ISM International Business Certificate

The ISM International Business Certificate program is designed for students with a strong interest in a study abroad semester at a German university. The program offers students individual support and academic guidance. The certificate allows students who do not speak German at an advanced level to take business classes in English and earn ECTS credits during their stay at the ISM. As a prerequisite we expect students to have a B2 level of English.

The ISM International Business Certificate can be studied at six of our seven campuses:



The program consists of six courses with 5 ECTS credits each. Thus, students enrolled in the ISM Business Certificate program can earn 30 ECTS credits in one semester.

For more information on the business certificate, please see the Fact Sheet International Business Certificate (PDF).


Core and Specialization Modules

See the Course Description (PDF) for each ISM campus.

Dortmund Campus

Core Modules*Specialization Modules*
  • Module 1: Project Management, Operations Management, Strategic Management, International Business Law.
  • Module 2 (fully online): Strategic Controlling, Crisis Management, Branding & Communication Management, Doing Business in a Global Economy.
  • Module 3: International Finance Management, International Trade & Sales, Marketing Controlling, Business Ethics.
  • Tourism Track: Strategic Tourism Management, International Tourism Markets.
  • International Management Track (fully online): Leading to High Performance, Competitive Advantage.
  • Finance Track: Implementation of Derivatives, International Financial Reporting (fall), International Auditing (spring).
  • Communication Track: Strategic Public Relations, Intercultural Communication.

*Important: Please note that we can only guarantee that there is no overlapping of courses in your schedule if you choose courses belonging to one core block (please do not mix courses of different core blocks)! The specialization courses can be mixed out of different tracks.


Frankfurt Campus

Core ModulesSpecialization Modules
  • Module 4 (fall term): Business Ethics, Business Planning, Theory & Exercises, Moderation & Presentation, Principles of Corporate Management.
  • Module 5 (spring term): Marketing Controlling, International Finance Management, Strategic Management, International Trade & Sales.
  • Communication Track (fall term): Strategic Public Relations, Intercultural Communication.
  • Communication Track (spring term): Strategic Public Relations, Intercultural Communication.
  • Finance Track (spring term): Implementation of Derivatives, International Financial Reporting.

Munich Campus

Core ModulesSpecialization Modules
  • Module 6: International Trade & Sales, Strategic Management, Global Communications, International Finance Management.
  • International Management Track: Leading to High Performance, Competitive Advantage.

Hamburg Campus

Core ModulesSpecialization Modules
  • Module 7: Marketing Controlling, International Finance Management, Strategic Controlling, International Trade & Sales.
  • Psychology & Management Track: Consumer Psychology, Structuring of Consulting Projects.

Cologne Campus

Core ModulesSpecialization Modules
  • Module 8: Strategic Controlling, Branding & Communications Management, Crisis Management, Doing Business in a Global Economy.
  • Luxury & Fashion Management Track: Marketing of Luxury Goods & Fashion, Luxury & Fashion Buying and Merchandising.

Berlin Campus

Core ModulesSpecialization Modules
  • Module 9 (fall term): Marketing Controlling, International Trade & Sales, International Finance Management, Moderation & Presentation.
  • Module 10 (spring term): Project Management, Strategic Management, Operations Management, International Business Law.
  • Sports Management Track (fall term): Introduction to International Sports Management, Management of International Professional Sports.
  • Law Track (spring term): Introduction to German Law, Trademark Law and Unfair Competition Law.

See the description of the modules for all campuses here.



Do you have any questions about studying? Please contact us!

Carolin Krabs
Director International Office
Carolin Krabs
+49 231.97 51 39-558
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Antonia Mai
Campus Dortmund
Antonia Mai
+49 231.97 51 39-358
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Tina Fink
Campus Munich
Tina Fink
+49 89.2 00 03 50-33
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Anna Pironi
Campus Cologne and Hamburg
Anna Pironi
+49 221.27 09 95-32
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Cynthia Aßmann
Campus Stuttgart
Cynthia Aßmann
+49 711.51 89 62-150
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Nicole Meier
Campus Berlin
Nicole Meier
+49 30.3 15 19 35-14
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Eva Quel
Coordinator Incoming Students
Eva Quel
+49 231.97 51 39-556
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