Business administration

Study overview

Do you want to make a difference?

Developing future-proof strategies for companies or institutions sounds exciting? Do you want to create innovative products and services, strengthen customer loyalty to your company and drive creative change?

Then the Business Administration degree programme at Ansbach University of Applied Sciences is the right choice for you!

Here you will be prepared for management tasks in business and administration as well as for a subsequent Master's degree programme in business administration. Even if you want to start a business after graduation, you will be given the necessary specialist knowledge at Ansbach University of Applied Sciences and will be ideally prepared for freelance work.

The scientifically based education is thus the perfect basis for your later career choice. Even before entering the working world, you will gain initial experience in the practical semester, which is a fixed part of the course of study. You can specialise during your studies by choosing from two main areas of study.

Short form	BW
Type of study	Full time
Standard period of study	7 semester
Award	Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
Start of studies	Winter semester
Admission restrictions	none
Lecture location	Ansbach
Language of instruction	German
Course management	Prof. Dr.-Ing. Stefan Slama studiengangsleitung.bw(at)hs-ansbach.de
Student advisory service	Prof. Dr. Sabrina Wagner
Study programme assistance	studiengangsassistenz-bw(at)hs-ansbach.de
Student Services	studierendenservice.bw(at)hs-ansbach.de

Course flyer (German)

The module guide (German)

Study and examination regulations

Study structure

Flexible design of the degree programme through modular structure:
You want to keep up with the times and have a particular affinity for digital media - how about agile software development or social media marketing as a module? Dive into asset management, get fit in human resource management, deepen your marketing knowledge or learn psychological tricks in controlling? Decide for yourself which modules you would like to take.

Important: The module "Fundamentals of Business Administration" must be taken for the first time by the end of the second semester, as this is a foundation and orientation module.

Build a broad academic foundation with the general compulsory modules and choose flexibly from the subject-specific compulsory modules and the compulsory elective modules:

General compulsory modules (apm)

Economics, Fundamentals of Business Law, Scientific Working Methods and Project Management, Business Statistics, Business Mathematics, Business Language I, Business Language II, Fundamentals of Business Informatics

Elective modules (wpm)

Labour Law, Labour Market Economics, Social Media Marketing, Receivables Management, Applied Creativity, Psychology in Controlling, various languages, excursions, courses of the Virtual University of Bavaria and many more.

Subject-specific compulsory modules (fpm)

Fundamentals of Business Administration, Corporate Management, Purchasing, Production and Logistics, Organisation, Business Taxes, Marketing, Finance and Investment Management, Human Resources Management, Bookkeeping and Accounting, Cost and Performance Accounting

Study focus

Depending on what interests you personally or where you are drawn to after graduation, we offer a range of exciting specialisations. Working with people or with numbers, preferring to promote products or make decisions in production - by choosing two specialisations, you shape your studies according to your own wishes and lay the foundation for entering the working world. Thanks to the practical training at Ansbach University of Applied Sciences, you will gain a broad knowledge base of business administration and many options for your future career choice.

Behind each specialisation are various compulsory modules as well as a number of compulsory elective modules from which you can choose freely. The future-oriented study specialisations and many compulsory elective modules thus enable you to study individually according to your own interests and inclinations. Each specialisation is supervised by at least one professor.

Banking, Finance and Investment

Controlling

Digital
Business

International Business Administration

Intercultural
management

Marketing

Management for
medium-sized companies

Organisation and management

Human Resources
Management

Production and Logistics
Management

Accounting
and taxes

Further information

Prospects

The accredited Bachelor's programme in Business Administration is a basic business education that qualifies students for employment and the labour market and for management tasks in business and administration or for Master's programmes in business administration.

In the case of the Bachelor's degree programme in Business Administration, this qualification corresponds to level 1 in the sense of the Bologna Process, with the possibility of transfer to professional life on the one hand or to a Master's degree programme building on this (level 2) on the other.

Please note the possibilities for further qualification building on the Bachelor's programme with level 2 (Master's programme) and with level 3 (doctorate) at Ansbach University of Applied Sciences. More detailed information on this can be obtained from the general student advisory service at Ansbach University of Applied Sciences.

Cooperative study options

>> Cooperative study options <<

Internationalisation

Internationalisation is strong for the Business Administration degree programme in many areas.

There are several options for a more international orientation of the degree programme:

Study abroad (including at partner universities).
Selection of appropriate specialisations
Practical study semester abroad
Study programme International Management

Ansbach University of Applied Sciences has numerous partner universities abroad. A semester abroad can be easily integrated into the individual study programme, whereby the study and examination achievements made abroad can be recognised at the home university in Ansbach after agreeing on a so-called Learning Agreement through the internationally practised ECTS structure.

The International Management degree programme qualifies students for senior international business management and leadership positions. Graduates have a wide range of career opportunities, from classic SMEs to internationally oriented corporations.

The structure of this degree programme consists of a combination of two main subjects with a voluntary internship semester abroad.

Job profile

The economic environment and the fields of activity of modern companies and administrations are becoming increasingly dynamic and complex. Management is often becoming international and increasingly requires specialisations with extensive knowledge in operational and strategic corporate management.

Graduates of the Business Administration degree programme are able to support management in corporate governance and also take on leadership responsibility themselves in business and administration. They also have up-to-date digital skills, far-reaching competences in the field of data analysis and the qualification to set up a company independently. Thus, you are optimally prepared for independent work after graduation.

After graduating, our business administration graduates have a wide range of tasks open to them for their career choice. They work, for example, in the field of:

Controlling
Finance
Internal accounting (cost and performance accounting) and external accounting
Logistics
Marketing
Organisation
Personnel
Tax consultancy and auditing
Corporate Governance
etc.

Notes for subsequent Master's studies

At many universities, one of the admission criteria for a Master's programme in business administration is that students have taken at least 10 ECTS in economics and 10 ECTS in quantitative methods during their Bachelor's programme. The compulsory courses in the Bachelor BW do not cover these minimum requirements. If you want to keep the option open for a subsequent Master's programme, we therefore recommend that you take one compulsory elective module in economics and one compulsory elective module in quantitative methods. You have the following options:

Compulsory elective modules in economics (5 ECTS each, only in the summer semester):

Labour Economics (according to the curriculum)
Foreign Economics (Summer semester, Prof. Dr. Barbara Hedderich)

Elective modules in the field of quantitative methods (5 ECTS each, in winter and summer semester):

Empirical Economic Analysis with R (Prof. Dr. Christine Dauth)
Multivariate Analysis with Survey Data (Prof. Dr. Barbara Hedderich)

Studying in Ansbach

Studying at Ansbach University of Applied Sciences in the Business Administration degree programme offers the following advantages:

A modern and efficient library with an up-to-date stock of e-media, databases and books supports the students.
Small groups allow for performance-oriented study with the possibility to develop one's own profile
Modern media technology and state-of-the-art IT equipment
Practical training with attractive double majors and extensive practical components
Relatively young university location with dynamism
Very good support from the professors and lecturers
Beautiful central campus with refectory and student halls of residence
Worldwide university contacts open up international perspectives

FAQ

What is meant by the slogan Next Level BW?
Business is synonymous with continuous development. This is exciting and offers opportunities, but also means that the demands companies place on their employees are constantly changing. In addition to specialist and factual knowledge, business graduates must therefore also demonstrate their ability to adapt to new challenges. This includes digital skills, e.g. the natural use of digital tools and generative AI, as well as a variety of other future skills such as teamwork, resilience, project management and presentation techniques.

We have therefore modernised our range of courses in BW and added new content to prepare you even better for your professional life. For example, the Skill Camp I and II modules teach important methodological and personal skills in innovative teaching formats right at the start of the programme. The mega-topics of sustainability and AI are also taught in completely new modules by experienced lecturers right at the start of the degree programme. A customised study plan guarantees you at least one lecture-free working day per week. We also support you with counselling services and targeted onboarding, especially at the start of your studies. We have adapted our next-level business studies programme to this.

Won't AI make jobs for business graduates redundant?
A clear no. Business means change! AI is developing at a rapid pace and will significantly change everyday working life in companies in the coming years. Many routine activities (e.g. in the field of research or data analysis) will be taken over by AI. However, this also offers opportunities: if you are trained in dealing with AI, you will have even better job prospects. That's why our business studies programme prepares you specifically for the use of AI in your everyday working life.

Why should I study Business Administration in Ansbach?
Compared to neighbouring colleges and universities, we offer familiar and personal supervision with small group sizes and individual support for students. The current supervision ratio at the university is one professor for every 46 students. As the best digital campus in Germany (Digital Campus Index 2025), the university sets standards in the areas of digitalisation and digital services. International exchange programmes, particularly within the framework of Erasmus+, as well as numerous English-language modules promote the global mobility of students. In addition, our lecturers in Ansbach are at the highest professional level and combine practice and theory for our students. The close practical relevance is reflected in the close cooperation with regional and national companies, for example through practical projects, internships and guest lectures from industry. The high quality of teaching is reflected in the Study Check Award 2025 as ‘Top University in Germany’: in the overall ranking of the most popular German universities, Ansbach University of Applied Sciences is ranked 2nd out of 16 in Bavaria and 8th out of 104 in Germany. The university family lives a very good life together on our beautiful campus right in the city centre.

How does the Business Administration degree programme in Ansbach work and how long does it take?
The degree programme consists of various teaching formats: Lectures, tutorials, seminars and project work. In the first three semesters, you will acquire the basics in all important areas of business administration and related subjects (e.g. languages or statistics). Later on, you can choose two of the eleven specialisations on offer, e.g. human resources, marketing, controlling, tax or digital business. Our degree programme also includes an internship semester in which you work in a company. Throughout your studies, you can take electives from a wide range of subjects, including from other degree programmes. At the end of the programme, you will complete your studies with a Bachelor's thesis in which you work independently on a topic (which you can also choose yourself).

The degree programme usually lasts seven semesters, with the internship in the sixth semester and the Bachelor's thesis in the final semester.

Is attendance compulsory in Ansbach?
No, attendance is generally not compulsory at the university, but the recommendation is very clear: attend courses regularly, as direct contact with lecturers and fellow students enables an active campus life and promotes understanding of the content and motivation

You are therefore basically free to decide whether you want to attend the courses on offer. The online teaching platform Moodle provides you with lecture materials for many modules and references for further reading to accompany the courses and prepare for exams. There are also a few courses that are offered in online or hybrid mode.

Important: You must register for compulsory examinations within a certain period and pass them (if you fail twice).

How are exams taken?
There are various examination formats: In addition to the traditional written or oral examination at the end of the semester, seminar papers are written, presentations are given and e-portfolios are created. All of this prepares you for your professional life and also helps to equalise the examination period after the end of the lecture period.

What career opportunities do I have after graduation?
The career opportunities for business graduates are extremely good because every company needs business expertise. Demographic change and transformation processes are also increasing the demand for well-trained young specialists and managers. Thanks to the wide variety of fields of application, you can work flexibly - for example in industry, trade, banks, insurance companies, consultancies or public institutions. You have particularly good opportunities if you specialise in sought-after areas during your studies and gain practical experience. We will be happy to advise you on this!

Do I need to know English?
Knowledge of English is definitely important. Many companies operate internationally or have foreign customers and partners. Our Business Administration degree programme focuses on English to prepare you for this. Selected business administration lectures in English also provide you with the necessary specialised vocabulary. The aim is to develop real language skills rather than simply cramming vocabulary.

Do I have to do an internship?
An internship is compulsory on our Business Administration degree programme and is scheduled for the sixth semester of the course. The aim is for you to gain practical experience that will make it easier for you to start your career. Your advantage with us: We support you in your search for internships and working student positions because we have a very strong network - both as a university as a whole and through our lecturers.

Can I also study abroad?
Yes, we offer the opportunity to spend part of your degree programme abroad at our partner universities in Europe, but also on other continents. The university's student advisory service will support you with the organisation right from the start. A stay abroad is a good opportunity to gain international experience, improve your language skills and expand your intercultural competence.

Staff

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Stefan Slama

Studiengangsleitung Betriebswirtschaft (BW) / Professor Betriebswirtschaft (BW) / Mitglied Prüfungsausschuss Betriebswirtschaft (BW)

Faculty of Business

Business Administration (BW)

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Stefan Slama

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Stefan Slama

Sandra Wahl

Sandra Wahl

Sabine McIntosh

Sabine McIntosh

Wiebke Nagel

Wiebke Nagel

Prof. Dr. Barbara Hedderich

Prof. Dr. Barbara Hedderich

Prof. Dr. Christine Dauth

Prof. Dr. Christine Dauth

Lehre und Forschung

Betreuung von Bachelor- und Masterarbeiten

Dr. Christian Alexander Gebhard

Dr. Christian Alexander Gebhard

Prof. Dr. Oliver Lehmeier

Prof. Dr. Oliver Lehmeier

Prof. Dr. Ina Mai

Prof. Dr. Ina Mai

Prof. Dr. Constantin May

Prof. Dr. Constantin May

Prof. Dr. Jochem Müller

Prof. Dr. Jochem Müller

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Michael Müller

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Michael Müller

Prof. Dr. Dominik Kögel

Prof. Dr. Dominik Kögel

Prof. Dr. Oliver Schwindler

Prof. Dr. Oliver Schwindler

Prof. Dr. Markus Skripek

Prof. Dr. Markus Skripek

Prof. Dr. Sabrina Wagner

Prof. Dr. Sabrina Wagner

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Torsten Winterwerber

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Torsten Winterwerber

Dipl.-Betriebswirtin (FH) Birgit Göller-Davis

Dipl.-Betriebswirtin (FH) Birgit Göller-Davis

Dr. Jürgen Rippel

Dr. Jürgen Rippel