Retail and Consumer Management (M. A.)

Evidence of the following qualifications has to be provided for admission to the master’s degree course in Retail and Consumer Management (RCM):

• An economics or commercial-oriented bachelor’s degree from a German university with at least 210 ECTS credit points or an equivalent qualification from a university in Germany or abroad. A certificate must be submitted as proof. The Examination Committee decides on equivalence.
• Applicants must pass an aptitude test for the master's degree course in Retail and Consumer Management. Please find details in Appendix 2 of the Statutes.
• Proof of sufficient knowledge of the English language (level B2 of the Common European Framework). Please see the section "Language skills" on the pages of our Legal Dept. for details.
• Please note: Your admission cannot be reviewed until all application documents have been submitted. It is not possible to make a final statement without looking at the certificates first. We cannot provide advance information regarding your chances of admission by e-mail or telephone.

More details on how to apply.
The following link containsinformation on the application procedure for applicants from abroad.
Can I apply even if I have obtained less than 210 ECTS (normally 180 ECTS) in my previous bachelor’s degree?

It is possible to apply for the RCM master’s degree with less than 210 ECTS; however, proof of compensation of the missing 30 ECTS has to be provided no later than the end of the application period by means of:

• proof of practical experience outside the degree course which corresponds to the practical semester of a bachelor’s degree in economics a retail-related subject in terms of content and scope,
  or
• proof of practical or theoretical study and examinations taken at a German or foreign university in addition to the student’s first degree which corresponds in content and scope to the demands of a bachelor's degree in economics or commercial sciences.

NOTE: Please note that where documents are submitted to show evidence of practical professional experience or either practical or theoretical achievements worth 30 ECTS – in addition to a bachelor’s degree – the documents must clearly indicate that the 30 ECTS were obtain over and above the bachelor's degree programme. Confirmation can be provided by the university showing that the ECTS/internship were not counted towards the first degree. The duration of the practical professional experience gained outside the first degree should be equivalent to 20 weeks of full-time work. Furthermore, the internship reference must be submitted in officially certified form together with the other application documents.

Please see the Study and Examination Regulations for details.

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:

1. THI does not work with agencies. Please apply directly to THI via the Primuss application portal.
2. THI never asks for money via agencies for application purposes.
3. THI only sends emails from @thi.de.
4. 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.
5. The application process is conducted in the THI Primuss portal. Only there will you be able to access your application progress.

Find more information about living costs in Germany, how to find accomodation, what do to when you are sick et cetera.

If you have any questions, you can get in touch with the THI International Office.

The master's programme enables our graduates to apply for operative and strategic professional and management tasks in the field of retail management, retail and consumer marketing, product management, sales management as well as in particular in the area of digital commerce, digital consumer services, marketing and media agencies, start-ups and retail companies.

As of winter semester 2024/25, THI charges service fees of 500 euros per semester for students from third countries (outside the EU and the EAA (European Economic Area) . If you have any questions, please go to Contact for prospective students

Please note: No service fees for exchange students, visiting students, participants of summer school!

Can I apply even if I have obtained less than 210 ECTS (normally 180 ECTS) in my previous bachelor’s degree?

It is possible to apply for the RCM master’s degree with less than 210 ECTS; however, proof of compensation of the missing 30 ECTS has to be provided no later than the end of the application period by means of:

• proof of practical experience outside the degree course which corresponds to the practical semester of a bachelor’s degree in economics a retail-related subject in terms of content and scope,
  or
• proof of practical or theoretical study and examinations taken at a German or foreign university in addition to the student’s first degree which corresponds in content and scope to the demands of a bachelor's degree in economics or commercial sciences.

NOTE: Please note that where documents are submitted to show evidence of practical professional experience or either practical or theoretical achievements worth 30 ECTS – in addition to a bachelor’s degree – the documents must clearly indicate that the 30 ECTS were obtain over and above the bachelor's degree programme. Confirmation can be provided by the university showing that the ECTS/internship were not counted towards the first degree. The duration of the practical professional experience gained outside the first degree should be equivalent to 20 weeks of full-time work. Furthermore, the internship reference must be submitted in officially certified form together with the other application documents.

Please see the Study and Examination Regulations for details.

Letters of admission can be expected at the beginning of February or the beginning of August at the earliest.

Lectures can take place on any day from Monday to Saturday. The times vary from semester to semester. Lectures by international lecturers usually take place as block courses.

Lectures for the Retail and Consumer Management degree program take place exclusively on the Ingolstadt campus. Please take this into account when looking for accommodation.

It is possible to work during the semester. However, lecture times vary from semester to semester and sometimes also take place on Saturdays. You should therefore allow yourself enough flexibility with your employer. Please also bear in mind the high study workload during your studies.

The language certificate must be submitted for full enrollment, i.e. by 12.04. (if applying for the summer semester) or by 29.10. (if applying for the winter semester) at the latest.

The aptitude test consists of uploading further documents within the application portal; there is no physical test/interview or similar. These documents are: 

• Proof of your knowledge in the RCM field based on your previous studies (transcript)
• Proof of relevant work experience (official references)
• Proof of a project report/bachelor thesis in the RCM field (cover sheet, summary and table of contents)

The application period for the Retail and Consumer Management degree program for the winter semester is from May 2 to July 15 and for the summer semester from November 15 to January 15. You can apply for both the summer and winter semester.

There is currently no cooperation for a double degree for the Retail and Consumer Management course.

Here is an overview of the accepted language tests: Link

One admission requirement is proof of a successful completion of a degree programme at a German university with at least 210 ECTS credit points or an equivalent scope of study in the field of economics, commercial sciences or similar areas or an equivalent German or foreign degree. Whether you meet the eligibility requirements for the desired degree program can only be checked during the application process on the basis of the documents you submit. Unfortunately, it is therefore not possible to say in advance whether or not you meet the requirements for a degree course with your previous education. Admission and application) or in the Study and Examination Regulations (SPO Statutes, § 3 Qualification requirements): Link 

Only your Bachelor's degree can be considered to fulfill the qualification requirements for a Master's degree program at THI. Your Master's degree is not relevant.

Previous studies in English are enough. Please upload appropriate proof in the application portal showing that the language of instruction for all lectures and examinations was English. You can find an overview of accepted language certificates here: Link

The lectures are held entirely in English, which is why you must have at least B2 level proficiency in the language. The language certificate for this must be submitted for enrollment, i.e. by 12.04. at the latest (for applications for the summer semester) or by 29.10. (for applications for the winter semester). Here you will find an overview of the accepted language certificates: Link

It is possible to arrive late, but you must still enrol on time (no later than four weeks after the start of the semester). You are responsible for catching up on missed lectures. However, we would like to expressly point out that your obligations associated with your studies remain unaffected by this. This applies in particular to examination deadlines, which are not interrupted by this. Please inform your degree program director (via Moodle) as soon as you know your arrival date.

If you arrive late and can prove that you applied for a visa in time, you may request for an extension of the exam deadlines by the amount of time missed. You can only submit this request once you are here in Germany in person. You can take missed modules (and exams) later together with students of the following year. Your duration of study will be extended as a result.

The application for grace period can be found in the PRIMUSS portal under “Applications and Messages > Select application/form > Others > General Application”.

The application form is empty, i.e. students can explain in detail why they need an extension and the reasons for it. The request and the corresponding supporting documents (confirmation of receipt/application letter from the visa office/embassy and presentation of the visa in the travel application - copy of identity card with arrival stamp in Germany) should be submitted immediately after entry, ideally together with the change of address (change of address from abroad to German address) on the student's portal.

For questions about enrollment, please contact us via the contact form: Link

You can find the link to the timetable by clicking on Timetable at the top of the THI website under Quicklinks. Log in with the user data you received when you enrolled. 

If you are an applicant and are interested in a sample timetable from previous semesters, please write to a contact person for the degree program. We will be happy to help you.

Once you have successfully enrolled, you will find your certificate of enrolment in the Primuss Studierenden Portal under "My studies -> Certificates".

Ingolstadt University of Applied Sciences is an on-campus university. Lectures are held in person on campus. Only individual lectures may take place online.

It is not possible to postpone admission to another semester. If you are unable to take up your place, please apply again in the next application period.

Please contact the Admissions Office via the contact form and ask whether the application for enrollment can still be submitted: Link

Please refer to the general FAQs on applying for a master degree and, if applicable, the FAQs on applying for a Master's degree from abroad before contacting us.