Bachelor in Business Administration (International Management)

Your launchpad to a thriving international business career!

With a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (International Management), you are well-equipped to advance in a dynamic and diverse work environment. The business world needs creative thinkers who can adopt an entrepreneurial mindset and develop modern, forward-looking solutions. By focusing on international management, you will gain the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate global markets, understand cross-cultural dynamics, and address the challenges of an interconnected world.

• Subject-Specific Knowledge: Gain a solid foundation in key international management and business administration disciplines that you can apply directly in the field.
• Experience: Prepare yourself for the demands of international business practice through projects, case studies, and hands-on assignments.
• International Perspective: Develop a global mindset with a focus on cross-cultural management, international markets, and global economic trends to prepare for success in a worldwide business environment.
• International Communication Skills: Enhance your ability to communicate effectively across cultures, a vital skill in today’s globalized business landscape.
• Study Abroad Opportunities: Take advantage of international study programs that provide valuable experiences and insights into global business practices while expanding your professional network.
• Personalized Study Focus: Specialize in areas that interest you the most, such as international finance, international marketing, sustainability management, digital transformation and innovation, and many more fields.
• Diverse Career Opportunities: Shape your career. Your degree opens many doors – whether in management, marketing, finance, or even as an entrepreneur in Switzerland or internationally.
• Build Your Network: Connect with leading global companies, born-global start-ups, and industry experts who will support you on your international career path.

Secure your study place now!

Start in February: We recommend early registration until October 31. Start in September: We recommend early registration until April 30.

Registration

The BSc Business Administration (International Management) degree program is designed to prepare you for a successful career in today's dynamic business landscape. You will build a solid foundation in business administration, covering key areas such as finance and accounting, marketing, human resource management, supply chain management, innovation and digital business, data analytics, and international business. Along the way, you'll develop essential management skills and gain proficiency in techniques necessary for effective leadership in a global and multicultural environment, enabling you to tackle international business challenges with a systematic approach. You will enhance your communication skills while also acquiring new competencies, including negotiation and leadership. This program equips you to navigate complex organizational structures and opens doors to diverse career opportunities in multinational corporations, small and medium-sized enterprises with international operations, non-profit organizations, or even start-ups.

In the latter half of your studies, you’ll be able to choose from a broad range of specializations, tailoring your education to suit your career goals. By focusing on areas that align with your interests and ambitions, you can develop new skills, sharpen the existing ones and develop expertise in a specific field. This way you can build a strong foundation for professional success and enhance your employability in your chosen industry.

The BSc Business Administration (International Management) program at the FHNW School of Business emphasizes practical relevance, providing you with real-world insights into the working environment during your studies. This is achieved through group projects with industry partners, your Bachelor's Thesis and the “Work Experience” modules designed especially for part-time working students. These hands-on experiences will equip you with valuable skills, enhance your understanding of business practices, and prepare you for future career success

Student Projects with Industry Partners

At FHNW School of Business, you will have an opportunity to apply management theories to real problems from multinational corporations, start-ups, and small-and-medium sized enterprises, gaining hands-on experience under expert supervision.

Industry projects cover a wide range of business issues, helping you build practical skills and valuable industry contacts. You develop critical problem-solving abilities and grow a network that boosts your career readiness.

The BSc Business Administration (International Management) program offers diverse opportunities to gain global exposure and cross-cultural experience, tailored to both full-time and part-time students. With dedicated support from the International Office, you can enhance your skills and expand your horizons through various international options.

• Study entirely in English, the global business lingua franca, to develop essential language skills and boost your career prospects.
• Fulfil the mandatory study abroad semester as a full-time student or opt for a double degree, summer/winter school, or international modules.
• Part-time students can choose a semester abroad or participate in other international experiences, such as projects and specialized modules.
• The International Office provides guidance and support for applications to exchange programs, double degrees, and other global initiatives.

Upon completing the program, our graduates embark on diverse career paths. Many join small and medium-sized enterprises as versatile all-rounders, while others enter larger multinational corporations through graduate training programs—or sometimes through direct entry as junior managers. With on-the-job experience, you may progress to management roles or even pursue your entrepreneurial ambitions by starting your own business.

Attractive career opportunities await in fields such as financial services, consulting, corporate finance, marketing, corporate communications, data analytics, social media marketing, and so on.

Admission

With the following qualifications you are directly admitted to the program:

Professional Baccalaureate, commercial

• Type Economics 
• Type Services 
  

Higher Business Vocational School HF Diploma (acceptance of credits subject to study regulations)

• Business Economist HF
• Banking Economist HF
• Insurance Economist HF
• Marketing Manager HF
• Tourism Specialist HF
• Diploma in Hotel and Restaurant Management

Transfer from Universities and Universities of Applied Sciences after consultation

With the following qualifications, you need at least one year of commercial work experience after completion of upper secondary education:

• Professional Baccalaureate, other than commercial
• General Baccalaureate
• International Baccalaureate (Grade point average requirements)
• Specialised Middle School Baccalaureate
• German University of Applied Sciences Entry Diploma entitling studies in all federal states of Germany (minimum grade 2.5)
• Higher Vocational School, not listed above

You can take an entrance exam with the following qualifications: 

• Federal PET Diplomas + 1 year of commercial work experience  

• EFZ (Federal Certificate of Competence) and minimum age of 25 years

For foreign degrees, please enquire at the admissions office

Fees and Grants

Tuition fees qualify for attendance of any Bachelor course within FHNW, independent of the particular enrolment at a faculty.

Registration fee (1)	once	CHF 200
Personal course fee (2)	per semester	CHF 750*
Copying and materials	per semester	CHF 100
Teaching materials, books, projects	per year	ca. CHF 1'000
Diploma fee	once	CHF 300

(1) A separate registration fee has to be paid for each programme you register for.

(2) For students domiciled in a Swiss canton or in the Principality of Liechtenstein with legal entitlement to a grant, for Expatriate Swiss citizens or for students domiciled in a Swiss canton, who are holders of a residence permit that has not been issued specially for their studies. For other students, please contact the secretariat.
*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

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

Registration

Start in February 2025: We recommend early registration until October 31. Start in September 2025: We recommend early registration until April 30.

Depending on your previous education, the following documents must be enclosed with the application:

• University entrance qualification incl. report card (vocational baccalaureate certificate, baccalaureate certificate, etc.)
  
• Federal diploma of higher education
  
• Residence permit (if available)
  
• Exmatriculation attestation (if available)

Registration

Preparatory courses for the degree program

The preparatory courses for studying at the FHNW School of Business are intended for future students who either have a non-commercial vocational baccalaureate, whose commercial vocational baccalaureate was completed some time ago or who feel insecure in one or more core subjects.

Zentrum Bildung am Standort Brugg: Vorkurse Rechnungswesen und Mathematik
Handelsschule KV Basel: Vorkurse Rechnungswesen und Mathematik
BBZ Olten: Vorkurse Mathematik und Finanzbuchhaltung

Further offers can be requested directly from the respective providers.

Dates and annual structure

Timetable

You will receive your timetable for the first semester in July.

Introduction week

• Mandatory induction days will be held in week 37, just before your first semester begins. Exact dates will be provided in August.

Autumn semester (from week 38)

• Duration: 14 weeks (from mid-September to Christmas)
• Block week: week 45
• Examinations: Early January to the beginning of February

Spring semester (from week 8)

• Duration: 15 weeks (mid-February to the beginning of June)
• Block week: Week before Easter
• Examinations: June to beginning of July

Regulations

Regulations (in German)

On request an english translation is available: ccc.olten@fhnw.ch

Students with Disabilities and Chronic Illnesses

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 (in German)
Contact

Military and Civil Service

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 here.

Flyer Bachelor Business Administration (International Management) (PDF)
Flyer Bachelor degree programmes (in German)

Students and programme heads will answer your questions in an open consultation hour. Simply open the link during the specified time and take part. Further dates will follow.