Retail and Consumer Management Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt

Courses are taught in English (100%).

THI Language Center offers language and intercultural courses such as Spanish, French, Chinese, Russian, German and English. Of course, all of these courses are free of charge.

International retailers and brand manufacturers need well-trained managers who are familiar with retail management, consumer management, strategy, internationalisation, marketing concepts and digitalisation in the retail and consumer goods sector. We impart this knowledge to students in our leading and world class Master's degree programme in Retail and Consumer Management, a Master of Arts in Retail and Consumer Management, which is taught entirely in English.

Our programme builds on a Bachelor's degree and equips students with the necessary conceptual and strategic skills to pursue a career in a variety of exciting retail and branding industries – from lifestyle products to consumer electronics and automotive distribution. Developing expertise in cross-cultural competencies and retail analytics and consumer analytics is an integral part of our curriculum to meet the significant and growing demands of increasingly globalised retail management.

The Retail and Consumer Management degree programme covers areas such as International Retail Operations, Market Research and Consumer Behaviour, Retail Law and Trademark Law, Global Retailing and Internationalisation, Retail Lab and Consumer Projects, Digital Commerce in Retail, Retail Branding and Store Marketing, Strategic Retail Management, Merger and Acquisitions in Retail, Digital Marketing for Retail, Sales and Customer Lifecycle Management, and Supply Chain Management in Retail.

We offer elective courses in retail management and hands-on retail and consumer projects that provide opportunities for business cases and practice projects with international companies. Our graduates are prepared for various career paths in retail and consumer management and gain retail management expertise.

As the language of instruction is English, we welcome international students with a first degree and practical experience in the retail and consumer sector.

THI Business School is AACSB-accredited! THI Business School was the first of its kind in Bavaria to be accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). This makes us one of the approximately six per cent of all business schools worldwide that have achieved this prestigious status.

1. Applicants with a Bachelor's degree from outside of Germany must first apply via uni-assist. Please apply there as soon as possible, as uni-assist needs several weeks to provide the "Vorprüfungsdokument" (VPD), which you need for your further application.

If you acquired your Bachelor's degree outside of Germany, uni-assist has to verify your eligibility to study in Germany and to convert your grades to the German grade system. You will have to submit all required documents to uni-assist online. The process takes a minimum of four to six weeks. You can apply there all year round.

2. PRIMUSS – THI application portal: from 2 May until (expected to be) 15 July for the following winter semester or from 15 November until (expected to be) 15 January for the following summer semester

You will have to apply online at the PRIMUSS university application portal. There you will have to upload all the necessary documents including your VPD. You can still upload documents within the respective periods (there will be deadlines per document in the upload area) after you have sent your application online (there is no need to send hard copies for an application).

THI charges fees of currently 500 EUR per semester for students from third countries (citizenship outside the EU and European Economic Area).

The fees are planned to increase to 1,200 EUR per semester (Master's programmes) from summer semester 2026 onwards. When more details are available, you will find further information on our homepage.

THI students who started their studies earlier are not affected by this reform.

Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt does not cooperate with recruitment agencies. Applicants will have to apply on their own. Apart from the uni-assist fee, there is no application fee.

To stay updated on the most recent study orientation dates, please visit www.thi.de/go/events-studyorientation.

The Retail and Consumer Management study programme is a post-graduate Master's programme of two full-time study semesters, followed by a third semester proposed for the Master’s dissertation. The course combines in-depth academic studies with practical examples.

During the first and second semesters, the students will learn the principles of retail operations, market research and environment, retail concepts and value management. Furthermore, a retail and consumer project will be completed. The detailed modules are shown in the diagram. See the module handbook on the course website for details and descriptions of the individual subjects.

With completion of the Master’s thesis, the academic degree of Master of Arts is awarded, which enables students for either a qualified job entry in the retail industry or a post-graduate research programme.

Internship and semester abroad
The study programme was designed in a way so that students can take part in a voluntary internship or semester abroad. Retail & Consumer Management has several partners in the retail industry in Germany, the United States and Brazil.

1,200 EUR

THI charges fees of currently 500 EUR per semester for students from third countries (citizenship outside the EU and European Economic Area).

The fees are planned to increase to 1,200 EUR per semester (Master's programmes) from summer semester 2026 onwards. When more details are available, you will find further information on our homepage.

THI students who started their studies earlier are not affected by this reform.

All students will have to pay a student union fee of 72 EUR per semester.

Student organisations estimate that the cost of living is approx. 990 EUR or more per month, depending on individual needs and expectations. Mandatory health insurance in Germany will cost a student around 145 EUR per month.

Usually, non-EU students will have to provide proof of financial means with a blocked account for visa purposes. It should contain approximately 992 EUR per month for up to 12 months.

Programme admission requirements:

1. Requirements include an economics or retail-oriented Bachelor's degree from a German university with at least 210 ECTS credit points or an equivalent qualification from a university in Germany or abroad. A certificate must be submitted as proof. The examination committee decides on equivalence.
2. A successfully completed selection procedure (requirements and design of the procedure are laid down in Annex 2 and § 4 of the Programme and Examination Regulations)
3. Proof of sufficient knowledge of the English language (level B2 of the Common European Framework)

For general information, see: https://www.thi.de/en/international/studies/application.

The Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt can only make a legally binding decision about your eligibility for your desired study programme after reviewing the documents you submit with your application. We can’t provide a definitive assessment or evaluate your chances of acceptance until we have your full application, including your educational history.

Furthermore, it is possible to find out if you’re qualified to study in Germany before applying. Detailed information is available at the following link: www.uni-assist.de/en/tools/check-university-admission.

Additionally, you can find out about the qualification requirements via the study and examination regulations (=Studien- und Prüfungsordnung = SPO). Find these on the following page under the respective statutes: https://www.thi.de/en/university/university-profile/university-management/legal-department/.

Thank you for your understanding. You are very welcome to apply, and we will check your application documents.

Fluent or adequate English skills (level B2 of the Common European Framework)

Applicants applying for an English-language Master's programme must provide proof of sufficient English language skills at level B2. Proof of having passed the examination must be submitted by the time of enrolment at the latest. A list of all accepted certificates can be found here: https://www.thi.de/en/university/university-profile/university-management/legal-department/general-statutes/.

1. Applicants with a Bachelor's degree from outside of Germany must first apply via uni-assist. Please apply there as soon as possible, as uni-assist needs several weeks to provide the "Vorprüfungsdokument" (VPD), which you need for your further application.

If you acquired your Bachelor's degree outside of Germany, uni-assist has to verify your eligibility to study in Germany and to convert your grades to the German grade system. You will have to submit all required documents to uni-assist online. The process takes a minimum of four to six weeks. You can apply there all year round.

2. PRIMUSS – THI application portal: from 2 May until (expected to be) 15 July for the following winter semester or from 15 November until (expected to be) 15 January for the following summer semester

You will have to apply online at the PRIMUSS university application portal. There you will have to upload all the necessary documents including your VPD. You can still upload documents within the respective periods (there will be deadlines per document in the upload area) after you have sent your application online (there is no need to send hard copies for an application).

There are different scholarships available to enrolled students, such as the Deutschlandstipendium. All students will have to look and apply for specific scholarships themselves! Most scholarship programmes are based on performance (grades, voluntary work, etc.) The economic situation of applicants is usually not taken into consideration. A certain level of German language skills (at least B2) is required for many scholarships.

The International Office also offers scholarships. Enrolled international students will be notified of the call once a year via the communication channels of the university.

International students at Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt (THI) are strongly advised to start gaining practical experience early to earn money during their studies and improve their job prospects. Besides looking for working student positions, students are also encouraged to seek low-level jobs in gastronomy or similar sectors to earn money and improve their German language skills. In addition to internship positions posted on the university platform, students should actively consider research and teaching assistant roles at THI. Please note that international students face legal limits on the number of working days allowed (see Study and work).

The International Welcome Center offers workshops and events in English to help international students prepare for their entry into the German market, especially in preparing for the internship search and applications.

Important: German employers expect students to take the initiative in applying for jobs and to have a good command of German. For internships, a minimum German language level of B1/B2 is required, while for entry-level jobs after graduation, B2/C1 is generally expected. Therefore, international students should start learning German as early as possible to increase their employability.

Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt does not run any student residence halls / dorms. You will have to start looking for accommodation on your own as soon as possible. At least 500 EUR per month should be budgeted for accommodation.

Here are some facts about finding accommodation in Ingolstadt or Neuburg.

Career Service & Student Counselling
In Career Service and Student Counselling, prospective and current students find a central contact point for a wide range of counselling services and events.

Our students are guided through all challenges during their studies. The Career Service helps them to sharpen their own profile and successfully enter their careers.

After graduation, our graduates remain in contact with us and their study group in the Alumni Network.

https://www.thi.de/en/university/university-profile/organisation/career-service-student-counselling

• Service point and counselling
• Online info session for admitted degree-seekers
• Support with city registration and residence permits
• Orientation days and networking events
• Mentoring programme
• German courses and language support programmes
• Cultural events, excursions, and company tours
• Workshops to prepare for the German job market
• Student clubs, such as N.I.C.E. (Network & International Culture Exchange)

Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt (THI) is an institution that specialises in business and technology and is characterised by innovative study concepts and modern facilities. We are currently training over 8,000 students in more than 70 study programmes in engineering, computer science, business, life sciences and sustainability.
Our students will graduate as sought-after specialists and managers. An extremely dynamic and successful region with a distinctly strong economic structure provides for excellent framework conditions. The relatively small student body guarantees individual guidance, a familial atmosphere, and close cooperation between students and professors.
One of the core features of studying at our university is its orientation towards practical application. Internships and projects, as well as continuous cooperation with regional companies, are fundamental components of every study programme.
The Ingolstadt campus was completed in 1999, and a new tract of buildings opened in 2014. In 2021, the Neuburg campus opened its doors with its Faculty of Sustainable Infrastructure. Modern equipment and facilities create an atmosphere that adds to students' success and enjoyment. Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt is proud of its commitment to offer the highest possible level of quality in research and education. It is possible to explore Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt by visiting the interactive 360° THI campus tour.

The campus is only a short walk from Ingolstadt's appealing old city. The view from the lecture halls is of a castle and other medieval buildings. Ingolstadt lies in the centre of Bavaria, one of the most prosperous German federal states, and it is only an hour by car from the metropolitan areas of Munich and Nuremberg. The opportunities to take part in leisure activities in the area – which is close to the Alps as well as to the beautiful Altmühl valley – are unlimited. With the headquarters of Audi (the international automotive company) and a large number of innovative corporations in the city, Ingolstadt is proud to be one of the strongest economic regions in Germany. Opportunities to participate in sports activities are provided by the university as well as by various amateur and competitive sports clubs. Bavarian charm and the Bavarian way of life – including summer evenings in beer gardens and the diverse cultural events on offer – make daily life in Ingolstadt particularly attractive for students.