These are the requirements for the MBA in Management

The Management MBA at Brand University of Applied Sciences offers comprehensive management education with numerous specialization options.

The programme is designed for experienced professionals in various fields who want to expand their skills in core management areas and innovative specialties.

There are two ways to be admitted to the MBA program in Management:

• Prior degree and work experience: You need a completed Bachelor's degree with at least 180 ECTS credits and at least one year of work experience after obtaining the Bachelor's degree.
• Work experience and entrance exam: Alternatively, you can apply without a Bachelor's degree if you can demonstrate at least one year of relevant work experience and successfully complete an entrance exam.

The technical requirements include access to a PC and stable internet connection, as well as a webcam and microphone for examinations.

Procedure of the entrance examination for MBA admission without a Bachelor's degree

The entrance examination consists of a written exam and an oral exam, both to be conducted on the same day.

Interested individuals can register online for one of the monthly examination dates using the registration form. The maximum number of participants per session is limited to 10 individuals.

A prerequisite for participating is to provide evidence of at least one year of professional experience. Free cancellation or rescheduling of the exam is possible up to one week before the exam date.

A one-time fee of 200 € is charged for the entrance exam, which includes one re-examination. This fee will be refunded upon successful completion of the exam and after the start of the studies.

To prepare for the oral exam, Part 1 "Company and Environment" and Part 2 "Marketing" from the 10th edition of "General Business Administration" by Thommen, Achleitner, Gilbert, Hachmeister, Jarchow, and Kaiser, as well as the accompanying workbook with review questions serving as the basis for the exam questions.

The entrance examination is conducted online via MS Teams. Participants must identify themselves at the beginning of the exam. During the exam, only the exam program is allowed to be open. Headphones or other tools are not permitted.

The written exam takes place between 9:00 and 10:00 on the exam day, lasts a maximum of 60 minutes, and consists of questions on understanding and discussing a scientific article.

The oral exam follows the written exam and lasts a maximum of 45 minutes. It assesses knowledge of general business administration and another specialized field.

The exam is conducted before an examination committee, composed of a professor as chairman and an adjunct lecturer from the chosen study program. The exam performance is evaluated as "pass" or "fail."

After successfully completing the entrance exam, nothing stands in the way of starting the distance learning program in the chosen MBA course, and the exam fee will be refunded after 6 months as part of the tuition fees.

Duration of Studies, Content & Specializations of the MBA Management

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) at Brand University of Applied Sciences is a comprehensive study program that combines a solid education in business administration with a practice-oriented acquisition of skills in various management disciplines.

Within the MBA program, students acquire in-depth knowledge of key management competencies such as project management, financial analysis, and marketing. The focus is on applying these skills in real business scenarios to establish a direct link between theory and practice.

Specialized competencies in various concentrations such as Digital Business Management, Artificial Intelligence, or Sustainability allow students to set individual priorities and prepare for specific challenges and opportunities in their desired career paths. Each specialization offers a carefully curated selection of modules providing expertise in the respective areas of specialization.

This accredited programme comprises 90 ECTS points and is designed for a minimum study period of 18 months in full-time or 24 months in part-time, with all courses and exams being 100% online. The program concludes with a master's thesis in which students conduct independent research, testing their ability to address complex professional challenges with scientific methods.

The online study is structured in a modular and sequential manner: the modules build on each other thematically and must be completed in a predefined order.

The course is structured as follows:

• Core Competencies: Management competencies, Marketing Management, Critical Thinking and Scientific Work, Organization Design, Project Management and Communication, Financial Analysis
• Specialized Competencies
• Master's Thesis: Exposé, Master's Thesis, and Colloquium

For the section "Specialized Competencies," there is the opportunity for specialization in:

• Digital Business Management: Digital Business, Digital Sales, Digital Leadership and Mindset, Data-Driven Marketing Practice, AI Insights and Applications
• Artificial Intelligence: Digital Skills, Information Processing, Use of AI in Businesses, Digital Business Models, System Innovation and Green AI
• Marketing: Data-Driven Marketing Practice, Service Marketing, Brand Communication, Emotions and Sensory Marketing, Green Business and Sustainable Brand Management
• Media & Business Communications: Media Communication, Media Economics and Digital Business Models, Public Relations, Media Planning, Media and Advertising Psychology
• Sustainability: Ecological, Social, and Digital Responsibility, Circular Economy and Climate Change, System Innovation and Green AI, Sustainable Management and Marketing, Green Finance and Green Logistics
• Personal, Leadership, and Organization: Staff Recruitment and Talent Acquisition, Performance Management and Job Satisfaction, Personnel Leadership, Interpersonal Dynamics and Organizational Culture, Dynamics of Work Intensity
• Sales: Sales Management, Customer Experience (CX) Management, CRM Strategies, Digital Sales, Sales Leadership/Techniques
• Strategy, Innovation, and Start-up Management: Corporate Start-Up, Corporate Management, Innovation Management and Digital Business Models, Employee and Project Management, Resilience

Each module concludes with an exam that can be completed flexibly online. Possible exam formats include:

• Multiple Choice Exams
• Case Studies
• Video Presentations
• Oral Exams
• Open-Book Exams and Closed-Book Exams
• Master's Thesis, consisting of Exposé, Master's Thesis, and Colloquium

The Teaching Concept of Brand University for the MBA Management

The teaching concept of Brand University places great emphasis on competence-oriented, practical, interactive, and interdisciplinary learning, both online and offline. In the MBA Management, students acquire not only specialized knowledge but also social skills and scientific methodological competence to prepare them for a successful management career in their special field and beyond.

Methodological Competence: Students learn to deeply understand topics, evaluate information, and use their knowledge to become competent problem solvers.

Practice: In practical projects, students actively work on current challenges and trends to continuously expand their knowledge and skills and prepare for leadership positions.

Personal Development: In small groups and across study programs, students gain communication skills and leadership competence. Professors provide personal support and encourage individual development.