International Focus
The ISM offers its students a comprehensive international education. Thus, international bachelor’s students must combine their business studies with a second foreign language either German, French or Spanish. Students complete one or two semesters of study abroad in a European or overseas country.

Depending on their specialization, ISM students choose an institution from the ISM’s around 190 partner universities. The semester abroad is designed to further develop and expand their intercultural and language competencies and enhance and deepen their professional knowledge in an international context.


Practical Orientation
All ISM programs are rigorously geared to the needs of the real business world. This goal is fostered by the hands-on experience of ISM lecturers, many of whom have held or currently hold management positions in the business world. Furthermore, comprehensive internship phases, as well as a practically-oriented thesis form the foundation of ISM programs. Influential corporate representatives serving on the Board of Trustees help to shape the ISM’s educational concept. They give students the opportunity to do internships and consulting projects for class credits at their companies.


Personal Atmosphere
In contrast to the typical anonymity of large lecture halls in many universities, the ISM offers students a personal atmosphere thanks to small class sizes, an interactive learning environment and a large number of leisure activities. The small class size allows instructors to give students individual attention and forms the groundwork for an interactive classroom environment.


Professional and Social Skills
The first three semesters of all ISM bachelor’s programs provide students with the fundamentals of business management. Depending on their chosen study program, this core education is supplemented by lectures in communications, tourism, psychology, fashion management, sports management, business law or finance.

The master’s programs are designed to provide students with extensive professional knowledge in a short period of time. In the first and second semester, students acquire advanced basics and specific knowledge in order to meet the demands of their specialization. In addition to gaining professional knowledge, students also practice soft skills such as communication and negotiation techniques. Case studies and hands-on projects guarantee that students have the chance to apply their theoretical knowledge to practical use at a very early stage, as well fostering cooperation and teamwork.


Compact Program of Study
ISM students acquire professional skills, gain practical experience, and have the chance to be immersed in other cultures – all within a short period of time. ISM students are gaining real-life professional experience.