MA International Management & Information Systems — Online (IMIS Online) South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences

IMIS Online is a part-time, fully online Master’s of Arts programme for professionals who want to advance at the interface of management and digitalisation while continuing their careers. The programme is offered by South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences, a public university of applied sciences in Germany, and is taught 100% in English.

Programme content

The IMIS Online Master of Arts programme combines international management, information systems and digital business. Core modules include:

• Business Informatics
• E-Business
• Enterprise Resource Planning
• Business Intelligence
• Information Management
• Digital Product & Project Management
• International Management
• International Economics
• Management Accounting & Finance
• Business Process Management
• Business Marketing Management
• Leadership & Change Management

The curriculum is designed to enable students to analyse and redesign business processes, work with data and information systems, and manage organisations in technology-driven environments. It supports the development of key future skills such as analytical thinking, problem-solving, digital fluency, collaboration, adaptability and reflective decision-making in complex and changing contexts.

Through this combination of management, information systems and digitalisation, the programme prepares graduates for leadership roles in internationally oriented organisations.

Flexible and immersive learning experience

The IMIS Online Master of Arts is offered as a part-time programme (90 ECTS over four semesters) designed for working professionals. It combines academic depth with a flexible online format that allows students to study largely independent of time and place and to integrate their studies with professional and family commitments.

Certificate courses

For those who are not yet ready to commit to the full Master’s degree, selected modules of the programme are offered as stand-alone certificate courses. Each module is completed within one semester, carries 5 ECTS credits and is assessed via portfolio examination. Successfully completed certificates can be fully credited towards the IMIS Online Master’s degree or recognised by other accredited universities within the European Higher Education Area, making the certificate track an ideal way to test IMIS Online and build a personalised learning path.

More information on the certificate courses is available here: https://www.fh-swf.de/cms/imis-certificate/.

Study alongside work and family life

IMIS Online is designed for people who want to develop academically without putting their professional or family life on hold. The programme is particularly suitable for working professionals who need a flexible study model that can be integrated into a busy everyday routine. Around 80% of the workload consists of self-study phases that students can organise individually in terms of time and place.

Programme structure

The programme comprises a total of 90 ECTS credits over four semesters. In each of the first three semesters, students complete four modules of 5 ECTS, resulting in 20 ECTS per semester. In the fourth semester, they acquire 30 ECTS, which include the Master’s thesis and the final colloquium. This structure creates a steady workload and supports continuous learning instead of short, intensive study periods.

Flexible learning format

IMIS Online combines structured self-learning with interactive online sessions. Students work in Moodle with a variety of materials such as readings, e‑lectures and other multimedia content. Regular synchronous Zoom sessions with lecturers and fellow students provide opportunities for questions, discussion and collaboration. This mix allows for independent learning while maintaining close contact with teachers and the student group.

Practice-oriented learning and Master’s thesis

The programme places strong emphasis on practical relevance. Wherever appropriate, assignments and projects can be related to the students’ own organisations or professional contexts, so that course content can be linked directly to everyday work. The Master’s thesis can also focus on a concrete issue from the student’s company or institution. In this way, students can develop academically robust solutions that create real added value for their organisations.

Assessment and planning security

Assessment is distributed across the semester and typically consists of a mix of written assignments, knowledge tests, presentations, project work and other applied tasks. This continuous assessment approach means that there is no separate examination period with a high concentration of final written exams at the end of the semester. For many students, this improves planning security and makes it easier to combine the programme with work and family responsibilities.

Certificate courses

If you want to test the programme first or are interested in selected subject areas, all 13 modules can also be taken individually as certificate courses. This is a flexible way to get to know IMIS Online step by step. More information: www.fh-swf.de/cms/imis-certificate/

For admission to the Master’s programme IMIS Online, the applicant is required to prove the successful completion of a Bachelor’s programme, their professional expertise and their language skills.

Successful completion of a Bachelor’s programme

• of at least seven semesters with a volume of 210 credits or a diploma degree course in Economics (Business) or Business Informatics or a comparable degree course, OR
• of six semesters with a volume of 180 credits in Economics (Business) or Business Informatics or a comparable degree course, and
  • an additional qualification requirement defined by the examination board of the Master's programme, OR
  • proof of relevant qualified practical professional experience from a subject-specific project for at least six months in addition to 12 months of practical professional experience

Professional expertise

Proof of relevant, qualified practical experience of at least 12 months after completing a course of study qualifying for a profession

None

Since IMIS Online is a fully online programme, no relocation to Germany is required. Students reside in their home countries throughout the entire programme.

Two short on-campus phases (introductory week and summer camp) are included in the curriculum — both can be attended fully online, so travelling to Germany is entirely optional. Students who choose to attend in person only need to budget for travel and accommodation in Soest for these two weeks.

The IMIS Online Office is happy to assist with finding suitable accommodation for those attending in person.

No semester contribution beyond the tuition fees is charged.

IMIS Online is specifically designed to be pursued alongside full-time employment — this is the core concept of the programme, not an exception. Approximately 80% of course content is self-paced, and online sessions are scheduled outside regular working hours to accommodate professional commitments.

Students are not required to relocate to Germany, and no German work permit or residence permit is needed to participate. The programme is fully accessible from outside Germany.

However, work placement is not a component of the curriculum.

As IMIS Online is a fully online programme, students do not need to relocate to or reside in Germany. Accommodation is only relevant for the two short on-campus phases during the programme:

1. Introductory Week — takes place at the beginning of the programme at the Soest campus of South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences
2. Summer Camp — a one-week intensive session held at the Soest campus during the third semester

Both phases can be attended virtually if physical attendance is not possible, so arranging accommodation in Germany is entirely optional.

For students who choose to attend in person, the IMIS Online Office is happy to assist with finding suitable accommodation options in Soest and the surrounding area (hotels, guesthouses).

Soest is a historic and welcoming small city in North Rhine-Westphalia, well connected by rail and road. Accommodation options are available at various price points, and the compact city centre makes it easy to reach the campus on foot or by local transport.

South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences has campuses in Hagen, Iserlohn, Meschede, Lüdenscheid and Soest and offers a wide spectrum of studies in modern, trend-setting issues and subjects. This is not a "mass production" university. Studying here is application-oriented, group sizes are manageable, and teaching takes place in a face-to-face situation. In the 2025/2026 winter semester, 10,300 students were enrolled at all campuses.

The university focuses mainly on engineering, natural sciences, information and communication technology, business administration with informatics, and agriculture.

South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences maintains close contacts with industry, agriculture and trade. It is actively involved in working on solutions to current problems in the region, thus gaining experience for application-oriented study. At the university, companies can find expert advice on innovation and technology, and joint projects have often led to the development of product and process innovations. With many final theses being written in cooperation with companies, research and teaching are successfully linked. Several research institutes have been founded and thus the university has broken new ground in the area of cooperation with local industry.

For more details, please visit https://www.fh-swf.de/en/international_3/index.php.

The campus is located a few minutes' walking distance from the city centre. The cosy city of Soest offers everything from shopping to culture as well as historic buildings, traditional restaurants and trendy pubs. Although a thousand years old, it is not in the least antiquated. The surroundings provide all kinds of leisure activities, including water sports. Soest is conveniently located with regard to transport facilities, with regular IC and ICE train connections as well as two nearby airports, Dortmund and Paderborn-Lippstadt.

For a first impression of Soest, please visit https://www.so-ist-soest.de/de-wAssets/docs/service/medienbereich-downloads/WMS_Stadtrundgang_Flyer_englisch_20210224-final.pdf.