Master of Business Administration (MBA) FHNW

School of Business

Boost your leadership potential with FHNW’s part-time MBA – a 90‑ECTS, 2½‑year programme designed for professionals aiming to master general management. You’ll gain cutting‑edge business knowledge and apply it directly to your role, preparing you to lead with confidence, responsibility and strategic insight.

Factsheet

Degree: Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Learning mode: Onsite
ECTS credits: 90
Next start: 19.8.2026
Duration: 2.5 years
Teaching languages: 1 Module in English
Venues: Basel or Brugg-Windisch
Fee: CHF 39 500

At a glance

Holistic, research‑based management knowledge: Grounded in current scholarship and tailored for practice.
Flexible, career‑friendly format: Taught part‑time over two years with weekend or evening sessions.
Practical, international orientation: Includes case‑based learning, simulations and optional international study trip.
Choice of specialisations: Leadership, Innovation & Venture Lab, or International Business Development.
Strong network & AACSB‑accredited quality: Learn from experienced faculty and build connections across industries.

Aims and benefits

You will:

Acquire essential, generalist management knowledge grounded in the latest research.
Learn to lead your function responsibly and successfully.
Immediately apply new knowledge in your role thanks to a strong practical focus.
Develop entrepreneurial thinking and act strategically across business contexts.
Understand and incorporate social, ethical and intercultural considerations in decision‑making.
Enhance teamwork, communication and collaboration skills, including in international settings.

Target audience

This advanced training is aimed at professionals and executives who want to expand their skills and prepare for future challenges.

Who is the MBA suitable for?

The MBA is designed for university graduates from various disciplines who:

do not have a business administration education but have extensive professional experience.
hold or wish to take on a leadership role.
want to build or deepen management skills for responsible tasks in the company.
want to develop further in a practical and part-time manner.

Structure and programme contents

The MBA programme includes 6 compulsory modules as well as a specialisation of your choice. The programme concludes with a practice-oriented MBA thesis. The instruction is conducted in German (one module in English).

Module Contents

Compulsory Modules

The following modules are part of the MBA. Each module is divided into courses.

Module 1: Leading Personnel – Leadership and HR Management

Module 2: Improving Competitiveness Innovatively – Strategic Management

Module 3: Leading with Numbers – Financial Management

Module 4: The Social and Economic Environment – Competition and Society

Module 5: Managing the Business – Organisational Management

Module 6: Business Abroad – International Management

Elective Modules

One of the offered specialisations must be chosen. Each specialisation consists of two to four courses. The specialisations are offered across locations for the MBA programmes. They take place either in Basel or in Brugg-Windisch, with some courses also held externally.

Module 7: Specialisation in Leadership

Module 7: Specialisation in Innovation & Venture Lab

Module 7: Specialisation in International Business Development

MBA Thesis

The processing time for the scientifically based, practice-oriented final thesis is six months. A colloquium will follow thereafter.

Module 8: Scientifically Address a Practical Topic – MBA Thesis

International

As part of the MBA programme, students can participate in one or two study trips (elective module). Various travel destinations are offered, such as Vietnam, Colombia, Indonesia, Poland, Singapore. The focus of these trips is on company visits, where participants can exchange ideas with management and tour the facilities. Our MBA alumni can also participate in the study trips after graduation.

Next study trips

If your chosen trip is fully booked, we’re happy to add you to our waiting list so you won’t miss out if a spot opens up.

Requirements and admission

For admission to the programme, the following criteria must be met:

University degree (University, ETH or University of Applied Sciences) and generally at least three years of professional experience after graduation
Or equivalent vocational training (HFP, HF or similar) and generally at least five years of professional experience after graduation as well as leadership experience, limited number of study places
At least intermediate English skills (level B1)

The programme management decides on admission to the programme and exceptions to the admission requirements after an admission interview. Applicants will be considered in the order of their applications.