Business Administration / Digital Business Management (BSc) Pforzheim University

For the architects of tomorrow's digital business world: International Bachelor's Programme in Business Administration / Digital Business Management (BSc)

Internet-enabled microchips can already be found in everyday objects, cars, and production equipment – the digitalisation of society and the economy is well underway. The result is a parallel digital world in which not only people and machines communicate with each other, but machines also interact with each other. That's why we teach "Doing Business in a Digital World" instead of just "Digital Business" – with plenty of business management and the right dose of information technology.

Digital technologies are changing the business world almost as fast and as profoundly as the meteorite impact some 66 million years ago that wiped out so many life forms on planet Earth. Digital Darwinism has already claimed many high-profile victims. Like the dinosaurs of yesteryear, companies such as Kodak, Nokia, Novell, and EMI have disappeared from the scene in recent years. But on the other hand, companies such as Tesla, Apple, OpenAI, Amazon, Spotify, and Netflix have thrived by embracing change.

Digitalisation is unstoppable and will change business models, work processes and everyday life at least as much as the invention of the printing press. You can actively shape this transformation – and our seven-semester international Bachelor’s programme prepares you for exactly that.

The tailor-made programme merges a general management-oriented and a programme-specific part with almost equal weighting. The general part includes business administration, economics, ethics, social and intercultural competence, quantitative methods, and law. The programme-specific part develops skills in:

• Digital Business Models
• Digital Business Processes & Process Mining
• Artificial Intelligence
• UI/UX Design and Web Technologies
• Big Data Management
• Digital Business Applications
• Electronic Markets, Electronic Data Interchange, Enterprise Application Integration
• Customer Relation Management, E-Commerce, E-Procurement
• Programming
• Project Management
• Change Management in a Global Context

The programme is designed for international and German applicants alike and is taught entirely in English, with selected courses available in German as an option.

Like all our business programmes, Business Administration / Digital Business Management (BSc) is nationally (AQAS) and internationally (AACSB & EFMD) accredited. Highly qualified graduates can go on to our Master's programme in Digital Business Management.

Study at one of the leading business schools in Germany's strongest economic region!

The curriculum encompasses the achievement of 210 credits in seven semesters.

• Of these credits, 62 credits are allocated to the major field of study.
• Of these credits, 103 credits are allocated to cross-disciplinary courses (specifically business administration, economics, quantitative methods, ethics & social responsibility, and language skills).
• The internship semester is allocated 28 credits.
• The concluding capstone assignments and thesis are allocated 17 credits.

In the fifth semester, students must complete an internship in Germany. We will assist students with finding an appropriate internship.

The requirements for admission include a general/specialised higher education entrance qualification ("Allgemeine Hochschulreife", "Abitur" / "Fachgebundene Hochschulreife"), or a foreign equivalent.

Application process

Your application documents must pass through the official administration of our university, where our general requirements and your higher education entrance qualification are verified.

All applications that meet the formal criteria will be ranked according to the average grade of the higher education entrance qualification. Based on this ranking, we invite selected candidates for an interview, either in person or by means of modern communication media. The interview will normally take place at Pforzheim University within four weeks of the closing date for applications. Applicants will be invited to the interview by the university by e-mail in good time. Relevant criteria are your motivation, social skills, self-presentation, English language skills and analytical thinking.

For all students: 211 EUR administrative fee per semester plus a student ID card fee

Student life in Pforzheim is cheaper than in most other German university towns. To live here with all the expected expenses (health insurance, rent, etc.), you will need about 700 to 900 EUR per month. A room in a student residence costs about 300 EUR per month, and a meal in the student cafeteria costs about 4 EUR.

Many renowned companies are linked to Pforzheim Business School. Due to its proximity to Stuttgart, Karlsruhe and Mannheim, Pforzheim Business School is located in a very powerful economic region. Well-known companies like Siemens, Bosch, SAP, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, HP, Mahle, IBM, Stihl, Kärcher, and ZF offer internships and jobs for highly qualified students.

At the online job market of HS PF and at our company contact fairs X-Day and Meet Master, students can present themselves to employers. The close connection between university and industry helps graduates with their transition from university to work and improves their chances of finding a job that matches their qualifications and personalities. The mentoring programme TANDEM is a special offer for performance-oriented and particularly committed students of the University of Applied Sciences Pforzheim. The programme brings together talented junior staff with experienced and professionally successful mentors. The focus of mentoring is on advising students during their studies and targeted support on their way from university to career. The mentors support the students in all questions relating to their study, career and life planning and contribute to the development of personal, professional and social skills.

The student union offers accommodation in student dorms around the campus (via Studierendenwerk Karlsruhe). Many private rooms are also available in the city of Pforzheim and the surrounding area. The university provides lists of private rooms and apartments via the International Programmes Office.

Pforzheim University
The university dates back to 1877 and consists of three schools: the School of Design, the School of Engineering and the Business School. The three schools offer a large number of Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes, all of which emphasise interdisciplinary thinking and cooperation among faculty, economists, lawyers, engineers, designers and experts from various sectors.

The Business School transmits broad-reaching and well-founded economic competence and, at the same time, offers its students future-oriented specialisation in their subject of study. The formulas for success are the future-oriented competences in a broad sphere coupled with subject-specific expert knowledge. Since opening its doors in 1963, the Business School has conferred degrees to over 16,000 graduates, many of whom have gone on to successful careers in the business world. It is also the largest division at Pforzheim University, with a total of 97 professors and 3,200 students, and an annual incoming class of 675. Its wide-ranging curriculum encompasses thirteen programmes of study at the Bachelor's level, all geared toward the demands of specific job profiles, and ten programmes at the Master's level, designed to prepare students for specialist fields and managerial positions.

Welcome to the City of Pforzheim in the state of Baden-Württemberg, located in south-west Germany. The city forms the northern gateway to the Black Forest. Famous as the centre for the German jewellery, watch and silver goods industries, Pforzheim is also known as the "Goldstadt" (Gold City). In Pforzheim, the centuries-old traditions of the jewellery and gold guilds converge with the design and high-tech industries. Pforzheim offers a variety of culture and tourism opportunities, including the city's theatre, library, several museums, parks and trails. Additionally, the surroundings offer excellent recreational opportunities. The "Gold City" is an ideal starting point for discovering Germany and the rest of Europe. Don't miss out on the nightlife and student life here in Pforzheim: numerous clubs, bars and restaurants welcome you to relax and get to know to your fellow students.

Our Neighbours:
Pforzheim is conveniently located near three lively economic centres, namely Stuttgart, Karlsruhe and Heidelberg. All are easily accessible through the country's extensive rail and bus service or via the nearby Autobahn highway system. Stuttgart, capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg, is the epicentre of the German automotive industry and the cultural centre of the south-west region. About 30 kilometres north-west of Pforzheim, you will find Karlsruhe – called the Fan City because of its streets, which run out from its centrally-located castle. You can enjoy a beautiful bird's eye view from the Durlacher Turmberg. With its glorious natural setting consisting of the ancient castle, old university town and peaceful river set in the midst of hills, Heidelberg is regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in Germany. Heidelberg is known all over the world for its romanticism and beauty.

The Black Forest:
About 200 kilometres long and 60 kilometres wide, the Black Forest is one of the biggest and best-known holiday regions in Germany. Several typical things that you might associate with Germany originate in the Black Forest region: Black Forest cake, cuckoo clocks, Bollenhut hats, Black Forest ham, and the Black Forest barmaids. With its beautiful and varied landscape – hills, lakes, rivers and gorges – the Black Forest offers a multitude of sporting activities. In summer, options include the following:

• hiking
• climbing
• biking
• paragliding or hang-gliding

In winter, with a heavy snowfall, you can participate in winter sports that include the following:

• alpine and cross-country skiing
• snowboarding
• winter hiking / snow-shoeing

The State of Baden-Württemberg:
The state of Baden-Württemberg is one of Europe's most innovative and globalised regions. Many internationally renowned corporations such as Daimler, Porsche, Bosch, SAP, Zeiss, and Würth are located in this area. The region also benefits from a powerful backbone of small and mid-sized enterprises, which includes many hidden champions.