Distance Learning

Master of Business Administration – Innovation Entrepreneurship (MBA)

• Completed undergraduate degree with at least 210 ECTS from a state or state-approved university/university of applied sciences

• Final grade: at least “satisfactory”

• Proof of at least one year of qualified professional experience at the beginning of the study programme (This must be acquired after completion of the undergraduate degree.)

Alternatives to the minimum grade (90 ECTS credits)
If you have completed your bachelor's degree with a grade of "sufficient" or grade D equivalent to the German grade “ausreichend” (up to 4.0), you can still be admitted to a master's or MBA programme. For this, you need:

• A bachelor's degree (final grade 3.5 - 4.0) from a state or state-approved higher education institution/university
  AND

• Relevant academic achievements from a master's/MBA programme at a state or state-approved higher education institution/university relevant to the desired master's/MBA programme, with a minimum of 30 ECTS credits
  OR

• A relevant completed master's/MBA degree from a state or state-approved higher education institution/university OR

• Relevant qualifications outside of academia which can be credited to you such as further education/training at GQF7 level or – for foreign qualifications such as postgraduate diplomas – equivalent to GQF7 level relevant to the desired master's/MBA programme, with a minimum of 30 ECTS credits

Tip: If you apply for recognition, we can review your relevant achievements and, where possible, credit them towards your study programme in a relevant field.

Proof of at least one year of qualified professional experience when starting the study programme (This must be acquired after completing an undergraduate programme). 

Your professional experience from an academic dual studies degree from Germany may count as proof of qualified professional experience for a non-consecutive master’s programme.

Applicants with an undergraduate degree comprising 180 ECTS can bridge a maximum of 30 missing ECTS for admission to the MBA 90 ECTS by:

• Completing courses totaling 30 ECTS, or

• Providing proof of at least one year of full-time work experience at the start of the study program. (This work experience must be acquired after completing the undergraduate degree. Experience gained from a dual study program cannot be used to bridge missing ECTS credits.)

Your work experience from a successfully completed academically supported dual study program in Germany can be considered as proof of qualified work experience for the MBA program (if the professional focus of the practical work in the dual study program matches the desired master's degree), but cannot be used to bridge missing ECTS credits.
The recognition of knowledge and skills acquired outside the higher education system is generally possible. The optional entry options represent individual exceptions to the aforementioned general admission requirements and ensure the appropriate qualification for master's programs. Admission is at the discretion of the university.

Depending on your personal circumstances, you might be required to provide proof of your English language proficiency. Your skills would need to match the B2 level of the Common European Framework (CEF). We accept the following English language skills certificates*:

• TOEFL (minimum 80 points) or

• IELTS (minimum 6,0 points) or

• Duolingo English Test (minimum 95 points) or

• Cambridge Certificate (minimum Grade B)

Note: Proof must be provided before starting the study programme and must not be older than five years. Is English your native language, or have you graduated from an English-speaking school or institution of higher education? Then you do not need to prove your English language proficiency. Get in touch with our study advisors for more details.

*IU International University of Applied Sciences may accept other language certificates for English B2 (CEFR) at their discretion.

For the 90-ECTS programme, we offer you the opportunity to qualify for a Master's programme even without a Bachelor's degree: through many years of professional experience as a manager or expert.
Prerequisites for admission are:
General admission requirements

• (High school) diploma or

• Completed vocational training of at least 2 years (DQR level 4) with a technical reference to the desired study programme

Professional experience

• At least 6 years of professional experience related to the desired study programme, including at least 3 years of management responsibility or expert work: Proof is provided by further training and / or advanced training certificates (DQR level 6), job references, letters of reference, confirmation from employer or similar.

Passed preparatory module at the IU
The preparation module* at the IU International University (IU) comprises two parts:

• Seminar paper (approx. 40 pages), completion time: 12 weeks (full-time)

• 30-minute oral examination

* The preparatory module can only be taken at the IU. If you start the Master's programme at IU on the basis of this preparatory module, it is not possible to transfer to another university within the Master's programme.