Financial Management and Controlling (M. A.)

Evidence of the following qualifications has to be provided for admission to the master’s degree course in Financial Management and Controlling (FC):

• An economics degree from a German university with at least 210 credit points and or an equivalent qualification from a university in Germany or abroad. A certificate must be submitted as proof. The Examination Commission decides on equivalence.
• Proof of sufficient proficiency in English at level B2.  In the General statutes section of the Law Office you will find the document "Recognized English Tests B2" where all tests recognized as equivalent are listed; this is not required if the university entrance qualification or first degree was acquired in English or the applicant can show that English is their mother tongue.

The course is subject to limited admissions. 

Find more details on how to apply.
The following link contains information for applicants from abroad concerning the application procedure.

NOTE on 180 ECTS:

Can I apply even if I have obtained less than 210 ECTS (normally 180 ECTS) in my previous bachelor’s degree?

It is possible to apply for the FMC master’s degree with less than 210 ECTS; however, proof of compensation of the missing 30 ECTS has to be provided no later than the end of the application period by means of:

• proof of practical experience outside the degree course which corresponds to the practical semester of a bachelor’s degree in economics in terms of content and scope
  or
• proof of practical or theoretical study and examinations taken at a German or foreign university in addition to the student’s first degree which corresponds in content and scope to the demands of a bachelor's degree in economics.

Please see the Study and Examination Regulations for details.

The dual studies programme enables a combination of practical training elements in a company with the theoretical education provided by the university. There is a choice of either the joint model (academic study + vocational training) or the degree course with vocational experience (academic study + intense practical phases). There is an obvious advantage to students here: practically oriented academic study generally enables a particularly smooth transition from university to the world of work. What is more, the student usually receives financial remuneration from the company concerned.

In the joint model, students may start working at the company several months before the start of the first semester, depending on the company concerned. At the start of the course there is an alternation between theory (during the semester) and practical experience (between semesters and during the practical semesters). In order to embark on a dual studies programme, students have to apply to both a company and to THI (be sure to take note of company application deadlines!).

More info on our dual studies-pages, or check dual cooperation partner companies. Even if no partner company is currently active in this degree programme, you are welcome to contact us.

The master’s degree course in Financial Management and Controlling enables students to acquire a double degree in cooperation with the University of the Sunshine Coast (Australia). By taking one or two semester at the partner university, students on this course have the opportunity to gain two master's degrees. One degree is awarded by THI, the other by the University of the Sunshine Coast.

More information about double degrees is available from the International Office.

A Summer School programme in China forms an integral part of the master's degree course in Financial Management and Controlling. The aim of the Summer School is to give students the opportunity to come into contact with a different culture, thereby acquiring greater familiarity with and understanding of the country and its people. Courses are offered at very prestigious universities for this purpose in English on the subjects of business, the legal system, culture and language. In addition to a full programme of lectures, a varied and interesting programme of accompanying activities is also organised. These include talks and visits to local companies as well as a sightseeing programme taking in many of the impressive sights the country has to offer.

Impressions of the 2015 Summer School

Anne: “What I really liked about the Summer School was the sheer diversity of the programme. Coming into direct contact with Chinese students was particularly fascinating – I can fully recommend this to anyone with an interest in intercultural exchange.”

Kathrin: “A superb experience – absolutely unforgettable! I fully recommend it!”

Why did you opt for the master’s degree course in Financial Management and Controlling?

Michael, 1st semester
“I opted for Financial Management and Controlling because the three days of lectures allow me to do a student traineeship so I can gain additional practical experience on the side. On this master’s degree course I can extend the knowledge I gained from my bachelor’s in international business administration with a focus on finance, as well as acquiring skills in the area of strategic management. Another bonus is the Summer School in China, which is a great way to expand your cultural horizon.”

Cedo, 1st semester
“I definitely feel I opted for the right course at the right university, mainly due to the very well-founded yet practically oriented modules, the open style of the lectures with lots of debate and not least the opportunity to take the master’s degree in Financial Management and Controlling in cooperation with a company as a dual studies programme.”

Julian, 2nd semester
“I’m taking the master’s degree course in Financial Management and Controlling at THI because I’m impressed by the overall concept: a high-quality, challenging curriculum in the areas of finance, accounting, controlling and taxation, practically oriented lectures in small groups and experienced lecturers with a business grounding as well as excellent technical and organisational facilities at the university. And the Summer School gives you the opportunity to get to know China on a four-week seminar. Although the course content is demanding and extensive, I strongly believe that the effort is worth it for this master’s degree, because it allows me to close any gaps in my knowledge and further extend my professional skills.”

Christina, 2nd semester
"The master's in Financial Management and Controlling is application-oriented and cross-disciplinary in its approach, and this is very much in demand in the labour market. The small groups mean you can quickly establish contact with other students, and it’s also easier to tackle complex material this way.

The qualification profile gained in completing the course is designed to enable students to take on highly qualified specialist and management positions in the areas of controlling, finance, accounting and tax, e.g. as business director, or in an international context as CFO (Chief Financial Officer), initially of a smaller business unit.

Information relating to application.

Application periods:

For the winter semester: 02 May to 15 July
For the summer semester: 15 November to 15 January

Students who have applied previously are not at any advantage or disadvantage.

A full list of documents is provided in the application tool.
Here you will also find detailed requirements in terms of the form in which the documents have to be submitted. All documents initially have to be uploaded online.
In the event of admission to the master's degree course, certain documents then have to be submitted as an original or as a certified copy.

The bachelor’s degree certificate can be submitted later providing evidence is submitted before the regular application deadline that the applicant will complete their first degree course at the end of the current semester with 210 ECTS points. This is done by uploading a recent transcript of records and proof of the final ECTS credits earned upon graduation (for example, excerpt study and examination regulation). Whatever happens, the final certificate or confirmation of successful completion of the first degree must be submitted no later than at matriculation. 

• It is not possible to provide information about the NC (numerus clausus – admission restriction) for the master’s degree course during the application period because it will not yet have been determined at this point.
• Your admission cannot be reviewed until your application documents have been submitted. It is not possible to make a definitive statement without looking at the certificates first.

Waiting semesters are not counted in connection with an application to a master's degree course. Students who have applied previously are not at any advantage or disadvantage.

The lectures and seminars of this degree course are organised in block form, so it is essentially possible to do a part-time job while studying. However, please be sure to consider the significant workload that this involves: all master’s courses require preparation and follow-up, and there will be several project assignments during the semester. If regular employment is pursued there is very little scope for other private activities.

• By the time of matriculation you have to have acquired sufficient proficiency in English, demonstrated by submitting a Test of English As a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a point score or at least 530, a computer-based TOEFL with a point score or at least 197, an online TOEFL with a point score of at least 71 or an equivalent qualification.
• This is not required if the university entrance qualification (school-leaving certificate qualifying the student for a bachelor's degree in Germany) or the first university degree was acquired in English, or if the applicant can show that English is their mother tongue.