International Business Administration

The first year of the International Business Administration (IBA) program lays the foundation for students' academic and professional growth. Building on their prior education, students will have the opportunity to explore the field through a broad range of introductory modules, focusing on their intended major.

With 45 credit points (CP) to choose from across a variety of study programs, IBA students are required to take 30 CP from the CHOICE area, which includes the following discipline-specific modules:

• CHOICE Module: Introduction to International Business (7.5 CP)
• CHOICE Module: Introduction to Finance and Accounting (7.5 CP)
• CHOICE Module: Microeconomics (7.5 CP)
• CHOICE Module: Macroeconomics (7.5 CP)

Moreover, students who have completed the necessary modules in their first year of study have the option to switch to another major at the start of their second year.

The integration of business administration and economics provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the interplay between individual firm activities and the economic environment. 

The second year of study focuses on building discipline-specific knowledge through in-depth CORE modules. These modules offer 45 CP and aim to deepen students' critical understanding of the latest theories, principles, and best practices in their major.

IBA students are required to take 30 CP from the following CORE modules:

• CORE Module: Applied Project Management (7.5 CP)
• CORE Module: International Strategic Management (7.5 CP)
• CORE Module: Digital Transformation and Information Economy (7.5 CP)
• CORE Module: Entrepreneurship and Innovation (7.5 CP)
• CORE Module: Marketing (7.5 CP)
• CORE Module: Organization and Human Resource Management (7.5 CP)

In addition, students have the opportunity to select 15 CP from a range of CORE modules based on their interests or to pursue a minor in another field of study.

The third year of the IBA program focuses on preparing students for their post-graduation careers. To gain practical experience and explore their interests, students are required to complete a summer internship. 

This year also provides opportunities for students to broaden their global perspectives through study abroad programs in the fifth semester. Finally, in the sixth semester, students deepen their research skills by completing an extensive Bachelor's thesis project.

In their third year, IBA students take 15 CP of specialized modules to solidify their knowledge in their chosen area of interest, such as the following Specialization Modules:

• Specialization: Lean Management (5 CP)
• Specialization: Managerial Accounting (5 CP)
• Specialization: Contemporary Topics in Marketing (5 CP)
• Specialization: Advanced Econometrics (5 CP)
• Specialization: Managing Public and Nonprofit Organizations (5 CP)
• Specialization: Information Economics (5 CP)

At Constructor University, students are provided with a unique opportunity to boost their employability through a mandatory two-month internship worth 15 credits. This opportunity usually takes place during the summer between the second and third year of study, providing students with the chance to gain practical experience in a professional setting. Through this internship, students can apply the knowledge and understanding they have gained from their major to real-world contexts, evaluate the significance of their major in the employment sector and society, reflect on their personal role in employment and society, and make informed career decisions. For students interested in starting their own company, an alternative to the full-time internship is offered in the form of a start-up option, which allows them to focus on developing their business plan.

The Jacobs Track, an important feature of Constructor University’s educational concept, runs parallel to the disciplinary modules across all study years and is an integral part of the study program. It reflects a university-wide commitment to in-depth training in scientific methods, fosters an interdisciplinary approach, raises awareness of global challenges and societal responsibility, enhances employability, and equips students with extra skills desirable in the general field of study. Additionally, it integrates (German) language and culture modules.

Methods and Skills modules

Methods and skills such as mathematics, statistics, programming, data handling, presentation skills, academic writing, and scientific and experimental skills are offered to all students as part of the Methods and Skills area modules. Students are required to take 20 CP in the Methods/Skills area.

IBA students take the following Methods modules:

• Methods: Applied Calculus I (5 CP)
• Methods: Applied Statistics with SPSS (5 CP)
• Methods: Applied Statistics with R (5 CP)

For the remaining 5 CP IBA students can choose between the Methods modules:

• Methods: Econometrics (5 CP)
• Methods: Data Collection and Empirical Research Methodologies (5 CP)

Big Questions modules
The modules of the Big Questions area intend to broaden the students’ horizon with applied problem-solving between and beyond the disciplines. The offerings comprise problem-solving oriented modules that tackle global challenges from the perspectives of different disciplinary backgrounds and that allow, in particular, a reflection of the acquired disciplinary knowledge in economic, societal, technological, and/or ecological contexts.
Math students take 2-4 (10 CP) modules from a big portfolio of Big Questions modules..

Community Impact Project
In their 5th semester, students must take a 5 CP Community Impact Project (CIP) module. Students engage in on-campus or off-campus activities that challenge their social responsibility, i.e., they typically work on major-related projects that make a difference in the community life on campus, in its neighborhood, in Bremen, or on a cross-regional level.

Language modules
Constructor University supports its students in acquiring and improving these skills by offering a variety of language modules at all proficiency levels. Emphasis is put on fostering the German language skills of international students as they are an essential prerequisite for non-native-speaking students to learn about, explore, and eventually integrate into their host country and its professional environment.
All students take four language courses in the first and second years..

The curriculum of the study program is outlined in the schematic study plan:

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