MSc Innovation, Business and Sustainability (MIBAS) University of Hamburg

Are you looking to open doors to an international career in the fields of business, sustainability, and innovation? Welcome to MIBAS.

Study sustainable business

MIBAS offers you a rigorous education in the fields of international business, sustainability and innovation. The programme combines a strong base of generalist knowledge within these three pillars with a broad variety of electives that allow you to focus your studies in line with your interests.

What does that mean? Are you interested in things like the following?

• How businesses can make true sustainability profitable
• How innovation and entrepreneurship can make a social impact
• What opportunities sustainable investing and finance offer
• The fundamentals and fine points of sustainability reporting

Then you’re in the right place (and of course, this is just the beginning). As a MIBAS student, you’ll confront and debate these types of issues and many more on a daily basis — at the number-one ranked university for sustainability in Germany.

MIBAS is divided into four semesters and six modules spanning a broad range of subject areas and 120 ECTS credits.

Courses are designed to provide you with a rigorous foundation in the core areas of the programme — business, sustainability, and innovation management — and support you in developing and pursuing specialised knowledge in your areas of interest. After you’ve completed the programme, you’ll be equipped to take on a role in international management and navigate the complexity of today’s globalised business landscape.

Semester 1: Modules I and II provide a foundation in business administration and research methods.

Semester 2-3: Modules III-VI deepen and specialise your knowledge in sustainability and innovation in the context of management, finance and accounting. Room for electives allows you to further individualise your studies.

Semester 4: The last semester is devoted to your Master’s thesis, a significant research project allowing you to use the skills and knowledge you’ve developed during the programme to explore a research question of your choice.

The programme content is outlined in detail in the following:

• Subject-Specific Provisions (Fachspezifische Bedingungen)
• Examination Regulations (Prüfungsordnung)
• Course catalogue

Please note that the exact course offering varies each semester; all courses listed on this page are subject to change.

There is one application period per year, from 14 February - 31 March, for studies starting in October. It is only possible to apply for the programme during this period, but you can apply to have your previous foreign studies recognised at any earlier time as well.

Applicants with a first university degree (Bachelor’s degree) from outside of Germany must have their foreign education officially recognised at Universität Hamburg. This recognition must be applied for in addition to your application for MIBAS. The deadline for both applications (application to the MIBAS programme AND application for the foreign education recognition) is 31 March.

To be admitted to MIBAS, you’ll need to meet the following eligibility requirements:

• A Bachelor’s degree (at least 180 ECTS) in socioeconomics or in a comparable interdisciplinary socio-economic degree programme, business administration, law, social sciences, sociology, economics or business studies. In exceptional cases, graduates of other academic degree programmes may also be admitted, provided that they can usefully build on their knowledge from their previous studies. If you’re currently completing the last semester of your Bachelor’s programme, you can still apply and receive conditional acceptance. See admissions for details on applying while completing your final Bachelor’s semester.
• A proof of completion of one of the following study aptitude tests:
  • Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) Focus Edition with a total score of at least 545 points or
  • Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) Tenth Edition with a total score of at least 570 points or
  • Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test with a scaled score of at least 151 points in Verbal Reasoning and a scaled score of at least 156 points in Quantitative Reasoning or
  • Graduate Test for programmes in Economics, Business and Social Sciences (GTEBS; former name: TM-WISO (Test für Masterstudiengänge in den Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaften)) with an achieved test value (standard value) of at least 95 points: The English language version of GTEBS must be taken.

(Note: Submission of proof of English language proficiency e.g. TOEFL or IELTS is not an admission requirement. Your English proficiency is automatically tested through the successful completion of a study aptitude test (GMAT, GRE, GTEBS) — see minimum required scores above.)

There is a semester fee of approx. 340 EUR per semester. This fee includes a semester ticket covering public transport in the Hamburg metropolitan area.

Without additional costs for further insurances, private vehicles, etc., you ought to expect the following expenses:

• housing: approx. 400 to 700 EUR per month
• living expenses: approx. 500 to 700 EUR per month

Are you looking for a part-time job? Stellenwerk, Hamburg's cross-university job platform posts attractive job and internship advertisements every day.

Part-time work, an internship, or self-employment—the Counselling Centre for Social & International Affairs (BeSI) advises you on all aspects of social security.

Students from countries outside the EU, the EEA, and Switzerland are subject to special regulations for part-time work when studying. Contact the Counselling Centre for more information.

There are several job opportunities at Universität Hamburg. Many are offered exclusively to students. Check out departmental bulletin boards, websites, Stellenwerk, or ask directly in your department.

More information about funding opportunities can be found here.

The Career & Qualification Centre supports students and graduates of Universität Hamburg in planning their career path and acquiring interdisciplinary professional skills. It offers consultation on career goals, assistance with job searches, continuing education opportunities and networking to facilitate the transition from university to the working world.

Are you searching for an apartment or a room? Although affordable housing in Hamburg is rare, please do not despair. Patience and luck will help you find suitable accommodation.

Start looking for accommodation as soon as you can. For more information on how to find accommodation, please visit: Finding accommodation in Hamburg.

For more information on how to find accommodation and how to plan your first steps in Hamburg, please see: https://www.uni-hamburg.de/piasta/beratung/doc/willkommen.pdf.