Master of Science in Strategischem Management und Leadership

School of Business

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Think strategically, act responsibly, and actively shape the future with inspiring leadership.

Factsheet

Degree: Master of Science FHNW in Strategischem Management und Leadership
Study mode: Part-time
Learning environment: Online, Onsite and Blended
ECTS points: 90
Next start: 14.9.2026
Duration: 2 years
Language: German
Place: Olten
Staying abroad: Possible
Application fee: CHF 200
Semester fee: CHF 750 for residents of Switzerland (for details, see fees)

At a glance

Flexibility: Choose your individual focus areas through elective modules and your major, allowing you to prepare yourself optimally for your career.
Strategic Management & Leadership combined: You develop both analytical management skills and effective leadership abilities – exactly the combination the job market is looking for.
Practice orientation meets research: Real-world business challenges promote practice-oriented learning and strengthen your ability to act. You connect current scientific findings with concrete projects.
Modern learning methods: Asynchronous and synchronous online sessions allow for more flexible learning in terms of time and place, while bootcamps and project-based learning enhance networking and exchange opportunities.
Support: The integrated coaching programme fosters your personal development as a leader.

Why study this?

In a dynamic, globally interconnected world full of complex challenges, our economy and society need leaders who bring more than just subject-specific knowledge. We need sharp minds who think strategically, act responsibly, and actively shape the future with inspiring leadership.

The Master’s degree in Strategic Management and Leadership at FHNW enables you to analyze different business situations, make informed decisions, and lead teams, projects, or departments goal-oriented. With the combination of profound and in-depth knowledge, the development of your personality, and the option to select your individual area of specialisation, this Master’s programme is the logical continuation of a Bachelor’s degree in the area of business administration.

Flexibility: Choose your individual focus areas through elective modules and your major, allowing you to prepare yourself optimally for your career.
Strategic Management & Leadership combined: You develop both analytical management skills and effective leadership abilities – exactly the combination the job market is looking for.
Practice orientation meets research: Real-world business challenges promote practice-oriented learning and strengthen your ability to act. You connect current scientific findings with concrete projects.
Modern learning methods: Asynchronous and synchronous online sessions allow for more flexible learning in terms of time and place, while bootcamps and project-based learning enhance networking and exchange opportunities.
Support: The integrated coaching programme fosters your personal development as a leader.

Career Prospects

With a Master’s degree in Strategic Management and Leadership, a wide range of career paths are open to you. As a graduate of our programme, you can take on leadership and expert roles across a wide range of industries. During your studies, you will further strengthen your leadership skills and learn how to make strategic decisions and successfully manage teams, projects, or departments. Additionally, you can specialise in a specific field (major).

Structure and programme contents

The standard period of study is four semesters. The degree can also be completed in six semesters, allowing for a flexible study duration adapted to your personal circumstances.

Class days: On-site lectures on Fridays (full day), synchronous online sessions and asynchronous learning units on Wednesday evenings, plus 2–3 bootcamps per semester (Thursday to Saturday)
The exact dates of the bootcamps will be announced in June (for the autumn semester) and in December (for the spring semester).
Workload: 21–24 ECTS per semester

Modules and Structure

The Master’s in Strategic Management and Leadership consists of a two-stage structure:

Stage 1: You acquire in-depth and profound knowledge of strategic management, leadership and research methods through compulsory modules (33 ECTS).

Stage 2: You deepen your knowledge and skill through:

the major (36 ECTS)
the compulsory elective modules (9 ECTS) and
the Master's thesis (12 ECTS)

Lecturers

The teaching staff consists of proven practitioners who have extensive teaching experience and underpin their expertise with proven scientific work.

Requirements and admission

Direct admission

To be admitted directly to the programme, students must:

have a bachelor's degree in business economics, business administration (international management), business administration, economics, industrial engineering, business informatics, business information technology, business artificial intelligence, business law or business psychology
have German language skills (the programme is taught in German)
have one year of professional experience in the commercial sector.

Other degrees

If you have a bachelor's degree in another discipline, the programme director will decide on its equivalence.

Organisational matters

Fees and Grants

The tuition fees entitle students to attend all courses offered by the FHNW in accordance with the applicable study guides, regardless of the subject area in which the student is currently enrolled.

Registration fee	once	CHF 200
Semester fee	per semester	CHF 750*
Diploma fee	once	CHF 300

*Applies to:

Students whose civil law residence is in Switzerland or the Principality of Liechtenstein at the start of their studies
as well as Swiss citizens living abroad
or foreign students with civil law residence in a Swiss canton who hold a residence permit not issued for the purpose of studying.

For other students:

*Personal course fee for EU or EFTA citizens: CHF 1 000.00 per semester
*Personal course fee for Non-European citizens: CHF 5 700.00 per semester

The determination of the semester fee requires the complete and correct completion of the Student Personal Data Form, which is sent to students before the start of their studies. The Student Personal Data Form including additional documents must be signed and submitted before the start of the studies.

Fees and regulations FHNW (PDF in German, valid from academic year 2025/2026)
Grants and loans

Termine und Jahresstruktur

Autumn semester (from week 38)

Duration: 14 weeks (from mid-September to Christmas)
Examinations: Early January to the beginning of February

Spring semester (from week 8)

Duration: 15 weeks (mid-February to the beginning of June)
Examinations: June to beginning of July

Nachteilsausgleich

Students with disabilities and chronic illnesses can apply for compensation for disadvantages.

The aim of compensation for disadvantages is to eliminate or reduce the disadvantages resulting from disabilities and chronic illnesses during studies by means of suitable measures. The term refers to the adaptation of the conditions under which learning and/or examinations take place, but not a modification of the learning objectives or a waiver of subjects. Compensation for disadvantages can be applied both in the admission procedure and in the degree programme.

Information sheet on compensation for disadvantages (PDF)
Contact

Militär, Zivildienst und Zivilschutz

The FHNW will help you coordinate your studies and compulsory military service in the best possible way. You can find all the information on training credits, credit transfer options, postponements and advice centers under the following link.

Informationen Military service, civilian service and civil defence

Downloads & Regulations

Flyer Master in Strategischem Management und Leadership (PDF)
Regulations FHNW School of Business
Mandatory Notebook Requirement for Students at the FHNW School of Business