Global Economics and Business Management Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt

An international business studies programme at the THI Business School with a clear profile for the future! While most other degree programmes teach either business administration or economic skills, Global Economics and Business Management (GBM) combines both. This mixture and the opportunity to get to know a world region better, both economically and culturally, make the programme even more special. Which world region to get insights into? You decide for yourself - depending on your own interests and at the latest when you enter the main course.

In addition to English, learning another foreign language is therefore part of the course, as well as a compulsory semester at a foreign partner university and an internship abroad in a global economic environment. You will therefore spend a total of one year in a selected foreign country or divide individually. But don't worry - with a variety of information events and contact persons, we will help you decide where to go and how to find your way there.

At the end of the foundation course, which lays the professional foundation in subjects such as business administration, economics, digital business fundamentals and HR management & organisation, you can choose from various specialisations. These specialisations can be in areas such as International Economics, Global Supply Chain Management or International Business Models. Special modules for personal development strengthen your self-reflection and social skills. This will prepare you in the best possible way for working in internationally active companies, management consultancies and international organisations such as chambers of commerce abroad, companies for business settlement at home and abroad and competence centres for markets.

Please note: applicants from non-German-speaking countries applying for a German-language degree programme like this must provide proof of sufficient knowledge of the German language with level B2. See further information in the admission information below.

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.

Semesters 1 to 3: Your studies in Global Economics and Business Management begin with an orientation phase.

In the first stage of your studies, you will learn the basics of business administration in seminars with an international focus based on the latest scientific findings. You will also acquire skills in subjects such as economics, digital business fundamentals, operations management, accounting and marketing. From the outset, you will also learn to understand and explain the behaviour and interaction of economic actors such as private individuals, companies and the state from an economic perspective. You will learn another foreign language (French, Spanish or Chinese) and your choice of language will also lay the foundation for your later decision on a specific focus region. Personal development as a seminar rounds off the first stage of your studies.

Around half of the courses are taught in English.

Semesters 4 through 7: Beginning in the second degree phase, almost all courses will be held in English. In the fourth semester, you will choose your first main focus area. There are three options available for you to choose from: The focus area in Global Supply Chain Management is designed to enable you to consolidate your understanding of and ability to control a company’s international value chains. Students selecting the focus area Digital Business and International Business Models will learn how to construct digital business models with an international focus. Those choosing the third alternative of Internationalisation and Global Markets will be laying the foundations for a career on an institutional level, in which they will be acting as mediators and disseminators in support of global business developments across national borders.

Choosing the second focus area, Global Management and Intercultural Competencies, in the fifth semester allows you to subsequently focus on one world region. This is where you have a chance to focus on a particular region of the world. For this focus area, you will spend one semester studying abroad at one of our partner universities. The partner university can be located in one of three focus regions, depending on the foreign language that you chose in the first degree phase. These regions are: EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa), AMER (North and South America) and APAC (Asia-Pacific, Australia, Oceania). In the sixth semester, you will additionally complete an international placement in a company or institutional organisation, ideally in the same focus region.

After completing the subsequent Bachelor’s thesis, you will acquire the academic title of Bachelor of Arts. This will enable you either to embark directly on a career or to go on to take a Master’s degree and engage in further specialisation.

The compulsory practical internship semester abroad is planned for the sixth semester.

Requirements include a valid university entrance qualification ("Hochschulzugangsberechtigung"). This is a secondary school-leaving certificate equivalent to the German "Abitur" that entitles you to study at a German university.

Applicants who did not acquire the higher secondary school-leaving certificate in Germany or at a school with the German "Abitur" examination rules will have to send their documents to uni-assist for preliminary inspection prior to their application at THI. Please allow four to six weeks for this process, i.e. apply as soon as possible via uni-assist.

More information on the application process can be found here.

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.

All students will have to pay a student union fee of 82 EUR per semester.

In addition to tuition fees, students face the following fixed monthly living costs:

- Health insurance: approx. 150 EUR

- Liability insurance: approx. 10 EUR

- Accommodation: approx. 500 to 650 EUR

- Internet and mobile phone: approx. 25 EUR

- Food: approx. 200 to 300 EUR

- German TV/radio fee: approx. 19 EUR

- Public transport (Deutschlandticket 2026): approx. 43 EUR

Beyond these fixed costs, additional expenses will vary depending on individual needs, such as travel to visit family or participation in leisure activities. 

Additionally, don’t forget potential unforeseen costs, such as the need for a new laptop or mobile phone, etc.

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

Whether you can work alongside your studies depends on several factors. At the beginning, it is advisable to focus on your studies and adjust to a new academic and cultural environment. Studying abroad can be challenging due to different learning cultures and the need to catch up on course content.

International students are required to take part in a programme preparing them for the German labour market.

A good command of German at least B2 level is essential for employment opportunities. Students are therefore encouraged to invest time in learning German.

After the first year, students may consider taking on a part-time job. Specialist skills are required to work as a student trainee.

Furthermore, non-EU citizens only have a limited work permit in Germany (see Study and work).

There are different scholarship opportunities for enrolled students in Germany. However, it is very important to understand that scholarships are highly competitive, limited in number, and never guaranteed. Students must ensure they can finance their studies independently and should not rely on receiving a scholarship. Most programmes focus on excellent academic performance, personal engagement, or specific qualifications; financial need is often not the main criterion. Some national scholarships also require German language skills (often B2 level).

THI offers its own scholarship opportunities for international students once a year, announced through the university’s communication channels. For example, the Deutschlandstipendium supports high-performing, committed students regardless of their financial situation.

There are also several major national foundations with extensive selection processes for which the university provides guidance and support.

Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt provides a comprehensive range of counselling and career services, including workshops designed to prepare students for the German labour market. These cover key topics such as application training, CV writing and interview skills.

After graduation, our graduates stay connected with the university and their study group through the Alumni Network.

For further information, please visit our website: https://www.thi.de/en/university/university-profile/organisation/career-service-student-counselling

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.

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 8,500 students in more than 75 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.