Successfully complete your management studies with a master’s degree

Program content, duration & career

• What do you have to study to become a manager?
• How long does a management degree take?
• Management studies-what is it? 
• What management courses are there?
• What can you do with a management degree?
• Why study management?
• What do you study in management? 
• What careers are there in the field of management?
• What did managers study?

What do you have to study to become a manager?

The term “manager” does not refer to a degree within a specific subject, but rather a position for which you qualify. You can either take up a specialist course to become a manager or decide directly to study management such as with a Master in Management or Master in International Business (although any of the master’s degree at WHU can lead to a role in management).

The decision to study management often comes directly after completing a bachelor's degree or after a few years of working for the first time. You will expand and deepen your existing knowledge by acquiring in-depth experience of business and economics, controlling and accounting, operational and human resources management, law and marketing. In addition, you usually choose a focus that fits the industry in which you would like to work later or in which you already work as part of a dual management degree program.

How long does a management degree take?

How long a business management course takes depends on what previous education you have and which form of study you choose. If you have already acquired a bachelor's degree in management or a relevant subject, you usually already have up to three or four years of study behind you. If you then want to study management full-time, plan an additional year or two for postgraduate studies.

If you decide to study management at WHU, you can choose content, courses and degrees flexibly to suit your current life situation and your previous background. For example, you have the choice of obtaining a Master in Finance, Entrepreneurship, or Business Analytics in either 17 or 21 months Alternatively, you can choose to study part-time through the Part-Time Master in Management (Master of Arts) in 17 months.Perhaps this is just worded strangely, but usually a bachelor's degree is at least 3 years, and in some countries, 4 years. So it should be "up to four years of study," though I'm not sure if I understood this entire sentence.

If this is referring specifically to our general management MSc Programs, students cannot choose between 17 or 21 months. There is only one track for MiM and MIB, which is 21 months full-time.

Management studies – what is it?

Management was originally only a sub-discipline of courses such as business administration or economics. But with the complexity of the tasks that managers take on in all industries, the need for a comprehensive course of study that prepares aspiring managers for these tasks has grown.

The course covers all industries in which managers are sought: Pharmaceuticals or new technologies, trade and industry, administration or tourism. During your studies, you will acquire the theoretical and practical tools to manage the company you will work for. On the one hand, you deal with the “hard facts” such as controlling, business administration, investment or negotiation techniques. On the other hand, in modules on topics such as leadership or team building, you will also acquire the soft skills and strategic knowledge to successfully advance your department or company.

What management courses are there?

Management courses differ in terms of course content, course organization and the degrees you obtain. For example, you can study business management, international management, nursing management and the like to become a manager. Courses such as Business Management or International Management guarantee you a wide range of options for your future career choice, as you do not have to commit to a specific industry. The WHU master's programs in management combine a broad management course with mostly flexible modules that deepen specific knowledge.

What can you do with a management degree?

Start your own company, manage an existing company, or become self-employed as a consultant: The business management course offers you a wide range of opportunities to develop professionally according to your ideas.

As a rule, students work their way up to a role in a managerial position, for example in human resources, sales, marketing or project management of a company. Others may decide to take on responsible positions in NGOs, in public administration or in international organizations, such as the EU or the UN.

If you are more of a founder type or if it is important to you to work independently, you will also acquire the basics for this in your management studies at WHU, since you are able to choose your own electives.

Because MSc graduates are inexperienced, they cannot necessarily "choose" managerial positions straight out of the program - they would probably have to work their way up. This might, however, be true for MBA graduates. The students cannot choose their own majors - they can choose electives.

Why study management?

A management degree requires a high degree of willingness to qualify for management tasks with hard work and discipline. So before you start studying, it's worth thinking about your personal reasons for choosing to do so.

The course is a good choice for anyone who is enthusiastic about dealing intensively with such diverse content as business administration, innovation management, corporate governance, leadership, human resources management, marketing and more. One of the overarching goals is that you want to achieve a position in middle or upper management in which you can fulfill yourself professionally and personally and which also rewards you financially for your high level of commitment.

What do you study in management?

The business management course at WHU is divided into compulsory modules and electives so that you can flexibly set your own priorities. Accordingly, our management courses are not assigned to specific industries, but are suitable for students who want to lay a solid foundation for their career responsibly and with the support of our lecturers.

The content that you can study in depth includes, for example, business analytics, leadership, supply chain management or financial accounting. Practical phases, stays abroad, advice in the career center and the opportunity to acquire a second master's degree in just two semesters round off the course. 

What careers are there in the field of management?

A management degree gives you access to a variety of careers in middle and upper management. The industry selection is also diverse; for example, you can become a manager in the IT industry, in healthcare, in the hotel industry, in the automotive industry or in the culture, media and tourism industry. Managers find employment in listed companies just as they do in other types of companies.

The typical careers that students aspire to after studying management include supply chain manager, project manager, human resources manager, key account manager or marketing manager. The specific skills required depend on the industry, the specific job description and whether the company is a regional, national or global company. For example, if you want to pursue a career as a global supply chain manager, your studies should already have an international focus.

What did managers study?

Around 50% of international executives and top managers have completed a degree in economics or business administration, often in combination with a Master in Business Administration (MBA). An undergraduate degree in financial accounting, economics or the natural sciences and a postgraduate degree in management also represent a perfect combination for aspiring managers. In addition, many managers originally come from courses such as computer science and industrial science. However, for you to assert yourself as a manager, a specialist degree alone is usually not enough.

In addition to the content, the international orientation of the management course is particularly important for managers. Around 75% of managers have already gained experience abroad during their studies. It is therefore ideal to study management at a university such as WHU, where you acquire business-related and management-related skills in an internationally oriented course.