Programme Structure and Organisation
The Bachelor's Programme in Business Administration consists of 180 ECTS and has a standard study period of six semesters. The programme consists of the following components:
The Core and Advanced Section (108 CPs) consists of core modules in business administration, economics and methods.
In the Supplementary Section (18 CP), knowledge of the core areas in business administration and economics are deepened and supplemented by new fields of social sciences and business informatics.
The Specialisation Section (30 CP) is made up of many elective modules allowing for a diverse selection of courses according to interests or career ideas. In addition, students will also have the bachelor seminar, as preparation for the Bachelor Thesis (12 CP).
In addition, the „Studium Integrale“ (12 CPs) component is a university-wide and interdisciplinary part of the program that allows students to take courses in both science and career-related skills.
Example Study Plans
The example study plans are only suggestions for courses of study within the standard period of study. Students can and may deviate from this in their individual planning.
Please note that some modules are only offered in the winter or summer semester. This also applies to individual courses within the modules.
For some modules, it is also recommended to have successfully completed other modules beforehand. This and further information on possible prerequisites can be found in the module descriptions of the module catalogue.
Further Information regarding Study Plans
Semester abroad - Beginning of Studies: Winter Term
The fifth semester is most suitable for studying abroad. In view of the example study plan and the credit transfer options, the third module of the Supplementary Section should be positioned in the fifth semester and the bachelor seminar should be positioned in the fourth semester.
Further information about studying abroad can be found here.
For questions about studying abroad, you can contact ZIB WiSo. It is also possible to not request a semester on leave (Urlaubssemester) if you spend a semester abroad so that examinations can be taken upon return to the University of Cologne (if it is individually feasible).
Semester abroad - Beginning of Studies: Summer Term
The fourth semester is most suitable for studying abroad. In view of the example study plan and the credit transfer options, the Specialisation Module Business Administration and two supplementary modules could be moved to the fourth semester. Two of the elective core modules and the Core Module Corporate and Business Ethics can be moved to the fifth semester.
Further information about studying abroad can be found here.
For questions about studying abroad, you can contact ZIB WiSo. It is also possible to not request a semester on leave (Urlaubssemester) if you spend a semester abroad so that examinations can be taken upon return to the University of Cologne (if it is individually feasible).
Bachelor's Seminar and Bachelor's Thesis
Students usually start planning their bachelor's thesis and the corresponding bachelor's seminar during the fifth semester. Please check the information regarding bachelor's seminars and theses here.
Please also take note of the information regarding bachelor's thesis from the Examinations Office.
Study Objectives
Graduates develop competences at level six of the German Qualification Framework respectively the Bachelor level of the German Qualification Framework for Higher Education Qualifications. Intended learning outcomes are shown in the table below. The intended learning outcomes state the overarching learning goals that the programme envisions for the graduates. The learning objectives refer to the concrete activities of the students during their studies.
Professional and Analytical Skills
Graduates act with sound management expertise to analyse complex business processes in depth.
- Students apply basic methods and techniques of business accounting or mathematical or statistical methods.
- Students describe business theories and concepts or theories and concepts of related disciplines.
Graduates act as active users of economic and management methods and concepts in order to support business processes in a data-based and analytical manner.
- Students apply business management statements and business management knowledge to known and unknown problem areas.
- Students independently write an academic paper on a selected topic relevant to business administration on the basis of literature and data material.
Communicative and Cooperative Skills
Graduates act as interculturally and ethically sensitised team players in order to work successfully in diverse teams.
- Students work in a goal-oriented and cooperative manner in diverse teams.
Graduates act as effective communicators of management problems in order to view business challenges from different perspectives and thus enable new ways to solve them.
- Students discuss subject-specific problems in German or English.
- Students defend their independently developed position or solutions to problems.
Personal Skills
Graduates act as independent and self-reflective decision-makers in order to have a positive impact on the world with its many challenges.
- Students develop an understanding of the impact of economic decisions taking into account ecological, social and/or ethical criteria.
- Students assess their action process and identify potential for development
Further information regarding the individual modules is provided in the module catalogue.
If you started your studies before 2021, please select the appropriate documents in the document overview.
