International Programmes 2024/2025

MBA International Business with Regional Focus MBA International Business with Regional Focus

Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt (THWS) • Würzburg

Degree
Master of Business Administration
Course location
Würzburg
In cooperation with

Private Shih Chien University (www.usc.edu.tw), Taipeh/Kaohsiung (Taiwan)

Private Universidad Externado de Colombia (www.uexternado.edu.co), Bogotá (Columbia)

Teaching language
  • English
Languages

Courses are held in English only.

Full-time / part-time
  • full-time
  • part-time (study alongside work)
Mode of study
Fully on-site with voluntary online elements
Programme duration
3 semesters
Beginning
Winter and summer semester
Additional information on beginning, duration and mode of study
  • The lectures take place in Würzburg, mainly on Fridays and Saturdays.
  • Regular start in October of every year. Modular studies are also possible in the summer semesters.
  • Regular duration of the programme is three semesters (one and a half years).
  • Number of places available: around 25 per year
Application deadline

Applications can be submitted at any time. However, please note that you may need a student visa and plan accordingly.

We kindly ask you to submit your application by July 31 for the coming winter semester of the respective year.

Tuition fees per semester in EUR
5,500 EUR
Additional information on tuition fees

The study fee is 5,500 EUR per semester, i.e. a total of 16,500 EUR for the regular study period of three semesters. THWS itself does not offer scholarships, but will support your individual scholarship applications if requested.

There are no fees for your application to the MBA International Business.

Combined Master's degree / PhD programme
No
Joint degree / double degree programme
Yes
Description/content

Your stepping stone for a management career in international companies!

Our Master's programme in "International Business with Regional Focus“ is the perfect starting point for those who want to take on management positions in the global world of business. You will learn all that you need to know as a manager in international companies. In every course, the programme is thus characterised by a high practice orientation and a focus on the specifics of doing business in an international setting. After one and a half years of studies in Würzburg, the prestigious MBA degree (Master of Business Administration) is awarded to you.

Programme Structure

The lectures take place in Würzburg and mainly on Fridays and Saturdays.

The first semester takes place from early October to end of January for all students in Würzburg.

At the beginning of the second semester (around March), students that have chosen the focus regions Asia or Latin America will stay at a partner university in Taiwan or Colombia for about three weeks, where Module 5 is taught to them. Students who have chosen the focus region Europe will be taught Module 5 in Würzburg. The remainder of the second semester (till the end of July) takes place in Würzburg for all students.

The third semester starts again in early October and takes place in Würzburg for all students. The Master's thesis can be written at THWS, at the partner university abroad or with a company.

Programme Contents

The first semester focuses on the following aspects:

  • Harmonising the knowledge base of the students
  • Acquaintance or deepening of language and intercultural skills as the basis for acquiring knowledge about the chosen focus region
  • Acquiring methodical skills in project management and research projects, specifically as the basis for project work and the Master's thesis

The second semester focuses on the following aspects:

  • Acquiring knowledge about the chosen focus region
  • Acquiring professional skills

The third semester focuses on the following aspects:

  • Acquiring further professional skills
  • Finishing the programme with the individual Master's thesis
Course organisation

In the first semester, the following modules and courses are taught:

  • Module 1: Business Decisions (Courses: Decision Theory and Practice, Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship)
  • Module 2: Language Competence Europe / Asia / Latin America (Courses: General Language Competence German / Mandarin / Spanish, Business Language Competence German / Mandarin / Spanish)
  • Module 3: Intercultural Management (Courses: Organisational Behaviour, Cross Cultural Management)
  • Module 4: Project Management (Courses: Research Projects, International Project Management)

In the second semester, the following modules and courses are taught:

  • Module 5: Doing Business In and With Western Europe / Asia / Latin America
  • Module 6: Managing International Businesses (Courses: International Management, International Economics)
  • Module 7: Strategic Competences (Courses: Strategic Management, Operations Strategy in the Digital Age)
  • Module 8: International Financial Management (Courses: International Management Control, International Finance)
  • Module 9: International Leadership (Courses: Organisational Development and Leadership, Business Ethics)
  • Module 10: Managing International Markets (Courses: International Marketing, Management of International Supply Chains)

In the third semester, the following modules and courses are taught:

  • Module 11: International Regulatory Frameworks (Courses: International Law, International Financial Reporting)
  • Module 12: Information Technology (Courses: Management Information Systems, Business Game)
  • Module 13: Master Thesis
PDF Download
Certificates for specific modules are awarded
Yes
International elements
  • Language training provided
  • Training in intercultural skills
  • Projects with partners in Germany and abroad
  • International guest lecturers
  • Integrated/optional study abroad unit(s)
  • Opportunities for students to work abroad
  • Courses are led with foreign partners
  • International comparisons and thematic reference to the international context
  • Content-related regional focus
Description of other international elements

In our Master's degree programme, you have the choice:

If you would like to learn how to do business in Asia or Latin America, we give you the opportunity to study at one of our partner universities in Taiwan or Colombia. If you would like to concentrate on Western Europe, you can stay with us in Würzburg.

Integrated/optional study abroad unit(s)

Choice of focus region

What makes our MBA International Business with Regional Focus special is that every student chooses a focus region as a specialisation in their studies. While all other classes are the same for all students, the choice of the focus region determines the modules 2 (Language Competence) and 5 (Doing Business in and with Focus Region).

The students that choose the Focus Regions of Asia or Latin America stay at the beginning of the second semester for about three weeks at a partner university in Taiwan or Colombia, where Module 5 is taught to them. Those who decide to learn about Western Europe will stay in Würzburg and will be taught all the relevant aspects of this region: language, culture and the special features that you have to consider here while doing business.

Partner university for focus region Asia

Private Shih Chien University (www.usc.edu.tw) was founded in 1958 and has two campuses in Taiwan‘s capital Taipeh and in Kaohsiung, the second largest city of Taiwan. Shih Chien University hosts about 12,000 students in five faculties.

Partner university for focus region Latin America

Private Universidad Externado de Colombia (www.uexternado.edu.co) was founded in 1886 and is located right in the centre of Colombia‘s capital, Bogotá, the fifth largest city in South America. Externado University hosts about 12,500 students in ten faculties.

Integrated internships

In order to give you the opportunity to work alongside your studies and gain further experience or do an internship in an area of interest to you, we teach almost exclusively on Fridays and Saturdays.

Special promotion / funding of the programme
  • DAAD
  • Other (e.g. state level)
Name of DAAD funding programme
The DAAD will provide you with the relevant information.
Course-specific, integrated German language courses
Yes
Course-specific, integrated English language courses
No
Pace of course
Instructor-led (Specific due dates for lectures/assignments/exams)
Phase(s) of attendance in Germany (applies to the entire programme)
Yes, compulsory
Tuition fees per semester in EUR
5,500 EUR
Additional information on tuition fees

The study fee is 5,500 EUR per semester, i.e. a total of 16,500 EUR for the regular study period of three semesters. THWS itself does not offer scholarships, but will support your individual scholarship applications if requested.

There are no fees for your application to the MBA International Business.

Semester contribution

Administrative fee of approx. 160 EUR per semester

Costs of living

The costs of living in Würzburg are low, compared to other German cities. Of course, expenses also depend heavily on personal requirements. You should expect monthly costs of around 940 EUR.

Funding opportunities within the university
No
Academic admission requirements

Study Requirements

The detailed study requirements can be seen from § 3 of the Study and Exam Regulations (SPO). Here is an overview:

  • First study degree (Bachelor's degree or comparable) in any discipline
    • 210 ECTS points (in case of less than 210 ECTS points, extra courses are available)
    • minimum grade 2.9 (German system)
  • At least one year of qualified work experience after the first study degree (an additional year of work experience can be accepted as 30 ECTS points)
Language requirements
  • English language skills of at least B2 level of CEFR (needs to be documented before start of studies)
  • German language skills of at least A1 level of CEFR (can be documented up to 12 months after start of studies)
Application deadline

Applications can be submitted at any time. However, please note that you may need a student visa and plan accordingly.

We kindly ask you to submit your application by July 31 for the coming winter semester of the respective year.

Submit application to

https://business.thws.de/en/master-international-business/application/

Possibility of finding part-time employment

As we mainly teach on Fridays and Saturdays, you have the opportunity to work on the remaining days. Many of our students use this opportunity to gain work experience or to finance their studies.

Numerous employers in the region pass vacancies in their companies on to our university. You are welcome to find out more about this on site.

Here are some of the companies from the Würzburg area:

  • Knauf – plaster manufacturer
  • Flyeralarm – online printing company
  • Warema – sun protection manufacturer
  • SKF – automotive supplier
  • Edeka – food retailer
  • Schaeffler – automotive supplier
  • Bosch Rexroth AG – hydraulics specialist
  • ZF – automotive supplier
Accommodation

As a student of our university, you are entitled to apply for a place in a student residence, run by the students‘ union (https://www.swerk-wue.de/en/wuerzburg/accommodation/student-residencies).

Apart from that, there is an active market for shared or individual student homes.

Career advisory services and programmes for future professionals

We are happy to advise you on career opportunities:

The "Career Service" at our university is a central interface between studies and practice. We support students in starting their careers and help them to position themselves more professionally for the future through individual advice, workshops and targeted information.

Support for international students and doctoral candidates
  • Welcome event
  • Cultural and linguistic preparation
  • Support with registration procedures
General services and support for international students and doctoral candidates

With our MBA marketing managers, we are happy to support you as best as we can in all questions that may arise.

Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt (THWS)

University location

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