Prof. Dr. Hasan Koç about BA Business Administration
Prof. Dr. Hasan Koç discusses studying business administration at Berlin International and answers the most frequently asked questions about our programs. Check out the interview below.
About the BA Business Administration Programs at BI
Our BA Business Administration: International Management & Marketing program teaches students to manage a diverse workforce, organize projects, and devise international management and marketing strategies. The BA Business Administration: Human Resource Management & Leadership program, on the other hand, encourages students to delve deep into the dynamics of employee behavior and the impact this has on the functioning of organizations. Both programs are:
- Taught exclusively in English.
- Accredited by the Accreditation Council (Akkreditierungsrat).
- In professional partnerships with businesses and organizations to help students gain real-world experience.
Interview with Prof. Dr. Hasan Koç
Hi, my name is Hasan Koç. I am a professor at the Faculty of Business Administration and the Head of the Bachelor of Business Administration program.
BI is a very student-friendly university. We have a close relationship with our students, and they can reach out to us regarding any matter - our door is always open. I would also like to add that BI is very practice-driven. That means that our programs are created with the needs of the industry in mind. Our university has very close ties to the industrial partners, so we make sure that our students learn how to apply theory in real-life scenarios.
In today’s globalized world, decision-makers need to be aware of the diversity of their workforce. BI has a very strong international orientation. We have students coming from different nationalities and we prepare them for the global job market. Our university is set within the unique Berlin context, which is not only a hub for cultural exchange and intercultural experience but also a place for many interesting multinational corporations and startups.
BA Business Administration: International Marketing & Management
In the International Marketing and Management (IMM) program, students are exposed to a wide array of topics covering economics, finance, international business, and marketing. Through the international lens, our students develop cultural literacy, analytical skills, and the ability to apply all those theoretical models to real-life scenarios. This makes our graduates ready for the working world.
Our IMM students work on real-life situations. To name an example, in the international business module, our students this year are working on a project where they investigate how attractive their chosen country is for foreign direct investments. Students, therefore, get the opportunity to collect data, examine some trends, conduct research, and use such findings to make recommendations. And indeed, this is our approach to learning at BI. We help students to become independent and creative thinkers.
BA Business Administration: Human Resource Management & Leadership
In the HRM and Leadership program, our students learn about traditional HRM viewpoints and pay great attention to contemporary issues in the field, such as new work, employee well-being, diversity at work, and HR analytics. We utilize transdisciplinary methods and models, together with empirical evidence, to find out what organizations can do to bolster employee engagement, positive work, and productivity.
Students graduate with a strong ability to think creatively and solve problems within the people management sphere. Throughout their studies, they apply their knowledge through case studies from across the globe. Moreover, our assignments are carefully constructed to ensure they reflect real-life scenarios within organizations. This gives students the opportunity to solve real-life problems that they may face when they begin working. It also means they get the chance to solve problems that have a real impact on society.
Working in HR and Marketing
HR is such an interesting field to work in nowadays, with many new roles opening up in companies, such as diversity officer, human network analyst, director of well-being, employee enablement coach, and more. Due to the breadth of subjects they cover, they can actually take many different routes in their careers. They graduate with analytical and communicative skills, which are valuable resources for modern-day organizations. Research on the most common sectors for graduates in this field includes finance, marketing, and sales within management consultancy, banks, and technology firms.
For those interested in marketing careers, they could include advertising, PR, brand management, and content writing. For example, if you go ahead and search on LinkedIn, there are over 2,000 entry-level marketing jobs in Berlin.
About Berlin International
Berlin International University of Applied Science is part of a global network of universities and other scientific institutions that cooperate in different areas. Through the so-called BAU Global Network, we offer hands-on projects with our partners not only in Berlin but also around the world.
We pay attention to employer needs and help our students develop a skill set relevant to the challenges of the 21st-century workplace. We practice these skills in close relationships with our partner networks. Berlin allows our students to interact with creative and startup industries during their studies and benefit from the network consisting of major corporate partners.
About Berlin
Studying is not only about participating in the courses. As you might know, it is also about learning how to socialize. So, looking from this perspective, Berlin is highly attractive. From a cultural standpoint, the city has a unique history. It has the largest museum ensembles in the world. There is a plethora of choices when it comes to cafes, restaurants, clubs, or gigs, and the city has a good public transport network. If you need help, most people speak English, and they are eager to help you. For young professionals, the startup scene in Berlin is quite energetic, and it offers a lot of variety. Berlin is also an ideal base for creatives and the self-employed.
I would describe BI as networked, respectful, and diverse. Our programs are practice-oriented, modern, and intercultural. Berlin is colorful, inspirational, and inclusive.
Thank you for taking the time to read our article about studying at Berlin International from Prof. Dr. Hasan Koç. If you are interested in pursuing your studies in Berlin, take a look at our programs in Business Administration.
Feel free to reach out to our Admissions Team at any time via application@berlin-international.de.
Apply for BA Business Administration
To meet our admission requirements for the Bachelor degree programs in Business Administration, 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 is 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.
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
If you current educational qualficiations do not fully meet the Abitur/ Fachabitur-level in Germany, and you will need a Preparatory Course or additional studies, here are your 3 options:
Option 1: International Year One
Through our brand new partnership with the Touro University Berlin, the International Year One is the perfect pathway to fulfill one year of university study after higher secondary education, ensuring a smooth transition into our bachelor programs in business administration.
Find out more here.
Option 2: Study time
As an alternative to our International Year One, you can enroll at a university 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 or related 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 1 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.
Option 3: Studienkolleg
A 'Studienkolleg' is a university preparatory course to prepare your for German universities. There are different types of Studienkolleg programs, for business programs, you would need to choose the 'W' or 'WW' course.
German language is required for anyone wanting to study at a Berlin-accredited university after completing the Studienkolleg.Therefore, it is not a typical route for our students.
For more information on Studienkolleg programs, click 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.
Applicants for our bachelor programs in Business Administration can join our International Year One, through our new partner Touro University Berlin, to meet the admission requirements mentioned above.
Find out more here.
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, including course acknowledgement and transfer applications, 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.