Our dual study program
Our dual study program „International Business in English“ provides you with the best possible combination of theory and practice! It follows a practice-integrated dual study format. Each semester consists of one theoretical phase at the university and one practical phase at a partner company, which alternate on a regular, quarterly basis. During the theoretical phases, you will be on campus for three months, attending lectures and taking exams. You will then enter a three-month practical phase with your partner company, during which you will work in different departments and are encouraged to apply the knowledge learned during the previous theoretical phase(s). A defining feature of the dual study program is the contractual employment of students by a partner company for the entire duration of the program. This ensures the systematic integration of academic studies and professional practice. For international students, the program offers a structured pathway combining higher education with regular employment in Germany.
International Business at a glance
The program enables students to gain basic knowledge in the fields of economics, business administration and intercultural management with a focus on relevant international dimensions. Its special profile is defined by the subjects International Business and Intercultural Management. The program is distinctive in its integration of practical business skills with global concerns and cultural awareness, thus equipping students well for their future careers in any modern company or organization.
The course content can be clustered into four fields of study:
- Sales, Controlling, Finance, Business Law,…)
- International Business (Marketing, Strategic Management, Production and Logistics,…)
- Intercultural Management (e.g. Cultural Intelligence, Leadership, Teamwork, Communication, Negotiations, Country Profiles,…)
- International Electives in the subfields mentioned above
During the course of their studies, students gain a solid understanding of business administration as well as special insights into the characteristics of international business and cultural studies. In the third year, students choose their electives, which are then analyzed from an international perspective. The language of study is English and students enroll for at least one other foreign language, ideally German. International experience can be gained through a practical semester abroad as well as a semester at one of our numerous partner universities. The three-year program ends with the academic degree Bachelor of Arts (B.A.).
During the phases in the partner company students rotate between different departments and are given the opportunity to experience the practical application of the theory learnt in the theoretical phases on campus. This combination of an internationally oriented business education coupled with the application-oriented phases with the dual partner defines the unbeatable uniqueness of this program!
Graduates are employed in various functional areas of work, usually with an international component and very likely in the company in which they received their training (takeover rate: 80%), or in one of the hundreds of small and medium‑sized companies that form the backbone of the Black Forest region as a thriving economic system in which deep expertise, spirit of innovation, artisanal precision and high-technology traditionally come together. Students can look forward to interesting projects, high quality teaching, close mentoring and early management responsibility combined with a monthly payment adequate for rent and living expenses!
Schedule
12Weeks of Theory
14Weeks of Practice
3Years of Studies
210ECTS Points
Bachelor of Arts
Core content
- Economics, Law
e.g. Accounting, Marketing, Management, Business Law - International Business
e.g. Marketing, Strategic Management, Production and Logistics - Intercultural Management
e.g. Cultural Intelligence, Leadership, Teamwork, Communication, Negotiations, Country Profiles - International Electives:
Marketing, Sales, Finance and Controlling, Production and Logistics
The advantages of our program
- the best possible combination of theory and practice
- the possibility to gain professional experience and to find out which fields of work are most interesting to you
- personal integration supported by small study groups and a high level of academic training and administrative support
- contractual employment with a partner company including a monthly salary throughout the study period
- high retention and employment rates with partner companies after graduation
- excellent opportunities in an increasingly internationalized job market
Helpful interests and skills for the degree program
Students should have a high degree of resilience and analytical skills. They should be curious and tolerant of international differences in the way business transactions are viewed and be prepared to put their own positions into perspective. In addition, adaptability in a multilingual environment and the desire to learn a foreign language would be very helpful of course.
Modules by semester
Note: The red text in the module list for the semesters below are links to the respective sections in the module handbook.
Fundamentals of Business Administration
Introduction to Business Administration
Marketing
Financial Accounting Technology
Principles of Financial Accounting
International Business and its Environment
Principles of International Business and its Environment
Principles of Intercultural Management
Principles of Intercultural Management
Foundations of Communication in Business
Fundamentals of Business Communication
Fundamentals of Economics and Microeconomics
Introduction to Economics and Fundamentals of Microeconomics
Fundamentals of Law, General Part of the German Civil Code (BGB) and Law of Obligations, General Part
Mathematics
Fundamentals of Academic Work
Presentation and Communication Skills
Cost and performance accounting
Investment and financing
Financial accounting technology
Advanced financial accounting
International Business and its Environment
Principles of International Business Models and Operations
Principles of Intercultural Management
International Organisational Behaviour
Foundations of Communication in Business
Communicating in Businesses
Foundations of Economics and Microeconomics
Advanced Microeconomics
Law of Obligations, Property Law and Fundamentals of Procedural Law
Statistics
Basics of Academic Writing
Presentation and Communication Skills
Accounting and the basics of analysing annual financial statements
Corporate Taxation
Principles of International Market Research
Operational Management in International Business
International Operations Management
Applied Intercultural Management
Leadership, Ethics and Sustainability
Applied Communication in Business
Negotiations
Fundamentals of Macroeconomics
Commercial and Corporate Law
Philosophy of Science and Methods of Empirical Research
Social Competencies for Students in this Field of Study
Human Resources, Organisation and Project Management
Human Resources
Organisation and Project Management
Applied International Market Research
Operational Management in International Business
International Financial Management
Applied Intercultural Management
Intercultural Management in Selected Operational Areas
Applied Communication in Business
Communication and Technology
Money and Currency
Employment Law, Principles of Insolvency Law
Philosophy of Science and Methods of Empirical Research
Social Competencies for Your Field of Study
Business Management
Integration Seminar on Industry Topics
Integration Seminar
Strategic Management in International Business
International Strategy Development and Implementation
Interdisciplinary Communication in Business
Interdisciplinary Business Communication
Specialisation Subject Ia and IIa- International Human Resource Management
Leadership and Core Processes
Specialisation Subject Ib and IIb - International Marketing & Sales
Principles of International Marketing & Sales Management
Major field of study elective Ic and IIc - International Managerial & Financial Accounting
International Managerial Accounting
Major field of study elective Id and IId - International Operations & Supply Chain Management
International Supply Chain Design
Major field of study elective Ie and IIe - International Digital Business Management
Principles
Major field of study elective If and IIf- Management of Complex Environments
Fundamentals of Complex Systems
Specialisation subject Ig and IIg- Managing Innovation
Fundamentals and Sources of Innovation
Specialisation subject Ih and IIh - Change Management
Fundamentals and Success Factors
Specialisation subject Ii and IIi- Commercialization Concept
Applied In-depth Market Research
Specialisation subject Ij and IIj - Information Systems and Knowledge Management
Foundations
Specialisation subject Ik and IIk - International Marketing
International Marketing Strategy
Specialisation subject Il and IIl - International Sales
International Sales Strategy and Organization
Introduction to Economic Policy and Foreign Trade
Function-specific company simulation
Case studies related to the field of study
Leadership
Integration seminar on industry topics
Integration seminar
Strategic Management in International Business
Corporate Governance and Case Studies of International Business Strategies
Interdisciplinary Communication in Business
Interdisciplinary Communication Project
Specialisation elective Ia and IIa- International Human Resource Management
Organizational and Support Processes
Specialisation elective Ib and IIb - International Marketing & Sales
Applied International Marketing & Sales Management
Major field of study elective Ic and IIc - International Managerial & Financial Accounting
International Financial Accounting
Major field of study elective Id and IId - International Operations & Supply Chain Management
International Supply Chain Management
Major field of study elective Ie and IIe - International Digital Business Management
Applications
Major field of study elective If and IIf- Management of Complex Environments
Applied Management of Complex Systems
Specialisation Elective Ig and IIg- Managing Innovation
Applied Innovation Management
Specialisation Elective Ih and IIh - Change Management
Advanced Concepts and Case Study
Specialisation Elective Ii and IIi- Commercialization Concept
Commercialization Concept Development
Specialisation Elective Ij and IIj - Information Systems and Knowledge Management
Applications
Specialisation subject Ik and IIk - International Marketing
Customer Behaviour, CRM, E-Commerce
Specialisation subject Il and IIl - International Sales
International Sales Negotiations and Controlling
Selected Topics in Economic Policy
Function-specific company simulation
Case studies related to the field of study
Admission and Application
For a detailed description of the admission requirements and the application process including the documents you need to prepare and send, click on the following link.
Module Handbook and Flyer
Other information about other study programs in German
For further information, please feel free to contact us.
Prof. Dr. Clive F. W. Flynn
- program director
- clive.flynn@dhbw.de
-
Telefon +49 7720 3906 - 588
- Building B, Room 104
Anne Laqua
- program secretary
- anne.laqua@dhbw.de
-
Telefon +49 7720 3906 - 415
- Building B, Room 206
