MBA General Management Universität Potsdam
Full-time postgraduate Master of Business Administration study program
MBA General Management at the University of Potsdam
The General Management MBA program will provide aspiring business leaders with the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in dynamic and competitive business environments. The program offers a strong curriculum, capturing various business management aspects. It enables students to develop a profound understanding of organizational operations and strategic decision-making.
Throughout the program, students will delve into core business disciplines such as finance, marketing, operations, human resources, and entrepreneurship. They will build a solid foundation in these areas while also diving into advanced topics like leadership, innovation, and global business trends. The curriculum is carefully crafted and provides a balance between theory and practice, enabling graduates to tackle real-world challenges.
Universität Potsdam – where knowledge grows
Enhance your career at one of the world`s highest ranking universities
In 2024 the University of Potsdam achieved an excellent 17th place worldwide in the Times Higher Education Ranking of universities under 50 years. In Germany, the University of Potsdam, founded in 1991, is once again number one. More than 600 universities from over 100 countries were ranked.
Curriculum Overview
There are nine different modules in the MBA General Management program. All the modules can be studied individually and do not depend on each other. You can start the program either in the winter or summer semester. The schedule has a special twist: classes are taught Thursdays and Fridays on-site at the Campus Griebnitzsee. The rest of the week you study at your own pace, on-site at the university in Potsdam or wherever you like (maybe one of Potsdam’s world-famous parks).
Maximum flexibility – sounds great? It is!
Please contact us if you have any questions regarding the design of your personal course of study.
Winter Semester
Marketing & Sales / Procurement & Business Development | 9 ECTS
Knowledge to gain:
- Marketing as a management philosophy and as an operational task
- Comprehensive study of marketing, sales, and business development
- Strategies for successful procurement and expansion
- Components and application of purchase management systems
Financial Management: Financing & Investment & Controlling | 9 ECTS
Knowledge to gain:
- Methods, levels, and processes of accounting
- Financing strategies, investment analysis, and cost control
- Making decisions of entrepreneurial financial management with the help of scientific analyses
- Static and dynamic methods of investment calculation
Accounting & Legal Environment of International Business | 6 ECTS
Knowledge to gain:
- Different types of companies and corporate law
- Company acquisitions and venture capital investment
- Concepts of internal and external accounting
- Overview of international accounting standards
Leadership & Human Ressource Management | 6 ECTS
Knowledge to gain:
- Development of leadership skills and strategies
- Terms, actors, and processes of personnel management Effective human resource management practices
- Theories of successful leadership
Summer Semester
Digital Transformation & Business Process Management & Entrepreneurship | 9 ECTS
Knowledge to gain:
- Delimitation and significance of digitalization, digital transformation, and digital convergence
- Implications of digitalization for companies and their organization, processes, and culture
- Procedures, methods, and instruments used in the context of new business models
- Business process management insights and entrepreneurship principles.
International Management & Intercultural Communication & Design Thinking | 9 ECTS
Knowledge to gain:
- Concepts and challenges of Internationalization
- Theories of Intercultural Management
- Knowledge of intercultural situations and negotiations
- Methodology of design thinking
Strategic Management & Hot Topics (Crisis Management) | 6 ECTS
Knowledge to gain:
- Position and profile of strategic management
- Theoretical frame of reference for strategic management in the context of a technology and investment-intensive future
- Crisis management and adaptability in changing environments
- Essential theories and models of crisis communication
Management Skills & Negotiations | 6 ECTS
Knowledge to gain:
- Reflection and development of management and leadership style
- Enhancement of communication and leadership behavior
- Overview of the different approaches of negotiation research
- Process steps of negotiation management
Final Modules
Project Module (optional) | 30 ECTS
Knowledge to gain:
- Immersive project-based learning experience
- Application of knowledge to real-world challenges
- Practical outcomes that show the practical application of knowledge
- Reflective component to discuss your professional and personal growth during the project only compulsory if you do not have two years of work experience that is directly relevant to the study program’s content
If you have two years of relevant work experience, you can receive credit for the project module without having to absolve it. You can then start working on your master`s thesis once you did complete the second semester.
Master Thesis and Disputation | 30 ECTS
You will work on your master`s thesis with a professor of your choice in during a six-month period. Once you handed in your thesis the final exam of your MBA studies will be the master´s disputation.
And then – you will be a Master of Business Administration
Tuition Fees
The tuition fee for the study program is EUR 19,000. The tuition includes all the on-site classes, learning materials, exams and individual support throughout the entire study time.
We offer a payment plan that makes the tuition payable in installments through the four semesters.
Each semester an enrollment fee of a. currently EUR 146 is due for the Studierendenwerk. It provides all the special benefits like extracurricular courses, special rates in movies and museums, free WiFi and student’s meals at reduced rates on Campus, use of the excellent library with access to international academic databases etc.
Financing the MBA study course
An MBA is an invaluable personal asset. As soon as you can put the three letters MBA after your name, it shows: I can do more. I have impressively demonstrated my persistence, my hard work, my excellent training, my specialist knowledge, and my interpersonal and intercultural skills and my ability to push boundaries. One of the world’s leading universities, the Universität Potsdam, granted me this academic title.
Putting a number on the gain in income and prestige you will have with the MBA title is not possible. But that there will be a number: yes! An MBA is a solid investment in a profitable and advanced career.
The MBA General Management study course is a continuing education program. Therefore, we charge tuition fees, even though the Universität Potsdam is a public university.
If you want start the MBA General Management study course you must secure your funding before applying. Not only for the tuition, but also living costs, blocked account if in need of a student visa etc.
You will find a good overview on what costs to expect on the university’s International Office.
Very often Companies pay the tuition fees for their employees. Check with your HR department if that is an option for you.
Scholarship
There are no specific scholarships for MBA study courses.
German universities do not grant scholarships or financial aids since there is a national fund for students (called BAföG). You are eligible for that funding if you are an EU resident/citizen.
If you want to use a scholarship for university students you can apply for one of the private scholarships provided by different organizations. Most of those scholarships ask for excellence in academic performance and/or an outstanding social commitment. They will, however, not cover the entire costs of an MBA study course and/or living expenses.
Application
Please apply with complete documents as PDF with the help of our application form. After receiving your application with all the necessary documents, we will send you a confirmation of receipt.
Based on the documents, the examination board will assess your application and decide whether we can offer you a place to study in the MBA General Management study program. We will inform you immediately once the decision has been made!
These are the application deadlines:
Spring Intake: Classes starting in April
- For non-EU applicants needing a visa, the final recommended deadlines are:
January 15th for the following summer semester - For those not requiring a visa, the ultimate deadlines are:
March 15th for the following summer semester
Fall Intake: Classes starting in October
- For non-EU applicants needing a visa, the final recommended deadlines are:
July 15th for the following winter semester - For those not requiring a visa, the ultimate deadlines are:
September 15th for the following winter semester
Due to our special admission process, you may apply any time for the next program start. Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Since there are only a limited number of places available, we strongly encourage you to apply as early as possible. Applicants from non-European countries should bear in mind that the visa application might take several months.
