Englisch 
Deutsch Who this online MSc fits — and what you need to get in
This 100% online Master suits you if you want to step into leadership roles at the intersection of business and technology. Typical profiles include: mid-level professionals in marketing, product or operations who now manage digital initiatives; software or data specialists aiming to broaden into management and strategy; founders or intrapreneurs preparing to scale digital business models while working full-time. You study in English, start in October, and learn fully online with optional live sessions — ideal if you need maximum flexibility across time zones.
Admission requirements
To qualify, you need professional experience and either a first degree or an alternative track. Admissions are competitive (only 25 places per year) and processed on a rolling basis from 1 December.
- Completed university degree (undergraduate) plus at least one year of post-graduate work experience.
- Alternative entry without a first degree: five years of relevant professional experience plus a qualification test.
- Language of instruction: English. Application documents not in English or German must be submitted with certified translations.
- International applicants: foreign degrees are accepted. Submit formally certified copies of your degree and transcript; provide proof of professional experience (e.g. employer confirmation), CV, motivation letter, and ID/passport.
- Programme start: October; application period opens 1 December with rolling admission until places are filled.
The programme is accredited with the seal of the German Accreditation Council. All teaching, assessments and support are delivered online; modules typically include readings, videos, collaborative tasks and e-exams or presentations.
Personal requirements
Distance learning from abroad requires solid routines and realistic time planning. With 90 ECTS over 24 months, expect roughly 18–25 hours per week on average, with peaks before assessments. You will benefit if you:
- Plan weekly study slots and protect them consistently alongside your job.
- Work independently through readings, cases and online activities, and keep momentum over two years.
- Have strong English for academic reading, writing and online discussion; confident presentation skills help for e-exams.
- Are comfortable with digital collaboration tools (Moodle, MS Teams/Webex/BigBlueButton) and can manage versioned group work remotely.
- Secure a reliable internet connection and a quiet workspace for live sessions and online assessments.
- Can connect study tasks to your job or a concrete project to deepen learning and sustain motivation.
If you thrive in structured self-study, enjoy problem-solving across functions, and can commit steady weekly effort, you can complete this online MSc successfully from anywhere.
What will you study in the Business Management – Digital Business Management (M.Sc.) at Berlin School of Economics and Law?
You study a 90-ECTS, 24-month master’s focused on leading organisations through digitisation. Teaching is in English, fully online, at HWR Berlin (a public German university of applied sciences – “Fachhochschule”). As a German Fernstudium (distance learning), it is practice-oriented and concludes with a master’s thesis that you may design as a company project.
You begin with a solid management core. Typical building blocks include strategic and financial management for the digital era, marketing and value creation in platform and data-driven markets, and leadership for agile organisations. Expect cases and live business simulations that connect theory and practice.
The specialisation in Digital Business Management develops the tools to design and scale digital offerings. Themes span digital entrepreneurship and venture design, collaborative innovation across ecosystems, and digitalisation and transformation management inside established firms.
You also build analytical and risk capabilities for data-rich contexts: performance and risk management in the digital era, big-data-enabled decision-making, and digital ethics and governance to align growth with responsibility.
Electives let you shape a profile in current digitisation topics across functions (e.g. innovation, finance, operations, or customer). You finish with your master’s thesis; the programme explicitly allows a company-based thesis topic.
Note on terms: ZFU is Germany’s state authority approving private distance-learning courses; public university degree programmes like this one are not subject to ZFU approval.
How does the Business Management – Digital Business Management distance programme work?
The programme is delivered 100% online over 24 months with a virtual kick-off. Learning combines structured self-study on Moodle with optional live sessions and close lecturer contact. Assessments are designed for remote study and can be completed from outside Germany; no campus presence is required.
Teaching language and proof of proficiency
The language of instruction is English. You study lectures, materials and assessments in English. The university typically requires proof of English proficiency; accepted forms and minimum scores are specified in the official application guidance.
Learning format and study materials
Each module follows a clear pattern: a study guide, high-quality online content (readings, videos, tests), collaborative tasks, and access to HWR Berlin’s online library and databases. Live interaction runs via MS Teams, Webex or BigBlueButton. Guest talks, live case studies, a 3D LearnSpace and regular mentoring add structure and peer exchange.
Exams and taking them from abroad
Module exams take the form of online presentations, e-exams and written assignments. These assessment types are conducted online, so you can complete the degree from your home country without travelling to Germany.
On-site sessions in Germany
There are no mandatory on-campus days. An optional three-day “Digi-Days” event at the end of the third semester offers company visits and workshops in Berlin for those who wish to network in person.
Workload, pacing and live-session timing
The standard track covers about 4–5 modules per semester across 24 months. Most learning is asynchronous; optional live elements are scheduled in Berlin time (CET/CEST). Because the programme is fully remote, you do not need a visa to study.
What does the Business Management – Digital Business Management cost?
Tuition is €13,600 in total for the full 24-month programme. This figure covers enrolment, teaching materials, access to the online library and all regular exam fees. The university offers instalment plans; the exact monthly schedule is set out in the official fee plan. If you pay from abroad, you settle the same tuition amount—international students typically use standard international payment channels accepted by the university.
Budget for the full degree over two years. If you choose to add the optional double degree (Global Online MBA with Porto Business School), plan for one to two extra semesters and additional tuition there. Optional travel to Berlin for the “Digi-Days” is at your own expense, but attendance is not required for graduation.
What careers and recognition does the Business Management – Digital Business Management offer?
You earn a Master of Science (M.Sc.) with 90 ECTS credits under the Bologna framework. The programme carries the seal of the German Accreditation Council, signalling quality assurance aligned with European Standards and Guidelines and recognised across the EHEA. HWR Berlin is a public university in Germany; its degrees are internationally known and can be evaluated by credential services abroad.
Career paths span leadership and specialist roles at the intersection of business and technology, for example:
- Digital transformation manager or change lead in corporates and public organisations
- Product manager or service owner for data-driven and platform offerings
- Innovation manager, venture architect or digital entrepreneurship founder
- Business analyst or performance and risk manager in digital contexts
- Digital project manager, e-commerce or growth lead
The double-degree option with a Triple-Crown accredited business school (AMBA, AACSB and EQUIS) can strengthen global management credentials. For doctoral tracks or regulated professions, always check local rules: some countries expect a 120-ECTS master’s for PhD entry or professional licensure; this programme awards 90 ECTS.
Who is the Business Management – Digital Business Management right for – and who not?
This programme is designed for professionals who want to lead digital initiatives without pausing their careers. It fits if you seek an English-taught, fully online European master’s with a clear focus on transformation, innovation and practical application.
- You want a recognised European M.Sc. with 90 ECTS and formal programme accreditation.
- You need the flexibility of a Fernstudium (distance learning) with no mandatory travel or visa.
- You aim to move into digital product, innovation or transformation roles in startups or established firms.
- You value structured online learning, regular interaction with lecturers and optional live sessions.
- You may want to expand credentials via an optional double degree with a Triple-Crown business school.
It is not the best match for everyone. Read the following points carefully before you decide.
- You require a German-taught programme; all teaching, materials and assessments here are in English.
- You need a master’s with 120 ECTS for your target country’s PhD access or professional recognition; this programme awards 90 ECTS.
- You expect a traditional campus experience with frequent in-person classes; the programme is delivered 100% online, with only optional Berlin events.
- You prefer paper-based, in-person exams; assessments here are designed for online delivery (presentations, e-exams, written assignments).
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