A broad foundation in business administration combined with the opportunity for individual specialisation – the Major in Business Administration offers you both!
The Major in Business Administration equips students with specialised knowledge, leadership skills, communication competence, and IT skills. A distinctive feature of the programme is its strong practical orientation and the opportunity to specialise in a specific field. Equally important to your academic performance is your personal development. A holistic education means acting as a team player and reflecting on topics such as business ethics and sustainability. You will learn to think globally and develop innovative solutions – all with the aim of making today’s world a better place.
Our promise: We not only equip our students with relevant knowledge through the most modern methods but also focus on fostering the development of a strong personality.
The Major in Business Administration follows the Assessment Year and comprises 120 ECTS-Credits. It is designed for a standard study duration of 4 semesters. By selecting appropriate courses, you can study primarily in German or English; however, at least 12 ECTS-Credits must be completed in the "other" language.
The curriculum is divided into compulsory subjects, core elective subjects, and electives, as well as contextual studies. The capstone project and the bachelor’s thesis form the final components of the programme.
The Assessment Year at the University of St. Gallen (HSG) is the first year of the Bachelor's programme, during which students acquire a broad foundation of knowledge in economics and law. The study content consists of specialised studies and contextual studies, amounting to a total of 60 ECTS-Credits. In the specialised studies, compulsory subjects such as business administration, economics, and law are taught. Depending on the chosen specialisation, there is also a compulsory elective subject, either mathematics or law II.
The contextual studies cover areas such as skills, cultural and social sciences, and foreign languages. Throughout the year, students must complete various examinations, including written exams, seminar and group work, as well as oral exams and presentations.
The Contextual Studies programme is another unique feature of the University of St.Gallen (HSG). It integrates knowledge across disciplines and strengthens the social and cultural competencies of our students. Students take a holistic approach by "thinking outside the box" and enrol in courses within focus areas and skills areas. The cultural and social science offerings in the focus areas are highly diverse and aligned with the study programme. In the skills area, students acquire additional competencies and practical skills necessary for success in the business world. The Contextual Studies programme complements the main field of study and comprises 24 ECTS-Credits.
After successfully completing the Assessment Year, you will deepen your knowledge in various topics related to the management of organisations in the Major in Business Administration. The Major in Business Administration comprises 120 ECTS-Credits and is designed for a standard study duration of 4 semesters.
The semester recommendations for individual courses are explicitly meant as suggestions. Especially with regard to planning exchange semesters, it may be beneficial to take courses in a different order.
Do you want to give your studies a distinct profile to communicate to future employers? In the Major in Business Administration, you have the option to choose a specialisation that will be included in your transcript. Specialisations are available in nine areas:
For each of these specialisation areas, there are elective and compulsory subjects courses in addition to the core electives. Together with the Capstone Project and/or Bachelor’s thesis in the same area, these form the chosen specialisation.
You can find an overview of the course plan for the Major in Business Administration in the study plan.
*There are no compulsory courses for the profile areas “International Management” and "Entrepreneurship (BBWL)". They are replaced by the core electives ‘International Management’ and ‘Entrepreneurship’.
The compulsory area covers 13 courses (contact study and self-study), which must be completed by all students in the Major in Business Administration. Most courses are offered alternately in German and English once per semester.
The following table provides recommendations for attending courses in the compulsory area. However, students are generally free to choose their courses.
Compulsory Courses | ECTS | Semester (Recommandation) | Autumn | Spring |
Accounting, Controlling, Auditing | 4 | 3rd semester | English | German |
Business and Tax Law | 8 | 3rd semester | English | German |
Corporate Finance* | 4 | 3rd semester | English | English |
Fundamentals and Methods of Computer Science | 8 | 3rd semester | English | German |
Introduction to Operations Management | 4 | 3rd semester | English | German |
Macroecoonomics | 4 | 3rd semester | German/English | – |
Microeconomics | 4 | 3rd semester | German/English | – |
Marketing | 4 | 4th semester | German | English |
Leadership & Human Ressource Management | 4 | 4th semester | German | English |
Methods: Empiricial Social Research** | 4 | 4th semester | German | English |
Methods: Statistics | 4 | 4th semester | German | English |
Strategic Management* | 4 | 4th semester | German | English |
Capstone Project | 8 | 5th semester | Projects are offered in both languages. The associated events will be in English in autumn and in German in spring. | |
*Please note that Corporate Finance is taught only in English. There are overlaps when students take Corporate Finance and Strategic Management in the same spring semester.
**We recommend taking the course Empirical Social Research in the 5th or a later semester, as it teaches important methodological and content-related skills for writing a bachelor's thesis. In particular, the course provides a sound introduction to scientific work, including researching, analyzing, and structuring of academic texts.
With core electives and elective courses, you complement the compulsory section of your studies. By selecting courses, you can tailor your studies to suit your individual preferences.
In the core elective area, you can choose from a wide range of courses with a business administration focus, depending on your personal interests. The course offerings vary between the autumn and spring semesters, with different courses available in both German and English. Each of these courses is worth 4 ECTS-Credits. An overview of the current core elective courses can be found in the course catalogue.
In the elective area, you can also take courses from other majors (Economics, Law, International Affairs, and Computer Science).
More than 60% of our students decide to take an exchange semester. Internationalisation and intercultural exchange are important aspects of the Major in Business Administration. We strongly encourage you to spend a semester abroad, either at one of our many partner universities or at a university of your choice. Comprehensive information about exchange opportunities can be found here.
Study the Major in Business Administration in German or/and English? By selecting the appropriate courses, you can decide for yourself. The only restriction: at least 12 ECTS-Credits must be completed in the "other" language.
Foreign languages are important to us. By the end of the Bachelor's programme, we require proof of proficiency in two foreign languages (in addition to the language of instruction). You will take your first foreign language during the Assessment Year, and you will learn a second language during the Bachelor’s programme. The range of language courses is extensive; in addition to European languages, there are courses (among others) in Arabic, Chinese, and Japanese at various levels.
Do you know what a capstone is? It’s the final stone placed when constructing an arch or a vault.
That’s why you take the Capstone Project towards the end of your studies in the Major in Business Administration. As the “final stone,” it connects theory with practice. You will apply the knowledge gained throughout the Major in Business Administration to solve a real-world problem faced by a company or an organisation. In this process, you will act—perhaps for the first time—as a "consultant" and seek innovative solutions. Experienced lecturers will guide you, answer your questions, and provide support with suggestions and tips. A joint kickoff event and a closing event are also part of the Capstone Project, which is worth 8 ECTS-Credits.
The Bachelor’s thesis (12 ECTS-Credits) is an academic paper. You will engage in an in-depth examination of a topic of your choice from a business administration perspective. In your bachelor's thesis, you will apply relevant scientific theories and methods.