BA Business Administration | Human Resource Management & Leadership
The aim of the BA Human Resource Management & Leadership program is to develop a global business graduate with a well-rounded and state-of-the-art HR management and leadership expertise and a skill set that can be adapted to different business settings.
Our program encourages students to delve deep into the dynamics of employee behavior and the impact this has on the functioning of organizations. As such, students will learn how to manage a diverse workforce through topics such as intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, work engagement, continuous professional development, and performance management. Moreover, students will explore recruitment and selection through topics such as job design, identifying the skills and competencies needed for a job, where to advertise, and how to choose the right person for a vast pool of applicants whilst simultaneously being aware of legal and ethical requirements. HR is a fulfilling and critical component of the organization, guiding its greatest asset, its people.
Berlin International is set within the unique Berlin context, which is apart from the seat of many MNCs and also a significant start-up hotspot in Europe. Our students can thus make their choice in terms of either working for a start-up or a multinational corporation after their graduation. If you are looking for an international BA program that provides the perfect basis for your future career by equipping you with state-of-the-art business knowledge and methods, look no further and apply for our Human Resource Management & Leadership program at Berlin International.
Professor of BA Human Resource Management & Leadership
Study BA Human Resource Management & Leadership at BI
The learning environment fostered at Berlin International is student-centered and hands-on. Our teaching concept focuses on project-based learning; students work individually and in groups in order to promote professional and personal growth and the development of team skills. All Bachelor and Master programs at Berlin International are taught in English. In combination with our diverse student and teaching body and our global network this enables us to offer a truly international academic experience.
Berlin International's learning environment is problem-based and has a strong focus on the applied practitioner approach. We draw on the expertise and professional experience of our diverse staff as well as our local and international firm network to bring theory closer to the actual business practice. We pay attention to employer needs and help our students develop a skill set that is relevant to the challenges of the 21st-century workplace. Interpersonal, intercultural, and analytical skills are all high on our skill development list.
We practice these skills by working individually as well as in groups. Together, we conduct business simulations, role-plays, and workshops, as well as discuss current business practices and challenges with members of leading multinational corporations and startups. Our genuinely international student body enables you to gather diverse perspectives on a number of collaborative projects. Our learning environment is friendly, inclusive, and social, which allows us to respond to individual student needs. The BA program is international, taught in English, and prepares students for the global job market.
Based on a limited number of carefully selected and designed modules in the first year of your studies, you get to cover all significant business administration fields, such as foundations of management and marketing, international business, digital business, and organizational theory. Simultaneously, you get to develop further the all-important practice-oriented business skills, such as team building and conflict management, as well as critical thinking. From the third semester onwards, you then get to really focus on the specific topics of human resource management, organizational leadership, strategic HR management, and HR analytics. Additionally, you get to practice negotiating skills and learn to conduct talent management workshops and psychometric assessments. We also aid you on your internship journey and, thus the overall career preparation.
Studying Business Administration | Human Resource Management & Leadership provides the perfect opportunity for you to find out first-hand about potential career opportunities in large multinational corporations, start-ups, and leading consultancy firms. In a practice-driven and motivating learning atmosphere, an internationally experienced team of lecturers and professors at Berlin International encourages you to develop your individual talents and further develop your analytical skills as a future HR management executive.
Graduates of the program can work as general managers, human resource assistants, junior HR business partners or trainers, junior employee relations managers, training and development consultants, or assistant to the CEO within small, medium-sized, as well as large multinational corporations, non-governmental organizations, and public sector institutions. Employees in the Human Resource departments can focus on consultancy, recruiting, coaching, training, payment, and controlling. Your work will have an impact on economic, political, social, cultural, and personal life.
HR is such an exciting field to work in nowadays, with many new roles opening up in companies, such as diversity officer, human network analyst, director of wellbeing, employee enablement coach, human bias officer, human behavior adviser, etc.
Learn more about the BA Business Administration | Human Resource Management & Leadership program and Berlin International. Below, you can download the study plan, the Berlin International brochure, and our current academic calendar in PDF format.
Apply for BA Business Administration
To meet our admission requirements for this Bachelor degree program, one needs to hold the German Abitur/Fachabitur or equivalent. Any foreign qualification will need to meet the equivalence criteria to these German certificates, which are set by the German Central Office for Foreign Education.
The requirements for equivalence vary from country to country. We have summarized a few of the most frequently asked about education systems:
To confirm whether you meet the requirements to study in Germany, the German Academic Exchange Service provides an English language resource here.
For the original German source, please check the homepage of the Kulturministerkonferenz here.
The BA Business Administration programs fall within the economics or business categories for admission requirements; please see the information for economics or business when checking if you meet the admission requirements.
There are four admission possibilities:
Direct general admission – you are qualified to start undergraduate studies into any subject area.
Direct subject-restricted admission – you are qualified to begin undergraduate studies in the subject area you have previously studied.
Subject-restricted admission to a preparatory course/the Feststellungsprüfung (university qualification exam) – you require additional periods of study before you can begin undergraduate studies in Germany; see more information below.
Admission is not possible without additional proof of education – the qualification you hold is not equivalent to a university entrance qualification in Germany. You will need to complete further qualifications to meet the admission requirements.
Preparatory Course / Additional Studies
A result of subject-restricted admission to a preparatory course/Feststellungsprüfung generally means you will need either to complete a German Studienkolleg or successfully complete the first academic year (or more) of a bachelor´s degree outside of Germany.
A 'Studienkolleg' is a university preparatory course that acts as a bridge between your current qualifications and the qualifications required to enter a German university. There are different types of Studienkolleg programs, so make sure to choose the type that prepares you for the subject of study you want to complete.
For more information on types of Studienkolleg program and general information, you can read more here.
If you qualify for this type of program, you will be eligible to study at German post-secondary institutions upon successful completion of the examination (Feststellungprüfung, or FSP).
There is a German language requirement for many of these programs, and to meet the admission requirements for a higher education institute in Berlin, the Studienkolleg has to be completed in the German language as required by the Berlin Senate. Therefore, it is not a typical route for our students.
Berlin International does not offer a Studienkolleg program but would be able to accept students who have completed the appropriate examinations in the type of Studienkolleg program required for your subject choice.
An alternative to the Studienkolleg would be to enroll in a university near you or outside of Germany and complete the first academic year of a bachelor´s degree successfully. In order to meet the admission requirements, the university and program must be fully accredited, you must choose the same subject you intend to apply for at BI, and you must complete the first academic year with all courses and credits successfully. For some countries, you may need to complete more than one academic year.
If you choose this route, you would be welcome to apply as a transfer student into a higher semester. Read more about this in the ‘Transfer students and course acknowledgments’ section on our Admissions page here.
Please note that Berlin International can only consider applicants who meet the admission requirements for the desired program.
All applicants who meet them will be subject to faculty selection and seat availability per program.
The application process for studying BA Business Administration at Berlin International is straightforward. You can simply and safely share your personal information through our online application platform. After receiving a confirmation email with a link, a copy of the following documents can be uploaded:
- Passport
- High school diploma certificate with transcript (German Abitur, Fachabitur or equivalent). Please also submit an official translation of the diploma and transcript into English or German if they are in another language.
- University certificate with transcript (if applicable). Please also submit an official translation of the diploma and transcript into English or German if they are in another language.
- English language test certificate (CEFR level B2 or above)
For more information, please use the menu item Admission.
Our BA Business Administration programs are taught in English. We will require proof of your language skills. German knowledge is not required.
If your language skills are at CEFR Level B2 or above, one of the following currently valid language test certificates and scores can be accepted for your application:
- TOEFL ITP: 543
- TOEFL IBT: 74
- IELTS (Academic): 6.0 Overall
- Cambridge FCE: B2
- PTE Academic: 59
- BI internal exam/ BAU 'English Language Proficiency Exam': 60/100
- IB Diploma: English A or B at HL or SL
- German Abitur
The score must be earned within the last two years.
If you have not completed high school in a majority-English speaking country (USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand) or a bachelor's degree fully in English, an approved language exam is required in order to qualify for admission.
You are welcome to attend the internal Berlin International language proficiency exam. It will be hosted online, participation is free of charge and can be offered once an application to one of our programs has been made and admission requirements have been met.
For the dates of our next language proficiency exam, see the Language Requirements tab on our Admissions Page.
Preparatory School:
If you do not yet have CEFR level B2 English and are eligible to study in a BA program at BI, you can sign up for our English Preparatory School.
