Topics: 

• Master's - yes or no?

• Is MBD the right degree program for me?

• Study plan

• Admission requirements

• Q&A

Dates: 

• Wednesday, October 29, 2025, 1:00–2:00 p.m. via the following Zoom link: https://eu02web.zoom-x.de/j/64113883167?pwd=CuoH92PLdvjb5j3QpZr4dIwcMkMaou.1 (No registration is required.)

The course is aimed at graduates of business administration, economics or management courses who want to have a formative influence on development processes and aspire to management activities in business, science and administration.

After completing a 210-ECTS Bachelor's degree, you can deepen your knowledge of business fundamentals and your individual focus. In addition to compulsory subjects such as change management, innovation management and risk management, you can choose two specializations from five courses. It is up to you whether you choose a quantitative or a qualitative focus. For example, it is possible to specialize in Corporate Finance and Valuation or International Marketing, among other options. In the third semester, in addition to writing your Master's thesis, you will acquire important skills in the compulsory modules IT Strategy and Leadership Skills, which will prepare you for current and relevant issues in companies.

The exact modules can be found in the curriculum and the module handbook.

As a manager in a commercial enterprise, this degree course will enable you to recognize the potential for change in a dynamic environment, initiate change and implement it in a targeted manner. It also qualifies you for management tasks in business, science and public administration and provides you with the necessary knowledge, skills and methods. In the 90-ECTS Master's degree, you will obtain an internationally recognized and accredited Master's degree in three semesters, which qualifies you for higher service and doctoral studies.

The standard duration of study is three semesters with 30 ECTS credits each. A total of 90 ECTS credits are earned, of which 60 are compulsory courses, 12 are compulsory elective courses and 18 ECTS are for the Master's thesis.

The Scottish University Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen (RGU) and Hannover University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSH) enable students to obtain both a Master of International Business at RGU and a Master of Business Development at HSH. For this double degree, given recognition options are used so that both degrees are possible within the standard period of study of three semesters. 

Information on registration, admission and tuition fees in Aberdeen can be found on the RGU website. It is important to apply to RGU before applying for our MBD.

If you have any questions about the Double Degree with Robert Gordon University, please contact Prof. Dr. Patricia Adam.

Curriculum Double Degree 

210- ECTS

In order to be accepted into the admission procedure, you need a Bachelor's degree in a business-related subject with 210 ECTS. Students with a Bachelor's degree with 180 ECTS cannot be accepted. It is not possible to make up the missing credits.

English B2 language skills

You will also need a certificate attesting to your knowledge of English at level B2. It must either have been obtained as part of a university degree* or be one of the following:

Cambridge Advanced: Level B2 | Cambridge English Proficiency: Grade C | IELTS (academic): at least 6.5 points in all areas | TOEFL (iBT): at least 80 points | TOEIC: 400-485 (listening), 385-450 (reading).

*If the certificate was obtained as part of a university degree, it must not be older than 2 years. The date of graduation counts, not the date of the course. (Example: Completion of the course: 2016, graduation: 2018, application for Master's degree: 2019 - the language certificate is valid).

If you do not have proof of language proficiency at the time of application, you can submit it by the time of enrollment. However, please submit your registration for the language test with your application documents. In this way, you show that you wish to obtain a language certificate and submit it later.

You apply via the online portal of the Student Administration Office. Information on the application procedure and the link to the portal can be found here.

International applicants apply via Uni-Assist. Further information for international students can be found here.

The application period for the winter semester is usually from the end of May to July 15 and for the summer semester from the end of November to January 15.

25 places per semester.

There is no fixed NC. However, the Bachelor's degree grade is the main criterion for admission. Depending on the number of applicants, the admission average changes each semester. In addition to the Bachelor's grade (75% of places), 25% of places are allocated depending on additional criteria.

In the succession procedures, there is regularly the chance to move up even with a weaker Bachelor's grade. We therefore recommend that you apply in any case.

Waiting semesters are not taken into account.

No, there are no personal selection interviews.

Yes. In the succession procedures, there is regularly the chance to move up even with a weaker Bachelor's grade. We therefore recommend that you apply in any case.

English language skills at level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages are the entry requirement. Proof is provided in the following ways:

a) Presentation of a certificate of achievement for (at least) the English 7 course (B2 CEFR) from the Language Center of Hannover University of Applied Sciences and Arts, or

b) Submission of a certificate of achievement for a language course that proves level B2 and was completed at a college or university. The language certificate must not be older than two years*, or

c) Presentation of proof of successful completion of one of the following tests: Cambridge English Advanced: Level B2, Cambridge English Proficiency: Grade C, IELTS (academic): at least 6.5 points in all areas, TOEFL (iBT): at least 80 points (TOEFL ID Code: 4782), TOEIC: 400-485 points (listening), 385-450 points (reading).

Proof of the required language skills must be submitted in the original at the latest upon enrollment.

*The date of graduation counts, not the date of the course. (Example: Completion of the course: 2016, graduation: 2018, application for Master's degree: 2019 - the language certificate is valid).

If you do not have a language certificate at the time of application, you can submit it at a later date before enrollment. However, please submit your registration for the language test with your application documents. In this way, you show that you wish to obtain a language certificate and submit it later.

Applications can only be made via the Hannover University of Applied Sciences and Arts online application portal for the following semester. The application period must be taken into account. This is usually from the end of May to July 15 for the winter semester and from the end of November to January 15 for the summer semester. For organizational reasons, it is unfortunately not possible to apply earlier. Different deadlines apply for international applicants, as they must also apply via Uni-Assist. Please check the deadlines here.

Please also note that the application procedure may vary. You should therefore check the current status of the procedure immediately before you start your application.

Yes. According to the current application procedure, only the online application is carried out. All documents are submitted during this process. It is important that you have an internet connection and access to all the information and documents required for this. These can be references or current employment contracts (if no references are available yet), certificates and much more. During the online application process, the system will remind you which documents you need. The documents should be up to date. Selection interviews are not scheduled, which is why it is not necessary to be present in person during the application process.

To be eligible for the Master's degree program in Corporate Development, you need a Bachelor's, Diplom or equivalent degree in Business Administration (or a relevant degree) with 210 ECTS. If you have not obtained your degree in Germany, you must first apply to uni-assist. They will check whether your degree can be recognized. Please note the application deadline at uni-assist. You can check whether your degree is equivalent to a Bachelor's degree via Anabin.

Please contact Ms. Menzel or Ms. Schneider at the Student Administration Office.

The Master's degree program in Business Development is a consecutive Master's degree that is completed after a Bachelor's degree with a focus on business studies. Relevance will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

The Master's degree program in Business Development is a consecutive Master's degree program that is closely linked to the content of the Bachelor's degree program (BBA) at Hannover University of Applied Sciences and Arts. An equivalent relevant degree with 210 ECTS points is recognized as an admission requirement. A degree from another subject area or a relevant degree with fewer than 210 ECTS points is not sufficient for admission according to the current legal situation. Missing ECTS points cannot be made up.

If your Bachelor's certificate and your Bachelor's grade are not yet available at the time of application, you can apply with your current grade point average. Please submit your (Qispos) grade transcript with your application documents instead of your Bachelor's certificate. If you are accepted, you will be enrolled on the condition that you submit your Bachelor's certificate by the end of the first Master's semester. If you have not submitted your degree certificate by the deadline, you will be de-registered.

The recognition of special achievements (practical experience, experience abroad, voluntary work and special awards and prizes) in the application process for a Master's degree program represents an opportunity for applicants who have gained experience and achievements in various areas outside the university. We would like to encourage applicants to submit evidence together with their application documents. Whether credit will be given in individual cases will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Please submit all supporting documents together with your application documents. You will be informed about the quality criteria during the application process in the online application portal of the Student Administration Office. In the interests of the applicants, we do not wish to impose any further restrictions beyond the quality criteria listed there.

Take the opportunity and submit your proof of special achievements with your application.

You can apply with your Bachelor's degree. However, please send both certificates (Bachelor's and Master's) with your application documents to the Student Administration Office.

At the end of the first semester, students will be de-registered if the required documents have not been submitted to the Student Administration Office. If further delays are foreseeable, it is essential that you contact the Student Administration Office in person. Please contact Ms. Illig for this purpose.

There are no tuition fees. Only the location-dependent semester fee is payable. This includes various services, such as the semester ticket. You can find more information here.

The university is legally obliged to charge fees for guest students. The amount of the fees depends on the number of semester hours per week and can be viewed here.

Unfortunately, we are unable to advise you on hardship cases for health reasons. Please contact Ms. Stephanie Heine.

Unfortunately, we cannot provide you with professional advice on the subject of “hardship cases”. Please contact the Student Administration Office.

In general, courses are held in person during the lecture period. In exceptional cases, some courses are offered as block courses during the semester break - you can find this in the current timetable. Please note, however, that you can only take part in these courses after you have enrolled, as otherwise you will not be entitled to take examinations.

It is not fundamentally impossible to take courses at another university during your Master's degree. The requirements of the relevant partner university and the possibilities for recognition in the Master's degree must be checked on a case-by-case basis by the module coordinators. Please contact the International Office of Faculty IV (TIP).

Information and forms for the practical and research phase (2018 examination regulations) can be found here. Please note that the compulsory module Practice/Research Phase will no longer be offered in the 2024 examination regulations. Further information on the modules can also be found in the module handbook.

If you are interested in a second degree at RGU, you can only start in the winter semester. In the 1st semester you would take 30 ECTS at HSH, which are recognized by RGU, and in the 2nd semester (from 20.01. of each year - this date is fixed) you would take 30 ECTS at RGU in certain courses that are recognized by HSH. You will write your Master's thesis in the 3rd semester. You can be physically back in Germany (if you wish), but will be supervised by RGU.

Please note: The application for the Master's program at RGU is independent of the application for the MBD at Hannover University of Applied Sciences and Arts. We recommend that you obtain a conditional acceptance letter from RGU before applying for the Master's place at HsH. Further information on the application procedure can also be obtained from Prof. Dr. Patricia Adam.

Double degrees in the Master's program

"Yes, RGU charges tuition fees for the second Master's degree, which are set by RGU each semester. In principle, you will have to pay a maximum of 2/3 of these fees, as the portion for the first semester will be waived. You will also receive a 10% discount.

Please also note that there are comparatively high costs for accommodation and living expenses.

There are also certain requirements that

• you have sufficient knowledge of English,
• you start your studies in Hanover in the winter semester (not the summer semester) and
• you choose certain HSH elective courses.

It is advisable to obtain a conditional offer from RGU before you apply for the Master's program in Hanover.