Retail and Consumer Management (M. A.)

International retail companies and brand manufacturers need highly educated leaders endowed with competencies in the fields of strategy, internationalization, marketing conception, retail and consumer management as well as in the digitization in the retail and consumer sector. All this knowledge will be imparted to students registering for this newly introduced master programme, which is further the only study programme of the THI Business School taught in English.

The Retail and Consumer Management program is a consecutive master’s degree course that builds on a bachelor’s degree, providing the students with necessary conceptual and strategic skills to pursue a career in a variety of exciting retail and brand manufacturing industries - from lifestyle products to electronic consumer goods to automotive sales. The transfer and development of expertise in intercultural competencies in order to meet the considerable and growing demands of the increasingly globalized retail management completes the education.

As the language of instruction is English, the target group are international students with a first degree and practical experience in the field of competence of retail and consumers.

Degree
Master of Arts (M. A.)
Duration
3 Semester
Start of studies
Winter

Accreditation
German Accreditation Council
Aptitude Test
Yes
Dual Study
Yes Dual Offers
Language
English

The study program Retail and Consumer Management is a post-graduate master program of two full-time study semesters, followed by a third semester proposed for the master’s dissertation. The course combines in-depth academic studies with practical examples.
During the first and second semester, the students will learn the principles of retail operations, market research and environment, retail concepts and value management. Further, a retail and consumer project is completed. The detailed modules are shown in the diagram. See the module handbook for details and descriptions of the individual subjects.
With completion of the master’s thesis, the academic degree Master of Arts is awarded, which enables students for either a qualified job entry in the retail industry or a post-graduate research program.

RCM insights - the video

Produced by our students. For prospective students.

Curriculum

1. Semester

Market Research and Consumer Behaviour in Retailing

Trademark, Retail and Consumer Law

Retail Locations and International Retailing

Retail Lab: Consumer Projects and Project Management

Retail and Consumer Management

Electives

2. Semester

Digital Commerce

Retail Branding and Store Marketing

Strategic Retail Management, Merger and Acquisitions in Retailing

Digital Marketing

Sales and Customer Lifecycle Management

Supply Chain Management in Retailing

3. Semester

2nd or 3rd Sem.: Retail and Consumer Project

Master‘s Thesis

Quick Info

Admission and application

Evidence of the following qualifications has to be provided for admission to the master’s degree course in Retail and Consumer Management (RCM):

An economics or commercial-oriented bachelor’s degree from a German university with at least 210 ECTS credit points or an equivalent qualification from a university in Germany or abroad. A certificate must be submitted as proof. The Examination Committee decides on equivalence.
Applicants must pass an aptitude test for the master's degree course in Retail and Consumer Management. Please find ddetails in Appendix 2 of the Statutes.
Proof of sufficient knowledge of the English language (level B2 of the Common European Framework). Please see the section "Language skills" on the pages of our Legal Dept. for details.
Please note: Your admission cannot be reviewed until all application documents have been submitted. It is not possible to make a final statement without looking at the certificates first. We cannot provide advance information regarding your chances of admission by e-mail or telephone.

More details on how to apply.
The following link containsinformation on the application procedure for applicants from abroad.

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 RCM 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 a retail-related subject 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 or commercial sciences.

NOTE: Please note that where documents are submitted to show evidence of practical professional experience or either practical or theoretical achievements worth 30 ECTS – in addition to a bachelor’s degree – the documents must clearly indicate that the 30 ECTS were obtain over and above the bachelor's degree programme. Confirmation can be provided by the university showing that the ECTS/internship were not counted towards the first degree. The duration of the practical professional experience gained outside the first degree should be equivalent to 20 weeks of full-time work. Furthermore, the internship reference must be submitted in officially certified form together with the other application documents.

Please see the Study and Examination Regulations for details.

Practical information for international students

Find more information about living costs in Germany, how to find accomodation, what do to when you are sick et cetera.

THI International Office

If you have any questions, you can get in touch with the THI International Office.

Job profiles

The master's programme enables our graduates to apply for operative and strategic professional and management tasks in the field of retail management, retail and consumer marketing, product management, sales management as well as in particular in the area of digital commerce, digital consumer services, marketing and media agencies, start-ups and retail companies.

Testimonials

The biggest plus of this Master's degree program are the courses and lectures held by international lecturers. They are usually only here for a few weeks, so they have to teach us a lot of material in a short time. This is exhausting, but also very instructive. I would definitely study the Master again.
Sarah Elgaard Nielsen, graduate

The study group is small, so the atmosphere is very familiar and I can make many contacts, which I like very much. The content of the Master's program is designed for international markets, the topics are very diverse and it has practical relevance in the right places. All in all a great experience!
Teresa Schauer, graduate

Contact student counselling

All about application, enrollment and examination

Apply online

Program director

Program director Retail and Consumer Management
Prof. Dr. Marc Knoppe
Phone: +49 841 9348-4490
Room: A240
E-Mail: Marc.Knoppe@thi.de

Contact

Dekanatsreferentin
Iris Schmidt, Dipl.-Kffr.
Phone: +49 841 9348-3303
Room: F206
E-Mail: Iris.Schmidt@thi.de

Module Handbook

Module handbook

Study and Examination Regulations

Study and examination regulations (SPO) deal with judicial matters concerning your study course. You find all SPOs on the website of the legal department.