After passing my Abitur, I first completed a Voluntary Social Year at an elementary school and then a commercial training. Afterwards, I worked as a financial project controller until I decided to pursue a university degree. Economic and Business Education was the perfect combination for me. What attracted me most – besides the excellent reputation of the University of Mannheim – was the opportunity to take an elective subject as part of the program. This allowed me to cover an additional interest by studying Business Informatics. The University of Mannheim does not only feature very good courses but also many student organizations. The university’s international orientation is another big plus, because it brings you into contact with many different cultures and people.
After completing my commercial training, it was pretty clear to me that I wanted to pursue a degree in the field of Economics and Business Administration. I was immediately attracted by the program in Economic and Business Education at the University of Mannheim, because I liked the profile of business administration topics in combination with educational subjects. In addition, my vocational training was recognized. Lectures are always very practice-oriented, especially in the master's program. And courses in the educational field provide you with exciting insights into current research and give you the opportunity to help develop innovative learning concepts.
My studies in business and economic education at the University of Mannheim gave me the necessary freedom in my career choice, allowing me to deepen my strengths and complement them with practical experience in both school and the finance and software industry. This increasingly solidified my career aspirations to become a teacher.The university's reputation, the variety of initiatives, the opportunities to network with companies and the partnerships with universities around the world made the learning environment in Mannheim lively, interesting, and very special. As a teacher, I am very grateful for the theoretical knowledge I have acquired in the fields of business administration, psychology, pedagogy, sports and the practical and intercultural experiences.
After earning my master’s degree in Economic and Business Education, I completed my Referendariat at a vocational school with a commercial focus. In my daily routine as a teacher, I particularly draw on the experience I gained in seminars where we worked in small groups and put our theoretical knowledge into practice. Since our courses covered a wide range of topics, I fell well prepared to handle current trends in education, for example digitalization in schools.
Program facts and information
Degree: Master of Science (M.Sc.)
Standard period of study: 4 semesters (2 years)
ECTS credits: at least 120
Language of instruction: German and English
Language requirements: German (click here for further information)
A good level of proficiency in English is recommended; no proof of language proficiency is required.Program start: Fall semester (September)
Academic calendarSchool: Business School
Semester fee: € 204,30 (further information)
Tuition fees for international students from non-EU countries: €1,500
Tuition fees for a second degree: €650Read more about the master’s program in Economic and Business Education (only available in German)
Brochure on the master’s program in Economic and Business Education (only available in German)Program overview
In the master's program in Economic and Business Education, students develop the skills acquired during the bachelor’s program.
A clear emphasis is placed on instructional (teaching-related) concepts, which are intended to equip students with subject-specific knowledge of the field. The goal is for master’s students to understand the relationship between empirical instructional research, instructional theories, and the tasks that come with teaching in a practical setting. At the same time, they enhance their skills in analyzing and designing business-educational learning environments.
The program not only includes modules in Economic and Business Education, but also in Business Administration and Economics and in Business Informatics. An additional elective course enables you to acquire advanced knowledge of another subject (e.g., German Studies, Biology, Political Science, Sports; some of these courses are offered in collaboration with Heidelberg University). The broad range of courses offered in the Mannheim Master in Management program is also open to you.
As a student of this master’s program, you have ample opportunity to tailor the curriculum to your personal interests by taking optional courses or choosing to focus on a certain area. You can, for example, specialize in human resources, management, marketing, controlling, taxation, (international) finance, business informatics (digitalization), or logistics.
Apart from attending university courses, students will also regularly intern at schools to gain practical experience.
With a master’s degree in Economic and Business Education, graduates are qualified to teach at vocational schools (after completing preparatory service, i.e. their Referendariat) or to work in other settings not related to school education. The program is research-oriented, as well.
Why study Economic and Business Education at the University of Mannheim?
Economic and Social Sciences at the University of Mannheim repeatedly do well in rankings (take a look for yourself here). The master's program in Economic and Business Education is taught at the Business School, which has been accredited by three international accreditation agencies: AACSB International (The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), EQUIS (European Quality Improvement System) and AMBA (Association of MBAs).
Studying Economic and Business Education means having a variety of options: You will acquire sound basic knowledge of different areas related to business administration and economics, business informatics, and business and economic law. By completing several internships at a company or a school, which are an integral part of your studies, you can put everything you learn on the program into practice. You can also choose from an extensive range of elective courses in subjects such as English Studies or Political Science. In addition, two possible career paths lie ahead of you: you can either work as a teacher at a vocational school or go into the private sector.
As one of the largest locations for Economic and Business Education in Germany, our professors make important contributions to research and thereby help to keep it always up-to-date. They share their findings with you in classes and individual coaching sessions. The Department of Economic and Business Education at the University of Mannheim is one of the largest departments in this field in Germany. This means that you can benefit from a broad range of research activities and state-of-the-art results, which are also reflected in our teaching.
Career opportunities
With a master’s degree in Economic and Business Education, graduates can work at a school. This is, however, not the only option open to them.
Upon subsequent completion of their Referendariat, graduates can move into the school sector and teach at any type of vocational school with a commercial focus in Germany (including Berufsschule, Berufsfachschule, Berufliches Gymnasium).
If they opt for a career outside the school sector, they can, for example, teach at a company or work in education management. They can also go in educational counseling, human resources management or development, and business development.
Students of Economic and Business Education later have excellent career prospects regardless of the path they decide to take: At vocational schools, teachers are always highly sought-after. Outside the school sector, their broad array of skills acquired during the program qualifies them for many different positions.
Required interests and skills
Students of Economic and Business Education should
- be interested in working on questions related to economics and teaching,
- be capable of critical thinking and working,
- be interested in teaching and learning formats at companies and schools,
- enjoy working with academic literature,
- have good knowledge of math and English.
Program structure
Module catalog
The module catalog (see sub-item “Program structure / content”), which is only available in German, gives you an overview of the courses and their content.Studying abroad
The International Office and the Business School can advise you on planning a semester abroad. The ideal point in time to spend a period of study abroad is the third or fourth semester. However, going abroad is not mandatory and may extend your studies.Internships
Students of the master's program in Economic and Business Education complete two internships at a vocational school with a commercial focus in Baden-Württemberg. The internships last for four weeks respectively, and throughout their duration students are supported by the Institute for Didactics and Teacher Training (Vocational Schools) Karlsruhe. Usually, the internships take place between the first and second semester as well as between the third and fourth semester.Graduates who intend to continue with their Referendariat after completing the program are required to have gained at least 52 weeks of practical experience in different settings. One way of proving this is by completing a number of internships. Please go to the online platform for teachers in Baden-Württemberg, LOBW, for more information. Both mandatory internships completed during the bachelor’s program in Economic and Business Education and relevant voluntary internships are recognized. If you want to do any additional internships, you can do so during the semester break or take an academic leave of absence for a semester. For questions relating to planning an internship, please contact the academic advising team.
Continuing Education
Certificate programs
Strengthen your potential, deepen your knowledge, find solutions for challenges we will face tomorrow – there are many good reasons to think outside the box, get to know and try out new things even during your studies.At the University of Mannheim, you can do this in the “Studium Oecologicum” which focuses on sustainability. In our certificate program, you will acquire interdisciplinary expert knowledge which can help you to act ethically and to make holistic decisions.
Language courses
Making language learning easier: No matter if you want to learn Japanese, Hebrew, Spanish or Norwegian, take the Graduate Record Examination Test (GRE), The European Language Certificates (telc) or the TOEFL test – each semester, the University of Mannheim offers language courses and language certificates in more than 16 languages for students and non-university members, online and on campus!Doctorates
Graduates of the master’s program in Economic and Business Education who would like to pursue a doctoral degree have two options:
- They can either start their doctoral studies at one of the following chairs: Economic and Business Education, Business Administration, Educational Psychology/
Psychology of Education, or a chair related to their elective course. Please contact the respective chair directly to ask about vacancies for academic staff members. It is also possible to pursue a doctorate at a chair as an external doctoral candidate, that is without being employed by the chair. - Or they can join a doctoral program at the Center for Doctoral Studies in Business (CDSB) at the Graduate School of Economic and Social Sciences (GESS) in Accounting, Finance, Information Systems, Management, Marketing, Operations Management, and Taxation.
General information on doctoral studies at the University of Mannheim
- They can either start their doctoral studies at one of the following chairs: Economic and Business Education, Business Administration, Educational Psychology/
Admission requirements and selection
In our selection process, we take numerous criteria into account. For more details, please check the selection statutes (see below). Be bold!
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need advice. We are looking forward to receiving your application!
Applicants must have completed a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Business Education or another bachelor’s degree in business administration and/
or economics that is recognized as equivalent. To be recognized as equivalent program in business administration and/ or economics, students must have acquired competencies corresponding to at least 120 ECTS which match the contents taught in the bachelor’s degree in Economics and Business Education at the University of Mannheim. In this case, admission is subject to the condition that students acquire the entire subject-specific knowledge required by the end of the second subject-specific semester of the master’s program. Applicants commit to making up for the gap and acquire the subject-specific knowledge required within the first two semesters of the master’s program in Economics and Business Education. If proof is not provided in due time, admission to the master’s program will be rescinded. Language requirements
This program requires proof of proficiency in German on C1 level. For more information, please click here.Conditional admission if you have not yet received your bachelor’s degree certificate
If you have not yet completed your bachelor’s program by the application deadline, you may still be admitted to the master’s program as long as you provide proof that you have obtained at least 135 ECTS credits. In this case, your admission to the program is subject to receipt of your degree certificate by the first exam registration period (usually mid-October) in the master's program (refer to selection statutes).Selection statutes
Under “Admission requirements and selection” we have compiled the most important selection criteria of the program for you. For more detailed explanations of the selection process and the legally binding requirements of the degree program, please refer to the selection statutes.Application
The University of Mannheim is the most popular university in Germany
In the students' vote on the Studycheck.de platform, the University of Mannheim has reached the top position among all universities. This makes the University of Mannheim the most popular university in Germany.
read more about the award (in German)