Master's Program in Business Informatics
Learning Agreements
What is a Learning Agreement, and which forms of recognition are possible for courses they are concluded for?
Learning Agreements are your insurance that the courses you choose to attend at your higher education institution abroad will be recognized by your home university upon return.
Generally, there are two ways of recognizing coursework and examinations you complete abroad:
- direct recognition as an equivalent course (equivalent to a course of your program)
- indirect recognition as an ”International Course“ (complementary to the courses of your program)
Note that it is not possible to obtain a learning agreement for coures that neither meet the requirements for direct nor for indirect recognition.
Direct recognition
An abroad course that is essentially equivalent to a single course from the module catalog of your program can be directly recognized. Such courses must cover at least 70% of the compentencies that you aquire in the local course, based on the course description in the module catalog, and will then substitute the local course. To discuss whether a particular abroad course can be directly recognized, please contact the chair offering the equivalent local course in your degree program.
Indirect recognition
An abroad course that is not present in the module catalog of your program but relevant to the program can be indirectly recognized as an BI656 International Course. Such courses must provide at least 70% of competencies that are not provided by any of the courses in your degree program, based on the course descriptions in the module catalog. Indirectly recognized courses must not exceed 18 ECTS credits in total. To discuss whether a particular course can be indirectly recognized, please send your proposed learning agreement to the examination board via email (but do not contact a chair directly)..
Indirect Learning Agreements have to be send to the examination board via Email.
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Conversion of Credits from abroad to ECTS credits in cases of indirect recognition
The examination committee determines how many ECTS credits you will receive for a BI656 International Course. The number of ECTS credits awarded is calculated by converting the credits of the host university. In many cases, students are not awarded the usual 6 ECTS credits as in Mannheim, but different ECTS values. Keep in mind that we can only recognize a total of 18 ECTS credits for International Courses in the master’s programs. Higher education institutions in European countries usually also use ECTS credits or credit systems that are equivalent to ECTS.
Should I choose courses for direct recognition or courses for indirect recognition?
As the number of courses subject to direct recognition is generally unlimited, unlike International Courses, you should choose such courses wherever possible. Courses that are directly recognized also bear the advantage that the credits obtained in these courses do not have to be converted.
What do I need to do in order to conclude a Learning Agreement and to obtain my credits?
Once you have been accepted by a partner university (in the case of free movers, the letter of acceptance will come directly from the university abroad), you should start filling out your Learning Agreement. We strongly advise you to conclude the Learning Agreement before you go abroad. That way, you are on the safe side and already know beforehand which courses will be recognized for your studies at home.
The Learning Agreement consists of two forms:
- Fill out the cover sheet once.
- Fill out one Learning Agreement form for each of the modules you intend to study abroad.
For the recognition of your courses and credits, you need to follow two steps:
After it has been decided which higher education institution you will be going to, but before departing, you take one Learning Agreement form for each module you intend to study abroad to the respective chair in order to have the module approved. The contact persons for courses in Business Informatics are the professors and lecturers who teach these courses. Meanwhile, for courses offered at the School of Humanities, in Mathematics in Business and Economics, at the Business School, or the Department of Economics, please contact:
- all indirect Learning Agreements: Prüfungsausschuss WIM
- School of Humanities
- Mathematics in Business and Economics: PD Dr. Thomas Reichelt
- Business Administration and Information Systems Chairs:
- Direct recognition: Learning Agreements Business Administration
- Indirect recognition: Prüfungsausschuss WIM
- Economics: Christiane Cischinsky
- Please note that we can only process complete applications and the processing time can take up to 4 weeks, depending on the effort involved and the current status of the applications for Learning Agreements.
After your return from abroad, please hand in the following four documents to your examination committee :
- Request form for recognition of coursework and examinations
- Transcript of Records from the partner university: Original Transcript of Records stamped and signed by your host institution or a transcript verified by the International Office in Mannheim. For this purpose, the host university must send the document digitally to the address transcripts. The verified transcript will then be made available digitally to the examination committee and you will be notified of this. If your host institution issues transcripts exclusively through an online portal and it is NOT possible to have your transcript sent directly to us through the portal, please inform us at uni-mannheim.detranscripts and we will let you know how to have your transcript verified. uni-mannheim.de
- Learning Agreement(s), signed by the chairs at the University of Mannheim, as well as the cover sheet
- Confirmation by the International Office that you handed in your report
Your documents will then be checked and your grades converted. Grades obtained abroad will be recognized by the University of Mannheim on the basis of these conversion tables. After your documents have been checked, we will return the originals to you and transmit a copy to Student Services.Please submit your application via your university email address. Please send your documents to pruefungsausschuss.wim. To verify your transcript, please ask your host university to send your transcript directly to the University of Mannheim ( uni-mannheim.detranscripts). Please note that we can only process complete applications and the processing time can take up to 4 weeks, depending on the effort involved and the current status of the applications. uni-mannheim.de
Which forms do I need to fill out in order to conclude a Learning Agreement?
Degree plans and course schedules
Degree plans
The master’s program in Business Informatics is a program taught exclusively in English combining the fields of computer science and business administration. The goal of the study concept is to equip students with the fundamental knowledge of business informatics specialists while giving them the opportunity to specialize in key areas of business informatics as well. The seminars and projects are designed to go beyond basic skills, and provide students with an in-depth understanding as well as professional competences. While the goal of the seminars is for students to learn scientific argumentation in discussion, presentation and writing, the team project simulates real world situations in project management and teamwork.
The program covers five major areas:
1. Fundamentals Computer Science (18 ECTS credits):
On the basis of the knowledge acquired during your bachelor’s studies, this area serves to further develop the core competences needed as a business IT specialist. Here you can choose the courses that are necessary to prepare you for your area of specialization as you progress in your studies. You are required to earn 18 ECTS credits in this area.
2. Fundamentals Business Administration (at least 18 ECTS credits):
In this area, you can choose courses in Accounting and Taxation, Banking, Finance and Insurance, Management, Marketing and Operations Management. These lectures are offered by the Business School and offer you a great opportunity to either gain expertise in a certain domain or to acquire broad knowledge about different areas in business administration. You need to earn at least 18 ECT credits in this area.
3. Specialization Courses (36 ECTS credits):
In this area, you can choose six courses from the specialization modules offered by our chairs on a wide array of topics. As the school wants to encourage students to focus on their main interests, you are given the freedom to choose your courses accordingly.
4. Projects and Seminars (18 ECTS credits):
In addition to the subject-specific expertise you acquire during your studies, it is important to us that you also develop social skills and soft skills. Employers will look at your personal qualities, attitudes, skills and abilities, especially in terms of communication and motivation. Although these qualifications are often gained from life and work experience, it is possible to train and develop them.
The key qualification course ”Scientific Research“ (2 ECTS credits) teaches basic tools and methods for scientific research and academic writing. The course is offered several times a semester as a block seminar. You will be able to use these tools in the selected seminar (4 ECTS credits) to discuss, present and write about current research questions in business informatics.
The team project (12 ECTS credits), which is an integral part of the program, can be taken for six months or can be stretched out over twelve months. It not only provides students with technical skills, but also social skills in project management and teamwork.
5. Master’s Thesis (30 ECTS credits):
With your thesis, you demonstrate that you have the necessary skills and abilities to independently work on a subject-specific problem using scientific methods.
Team projects, seminars and thesis topics are offered by the individual chairs of the School of Business Informatics and Mathematics and the Business School. Students can discuss current topics of business informatics in practical application or in research.
Course schedules
Examinations
There are various forms of examination at the University of Mannheim, with written examinations playing a central role. These are held in fixed examination periods. There are two examination periods per semester: The first usually begins immediately after the end of the lecture period, while the second usually starts in the week before the start of the new semester.
In addition to written examinations, students also have other examination formats at their disposal, such as assignments, projects or oral examinations. These offer the opportunity to perform individually in different contexts.
You can find more information about examinations here.Examination regulations and module catalog
The module catalog 2024/
2025 and the appendix gives an overview of the courses and contents of the program. Please read the examination regulations for your program carefully.
Examination committee
Chairman
Credit: Leonie KopetzkiStudent representative: Michael Timpelan
You can contact the examination committee via pruefungsausschuss.wim uni-mannheim.de
Tasks of the central examination committee
We are responsible for the following topics :
- Advice on examination regulations
- Advice on module changes
- Advice in individual cases (such as extension of deadlines)
- Approval of reasons for withdrawal or delay
- Extension of examination deadlines
- Serious cases of cheating and breaches of regulations
- Determination of definitive failure with no option to re-sit
- Identification of missed deadlines
- Invalidity of examinations
- Appeal procedure
- Recognition of coursework and examinations
- Semester recognition certificates for BAföG, form 5 according to § 48 BAföG (also for LAG WPO)
For further general information regarding the Master in Business Informatics contact:
Credit: Emilie OrglerAdvisory service
The student advisory (run by the study coach and program manager) is a combined offer for the master's program in Business Informatics.
You can consult us in questions regarding:
- the study program
- the module catalog
- the examination regulations
- cases of hardship
- questions about module changes
- contents of courses
- your degree plan (modules, tracks, thesis)
You can contact the advisory service via studienberatung.wim. uni-mannheim.de
Credit: Emilie OrglerCredit: Emilie OrglerMaster’s thesis
Finding a supervisor and a topic for your master’s thesis requires early planning and initiative on your part. It is primarily your responsibility as a student to contact a chair that fits your study profile. This means that you need to contact several chairs or professors on your own initiative in order to find someone who will agree to supervise your thesis. It is the norm that students contact the chairs personally, and something we expect from students at our school.
Master’s students of Business Informatics may write their thesis either in the field of business informatics or informatics. Please inform yourself about the requirements of each chair.