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B.A. International Cultural and Business Studies

Degree awarded Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
Duration and credits 6 semesters; 180 ECTS credits
Starts in October (winter semester)
Language of instruction German; includes individual modules
taught in two foreign languages

Culture, business, economics and languages

The interdisciplinary B.A. International Cultural and Business Studies programme combines business administration and economics with up to two applied foreign languages and a cultural region of your choice. It is the only one of its kind in Germany.

Why study ICBS in Passau?

  • Choose from six cultural regions: America and the British Isles; the French-speaking world; the Ibero-Roman cultural region; East and East Central Europe; South-East Asia; and the German-speaking world.
  • Twelve foreign languages to choose from: Business English, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Russian, Czech, Mandarin Chinese, Indonesian, Thai and German as a Foreign Language.
  • Integrated study or internship abroad, excursion or study project in the chosen cultural region.
  • Valuable practical experience through a compulsory internship and a compact seminar on intercultural business communication.
  • Students have the opportunity to gain a double degree in Argentina.

For details, please consult the Academic Advice Service's  infosheet [German content].

Features

  • A combination of business, economics, cultural studies and languages that is unique in Germany
  • Choose from six cultural regions: America and the British Isles; the French-speaking world; the Ibero-Roman cultural region; East-Central Europe; South-East Asia; and the German-speaking world
  • Integrated study or internship abroad and a field trip or study project in the chosen cultural region
  • Practical orientation due to the compulsory internship and workshops
  • Double-degree options in Argentina and the United States

Career prospects

Those graduating with a degree in International Cultural and Business Studies enjoy a wide range of international employment opportunities e.g. in trade and industry, tourism, at banks, insurance companies, cultural organisations, or in public administration or the media industry. The skills and knowledge you gain during this programme will serve you particularly well in multinational organisations working with people from many cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

This bachelor's degree also gives you access to master's-level study, which in turn will qualify you for executive-level positions or doctoral study. The University of Passau also offers a master's degree that builds on this degree – the M.A. International Cultural and Business Studies.

Programme details

This programme comprises four module areas:

Module Area A: International Cultural and Business Studies Principles

This introductory module group teaches the principles of intercultural communication and management as well as imparting a global understanding of the interrelationships between culture and business. Furthermore, you will acquire basic knowledge in cultural studies theories and methods.

Module Area B: Cultural Area Studies

In the Cultures, Texts and Media focus modules, you will choose one of the six available cultural regions and attend courses in cultural studies, literature or linguistics as well as the history and politics of your chosen cultural region. Furthermore, you will choose a further socio-historical subject in the History, Society and Space focus area. As a rule, you will write your dissertation on a topic chosen from module area B.

Module Area C: Business and Economics

In the Business and Economics module group you will acquire a methodological foundation by studying courses such as mathematics, statistics and financial accounting. Building on this, you will specialise either in examination modules from the areas of management (business administration) or economics. If a sufficient number of examiners are available, you may be permitted to write your dissertation on a topic derived from module area C.

Module Area D: Foreign Languages and Applied Interculturality

You will choose one or two of the twelve foreign languages offered. For all languages except English (which must be studied in the Business English track), you can choose between the business/economics and cultural studies track.
The practical module, Applied Interculturality, enables you to hone your intercultural skills during a stay abroad and set individual priorities according to your own interests.

For further details, please consult the Academic Advice Service's infosheet [German content] and the module catalogue [German content].

This degree programme starts in the October (winter semester) each year.

With Abitur or European qualifications

Prospective students with a higher education entrance qualification from Germany or the EEA region (e.g. German Abitur or the Austrian Matura) can enrol directly for this degree programme during the enrolment period.

You will need German language skills at level C1 CEFR or higher to study this degree programme.  If German was the language of instruction for your secondary school education or prior tertiary education, your academic certificates suffice as proof of your language skills. Otherwise, you will have to provide a recognised German language certificate along with your application for a place of study.

If you can provide recognised certificates for German language skills at level B2 CEFR at the time when you apply for a place of study, you may receive a conditional offer. In that case, you will be required to provide a recognised language certificate at level C1 CEFR by the time you enrol on the degree programme. 

If you would like to learn German or advance your language skills, the University's Language Centre and its  German Courses Passau division offer a variety of German language classes. However, if you would like to apply for a place of study on one of the University's German-taught degree programmes, you must meet the stated language requirements before you apply.

What students say

Melissa Spyra

Melissa Spyra

Student International Cultural and Business Studies

The combination of foreign languages, business, economics and cultural studies gives me a good preparation for my professional life.

Jakob Kühr

Jakob Kühr

Student International Cultural and Business Studies

In Passau you are encouraged to be an 'all-rounder'. The programme is very interdisciplinary, but the education is still solid.

Larissa Zingel

Larissa Zingel

Alumna of the B.A. International Cultural and Business Studies

In my daily work I benefit from the knowledge I gained during my studies. In my opinion, the ICBS bachelor's degree is an excellent study programme...

See also

If you are interested in cultures and business, these degree programmes might also be worth checking out:

Questions?

The Academic Advice Service is the first port of call for all enquiries related to studying at the University!

Drop us a line: advice@uni-passau.de

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