Global Economics and Business Management (B. A.)

An international business studies program at the THI Business School with a clear profile for the future! While most other degree programs teach either business administration or economical skills, Global Economics and Business Management (GBM) combines both. This mixture and the opportunity to get to know a world region better, both economically and culturally, makes the program even more special. Which world region to get insights in? You decide for yourself - depending on your own interests and at the latest when you enter the main course.

In addition to English, learning another foreign language is therefore part of the course, also a compulsory semester at a foreign partner university and an internship abroad in a global economic environment. You will therefore spend a total of one year in a selected foreign country or divide individually. But don't worry - with a variety of information events and contact persons, we will help you decide where to go and how to find your way there.

At the end of the foundation course, which lays the professional foundation in subjects such as business administration, economics, digital business fundamentals and HR management & organization, you can choose from various specializations. These specializations can be in areas such as International Economics, Global Supply Chain Management or International Business Models. Special modules for personal development strengthen your self-reflection and social skills. This will prepare you in the best possible way for working in internationally active companies, management consultancies and international organizations such as chambers of commerce abroad, companies for business settlement at home and abroad and competence centers for markets.

Please note: applicants from non-German-speaking countries applying for a German-language degree program like this must provide proof of sufficient knowledge of the German language with level B2. See further information in the admission information below.

Degree
Bachelor of Arts (B. A.)
Duration
7 semester
Start of studies
Winter

Accreditation
Yes
Language
German & English

Special/double degree
Double Degree possible
Location
Ingolstadt

Structure

Your studies in Global Economics and Business Management begin with an orientation phase.

In the first stage of your studies, you will learn the basics of business administration in seminars with an international focus based on the latest scientific findings. You will also acquire skills in subjects such as economics, digital business fundamentals, operations management, accounting and marketing. From the outset, you will also learn to understand and explain the behavior and interaction of economic actors such as private individuals, companies and the state from an economic perspective. You will learn another foreign language (e.g. Chinese or Spanish) and your choice of language will also lay the foundation for your later decision on a specific focus region. Personal development as a seminar rounds off the first stage of your studies.

Around half of the courses are taught in English.

Beginning in the second degree phase, almost all courses will be held in English. In the fourth semester, you will choose your first main focus area. There are three options available for you to choose from: The focus area in Global Supply Chain Management is designed to enable you to consolidate your understanding of and ability to control a company’s international value chains. Students selecting the focus area Digital Business and International Business Models will learn how to construct digital business models with an international focus. Those choosing the third alternative of Internationalization and Global Markets will be laying the foundations for a career on an institutional level, in which they will be acting as mediators and disseminators in support of global business developments across national borders.

Choosing the second focus area Global Management and Intercultural Competencies in the fifth semester allows you to subsequently focus on one world region. This is where you have a chance to focus on a particular region of the world. For this focus area, you will spend one semester studying abroad at one of our partner universities. The partner university can be located in one of three focus regions, depending on the foreign language that you chose in the first degree phase. These regions are: EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa), AMER (North and South America) and APAC (Asia-Pacific, Australia, Oceania). In the sixth semester, you will additionally complete an international placement in a company or institutional organisation, ideally in the same focus region.

A number of international partner universities offer you the chance to acquire a double degree. If you choose to do this, you will be required to complete two theoretical semesters at the university. Please see the FAQs below for more information.

After completing the subsequent bachelor’s thesis, you will acquire the academic title of Bachelor of Arts. This will enable you either to embark directly on a career or to go on to take a master’s degree and engage in further specialisation.

GBM Overview

Testimonials

Alisha Schmidt, Student

“What I particularly like about the Global Economics and Business Management program is the mix of business administration, economics and intercultural content. Thanks to this variety and the opportunity to deepen my personal preferences from the 4th semester onwards, I feel really well prepared for professional life. Learning Chinese was also one of the highlights for me!”

Nelly Kempf, Graduate

“What I found highly attractive about the Global Economics and Business Management program was the time I spent abroad. Both the six months at the Turku University of Applied Sciences in Finland and my internship in Barcelona brought a lot of fun and were enjoyable! With its language courses and intercultural topics the program prepared me very well for this challenges. I would choose this degree program again! ”

Emilie Göllner, Student

“Diversity, internationality and personal development - these three keywords characterize the Global Economics and Business Management course. Business studies, economics and intercultural content form the ideal basis for understanding the complex interrelationships of the global economy. In addition, a stay abroad, an internship abroad and extensive language tuition prepare you optimally for an international career.”

Kim Diekmann, Student

"I am delighted with my Global Economics and Business Management (GBM) degree program at THI Business School. The unique combination of business administration, economics and intercultural skills offers me broad knowledge and numerous career opportunities. I am particularly looking forward to the planned year abroad with an internship in Spain, which promises valuable experience and insights into other cultures as well as practical experience. Thanks to the choice of languages, world regions and specialization subjects such as International Economics, I can optimally align my studies with my career goals. GBM combines theory, practice and internationality and prepares me ideally for a future in the global economy."

Lena Riedel, Graduate

“I chose GBM to study internationally, to be versatile and to spend time abroad. The mix of economics, business studies and intercultural topics was perfect - especially as my career path was still open.

The small size of the course strengthens cohesion, and individual specializations, a double degree and a year abroad allow for flexible specialization. My highlight? Definitely the time abroad: two semesters at Camosun College in Canada and an internship in Amsterdam - unforgettable experiences that helped me develop both professionally and personally.

My conclusion: a degree program that opens doors - professionally, internationally and personally!”

Alisha Schmidt, Student
Nelly Kempf, Graduate
Emilie Göllner, Student
Kim Diekmann, Student
Lena Riedel, Graduate

Information flyer (German)

In this flyer (download by clicking on the image) you will find the most important brief information about the degree program.

Curriculum

1. Semester

Quantitative Methods Fundamentals

Business English

Economics Fundamentals

General Business Administration

International Management

Foreign Language 1

2. Semester

Quantitative Methods Specialization

Accounting Fundamentals

Economics Specialization

Digital Business Fundamentals

Operations Management

Foreign Language 2

3. Semester

Scientific Work

HR Management & Organization

Marketing

Corporate Finance

Personal development

Foreign Language 3

4. Semester

Project Social Engagement

International Economics

Intercultural Competence

Major Field Study 1-I

Major Field of Study 1-II

Foreign Language 4

Module FW/SW/NW Competence

5. Semester (Theoretical semester abroad)

CSR & Sustainability

Current Issues in Economics

Strategic Management

Major Field of Study 2-I

Major Field Study 2-II

Project

6. Semester

Internship semester abroad

7. Semester

Bachelor's Thesis

Advanced seminar

Module FW/SW/NW Competence

Business Analytics

Business Simulation

Quick Info

The Global Economics and Business Management program starts in the winter term. Application via Hochschulstart (DOSV) is not necessary. Registration for the study program starts on May 2 for the winter semester. Online application is possible via the Primuss applicant portal of THI.

Find more details on our bachelor application here.

Applicants must be fluent in English.

International students
Anyone with an international university degree/higher education qualification wanting to study at a university in Germany needs a so-called Hochschulzugangsberechtigung (HZB), or higher education entrance qualification. This lets applicants show that their educational background or professional qualification allows them to study in Germany, i.e. they have the necessary higher education entrance qualification to register for a course.

The recognition of the qualification is linked to certain requirements. If the certificate of education is recognised as a higher education entrance qualification in Germany, the international student may apply for all courses (general qualification) or for certain courses (subject-specific qualification). Two to three semesters of study in the home country may be recognised as a higher education entrance qualification in Germany, depending on the country of origin. Source: German Academic Exchange Service, DAAD, June 2016.

The following link provides information for university applicants from abroad about the application process at the THI.

Applicants from non-German-speaking countries applying for a German-language degree program must also provide proof of sufficient knowledge of the German language with level B2.
Proof of having passed the German language exam must be submitted at the latest upon enrollment. A list of language certificates classified as equivalent can be found under General Statutes on the pages of the Office of Legal Affairs.

Dubious Application Agencies

Currently, THI is receiving an increasing amount of information regarding fraudulent activities in connection with student applications to THI. Therefore, it is important for you to know the following:

THI does not work with agencies. Please apply directly to THI via the Primuss application portal.
THI never asks for money via agencies for application purposes.
THI only sends emails from @thi.de.
THI never asks for money before you receive your admission letter. If you need a VPD from uni-assist, you will have to pay a processing fee to uni-assist. However, uni-assist only checks certain documents and does not grant admission to THI.
The application process is conducted in the THI Primuss portal. Only there will you be able to access your application progress.

Management position in internationally operating companies
International management consultant
Manager in a competence centre for markets
Country specialist in a chamber of commerce and industry
Consultant in a chamber of foreign trade

The language of instruction for 80% of the classes in the Global Economics and Business Management programme is English. The acquisition of a second, additional foreign language is compulsory. It is also compulsory to spend at least one year abroad in the focus region that you have selected, including one semester at an international partner university abroad and one semester in a mandatory internship at a company abroad. The THI International Office and the THI Career Service can support you in planning and organising your period abroad.

It is also possible to take a double degree, which means you will acquire two full qualifications at the same time, one at the THI Business School and one at a foreign partner university (Australia). To do this, you are required to study at the partner university for at least one year. More information about double degrees is available from the THI International Office.

Selection options focus area 1:

Global Supply Chain Management
Digital Business and International Business Models
Internationalization and Global Markets

Selection options focus area 2:

Global Management and Intercultural Competencies EMEA/APAC/AMER (selection of a single focus area)

FAQs

Yes! As in the first part of the program some of the lectures and exams will be in German, it is essential to know the German language.

Applicants from non-German-speaking countries applying for a German-language degree program must provide proof of sufficient knowledge of the German language with level B2. Proof of having passed the German language exam must be submitted at the latest upon enrollment. A list of language certificates classified as equivalent can be found under General Statutes on the pages of the Office of Legal Affairs.

All necessary foreign language courses are offered by the Language Centre of the THI. The courses are free of charge to students of the THI.

The THI has 140 partner universities all over the world. The THI International Office can support you in your own efforts in planning and organising your study period abroad.

Yes, this possibility does exist. To do so, go to the PRIMUSS student portal under "Mein Studium > Anrechnung/Anerkennung von Leistungen und berufspraktischen Zeiten".

Yes, junior study programmes exist to enable very good school students to start a degree course early.

No, this is not possible. In the first degree phase, some of the compulsory courses are taught in German.

Level B2 in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages

Level B2 in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

Contact options for prospective students

Apply online

Degree program director

Program director Global Economics and Business Management
Prof. Dr. Michael Jünger
Phone: +49 841 9348-4120
Room: F214
E-Mail: Michael.Juenger@thi.de

And some more contacts

Student advisor and internship coordinator Global Economics and Business Management
Prof. Dr. Katharina Schauberger
Phone: +49 841 9348-1917
Room: F214
E-Mail: Katharina.Schauberger@thi.de

Project Manager
Iris Schmidt, Dipl.-Kffr.
Phone: +49 841 9348-3303
Room: F206
E-Mail: Iris.Schmidt@thi.de

Study Ambassador
Emilie Göllner

Study Ambassador Global Economics and Business Management
Kim Diekmann

Module Handbook

Module handbook

Study and Examination Regulations

Study and examination regulations (SPO) (German only) deal with judicial matters concerning your study course. You find all SPOs on the website of the legal department.