International Business Administration - Sustainable Management*
Specialisation: People, Organisation & Transformation
Master's degree, part-time
Sustainable management requires a fundamental change in thinking. It is not just about pure growth, but also about sustainable development. Our aim is to be a "laboratory of opportunities" in the Lake Constance region, dedicated to educating responsible explorers who further develop our region in an evidence-based and practical manner.
As a graduate of the Master's degree in International Business Administration - Sustainable Management with a specialisation in People, Organisation & Transformation, you will be fully prepared to support transformations in companies and develop innovative solutions for HR management and change management. You will have practical knowledge and the methodological skills that are of central importance in a globalised and digitalised world.
Mastering modern change management methods and the ability to deal with complex organisational challenges effectively and efficiently will enable you to provide valuable impetus for the successful transformation of a company. Your knowledge will make you an indispensable partner in corporate management and enable you to actively shape change.
*Course title subject to change of the decision by the BMBWF; planned start of studies in autumn 2025
The degree programme specialisation People, Organisation & Transformation in detail
| Name of the degree programme | International Business Administration - Sustainable Management | Specialisation People, Organization & Transformation* |
|
|---|---|---|
| Level of qualification according to the national and European Qualifications Framework |
Master's degree (2nd study cycle) | |
| Degree awarded | Master of Arts in Business, MA | |
| Field of study (ISCED-F Code) | 0410 - Business and Administration | |
| Mode of study | Part-time studies, variable time model | |
| Length of programme (standard period of study) |
4 semesters |
|
| Semester dates | Friday afternoon to evening, Saturday all day, in person sessions as part of the Contextual Studies Thursday evening or 2 block weeks per semester |
|
| Number of credits | 120 ECTS | |
| Languages of instruction | German, individual courses in English | |
| Mobility window |
Semester abroad possible in the 4th semester |
|
| Academic calendar | Important dates such as start of studies, course-free periods can be found here | |
| Examination regulations and grading scale | View the examination regulations and grading scale | |
| Final examination | Final master's examination | |
| Costs |
Currently no tuition fees, obligatory ÖH contribution |
|
| Specific admission requirements | Completed basic studies with at least 180 ECTS (diploma or bachelor's degree) in Business Administration or an equivalent degree in another discipline with at least 30 ECTS in basic business administration. For details see admission requirements | |
| Application | Apply now If you still have questions about our application deadlines, click here |
Contents of studies / Curriculum
| Course unit | ECTS | SHW |
| M1 Future Skills Lab - Onboarding | 2 | 1 |
| M1 Sustainable Management | 5 | 2 |
| M2 Scientific Work | 2 | 1 |
| M2 Statistics | 4 | 2 |
| M3 Management of Organizations | 3 | 2 |
| M4 Employee Life Cycle Management *EN | 3 | 2 |
| M4 Employer Branding and Recruiting | 5 | 3 |
| M4 Legal bases for Human Resources | 3 | 2 |
| M3 Organizational Development and Transformation | 3 | 2 |
| Total | 30 | 17 |
| Course unit | ECTS | SHW |
| M1 Transfer Project Pustainable Management | 4 | 2 |
| M2 Research Methods | 2 | 2 |
| M2 Data Collection and Interpretation | 3 | 1 |
| M4 Personnel development and Talent Management | 3 | 2 |
| M4 Remuneration and Benefits | 3 | 2 |
| M3 Business Psychology and Organizational Behavior | 6 | 3 |
| M3 Systemic Organizational Consulting and Coaching | 3 | 2 |
| K1 Contextual Studies Choice of 1 or 2 modules *CS | 6 | 4 |
| Total | 30 | 18 |
| Course unit | ECTS | SHW |
| M1 Simulation Game on Sustainable Management | 3 | 2 |
| M2 Master's Thesis - Conception | 6 | 1 |
| M4 People Analytics and Controlling | 5 | 2 |
| M3 Guide | 5 | 2 |
| M4 International Strategic HRM *EN | 5 | 3 |
| K1 Contextual Studies Choice of 1 or 2 modules *CS | 6 | 4 |
| Total | 30 | 14 |
| Course unit | ECTS | SHW |
| M1 Simulation Game on Sustainable Leadership | 3 | 2 |
| M1 Future Skills Lab - Offboarding | 3 | 1 |
| M2 Master Seminar | 3 | 1 |
| M2 Master's Thesis | 19 | 0 |
| M2 Final master's Examination | 2 | 0 |
| Total | 30 | 4 |
*EN | Courses in English
*CS | Contextual Studies: Selection of 1 or 2 modules totaling 6 ETCS.
General information on Contextual Studies and how you can choose the subjects in Contextual Studies can be found here.
ECTS: Credit points according to the "European Credit Transfer System". In accordance with international standards, 120 ECTS points must be earned over 4 semesters.
Admission to the Final Examination
Courses: In order to register for the final oral master's examination, all courses in the curriculum must have been successfully completed.
Master's thesis: Positive evaluation of the Master's thesis. The topic for your Master's thesis is developed during the first two semesters and specified in a disposition paper in the third semester. The 4th semester is available for the final writing. The aim of a Master's thesis is to work on an academic issue independently, systematically and methodically, demonstrating the ability to conduct independent research, problem-solving and reflection.
Master's examination: The Master's degree programme concludes with an oral examination in front of a committee of a relevant examination board. Examination components include the presentation and defense of the master's thesis, an examination discussion related to the topic of the master's thesis and an examination discussion on curricular course contents.
Recognition of previous academic achievements
Proven academic achievements that have been completed in master's degree programmes at colleges and universities can be recognized on an individual basis for individual courses or modules. The decision on recognition lies with the programme director.
General arrangements for recognition of prior learning
Career opportunities after graduation
After completing the Master's degree in People, Organisation & Transformation at the FHV, you will be highly qualified and optimally prepared for the key areas of responsibility of a modern Chief People Officer (CPO). You will find employment in the areas of personnel and organisational development in companies of all sizes, but also in associations, non-profit organisations and in the consulting industry.
Benefit from a variety of attractive areas of responsibility.You decide which path you want to take. A wide range of tasks in the areas of HR management, talent management and organisational development, corporate social responsibility (CSR), corporate management, project management, consulting, research and much more await you.
Why study the specialisation People, Organisation & Transformation at the FHV?
- The course combines practice-oriented knowledge with the latest research findings to provide you with the methodological skills that are of central importance in a globalised and digitalised world.
- With the specialisation People, Organisation & Transformation, you will be comprehensively prepared to accompany transformations in companies and develop innovative solutions for personnel management and change management.
- The Master's programmes of the FHV enable an exceptionally interdisciplinary pool of electives ▷ To Contextual Studies
- The proportion of external lecturers from top industrial companies in the region is extremely high
- The structure of the degree programme is aimed at the compatibility of career, studies and family
- The expansion of a regional company and private network allows exchange, foresight and advancement
- Access to knowledge does not always have to be expensive, we currently even offer it for free
Voices about the degree programme
Admission and Application
Specific admission requirements for the degree program
The Master's degree programs in Business Administration at the FHV require the following qualifications or capabilities:
- Completed bachelor's or diploma degree in business administration or
- Completion of an equivalent bachelor's or diploma degree with at least 30 ECTS
(credit points according to the "European Credit Transfer System") of Business Administration content:
The course of study must have been completed over a period of at least six semesters and 180 ECTS at a recognised domestic or foreign post-secondary educational institution for which admission requires a general university entrance qualification and which is recognized as a post-secondary educational institution under the legislation of the country in which it is based.
The programme director will decide on a case-by-case basis whether the admission requirements for equivalent bachelor's or diploma degrees or any required additional achievements have been met.
The Business Administration Master's degree programs are designed as part-time studies. Professional experience, particularly in a relevant professional field, is not a mandatory requirement, but is an advantage for the application process.
Proof of German and English language skills at level B2 of the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).
Application for the academic year 2025/2026
The following documents are required for your complete online application.
- Cover letter (motivation letter)
- Curriculum Vitae (educational and professional history)
- Certificates (high school diploma, bachelor's/master's/diploma certificate
or - diploma certificate, transcript of records - overview of achievements) - Passport or identity card
- Current portrait photo
- Proof of professional experience, if applicable (certificate of employment)
- Proof of language skills
If you are still missing certificates or examination results at the time of your application, you can submit them later.
Do you have questions about studying, admission or the application process? Come to one of our information events! We will be happy to advise you personally and look forward to receiving your application! You can find more information about our application deadlines here.
Application period I from November 15th, 2024 - March 1st, 2025
- If you submit your application by March 1, 2025, you will benefit from a faster confirmation of admission.
- An early application offers you more planning security and you can design your future today..
- As soon as we have received your documents in the online portal, the admission process begins and you will receive feedback on the next steps.
- This is also the application deadline for students from third countries (non-EU, non-EEA, except Switzerland)
Important information: If you are an applicant from a third country (non-EU or non-EEA, with the exception of Switzerland), the application deadline is March 1. The reason for this is that it sometimes takes longer for international documents to be checked or for lead times to be required to apply for a visa or residence permit.
-> Exception: you already have a "Permanent residence - EU" residence permit - then the additional application deadlines also apply here. The residence permit must be uploaded in the online application as an addition to the proof of citizenship in order for the application to be considered.
Admission procedure
Once your application has been received and examined, you will receive an email about the admission procedure. In order to ensure a transparent admissions procedure for study places, places are allocated in the following stages and according to the following criteria:
Step 1:
Preliminary examination of the documents, in particular the evaluation of your cover letter, your achievements in your previous studies and your professional experience.
All applications that have successfully completed step 1 will be admitted to step 2.
Step 2:
Structured interview (virtual, 30min) conducted with a subject representative. The following topics are discussed in the interview:
- Study motivation
- Study competence
Interview appointments are offered to you on an ongoing basis.
The best 20 applications will be offered a study place.
Enrollment at the FHV takes place in September.
You still have questions about studying
We are happy to answer your questions in both German and English.
For a personal consultation, you can contact us directly:
| Friday | 09:00 - 11:30 | 12:30 - 14:00 |
or by individual appointment.
Information events are held at the FHV throughout the year. You are welcome to come along and get advice. Here is an overview of upcoming events: