Studium Export-oriented Management - Studierender steht im Gang

International Business Management bachelor degree programme

(formerly Export-oriented Management)
International business in a nutshell: Do you enjoy communication? Do you like to travel? Are you open to other cultures? Are you interested in international business relations? Then this degree programme is the perfect choice for you.

We give you the skills and detailed knowledge of international business administration and economics that allow you to deal successfully with partners all over the world. It goes without saying that the programme is entirely taught in English, and on top of that you also study an additional foreign language.

The degree programme

Many companies today operate in an international environment: On the one hand, this concerns their suppliers, business contacts, consultants and clientele, who increasingly come from abroad. On the other hand, the competition is also increasingly internationally oriented, offering new ideas and business models from other countries that are changing markets permanently.

Austrian companies are therefore increasingly looking for opportunities abroad. The export industry, often referred to as the growth engine of the economy, has grown from 10,000 companies to over 60,000 in the last 20 years.

This involves enormous opportunities, but also some challenges.

Ideally equipped for tomorrow’s job market

Our International Business Management bachelor degree has been carefully designed with these requirements in mind. You examine ways in which you can head up and develop businesses with a view to the future and learn how to successfully manage international projects.

In your studies, the focus is on international business activities, although what you learn can of course also be applied in the domestic market. We prepare our students to handle complex situations so that they can skilfully face all kinds of challenges and have solution approaches and strategies at hand.

Learning and training skills and competencies that will give you a clear advantage in your day-to-day work will play an important role throughout your studies. The skill modules are closely coordinated with the learning modules: you will learn in theory and practice, for example, negotiations and contract conclusion, conflict and receivables management, get fit for audits and budgeting and receive valuable input for target discussions, performance assessment and employee management.

International focus from day one

In addition, the aspect of international and intercultural learning is very important to us. Here, the personal experience, is in the foreground. This already starts with the internationality at home: you study with colleagues from all over the world and regularly discuss international topics and best practices in the courses.

In addition, you will have the opportunity to spend the third semester abroad at one of our 160+ partner universities without losing time in your studies. The fourth semester also continues internationally: for a semester, you will work at an internship-providing company of your choice abroad.

Tip

A particularly attractive option is the dual degree we offer in conjunction with the Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, Finland or the KEDGE Business School - Campus Bordeaux, France. Besides obtaining a bachelor of arts at IMC Krems, you will also be accredited with a degree from our partner institution.

Furthermore, there is the possibility to spend a semester at one of our international locations – Tashkent in Uzbekistan, Sanya in China or Hanoi in Vietnam.

Student stories

Business administration

Business administration focuses on how organisations and companies are managed. In other words, it examines business processes with the aim of providing insights into the planning, implementation and evaluation of responsibility, approaches and objectives in different parts of a business.

Business administration topics include: accounting and finance, marketing, human resources and logistics.

Core elements of the programme

In the International Business Management bachelor degree programme, we provide you with a broad basis in business administration with a focus on international activities.

This will enable you to prepare yourself optimally for the opportunities and challenges of the increasingly dynamic markets with new and current business models and by acting in a contemporary way.

What are the most important steps for successful international expansion? First of all, you have to ensure that you understand your counterpart, and take into account any potential cross-cultural differences. Then it’s about building a relationship so that you can successfully enter into contracts and agreements and systematically manage risks. Finally, you need to run the actual business and fix problems.

Statistics show the importance of exports in our globalised world: The number of exporting companies has increased from 12,500 in 2000 to over 60,000 today. At the same time, 60% of the gross domestic product is generated by exports. Many companies export more than 90% of their goods and services and could not even exist on the Austrian domestic market alone.

Conversely, we also benefit from imports, such as bananas and coffee, but also in the areas of energy, computers and software.

Many international organisations (such as the United Nations, OPEC, OSCE, etc.) are based in Austria. But also many international companies have established their headquarters for Europe or Southeast Europe in Austria.

Studium Export-oriented Management - Studierende sitzen am Boden
Studium Export-oriented Management - Studierende mit Folder in der Hand
Studium Export-oriented Management - Studierende sitzen am Tisch

" You have the opportunity to discover where your interests lie on this programme. You will gain a comprehensive overview of a range of industries and departments and are able to identify a company’s internal and external relationships. Foreign trade, marketing and sales, human resources, project business, or how about logistics? You decide on the focus of your degree with your choice of internship, electives and the topic of your bachelor paper. "

Programme director Christopher Schwand

A formula for success: theoretical knowledge + practical experience

The programme is built on three pillars.

  1. 1

    1. The basics

    Semesters 1-2

    At the beginning of your studies, you will gain an overview of business administration and economics and how to act sustainably in business. You will deal with subjects such as marketing, human resources management, accounting, logistics and law. Always with the opportunities and challenges in mind that come with internationalisation and international trade. Thus, we will start with a virtual journey around the world, with a wide variety of products and business sectors already in the first semester.

    Another important focus is developing an awareness of cultural differences. During the degree, you will acquire techniques for working as part of diverse teams. You can also select an additional foreign language, with a choice of Chinese, German, French, Italian, Russian or Spanish.

  2. 2

    2. Gathering experience abroad

    Semesters 3-4

    Advanced language skills and a good awareness of how practices can vary from culture to culture are important ingredients for a successful international career.

    Over the course of the programme, you will learn or improve your skills in your chosen foreign language – on top of your regular lectures, which are taught in English. You will spend semester 4 abroad, when you gain practical insights into the working methods of successful companies and how they function. You will also have the option of doing a semester abroad at one of our 160+  partner universities in semester 3. Our international spirit runs right through the programme!

  3. 3

    3. Advanced courses

    Semesters 5-6

    The electives in semesters 5 and 6 are a major reason why graduates of this programme can look forward to such excellent career prospects. From entrepreneurship and digitalisation to trade, project management and foreign markets – you have the opportunity to tailor your degree to your personal interests through your choice of elective.

    In the electives, you will look at the instruments and tools you have studied during the programme from an interdisciplinary perspective and apply them in projects and realistic case studies.

    You will also choose one of three specialisations, which each deal with a different export scenario – export of raw materials and goods, export of services, or megaprojects.
    In courses which build on what you’ve already learned, you will study advanced aspects of business administration and law and improve your computer and software skills. You will also develop your soft skills, working on areas such as negotiation techniques.

Curriculum

What can you expect from your studies? The curriculum provides an overview.
​​​​​​​Click on the individual courses for further information.

  1. CourseSWSECTS
    Business Administration
    Accounting I 24
    Marketing and Sales 23
    Principles of Management 23
    Sustainability and Ethics in Leadership 11
    Accounting I - Exercises 11
    Export Management
    Trading, Exporting and Doing Business Abroad 22
    Mathematics and Statistics
    Business Mathematics
    Business Mathematics - Theory 12
    Business Mathematics - Exercises 12
    Soft Skills and Personality Training
    Rhetoric and Presentation 11
    Training Intercultural Competence 11
    Scientific Methods and Tools
    Foundations of Empirical Social Research 11
    Principles of Business Data Analysis 23
    Qualitative Information and Decision Making 22
    Languages
    French I (Level A1) 34
    Chinese I (Level A1) 34
    Spanish I (Level A1) 34
    Russian I (Level A1) 34
    German I (Level A1) 34
    French I (Level B1) 34
    Spanish I (Level B1) 34
    Italian I (Level A1) 34
  2. CourseSWSECTS
    Business Administration
    Accounting II 22
    Procurement, Production and Logistics 23
    Organisation Theory and Organisation Development 23
    Accounting II - Exercises 11
    Economics
    Microeconomics 23
    International Law & Geopolitical Affairs
    Principles of Private and Public Law 22
    Establishing Contracts 11
    Export Management
    Entering Foreign Markets and Doing Business Abroad 23
    Mathematics and Statistics
    Business Statistics
    Business Statistics - Theory 12
    Business Statistics - Exercises 12
    Soft Skills and Personality Training
    Group Dynamics 11
    Negotiation Techniques 11
    Scientific Methods and Tools
    Quantitative Information and Decision Making 22
    Languages
    Chinese II (Level A1/A2) 34
    French II (Level A2) 34
    Russian II (Level A1/A2) 34
    Spanish II (Level A2) 34
    German II (Level A2) 34
    French II (Level B1) 34
    Spanish II (Level B1) 34
    Italian II (Level A2) 34
  3. CourseSWSECTS
    Business Administration
    Finance and Investment 24
    Controlling, Managerial Accounting and Decision Making 23
    International Project Management and Project Communication 22
    Human Resource Management 23
    Processes, Audits and Reports 11
    Economics
    Macroeconomics 33
    International Law & Geopolitical Affairs
    Comparative International Law 12
    Export Management
    International Marketing Research and Market Entry 34
    Current Issues in Export Management 12
    EU Tender and Contracting 22
    Scientific Methods and Tools
    Computational Thinking 12
    Languages
    Chinese III (Level A2) 22
    French III (Level A2/A2+) 22
    Spanish III (Level A2/A2+) 22
    Russian III (Level A2) 22
    German III (Level A2/A2+) 22
    French III (Level B1/B2) 22
    Spanish III (Level B1/B2) 22
    Italian III (Level A2/A2+) 22
  4. CourseSWSECTS
    Practical Training
    Practical Training 028
    Practical Training Coaching Seminar 12
  5. CourseSWSECTS
    Business Administration
    Budgeting and Financial Management 23
    Entrepreneurship and Starting a Company 23
    Company Management Simulation 11
    International Law & Geopolitical Affairs
    International Business Law 23
    International Relations and Geopolitical Affairs 22
    Export Management
    Elective 1: Future Export Markets 11
    Elective 2: Artificial Intelligence Applications in Business 11
    Elective 3: Digitalisation of Business 11
    Elective 4: Sourcing and Customs Planning 11
    Foreign Trade Techniques: Export Risk Management 34
    Supply Chain Management 23
    Elective 5: Export Market Metrics and Market Selection 11
    Soft Skills and Personality Training
    Performance Management and Providing Feedback 12
    Sales, Closing and After Sales Management 12
    Scientific Methods and Tools
    Bachelor Seminar I 13
    Languages
    Chinese IV (Level A2+) 23
    Spanish IV (Level A2/B1) 23
    German IV (Level A2/B1) 23
    French IV (Level A2/B1) 23
    Italian IV (Level A2/B1) 23
    Russian IV (Level A2+) 23
    Spanish IV (Level B2) 23
    French IV (Level B2) 23
  6. CourseSWSECTS
    Economics
    International Economics 23
    International Law & Geopolitical Affairs
    International Strategies for Sustainable Development 23
    Export Management
    International Financial Management 23
    Elective A: Export of Commodities and Goods 45
    Elective B: Export of Services 45
    Elective C: FDI and Engineering Projects abroad 45
    Scientific Methods and Tools
    Data Utilisation and Enterprise Resource Management 23
    Bachelor Seminar II and Bachelor Paper 18
    Bachelor Exam 02
    Languages
    Russian V (Level A2/B1) 23
    Chinese V (Level A2/B1) 23
    French V (Level B1) 23
    Spanish V (Level B1) 23
    German V (Level B1) 23
    Spanish V (Level C1) 23
    French V (Level C1) 23
    Italian V (Level B1) 23

Study abroad

Spend a semester or more at one of our 160+ partner universities. A unique experience!

The exchange semester

Key features

What makes our International Business Management programme so special? Here’s an overview.

Ideal preparation for the international stage

Would you like to study alongside people from all over the world? Go abroad for the exchange and internship semesters? Do you want to keep your options open after you graduate – whether you end up working at home or abroad? Then this international degree programme is the perfect choice for you.

You will receive a fundamental education in business administration and acquire a detailed understanding of economics and law. Another important part of the curriculum: foreign trade and negotiation techniques. You gain an overview of the various economic regions, learn or improve your skills in a foreign language and gather international experience. In addition to interpersonal skills, digitalisation and sustainability also feature prominently on the curriculum.

Explore the world

Interested in other cultures? Great – because your future managers will expect you to have the attributes for professional mobility. On this programme you have the chance to spend one or two semesters at one of our 160+ partner universities.

You will also spend the internship semester at a company of your choice abroad. This all means you have plenty of opportunities to polish your English language skills or brush up your knowledge of another foreign language. You’ll gain valuable cross-cultural experience along the way and can take time to explore your temporary home.

Practical training

The Practical Training Semester (PTS) is a core element of the curriculum, and gives you the chance to apply the knowledge you’ve acquired in a business environment. You get to know various company structures first-hand, and gain work experience that will stand you in good stead when you start work.

Linking content to real-world practice throughout the programme is very important to us. We have close ties with partners in industry, which helps us to predict domestic and international business and technology trends. Examples of best practice from our partners and projects implemented with them ensure lectures have a strong practical focus.

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Career paths

Our International Business Management bachelor degree programme opens the door to a whole world of opportunities. Whether you decide to go abroad or work in Austria, you will be qualified to assume entry-level positions in a wide-range of industries and departments.

You have the choice of starting a career or enrolling for a full-time or part-time master degree.

A wide range of options will be open to you – at IMC Krems, for instance, you can register for the master degree programmes:

Alternatively, you can take a master degree in business at another Austrian or foreign university.

  • Potential entry-level positions
  • Marketing and sales
  • Foreign trade
  • Human resource management (HRM)
  • Product and project management
  • Purchasing and supply chain management
  • Controlling
  • Consulting
  • Finance and risk management
  • Public administration
  • International organisations/diplomatic service
  • Company foundation and start-ups
10 good reasons

What makes us special? We are more than happy to tell you about the aspects of our university, which we are especially proud of.

Krems

Friendly and cosmopolitan: The city attracts students from all over the world, who come to study, research and work together.

Service centers

Our university has removed a host of administrative hurdles, leaving you free to concentrate fully on your studies.

Advisory Service

Do you have questions regarding our degree programmes or the application? Contact our Prospective Student Advisory Service.

Information events

Our team

Get to know the core team of our bachelor degree programme Export-oriented Management.

  • Prof.(FH) MMag. Christopher Schwand | Head of Institute International Trade and Sustainable Economy / Programme Director Export-oriented Management - IMC Fachhochschule Krems
    Prof.(FH) MMag. Christopher Schwand
    Head of Institute International Trade and Sustainable Economy / Programme Director Export-oriented Management

    Head of Institute International Trade and Sustainable Economy / Programme Director Export-oriented Management

    Prof.(FH) MMag. Christopher Schwand

    Core Competencies
    • Digital Business Transformation
    • Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods
    • Sustainable development of companies, linked systems and economic areas

Application and admissions – the next steps

You've found a course that's a perfect fit? Great – you’ve already taken the most important step! We’ve put together an overview to guide you through the next steps.

What are the admission requirements for bachelor programmes?

To qualify for admission to a university of applied sciences bachelor degree programme, you must have an Austrian school-leaving certificate or an equivalent qualification.

Do you have a school-leaving certificate issued outside Austria?

We’ll check to make sure it’s equivalent to an Austrian certificate in accordance with section 4 of the University of Applied Sciences Studies Act (FHG) when you’ve sent us all the relevant documentation via our online application tool. If it is not an equivalent, you’ll receive information on the supplementary examinations you’ll need to pass. In a nutshell, you will have the option of completing a summer school and the necessary supplementary examinations at IMC Krems or look for an external provider. In that case, you might consider our cooperation partner, the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria: It offers a one-year International Foundation Programme which provides you with all the necessary qualifications you need in order to start your studies in Krems.

What proof of your language skills is required for our English-language bachelor degree programme?

We’ll assess your English language proficiency at your interview, so there is no need to provide additional evidence of your English skills. 

Important​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​
Do you still need to complete your military or alternative service?  If you’re a male Austrian citizen, we strongly recommend completing your compulsory national service before beginning your studies. This will allow you to finish your degree with no interruptions and start your career without delay afterwards.

 

Application interview

We would like to get to know you as a person:
As part of the online application you will have to write a statement of motivation and a short essay on a topic relevant to the degree programme. Predefined questions about your motivations as well as the requirements and topics for your essay can be found in the online application. You choose one of the suggested topics, conduct research to broaden your knowledge, deal with the issues and bring your own point of view to the essay. Your answers are to be entered in the fields provided.

Your statement of motivation and your essay form the basis for your application interview. Every applicant has an opportunity to introduce themselves in a face-to-face discussion, usually with the degree programme director. In addition to the personal introduction and your motivation to study, the applicant and the interviewer discuss the topic selected and the arguments used in the essay, as well as the topic’s relevance for the degree programme.

The application interview is held in the language of instruction of the degree programme and can take place either online via Microsoft Teams or in presence.

After the application interview, your statement of motivation, the essay and your performance throughout the interview are assessed on the basis of the content-related remarks, the manner in which they express themselves and the arguments used.
 

Interview dates

There is usually a selection of dates to choose from, with quotas allocated for each date. You can select a preferred date and time slot for your admission interview during the online application process. In order to still benefit from the full selection of dates, we recommend that you submit your application in good time.

Get an overview of the dates for your programme.

Admission Interview
15/06/202327/06/202328/06/202305/07/202310/07/2023

After you have successfully completed your online application, your application will be checked for completeness and correctness. As soon as this process is completed, we will inform you by e-mail and confirm the date for your admission interview. We will send you the Microsoft Teams Meeting Link in a separate e-mail a few days before the application interview date.

Application deadline for EU nationals / Extended application deadline 15/04/2023 / 15/08/2023
Application deadline for non-EU nationals
Application for the next study year possible from 01/12/2023
15/04/2023
Please note that the IMC University of Applied Sciences Krems reserves the right to close the extended application period at any time without prior notice. We therefore recommend that you submit your application as soon as possible.
Apply now

You've decided for one of our degree programmes? First of all: congratulations and thank you for choosing us! We’ll be happy to guide you step-by-step through your online application.

Details

You would like to plan ahead and would like to know when your degree programme starts? Here you will find the answer!

Details

Questions about the degree programme?

Prospective Student Advisory Service


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Student Ambassadors


Would you like first-hand information about the degree programme? Contact our student ambassadors directly, they will be happy to answer all your questions about the study programme.