International Business and Economics (IBE) Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg

Courses & examinations are held exclusively in English. Students receive English language education at a university level & will be awarded the UniCert 4 German university certificate upon completion.

Students seeking a first academic degree in the field of business and economic studies are welcome.

This programme is taught exclusively in English and provides preparation for career opportunities in the diverse fields of management, such as managerial communication, organisational behaviour, international management, human resource management, banking and finance, and economics.

Students will be introduced to economics, managerial theories, and business decision-making basics, and they will also develop intercultural competencies. To complete the curriculum, students receive English language training for research writing at an academic level (UNIcert IV certificate). Additionally, two to three semesters of a German as a foreign language module is included in the programme for international students. Classes are diverse, with approximately 80 students representing around 35 nationalities.

This Bachelor's programme prepares graduates for managerial and entrepreneurial occupations within foreign or multinational companies, consultancy firms, banks and financial institutions, and international non-profit organisations. Additionally, graduates will be equipped to continue their academic careers in an economics and management Master's programme.

IBE Module Descriptions

The study programme will start by the first week of October with a mandatory onboarding week for new students. During this week, students will learn how to organise their class schedules by following the programme structure and using e-learning portals. They will also receive important information about the school's class and exam registration rules as well as discover options for networking activities, etc.

The IBE programme is an on-campus study programme. It is required to be present on campus starting with the first semester. Enrolment has to be done online. Students should aim to arrive no later than 1 October to take part in the onboarding week and get used to the new study and living environment. It is not advisable to defer modules to a later semester.

International degree holders:
15 July for the following winter semester

The International Business and Economics programme consists of a sequence of required courses of an economic and managerial nature, with a theoretical, analytical, and interculturally oriented approach.

The programme comprises two parts: compulsory modules and compulsory elective modules. Compulsory studies start from the first semester and go through the fourth semester. Modules offered: Micro- and Macroeconomics, Principles of Management, Financial Accounting, Statistics, Mathematical Methods, Marketing Performance Management, Financial Management, Decision & Strategy, International Economics, Economic Policy, Econometrics, Principles of International Management, Productions, Logistics and Management Science, English at an academic level, a second foreign language, and German (DAF) for international students.

Students will specialise during their fifth and sixth semesters by choosing compulsory elective courses in international business or global economics, including a project seminar. These compulsory electives can also be taken at a cooperating partner institution abroad. Credits earned during the study abroad period will be recognised, and an advisory service is offered.

A written Bachelor's thesis and a corresponding seminar that includes a presentation will round off the undergraduate study programme.

Students should expect a weekly workload of approx. 20 hours of classroom studies and at least 20 hours of independent self-study. Forms of classroom instruction include lectures, tutorials, and seminars.

To assist students during the study programme, the faculty provides academic Bachelor's advisory services.

The school is part of the EU GREEN alliance, a network of European universities developing modules and collaboration in regard to sustainability. The school offers modules in collaboration with partner universities (BIPs) and guest lectures.

Although a semester abroad is not mandatory, the Faculty of Economics and Management highly recommends that IBE students take advantage of a semester abroad at one of our partner universities. For the sake of adhering to the study programme structure, it is recommended that students go abroad in the fifth semester (once 120 ECTS from the first four semesters have been acquired). Students interested in going abroad must begin the application procedure one year (two semesters) in advance (e.g. fifth semester abroad, consultation and application in third semester).

There are no compulsory internship requirements. However, students are highly encouraged to complete a voluntary, self-organised internship at the end of their studies, preferably in their fifth semester. The faculty believes it is valuable to gain professional experience within German and international workplaces. Internships must be organised independently https://www.isp.ovgu.de/IBEApplication.html. Furthermore, student organisations, such as AIESEC, Enactus, and others, are active on campus. These organisations and the University Career Service Centre provide opportunities and assistance to both German and international students.

No tuition fees

Currently, the semester fee is 278.90 EUR. It covers services offered by the "Studentenwerk" (student union) and the student representatives. Enrolled students receive the "Deutschlandsemesterticket" for free use of public transport throughout Germany, along with student discounts in the campus cafeteria and more.

A minimum of 992 EUR per month must be budgeted for accommodation, cost of living, health insurance, books, and miscellaneous expenses. In comparison with many other towns and cities, the rental prices in Magdeburg are still relatively low. There are no tuition fees for the majority of programmes, and the semester fee already includes the cost of bus and tram travel within Magdeburg. The following link provides a fair picture of the cost of living in Magdeburg: Finance.

Applicants must provide a university entrance qualification that is recognised in Germany. Additionally, the programme requires fluent English skills (details below).

IBE Requirements

Proof of advanced English skills at level B2 (TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge) is required. A detailed, updated list of recognised options and the minimum scores is available on the programme's website (IBE's Checklist).

German skills are not required for this study programme, but they are important for getting around in Germany and employment in Germany. Applicants are advised to study German at an A1 or A2 level before they arrive in Germany. 

A foreign language (10 credits: two semesters) is included in the study programme. For international students, several levels of German as a Foreign Language (DAF) classes are offered to IBE students. Usually, two semesters equate to one language level.

International degree holders:
15 July for the following winter semester

No

It is possible to find a part-time job as a research or student assistant at one of the faculties or in the university administration (maximum: 80 hours per month). Other opportunities are student jobs at different companies, restaurants, and shops. Information on how to find a job can be found on our website: Career Service.

The "Studentenwerk" (student union) in Magdeburg manages the on-campus halls of residence (mostly one- to four-room apartments). Currently, the monthly rent ranges from 174 EUR to 421 EUR per room (approx. 12 to 35 square meters), depending on the size and furnishing. Rooms in the halls of residence are limited in number. The accommodation application can be found on the website of the Studentenwerk.
The Studentenwerk assists all new students in finding adequate accommodation, either on or off campus. Private accommodation is available on the Magdeburg accommodation market. However, fully furnished units are in somewhat short supply.

Our Career Service Centre provides on-campus workshops as well as job and internship search assistance for students.

A yearly job fair exclusively for students is offered.

Our school provides a buddy programme (SIMP-SON), a website, and a student advisory service office (ISP Office) exclusively for students enrolled in study programmes conducted in English. A year-round integration programme is part of the mentoring and includes intercultural workshops, weekly counselling hours, English-guided tours and trips, and networking events with fellow students. To participate in the mentoring programme, students need to apply ahead of time to be paired with a student in a more advanced semester. SIMP-SON

Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg (OVGU) was founded in 1993 and is one of Germany's youngest universities. It was formed by a merger of the existing technical university, the teacher training college, and the medical school. The university now comprises nine faculties and about 12,600 students and is becoming increasingly more important as a centre for education and research. It plays an important role in the regional capital of Magdeburg, which is developing into a centre for business, scholarship, and culture. The university is a member of many organisations and committees. It is named after Otto von Guericke (1602 to 1686), Magdeburg's famous citizen, whose pioneering research into the vacuum brought him renown well beyond Germany's borders. The university aspires to teach and research in the tradition of this great scientist, philosopher, and engineer and to continue with his humanist work.

At the Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, students can choose from more than 100 study programmes in various areas of study and specialisation. There are also many possibilities to combine different subjects across faculties. To open up to qualified students from all over the world, the Otto von Guericke University is vastly expanding its offers of programmes taught in English. The conditions for students are ideal, with modern laboratories, experimental workshops, and clinics equipped with high-performance computers and an excellent staff-student ratio. The offer of a sound, thorough education, combining a high level of theoretical expertise with practical experience, makes Magdeburg an attractive choice.

In recent years, research at the university has gone through a decisive change, from applied research to innovative, fundamental research. Among the many areas represented, the neurosciences, immunology, non-linear systems, new materials, processes and products, computational visualistics, social transformation, communication, and culture deserve a special mention. The university hopes to make a significant contribution to economic and social development in Magdeburg and the surrounding area through its research. Equally, disciplines such as humanities, economics, and management, which have been established more recently at the university, have already made their mark on our research profile. Special emphasis is placed on close cooperation between teaching staff and students.

The Otto von Guericke University is a proud member of the European University Alliance EU GREEN, which is aiming to be your gateway to sustainability. Together, we aim to be a broad European hub for education, research and innovation in sustainability that goes beyond the consortium borders and acts globally to provide solutions to local or regional challenges, which can be replicated at a global level.

Magdeburg also attracts students because it offers accommodation with either a single bed or twin beds in its halls of residence.

Take a virtual trip through our international campus!

As the capital of the federal state of Saxony-Anhalt, Magdeburg is the seat of the state parliament and administration. The town is more than 1,200 years old and has about 242,000 inhabitants. Its excellent location on the River Elbe and its proximity to Berlin, Hanover, and Leipzig have proven to be a significant asset to the city. In the 19th century, the town developed into an important industrial and trade centre. Nowadays, another quite distinctive feature of Magdeburg is its considerable research and innovation potential at the university, the Max Planck and Fraunhofer research institutes, and the university of applied sciences, which are all located in close proximity to each other. Magdeburg offers an extensive park and garden landscape, a rich cultural and sports life, and an ideal atmosphere for being a student. Please visit the website: www.magdeburg.de.