Goals, degree structure, and specializations in the Master of Business Administration

Content

Target group

The M.Sc. in Business Administration is aimed at graduates of research-oriented bachelor's degree programs in economics, such as business administration, economics, and economic sciences. The program requires the knowledge acquired in these programs.

The master's program is also suitable for graduates of related disciplinary and interdisciplinary programs, for example, with a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering, business informatics, or business mathematics.

Target skills

Intended Learning Outcomes

The M.Sc. in Business Administration has clear objectives (Intended Learning Outcomes, ILOs). This enables students to be prepared for their future tasks. In business administration, complex problems often have to be solved. Sound methodological approaches and the ability to process large amounts of data efficiently are helpful in this regard. Students learn both at the Business School.

This makes graduates versatile: they can work in research-oriented institutions such as universities and institutes, in consulting, in senior management in the private sector, or as company founders.

What students should know, be able to do, and have learned:

Target competencies	Graduates
1. In-depth business knowledge	• have in-depth knowledge of business administration—content, theories, and methods. • think strategically.
2. Scientific thinking	• can critically reflect on research and conduct it independently. • can learn independently throughout their lives.
3. Analytical skills	• understand theories. • can collect and independently analyze various types of data. • can make complex decisions based on theory, data, or models.
4. Management skills	• can communicate confidently and effectively (verbally and in writing). • can manage projects efficiently and effectively. • can take on leadership roles. • think entrepreneurially and are capable of founding and managing a company themselves.
5. Socially responsible behavior	• think and act responsibly, ethically, and sustainably.
6. Cosmopolitanism	• successfully engage with different cultures and perspectives in an international context in a respectful manner. • are interculturally competent and fluent in negotiations.

Structure of the Master's program in Business Administration

Starting your studies

Each winter semester, students can begin the Master of Science in Business Administration program at the University of Hamburg Business School. There is a general track and an English track. The program is designed to last two years.

Orientation module

The orientation module (OE) at the beginning of the program helps students settle in quickly. Here, professors and contact persons from the study office and administration provide insight into important areas of the program. The regular teaching program begins after the OE.

Basic structure of the Master's program in Business Administration

A total of 120 ECTS credits (credit points) are earned in the master's program over four semesters of standard study time. 30 ECTS credits correspond approximately to the amount of work required in one semester or a time commitment of 900 hours (30 hours per credit point times 30 ECTS credits per semester). In addition to the free elective area (24 ECTS credits) and the master's thesis (30 ECTS credits), students will study three subjects: “Methods” (18 ECTS credits) and two specialization subjects, each worth 24 ECTS credits, which they choose from seven specialization subjects offered. The subjects are organized in a time slot model so that, despite the many options available, they can be studied with little overlap.

In the area of “Methods,” a broad spectrum of methodological, in particular statistical and analytical, course content is offered, which provides in-depth knowledge of the tools of economic and empirical research.

Specializations in Business Administration Master's degree

If students wish to pursue a degree in the general track, they can continue to choose two of the following seven specialization subjects and combine them freely in their individual study program.

In the English track, only specializations in English are available.

Can be studied entirely in English:	German language skills required:
Business Analytics Finance, Banking and Insurance Marketing Operations and Supply Chain Management	Auditing and Taxation Health Care Management Management

These specializations are closely linked to the research priorities and profile areas of the Business School.

Specializations (focus fields)

Business Analytics

The Business Analytics specialization addresses the increasing significance of software and data analysis in companies, and has been providing lectures on machine learning, deep learning, and data science since Winter Semester 2020/2021.

Finance, Banking, and Insurance

The Finance, Banking and Insurance specialization broadly covers the financial and insurance economies. It centers on the functions and effects of capital markets and the design of the institutions involved. Students are able to analyze issues relevant to finance and insurance-related issues in a sound manner and to determine recommendations for action. This is done by providing students with comprehensive theoretical models and empirical instruments that are closely linked to current research. The specialization is aimed at all students who later want to work in the fields of investment banking, risk management, regulation, asset management, and insurance. Regular lectures by external specialists on current topics link theory and practice.

Management

The Management specialization focuses on the various functional components of corporate management and their application in a range of sectors and industries. Analysis and knowledge of the various component functions of management, i.e., on organization, planning, human resources, and leadership, as well as monitoring and controlling are taught in lectures and seminars. These are relevant for managing companies and organizations in all industries and sectors. In addition, the specific characteristics of individual industries and sectors and their effects on company management are explored in more depth in special courses. This includes the media sector with its specific legal and technical considerations. All lectures provide theoretical, empirical, and practical content. Specific modules also provide deeper knowledge of empirical social research.

Health Care Management

The healthcare industry constitutes one of the most important growth areas and one of the biggest employers in our society. Almost 1 in 8 employed people in Germany work in health-related fields. Given the increasing level of responsibility of the market actors themselves, and the constant pressure of competition, competent managers with business knowledge in health-related fields are more and more sought after. The health market offers a broad range of opportunities for graduates, including in industrial fields (e.g., medical technology, biotech, pharmaceuticals) as well as in service areas (e.g., health insurance, hospitals, doctor’s networks) or consultancy work and international organizations. Based on the institutional complexity of the health market, managers looking to work in these fields need very specific technical and methodological knowledge.

Marketing

The Marketing specialization is focused on the empirically-based issues of market-oriented corporate management with an emphasis on price and sales promotion management, brand management, consumer behavior, and advertising, international market strategies, and e-business. Particular focus is given to the interface between marketing and media, specifically the field of the DFG research group, Marketing of Hedonic Media Products in the Age of Digital Social Media.

Operations and Supply Chain Management

The Operations and Supply Chain Management specialization is centered around supply chain management. It looks in detail at the management of supply chain partners (e.g., industrial companies and logistics service providers), and explores issues of coordination within supply chains. In particular, models and processes to support decision-making in strategic, tactical, and operational planning, and how IT solutions can be applied. Students are given access to a range of standard software featuring many software solutions that are already in use in commercial settings, so they can learn how to use them.

Auditing and Taxation

The Auditing and Taxation specialization in the master’s degree program focuses on the transmission of fundamental knowledge the organization and management of groups of companies and consolidated accounting. Students obtain in-depth knowledge of corporate valuation and due diligence. The course also examines the consulting, assessment, and fiduciary tasks undertaken by auditors. The curriculum also includes auditing of annual and consolidated financial statements and the conduct of special audits under commercial law. In addition, the interactions between internal review and controlling will be examined. The tax focus examined the influence of taxation on investment and financing decisions as well as learning planning techniques for optimizing business decisions with regard to corporate taxation. In addition, the Auditing and Taxation specialization of the master’s degree program is characterized by the acquisition of in-depth knowledge of cross-border business taxation (international taxation). Students can choose between a seminar on current issues in accounting, auditing, and controlling or a seminar on national and cross-border corporate taxation.

Business School Specializations and Professors

In total, there are 29 professors at the business school, working across 8 specializations and 2 cross-disciplinary professorships. Find out more about the content and our business administration professors:

Photo: UHH/Grafik

The whole variety of business administration

From “Applied Statistics and Data Science” to “Auditing and Taxation”: Diverse areas of specialization cover a broad field of business administration and are divided into individual professorships.

General focus fields and professorships