Program Concept
The Bachelor’s degree program in International Business Administration is uniquely centered on the activities of cooperating industry partners and the business world. Challenging lectures based on content relevant to real life in the business world at the university alternate with practical phases at cooperating partner companies. The dual Bachelor’s degree program is a six semester, modularly structured, full-time course of studies. Successful completion of the 210 ECTS credit points in this intensive program results in a Bachelor of Science (B. Sc.) degree.
This program leads to the first academic degree that qualifies graduates for professional work in the field. Upon completion, graduates will have ideally fulfilled the requirements necessary for successfully working on the job at a company and/or entering a Master’s degree program for further study.
Program Goals and Course Content
The goals of the program and course content are directly in line with the expectations and demands of the job market:
- Acquiring solid knowledge and professional tools by training in business.
- Developing skills by taking on responsibilities in operative work processes at a company, starting right at the beginning of the program.
- Gaining international and intercultural experience from interaction with foreign guest professors and a stay abroad during one’s studies.
- Providing the optimal education for the professional challenges of the future in a global economy.
Program Features
Start: Begins once a year on August 1st with a two-month practical phase at the student’s cooperating partner company.
Practical Phase: International Business Administration is a dual cooperative study program. During lecture-free periods, students take on an active role at their partner company, working in various fields such as marketing, sales, logistics, purchasing, accounting, controlling, or in human resources management.
Academic Phase: Lectures are held in small groups, which enables students to gain a solid, comprehensive understanding of international business administration. Students are taught by a combination of German professors, business professionals, and foreign professors and lecturers, who together expose students to academic theory from a variety of different perspectives.
International Experience: The highlight of the fourth semester is the required international experience abroad from mid May until the end of September. The international experience is a key feature of this program. During this time, IBA students work abroad at a foreign subsidiary or branch of their partner company where they are actively involved in challenging projects.
Partner Companies: IBA students are both students at the Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society and employees of their partner companies. During their entire period of study, they receive compensation. A selection of partner companies, offered in cooperation with the Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society and the IBA program, can be found here.
Degree: Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)
Credits: 210 ECTS points
The European Credit Transfer System applies to this Bachelor degree program. It is based on credit points assigned to individual elements of coursework (such as participation in lectures and seminars, along with completion of required exams, presentations, and other assignments). The number of credit points assigned indicates the normal study workload expected for successful completion of the course or module.
Credits for a U.S. Master’s Degree: During the IBA Bachelor’s degree program, credits can be counted towards both of our American Master’s degree programs. These additional courses are held at the facilities of the Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society. Lectures are given by professors who teach at various universities in North America.
Accompanying Master’s Degree Program (optional)
The following Master’s degree programs are currently offered in cooperation with our partner institutions in the United States:
Master of Business Administration (MBA, AACSB) at the University of West Florida, Pensacola
The Transatlantic Institute of the Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society and the College of Business of the University of West Florida, Pensacola offer BIP Bachelor graduates the opportunity to obtain an Executive Master of Business Administration in General and International Management within 18 months. Classes are taught part-time so that you are available to your company and remain financially independent. Credits towards the Master's degree are already offered during the Bachelor's degree program "International Business Administration - International Business Administration".
The academic degree of Master of Business Administration (MBA) is awarded by the University of West Florida, Pensacola and may also be awarded in Germany due to the accreditation of the program by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
Thanks to the cooperation between the two universities, this innovative program enables efficient and up-to-date knowledge transfer that meets the increasing professional demands of a global economy. The combination of classroom courses and internet-based learning modules, the implementation of company projects in Germany and the United States, as well as the internationality of the lecturers, guarantee the high quality of the program.
The program is structured in such a way that the individual courses are completed over a period of two months. The attendance events for the respective courses take place on two weekends of each month (Fridays 5-9 p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m.-5 p.m.) on the premises of the Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society. The lecturers of the program are professors from accredited and internationally recognized universities, predominantly from the United States of America. In order to prepare the participants for international management tasks, the courses are held exclusively in English. Participants benefit not only from their newly acquired knowledge and in-depth foreign language skills, but also from working with people from other cultures. As a highlight and intercultural event, a three-week course is held on the campus of the University of West Florida, Pensacola at the beginning and end of the program.
Master of Business Administration (MBA, AACSB) or Master of Science in Information Technology and Management (MSITM, AACSB) at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro.
The USA is still the most popular destination abroad for German students. The Master's program of the Transatlantic Institute of the Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society in cooperation with the University of North Carolina, Greensboro offers BIP Bachelor graduates five months of full-time study in the USA, including campus life, in the first Master's study phase. The dream of many students to spend some time studying in the land of opportunity comes true! During the Bachelor's degree course "International Business Administration - International Business Administration", credits are offered towards the Master's degree.
Students can choose between the Master of Business Administration (MBA) or the Master of Science in Information Technology and Management degree. The completion of the MBA or MSITM can take place directly after the Bachelor's degree with a stay of two study terms (duration of stay: August - May of the following year). Students who wish to gain professional experience first can plan their stays to complete the MBA in Greensboro individually within five years. This is done in consultation with the Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society and the University of North Carolina.
The academic degree of Master of Business Administration (MBA) or Master of Science in Information Technology and Management (MSITM) is awarded by the University of North Carolina, Greensboro and may also be awarded in Germany due to the accreditation of the program by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).