The International Business Administration (IBA) programme has been offering internationally oriented degree programmes at Worms University of Applied Sciences for almost 50 years. The programme focuses
on a fundamental education in business administration with an international outlook. The individual degree programmes build on this foundation and have their own
areas of specialisation: international trade, logistics, digitalisation or entrepreneurship.

All degree programmes within the International Business Administration (IBA) programme can be studied under either the traditional or cooperative study model.
Both models closely integrate theory and practice. In the cooperative study programme, this integration is further strengthened by fixed work placements in collaboration with partner companies.

A distinctive feature of the International Business Administration (IBA) programme is the 12-week model.
In this model, you first attend lectures at Worms University of Applied Sciences for approximately twelve weeks. This is followed by an examination period lasting around two weeks.
How your studies proceed from there depends on the study model you have chosen.

Traditional study
programme In the traditional study programme, the examination period is followed by a second, approximately three-week on-campus phase (2nd on-campus phase) at the university. During this time, you can focus specifically on individual modules and complete them.

Cooperative study
programme In the cooperative study programme, the examination period is followed by a practical phase (practical module) lasting around twelve weeks at your partner company. This means you spend an equivalent proportion of your studies at the company. There, you apply the content from the theoretical phase in practice and deepen your knowledge.

Both phases (2nd on-campus phase | practical phase) are awarded 5 ECTS credits and are therefore comparable in terms of their scope within the course of study. This means that the credits earned during the second on-campus phase and the practical phase at the company can be recognised as equivalent should you switch between the two study models.
It is therefore possible to switch between the traditional and cooperative study models up to and including the third semester without losing any credits already earned. 

The 12-week model thus provides additional flexibility throughout your studies: if your personal or professional circumstances change, you can switch between the traditional and cooperative study models and adapt your course accordingly.

Worms University of Applied Sciences is establishing educational partnerships and collaborations with schools in the region. This enables school pupils to come into contact with the university at an early stage. The International Business Administration (IBA) programme offers formats specifically tailored to our Bachelor’s degree programmes in Digital Business Management – standard/cooperative (B.A.) and International Business with Logistics and International Trade – standard/cooperative (B.A.). 
This gives pupils and teachers practical access to the university and makes it easier for them to explore study options.

Workshop: Digital Business Management
Participants explore the digitalisation of business processes and develop ideas for new business models.
Scenario: A popular restaurant is responding to rising demand for takeaway and is planning an additional, digitally optimised branch.
Target group: School pupils with an interest in business, digitalisation and management processes.
Duration: Half-day workshop (approx. 3 to 4 hours) involving group work and a presentation.

Workshop: International Business with Logistics and Foreign Trade
You will follow the process of an international trade transaction and analyse internal and external interfaces along the value chain.
Scenario: A German company receives an enquiry from abroad; you will go through the key steps involved in exporting.
Target group: Business-focused secondary schools, as well as pupils with commercial training or an interest in international business processes.
Duration: Half-day workshop (approx. 3 to 4 hours) with case study analysis.

Open the one-pager (PDF, 1.7 MB)

Workshop in collaboration with partner companies: Practice meets potential
. Together with companies, you tackle real-world challenges in international trade, logistics and digitalisation.
Scenarios: For example, sustainable shipping solutions, digital school marketing or climate-friendly parcel delivery.
Target group: Students at business-focused grammar schools and those with commercial training.
Duration: One-day workshop (approx. 6 to 8 hours) at the DesignLab at Worms University of Applied Sciences, with company representatives.

Open the information leaflet (PDF, 0.8 MB)

Would you like to hear first-hand what it’s really like to study International Business Administration (IBA)? Our students will be happy to tell you more – for example, about student life on and around campus, funding options, study abroad programmes and career opportunities after graduation.

Open the information leaflet (PDF, 16.3 MB)

For all Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes in the field of International Business Administration (IBA), you should apply directly via the Worms University of Applied Sciences applicant portal as part of the decentralised application process. You do not need to register with Hochschulstart.

Application deadlines

Bachelor’s degree programmes (standard and cooperative) and cooperative Master’s degree programmes:

• 2 November to 28 February for commencement in the summer semester (29 February in a leap year)
• 2 May to 31 August for commencement in the winter semester

Traditional Master’s programmes in Global Trade Management (M.A.) and Entrepreneurship (M.A.) – early deadline:

• 2 November to 15 December for commencement in the summer semester
• 2 May to 15 June for the winter semester

You can find an overview of all Worms University of Applied Sciences deadlines under Deadlines & Dates.

Good to know

• The application process is paperless. Please upload all documents in full and in a clearly legible format as PDF files; do not send anything by post.
• Apply as early as possible. You will then be able to see in good time via the applicant portal whether any documents are missing. Applications received shortly before the deadline often cannot be processed before the deadline expires.

Student Services will answer any questions you may have about your application: studieren@hs-worms.de, +49 6241 509-180.

Your questions for us

Bachelor’s Team: iba-bachelor@hs-worms.de Master’s Team: iba-master@hs-worms.de

You can contact the IBA Secretariat by telephone on +49 6241 509-176. You can find all contact details under Contact & Community.

Bachelor’s degree programmes
: To enrol on a Bachelor’s degree programme, you will need a qualification entitling you to enter higher education, such as the Abitur or the Fachhochschulreife. If you meet the entry requirements, you will be admitted. The degree programmes in the field of International Business Administration (IBA) do not have a numerus clausus (NC).

• Admission requirements for IBA Bachelor’s degree programmes (PDF)
• Checklist: Entry requirements for Bachelor’s programmes (PDF)

Master’s degree programmes
To enrol on a Master’s degree programme, you need a first professional higher education qualification. Separate selection criteria apply to the Master’s degree programmes, so admission is not automatic. You can find the exact requirements for each programme here:

• Global Trade Management – standard (M.A.) (PDF)
• Global Trade Management – cooperative (M.A.) (PDF)
• Entrepreneurship – standard (M.A.) (PDF)
• Entrepreneurship – cooperative (M.A.) (PDF)

Cooperative study
programme To undertake a cooperative study programme, you will also need a contract with one of Worms University of Applied Sciences’ partner companies. We have summarised all the essential information in two guides:

• Guide to the cooperative Bachelor’s programme (IBA) (PDF)
• Guide to the cooperative Master’s programme (IBA) (PDF) – also available in English (PDF)

The guides contain information on admission requirements, the application and contract process, the various entry routes and important information for international applicants.

All other documents, such as the curriculum, examination regulations and module handbook, can be found on the respective degree programme page under Documents.

A cooperative study programme provides you with practical experience whilst you’re still studying, helps you fund your studies through your own salary, and offers good prospects of being taken on by the company after graduation.

There are two ways to apply for a place on a cooperative study programme. In both cases, you first apply to a company and then, once you have signed the training contract, to the university.

Option 1: Applying to an existing partner company
You apply directly to a company in response to its job advertisement for a place on a cooperative study programme. You can find an overview of our partner companies and their available places on our website or in the job board within the mycampus app.

Option 2: You bring your own company with
you Do you already have a connection with a company, for example through an internship or a part-time student job? If so, choose the right degree programme together with the company.
You can find all the information for interested companies on the ‘Practical Experience & Careers’ page in the Business section. Please feel free to forward the link directly to your company.

What happens next
? Once your application has been successful, you and the company will sign a contract.
Using this contract, you can apply for the cooperative study programme via the Worms University of Applied Sciences applicant portal. Upload the contract there. The application periods and deadlines set by Worms University of Applied Sciences apply. Haven’t found a suitable company yet? Then submit a speculative application. We will forward your documents to our partner companies. There is no guarantee of a successful placement.

Submit a speculative application

The process is explained in detail in the guide to the cooperative Bachelor’s programme (PDF) and the guide to the cooperative Master’s programme (IBA) (PDF) – also available in English (PDF)

Are you already studying International Business Administration (IBA) and would like to change your programme option? The Cooperative Study Programme section on the Practical Experience & Careers page explains how to switch from a traditional degree programme to a cooperative study programme, and vice versa.

Cooperative Study Programme: iba-dual@hs-worms.de

You can contact the IBA Secretariat by telephone on +49 6241 509-176. You can find all contact details under Contact & Community.

The International Business Administration (IBA) programme has an international focus, both at Bachelor’s and Master’s level.

Applications with foreign qualifications
If you obtained your school or higher education qualification abroad, specific admission requirements apply. For this, you will also need:

• Preliminary Assessment Documentation (VPD): uni-assist will assess your foreign qualifications and issue the VPD on behalf of Worms University of Applied Sciences. Please upload it to the applicant portal within the application deadline. It must not be more than one year old. If you obtained your Bachelor’s degree in Germany, you do not need a VPD for a Master’s application.
• German language proficiency at C1 level: This requirement does not apply to the Master’s programmes in Global Trade Management (M.A.) and Entrepreneurship (M.A.), as they are taught entirely in English.

You can find the exact procedure under ‘Decentralised Application Process’.

Studying
internationally In the Bachelor’s programmes, Business Communication is a compulsory module, and many other modules are taught in English. Intercultural competence is an integral part of the programme: You will learn to contextualise the economic conditions of key global trade regions and to overcome cultural, administrative, geographical and economic barriers. Students on the Global Trade Management programme also study a second foreign language throughout their degree: Spanish, French or Mandarin.

The Master’s programmes in Global Trade Management (M.A.) and Entrepreneurship (M.A.) are taught entirely in English. Thanks to the international mix of students, particularly during group work, you will further develop your intercultural skills.

International on Campus
Worms University of Applied Sciences collaborates with international companies and more than 180 partner universities worldwide. Around 25 per cent of students are international. IBA lecturers also have many years of international practical experience. Foreign languages and intercultural management are often taught by lecturers from the respective countries.

Studying
Abroad You can study for one or two semesters at one of our partner universities in over 50 countries. Provided your studies are well organised, we will recognise the credits earned there across all IBA degree programmes without extending the duration of your studies. You can also plan two periods of study abroad within the standard period of study. We also offer double-degree programmes at selected partner universities.
We are happy to answer any questions about studying abroad at iba-info@hs-worms.de, as well as via the Bachelor’s team (iba-bachelor@hs-worms.de) and the Master’s team (iba-master@hs-worms.de).

Internships
abroad After the first four semesters of your Bachelor’s degree, you can undertake a work placement semester abroad. There, you will put your business management knowledge and foreign language skills into practice and gain intercultural experience.

• How do I find an internship placement? You’ll be responsible for finding a placement yourself. If you have any questions, the Bachelor’s Team will be happy to help: iba-bachelor@hs-worms.de.
• In which field? Generally in a commercial or business administration field. The size of the company is irrelevant.
• When? The work placement semester is scheduled for the fifth semester as part of the curriculum. You must have earned 90 ECTS credits from passed examinations. Depending on your personal plans, it is also possible to undertake the placement in your final semester, for example following your final dissertation.

Information on funding opportunities is available at erasmuspraktika.de.

Your questions for us

IBA Info: iba-info@hs-worms.de Bachelor’s Team: iba-bachelor@hs-worms.de Master’s Team: iba-master@hs-worms.de

You can contact the IBA Secretariat by telephone on +49 6241 509-176. You can find all contact details under Contact & Community.