was established in 2019. It brings together successful MBA alumni with ambitious current MBA students. Through this programme, MBA graduates with at least two years of work experience after their graduation pass on their knowledge and experience to their mentees. Mentoring stands for an intensive, challenging and mutually rewarding relationship of trust concentrating on the mentee's development of personal, social and professional competencies.
Pforzheim University
The university dates back to 1877 and consists of three schools: the School of Design, the School of Engineering and the Business School. The three schools offer a large number of Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes, all of which emphasise interdisciplinary thinking and cooperation among faculty, economists, lawyers, engineers, designers and experts from various sectors.
Pforzheim University is characterised by the high academic qualifications and practical experience of in total more than 500 professors, associate lecturers and staff, who intensively guide more than 6,000 students right from the start of their studies. The institution also enjoys close cooperation with the surrounding business community and beyond, giving students a unique study experience. The university has an outstanding reputation among Germany's leading companies.
Applied research projects such as those carried out by the university's Institute for Applied Research, the Steinbeis Transfer Center and the Jewellery Technology Institute contribute to a practical approach.
The Business School
The Pforzheim Business School has been offering young people a profound economic education with a high level of academic sophistication for more than 60 years. Since 1963, our faculty has been laying the foundation for many successful careers of our graduates. With over 3,500 students and 100 professors, we are the largest faculty at Pforzheim University. Our broad range of courses encompasses 14 Bachelor's programmes and 12 Master's programmes, which are based on professional fields of work and tailored to the needs of the economy. The high standard of our academic education is validated through the AACSB seal. Thereby, the Business School Pforzheim ranks among the best business schools of the world.
The Pforzheim Business School is able to offer a broad and attractive range of Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes due to its size and the highly qualified and professionally experienced staff.
The spectrum of competencies offered by the faculty ensures clear competitive advantages. When professors are appointed, teaching skills and commitment to excellence are as important as academic qualifications and professional experience. Subsequently, students benefit not only from the academic, research and practical skills of their professors, but also from their dedication.
Positive synergy effects through the linking of theory and practice are documented in many projects and research activities carried out in cooperation with the business and research community. The emphasis on practical experience is achieved through internships, project work, and Bachelor's and Master's thesis projects in close cooperation with companies in Germany or abroad.
All study programmes are approved by the State of Baden-Württemberg and accredited by state-recognised accreditation agencies. The excellent educational standard and methods, good study amenities and the school's focus on the job market have been very successful, as repeatedly demonstrated through various rankings and ratings (e.g., ranked among top three business schools in "Wirtschaftswoche"; Centre for Higher Education Development (CHE) / Die Zeit / Eduniversal).
The city of Pforzheim is located in the greater Stuttgart metropolitan region in the state of Baden-Württemberg in south-west Germany. The city forms the northern gateway to the Black Forest, which is one of the biggest and best-known holiday regions in Germany. Famous as the centre for German jewellery, watch and silver goods industries, Pforzheim is also known as the "Goldstadt" (Gold City). In Pforzheim, the centuries-old traditions of the jewellery and gold guilds converge with the design and high-tech industries.
The state of Baden-Württemberg is one of Europe's most innovative and globalised regions. Many internationally renowned corporations such as Daimler, Porsche, Bosch, SAP, Zeiss and Würth are located in this area. The region also benefits from a powerful backbone of small and medium-sized enterprises, among them many hidden champions that are world leaders in their respective industries.
Pforzheim offers a variety of culture and tourism opportunities, including the city's theatre, library, several museums, parks and trails. Additionally, the surroundings offer excellent recreational opportunities. The "Gold City" is an ideal starting point for discovering Germany and the rest of Europe.
To activate the map, click on the "Show map" button. We would like to point out that data will be transmitted to OpenStreetMap after activation. You can find out more in our privacy policy. You can revoke your consent to the transmission of data at any time.
