Bachelor of Science Business Administration (International Management)
Hochschule für Wirtschaft FHNW
Shape your global future: The Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (International Management) equips you with the skills to succeed in a dynamic international business environment. You study in English, think entrepreneurially, and develop the mindset to make an impact across borders.
- International by design: Fully taught in English with a mandatory international experience – your gateway to the global job market.
- Practice-oriented and relevant: Tackle real-world business projects and gain tools for solving global challenges.
- Flexible study options: Choose full-time, part-time or the flex model to fit your lifestyle.
- Personalised focus: Specialise in areas like Digital Business, Marketing & Social Innovation, or Financial Management.
- Future-proof skills: Develop leadership, intercultural communication, and strategic thinking for a globalised economy.
Steckbrief
Zukunftsaussichten
With a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (International Management), you are well-equipped to advance in a dynamic and diverse work environment. The business world needs creative thinkers who can adopt an entrepreneurial mindset and develop modern, forward-looking solutions. By focusing on international management, you will gain the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate global markets, understand cross-cultural dynamics, and address the challenges of an interconnected world.
All explained in 3 minutes
What to expect?
- Subject-Specific Knowledge: Gain a solid foundation in key international management and business administration disciplines that you can apply directly in the field.
- Experience: Prepare yourself for the demands of international business practice through projects, case studies, and hands-on assignments.
- International Perspective: Develop a global mindset with a focus on cross-cultural management, international markets, and global economic trends to prepare for success in a worldwide business environment.
- International Communication Skills: Enhance your ability to communicate effectively across cultures, a vital skill in today’s globalised business landscape.
- Study Abroad Opportunities: Take advantage of international study programmes that provide valuable experiences and insights into global business practices while expanding your professional network.
- Personalised Study Focus: Specialise in areas that interest you the most, such as international finance, international marketing, sustainability management, digital transformation and innovation, and many more fields.
- Diverse Career Opportunities: Shape your career. Your degree opens many doors – whether in management, marketing, finance, or even as an entrepreneur in Switzerland or internationally.
- Build Your Network: Connect with leading global companies, born-global start-ups, and industry experts who will support you on your international career path.
Career prospects
Upon completing the programme, our graduates embark on diverse career paths. Many join small and medium-sized enterprises as versatile all-rounders, while others enter larger multinational corporations through graduate training programmes – or sometimes through direct entry as junior managers. With on-the-job experience, you may progress to management roles or even pursue your entrepreneurial ambitions by starting your own business.
Attractive career opportunities await in fields such as financial services, consulting, corporate finance, marketing, corporate communications, data analytics, social media marketing, and so on.
Aufbau und Inhalte
Content of your studies
The BSc Business Administration (International Management) degree programme is designed to prepare you for a successful career in today's dynamic business landscape. You will build a solid foundation in business administration, covering key areas such as finance and accounting, marketing, human resource management, supply chain management, innovation and digital business, data analytics, and international business. Along the way, you'll develop essential management skills and gain proficiency in techniques necessary for effective leadership in a global and multicultural environment, enabling you to tackle international business challenges with a systematic approach. You will enhance your communication skills while also acquiring new competencies, including negotiation and leadership. This programme equips you to navigate complex organisational structures and opens doors to diverse career opportunities in multinational corporations, small and medium-sized enterprises with international operations, non-profit organisations, or even start-ups.
Success Stories
Practical orientation
The BSc Business Administration (International Management) programme at the FHNW School of Business emphasises practical relevance, providing you with real-world insights into the working environment during your studies. This is achieved through group projects with industry partners, your Bachelor's Thesis and the “Work Experience” modules designed especially for part-time working students. These hands-on experiences will equip you with valuable skills, enhance your understanding of business practices, and prepare you for future career success
Student Projects with Industry Partners
At FHNW School of Business, you will have an opportunity to apply management theories to real problems from multinational corporations, start-ups, and small-and-medium sized enterprises, gaining hands-on experience under expert supervision.
Industry projects cover a wide range of business issues, helping you build practical skills and valuable industry contacts. You develop critical problem-solving abilities and grow a network that boosts your career readiness.
Study structure
Vertiefungen
International
For full-time students, an exchange semester is mandatory, while for part-time students, it is optional. The international experience requirement can also be fulfilled through a double degree, intensive programmes or courses, or regular modules with an international focus offered by the School of Business.
The programme provides a wide range of opportunities to gain global exposure and cross-cultural experience, tailored to the needs of both full-time and part-time students. With dedicated support from the International Office, you can broaden your horizons and develop valuable skills through various international pathways.
- Study entirely in English, the global business lingua franca, to develop essential language skills and boost your career prospects.
- Fulfil the mandatory study abroad semester as a full-time student or opt for a double degree, summer/winter school, or international modules.
- Part-time students can choose a semester abroad or participate in other international experiences, such as projects and specialised modules.
- The International Office provides guidance and support for applications to exchange programmes, double degrees, and other global initiatives.
Double Degrees
Expand your international learning experience – earn two bachelor’s degrees from two different universities.
International opportunities
Buddy programmes, summer schools, semesters abroad and study trips
A peek behind the curtain of the International Student Projects (ISPs)
Insight China, Focus India, connectUS and ExploreASEAN
Kulturen verbinden: 20 Jahre Focus India und 10 Jahre exploreASEAN
Zwei der fünf Internationalen Studierendenprojekte (ISPs) der Hochschule für Wirtschaft FHNW feiern dieses Jahr Jubiläum.
What others say about their international experience
Leitung und Dozierende
Voraussetzungen, Zulassung, Eignungsabklärung
Organisatorisches
Fees and Grants
Tuition fees qualify for attendance of any Bachelor course within FHNW, independent of the particular enrolment at a faculty.
| Registration fee (1) | once | CHF 200 |
| Personal course fee (2) | per semester | CHF 750* |
| Copying and materials | per semester | CHF 100 |
| Teaching materials, books, projects | per year | ca. CHF 1000 |
| Diploma fee | once | CHF 300 |
(1) A separate registration fee has to be paid for each programme you register for.
(2) Applies to:
- Students whose civil law residence is in Switzerland or the Principality of Liechtenstein at the start of their studies
- as well as Swiss citizens living abroad
- or foreign students with civil law residence in a Swiss canton who hold a residence permit not issued for the purpose of studying.
For other students, please contact the admissions office.
*Personal course fee for EU or EFTA citizens: CHF 1 000.00 per semester
*Personal course fee for Non-European citizens: CHF 5 700.00 per semester
The determination of the semester fee requires the complete and correct completion of the Student Personal Data Form, which is sent to students before the start of their studies. The Student Personal Data Form including additional documents must be signed and submitted before the start of the studies.
Fees and regulations FHNW (PDF in German, valid from academic year 2025/2026)
Grants and loans
Registration and deadlines
1. Registration
Start of studies in September: We recommend early registration by April 30. Depending on your previous education, the following documents must be enclosed with the application:
- University entrance qualification incl. report card (vocational baccalaureate certificate, baccalaureate certificate, etc.)
- Federal diploma of higher education
- Residence permit (if available)
- Exmatriculation attestation (if available)
2. Timetable
You will receive your timetable for the first semester in July.
3. Introduction week
Mandatory introduction days will be held in week 37, just before your first semester begins. Exact dates will be provided in August.
4. Autumn semester (from week 38)
- Duration: 14 weeks (from mid-September to Christmas)
- Block week: week 45
- Examinations: Early January to the beginning of February
5. Spring semester (from week 8)
- Duration: 15 weeks (mid-February to the beginning of June)
- Block week: Week before Easter
- Examinations: June to beginning of July
Preparatory courses
The preparatory courses for studying at the FHNW School of Business are intended for future students who either have a non-commercial vocational baccalaureate, whose commercial vocational baccalaureate was completed some time ago or who feel insecure in one or more core subjects.
Zentrum Bildung am Standort Brugg: Vorkurse Rechnungswesen und Mathematik
Handelsschule KV Basel: Vorkurse Rechnungswesen und Mathematik
BBZ Olten: Vorkurse Mathematik und Finanzbuchhaltung
Further offers can be requested directly from the respective providers.
Compensation for disadvantages
Students with disabilities and chronic illnesses can apply for compensation for disadvantages.
The aim of compensation for disadvantages is to eliminate or reduce the disadvantages resulting from disabilities and chronic illnesses during studies by means of suitable measures. The term refers to the adaptation of the conditions under which learning and/or examinations take place, but not a modification of the learning objectives or a waiver of subjects. Compensation for disadvantages can be applied both in the admission procedure and in the degree programme.
Information sheet on compensation for disadvantages (PDF)
Contact
Military and Civil Service
The FHNW will help you coordinate your studies and compulsory military service in the best possible way. You can find all the information on training credits, credit transfer options, postponements and advice centers under the following link.
Informationen Military service, civilian service and civil defence
Study locations
Life at University
Benefits
FHNW students get various discounts and benefits, in the FHNW region or in the whole of Switzerland.
Events
Upcoming events at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland.
Student council
The Student Council represents all Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes at each location. When you register for your course, you automatically become a member of the organisation. This gives you the right to vote and be actively involved in projects.
Sports
FHNW Sports offers an attractive and diverse programme of sporting activities.
Career Services
All about your career.
Beratung und Info-Anlässe
Open office hours
Students and programme heads will answer your questions in an open consultation hour. Simply open the link during the specified time and take part. Further dates will follow.
FAQs