Award in Business Studies

Provided online via distance learning

Key Facts

Felxible Duration

EQF & MQF Level 6

60 ECTS

Tuition Fee: 2400 Euro

State Accredited

Distance Learning

Program Overview

This EQF Level 6 program is targeted at individuals who wish to obtain a foundation in Business Administration. It can also be followed as a bridging program in order to complete the necessary ECTS to qualify for admission into a Master (Level 7) program. Delivered via eLearning, it is ideal for candidates with practical experience who want to obtain a high-value academic qualification.

The program is a min. 10-month part-time program targeted at learners who seek a high level of flexibility. It is conducted entirely online in a cohort mode. Live online-meetings take place at set times weekly in the evenings to allow advance planning in alignment with the work schedules of our students.

Physical attendance is not required. The language of instruction is English.

Program Objectives

The program develops a thorough understanding of business and management concepts, skills and competencies, with a focus on practical application. Covering numerous subdisciplines, the program provides a holistic view on value creation for businesses, customers, and society at large.

This program is designed for individuals who are either entering the job market or who currently hold junior positions. It is also suitable for self-employed entrepreneurs wishing to gain a better understanding of the various disciplines involved in running their business.

Admission Process

A completed online application.
A High School diploma or equivalent (e.g. Secondary School Leaving Certificate, Matura, Abitur, Baccalaureate) uploaded with the online application form.
Official High School transcripts showing at minimum the last two high school years leading to graduation. A scanned transcript must be uploaded with your online application. If the transcript is not in English it must be translated by a certified translation service.
Proof of English proficiency. Not needed for students graduating from an English-speaking school.

Course Descriptions

Fundamentals of Accounting --- (6 ECTS - EQF/MQF Level 6)

The course introduces accounting for business entities such as sole proprietorships, partnerships and corporations, focusing on how business events impact the balance sheet, income statements, and the statement of cash flows. Topics include: the process of recording and analyzing transactions, the accounting cycle including record-keeping, preparation of financial statements, and the theory of accounts.

Hours of Total Learning: 150

Total Contact Hours: 40

Self-study Hours: 92

Supervised Placement and Practice Hours: n/a

Assessment Hours: 18

Business Law & Ethics --- (6 ECTS - EQF/MQF Level 6)

This course explores the legal and ethical framework in which businesses operate. Sources and areas of business law are presented and compared internationally. Students also learn to critically analyze and evaluate the behavior of business owners, managers, and employees. Given heightened consumer scrutiny of corporate ethical conduct, a portion of the course will focus on how managers can navigate ethical dilemmas, meet the expectations of customers, employees, suppliers etc. and flourish as good corporate citizens.

Hours of Total Learning: 150

Total Contact Hours: 40

Self-study Hours: 92

Supervised Placement and Practice Hours: n/a

Assessment Hours: 18

Elementary Statistics

This course includes measures of central tendency and variability, probability, random variables, normal and binomial distributions, confidence intervals, tests of hypotheses, correlation and simple linear regression, descriptive and inferential techniques and concepts.

Business Communication --- (6 ECTS - EQF/MQF Level 6)

The course provides students with the necessary skills to communicate in a manner that is both concise and persuasive. Students learn to write professional reports, proposals, tenders, letters and other commercial correspondence. The course also explores the features of dynamic presentations, including methods of structuring, visualizing and delivering a message.

Hours of Total Learning: 150

Total Contact Hours: 40

Self-study Hours: 92

Supervised Placement and Practice Hours: n/a

Assessment Hours: 18

Business Cultures & Protocol --- (6 ECTS - EQF/MQF Level 6)

Today’s globalized business environment and an increasingly cultural diverse workplace, require that managers are culturally aware. To prepare students, this course focuses on cultural and cross-cultural issues and explores suitable management and communication approaches. The course highlights aspects of Corporate Social Responsibility as they relate to intercultural settings.

Hours of Total Learning: 150

Total Contact Hours: 40

Self-study Hours: 92

Supervised Placement and Practice Hours: n/a

Assessment Hours: 18

Introduction to Microeconomics --- (6 ECTS - EQF/MQF Level 6)

This module provides an overview of the economic way of thinking. The module introduces graphical analysis, the concepts of demand and supply, the decision-making process regarding the optimal level of output and identifies and distinguishes among different market structures.

Hours of Total Learning: 150

Total Contact Hours: 40

Self-study Hours: 92

Supervised Placement and Practice Hours: n/a

Assessment Hours: 18

Introduction to Macroeconomics --- (6 ECTS - EQF/MQF Level 6)

The course provides an understanding of economic issues as they pertain to national economies and international trade. Topics covered include: national income, employment, GDP, the dynamics of inflation, aggregate demand and supply, money and the banking system, monetary and fiscal policies, and international trade. Some time is also spent presenting competing economic models. In other words, the course presents the macro framework in which business is conducted.

Hours of Total Learning: 150

Total Contact Hours: 40

Self-study Hours: 92

Supervised Placement and Practice Hours: n/a

Assessment Hours: 18

Fundamentals of Marketing --- (6 ECTS - EQF/MQF Level 6)

This course covers the marketing process as it relates to the “four p’s”: product, place, promotion and price. Specifically, the course explores the concepts and practices of marketing management, sales, channels of distribution, consumer behavior, pricing strategies, advertising, and market research.

Hours of Total Learning: 150

Total Contact Hours: 40

Self-study Hours: 92

Supervised Placement and Practice Hours: n/a

Assessment Hours: 18

Financial Management

This course explores into depth the issues and concepts of a successful financial management of a firm. Topics include capital budgeting, NPV, IRR, Profitability Index, Net Working Capital management in cash management, credit policies, receivables management, inventory.

Management & Business --- (6 ECTS - EQF/MQF Level 6)

This course explores the basic concepts of managing, planning and controlling an organization. It begins with the process of building leadership skills and lays a solid base for the difficult tasks of human resources management. The course focuses on communication, decision making and leadership for administrative and managerial positions in business and government.

Hours of Total Learning: 150

Total Contact Hours: 40

Self-study Hours: 92

Supervised Placement and Practice Hours: n/a

Assessment Hours: 18