Master of Arts in International Cultural and Business Studies University of Passau

German and Chinese, Czech, English, French, Indonesian, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish or Thai, depending on the chosen regional/language specialisation

Are you keen to give your studies an international orientation, and do business, languages and culture fascinate you? This degree programme is both interdisciplinary and international, giving you the chance to acquaint yourself with business and economics, combined with two foreign languages and a cultural studies focus on a cultural region related to one of your chosen languages. You will learn to work across disciplines, develop strong organisational and communication strategies, as well as developing important key skills, such as project management, leadership and problem-solving skills. This is an accredited programme which has received the Seal of Quality of the Foundation for the Accreditation of Study Programmes in Germany.

Features:

• A combination of business, economics, cultural studies and languages that is unique in Germany
• A choice of five cultural regions: America and the British Isles, the French-speaking world, the Ibero-Roman cultural region, East-Central Europe, and South-East Asia
• Learn a foreign language (business/economics or cultural studies track)
• Practice-oriented due to hands-on project work
• Double degree option: Turkey

The application round for the April intake starts in mid-November the previous year; for the October intake, the application round starts in early April. As the application deadlines can change on short notice, we ask that you check our application pages closer to the time for the specific dates (and what documents you need to submit).

The programme comprises four module areas:

Module Area A: Theories and Application

In this module area, you will acquire in-depth knowledge of intercultural communication and comparative cultural studies, intercultural management and academic work. You will also work on a non-university project related to the programme.

Module Area B: Cultural Area Studies

If you wish to choose a specific cultural area, you will consolidate your knowledge on that region in this module area. You will choose up to three of the following subjects: literary/cultural studies and linguistics, digital humanities, geography, history, intercultural communication, communication studies, art history and visual culture, media studies, methods of empirical social research, political science and sociology.

Module Area C: Business and Economics

In this group, you will study business and/or economics courses. The business courses will introduce you to the theory and empirical research related to international, market-oriented steering, management and control of organisations as well as marketing theory and empirics. The economics courses include international economics, development economics, economic policy and behavioural economics.

Module Area D: Foreign language or research with special arrangements for students enrolled in the Passau–Istanbul double degree programme

In the Foreign Language focus module group, you will choose one or two of the following foreign languages: Chinese, Czech, English, French, German as a foreign language, Indonesian, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish or Thai. If you already have knowledge of a language you wish to choose, you will have to take a placement test. You will complete a subject-specific foreign language training programme, whereby you will choose between the business/economics track and the cultural studies track.

Students studying the double degree programme between the University of Passau and the Turkish-German University of Istanbul will take the Research focus module group instead of the Foreign Language focus module group in module area D.

You will write your Master's thesis in module group B. If you can find a supervisor from the Faculty of Business, Economics and Information Systems, you can also write it in module group C.

There is no formal internship requirement for this degree programme. Nevertheless, we recommend that you go to the effort of completing one or more voluntary internships as you study towards your degree.

No tuition fees

The semester contribution fee is around 120 EUR per semester. This covers the student services association and bus pass fees. At the time of writing (January 2026), the University of Passau does not charge tuition fees.

You should budget a minimum of 992 EUR per month for your living expenses. If you need a visa to come to Germany, this is the amount you must have available to you (e.g. paid into a blocked account) for each month. Nevertheless, your actual cost of living will vary depending on your lifestyle, and so you should treat this figure as an absolute minimum.

To apply, you need to have a good first (undergraduate) degree gained after a standard period of three years of full-time study with a cultural studies and business/economics focus. You must have received an average mark of 2.5 or better according to the German marking system (or the relevant foreign equivalent) or be ranked among the best 50% of your cohort.

You should also have:

• a minimum of 40 ECTS credits in business administration
• a minimum of 40 ECTS credits in a subject included in module group B

Intermediate knowledge of German at level B2 CEFR or higher, evidenced by the DSH-1 or TestDaF TDN3×4 certificate (or equivalent), is required. Although the formal requirement for enrolment is B2, German language skills at level C1 CEFR would greatly enhance your prospects of successfully completing the programme. This is why we recommend that you aim to have C1 German knowledge at the time of enrolment.
Moreover, applicants should have a good command of at least one relevant foreign language at the level of UNIcert® III or C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

The application round for the April intake starts in mid-November the previous year; for the October intake, the application round starts in early April. As the application deadlines can change on short notice, we ask that you check our application pages closer to the time for the specific dates (and what documents you need to submit).

The International Office awards a small number of scholarships to international degree-seeking students who have been enrolled in a Bachelor's programme for at least two semesters or in a Master's programme for at least one semester. You may also apply for a Deutschlandstipendium scholarship, which is open to students of all nationalities. This scholarship has a stipend of 300 EUR per month and runs for one year. You may reapply in subsequent years. Finally, there is a one-off emergency hardship grant available to international students in exceptional cases of unexpected financial difficulties.

For international students, a dedicated career adviser is on hand: the "iStudi Coach" will help you with all your questions about finding work or placements in Germany.

Please note that students from non-EU countries must apply for a work permit at the national job centre if they work more than 240 half-days per year. Students from EU member countries do not require a work permit.

The International Office has set up an accommodation service, which assists international students in finding accommodation.

Rooms in the halls of residence cost between 270 EUR and 550 EUR per month and are fully furnished. Kitchen and bathroom facilities are usually shared, although some rooms have en-suite bathroom facilities. However, please note that the demand for the rooms in the student halls is very high, and there is no guarantee that you will be able to rent one.

Luckily, there is a large number of flats and flatshares available on the open housing market. On average, you should expect to pay somewhere in the vicinity of 350 EUR to 550 EUR a month for these. Landlords usually require a two-month or three-month deposit when you move in, which will be returned to you at the end of the rental period, provided you leave your accommodation in good condition.

• Further details on housing in Passau
• Accommodation service for international students

The university provides advice on job hunting, jobs and career-entry positions at German and international companies, here and abroad. These include personal interviews, advice and training courses on how to apply as well as intercultural and soft skills training.

International students have access to a dedicated career adviser – the "iStudi Coach" – who helps them find internships and apply for student jobs and career-entry positions at German companies. The iStudi Coach also coaches international students on German labour market practices, how to write applications and so on.

Related links:

• Future: Careers and Competencies Section
• iStudi Coach

The University of Passau

More than 10,000 students from approximately 100 countries are currently studying towards their degrees on our bright, modern campus next to the Inn River and a stone's throw from the town centre and the historical old town.

The five faculties of the university offer degrees at the undergraduate, Master’s and doctoral levels. Currently, 11 degree programmes can be studied entirely in English: BSc Artificial Intelligence, MSc Artificial Intelligence Engineering, MSc Business Administration, MSc Computational Mathematics, MSc Computer Science, MA Development Studies, MA Governance and Public Policy, MSc Information Systems, MSc International Economics and Business, MA International Education and Global Learning, and BSc Mathematics.

A cosmopolitan university

No other Bavarian university has more of its students spending part of their programme abroad – to study, conduct research or gain work experience – than the University of Passau.

The range and depth of language tuition offered by our language centre probably has a role to play in this. Another reason is that our programmes are very international in their outlook – and with some 300 international partner universities to choose from, it is difficult not to be tempted to go abroad for a semester or two or even to complete one of our double-degree programmes offered in cooperation with our global partner universities.

An unparalleled student experience

Passau’s students benefit from a good staff-to-student ratio and from studying on an urban campus of manageable size that is located very close to the town centre.

The facilities on campus are of a high standard. There are bright, sunny seminar rooms, lecture theatres equipped with the latest technology, numerous computer rooms, Wi-Fi access exists throughout the campus, and our well-stocked university library stays open until late into the night on most days.

Student satisfaction at the University of Passau is particularly high and our sought-after graduates typically occupy executive posts in business, social, and academic organisations in Germany, Europe, and indeed all over the world.

Student life

Throughout the semester, there are plenty of events of all sorts on campus and around town, often organised by our very active student societies. Our sports centre has some 40 sports clubs, offering everything from acrobatics to Zumba.

An ideal student town

Passau is situated near the Bavarian Forest at the confluence of the Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers, and it is considered one of the most beautiful cities in Germany. After two fires that destroyed much of the town in the 17th century, the old town was rebuilt in the baroque style by Italian master builders, which is why you will notice a distinct Italian flair as you stroll through "Bavarian Venice", another name by which Passau is known.

With students accounting for one-quarter of its population, Passau is very much a student town with many galleries, art studios, bars, cafés, clubs and, of course, beer gardens; naturally, there is a modern multiplex cinema. A shopping centre and the nearby pedestrian zone offer a lot of excellent eateries and shops, just a short five-minute walk from campus.

Passau is home to a number of cultural institutions, such as the theatre and the "Scharfrichterhaus" – a restaurant, cinema and political cabaret/stand-up stage where many of Germany’s most popular contemporary comedians started out. Both have productions and acts running throughout the year.

In addition to this, Passau plays host to numerous annual cultural events, including "Europäische Wochen Passau" – a cultural festival which brings international symphonic orchestras, classical ensembles, theatre companies and artists to Passau for about six weeks every year; the Eulenspiegel Festival with predominantly German comedy acts and rock bands; two Oktoberfest-style festivals in spring and autumn; and no list of festivals would be complete without the traditional Christmas Market in front of St. Stephen’s Cathedral every December. Incidentally, did you know that St. Stephen's is home to the world's largest cathedral organ?

Outdoor enthusiasts will be delighted at the many opportunities for hiking, climbing, cycling, and alpine and cross-country skiing in the nearby Bavarian Forest. Additionally, Passau is not far from the Austrian and Bavarian Alps, with their famous skiing areas as well as their mountain biking and hiking trails.