| 12 core courses | 60 credits |
| 7 courses from the Major | 35 credits |
| 4 courses from the Minor | 20 credits |
| 11 electives | 55 credits |
| Extra-Curricular Activities | 5 credits |
| Capstone Project | 5 credits |
| up to 34 courses + extra-curricular + capstone | 180 credits |
|---|
Undergraduate Programs / Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)
Starting dates
Our academic calendar is based on a quarter system (1 quarter = 10 weeks). Because of the program's flexible structure and modular design, multiple starting dates are available at the start of every Quarter, in October, January, April, July, and exceptionally also in Term B of the Summer Quarter in August. All campuses follow the same academic calendar.
Program duration
Full-time students can earn a Bachelor degree in 3 academic years of 9 months, for a total of 9 quarters of 20 credits each, or in 4 academic years for a total of 12 quarters of 15 credits each when spreading the workload.
Teaching schedule
Courses are available in various formats, including daytime courses between 8.30 and 18.30, seminar courses with visiting professors on consecutive days, and several online courses available 24/7, or any combination in a blended format. Courses are scheduled typically in sessions of 3 hours each. Connect with an admissions advisor, or refer to the course planning once enrolled to find out more about course availability in specific formats throughout the academic year.
Program language
All courses are taught entirely in English across the campus network. Students should have a certain proficiency in English when they start. Refer to the table below for further details. Typically, non-native speakers who studied in English before or those who had advanced English lessons during previous studies, and with sufficient confidence, perform well. Because of the multi-cultural environment, only a relatively small percentage of students are native speakers.
| TOEFL IBT | TOEFL CBT | TOEFL PBT | IELTS | CEFRL | English Test | |
| English lessons optional | 79 or higher | 213 or higher | 550 or higher | 6.0 or higher | C1 or higher | C1 or higher |
| English lessons recommended | 65 to 78 | 183 to 210 | 513 to 547 | 5.5 | B2 | 60% to 79% |
| English lessons mandatory | 64 or lower | 180 or lower | 510 or lower | 5.0 or lower | B1 or lower | 59% or lower |
Campus locations
Study programs are offered at several campus locations. All campus locations offer an identical study program and follow the same program structure. Students are encouraged to transfer between campus locations.
Global study trip
Each academic year, students from all campuses in Europe, as well as students from our academic partners can join our Global Study Trip to Tokyo, Japan. The weeklong trip is packed with cultural excursions, company visits, social activities and an Asian Management seminar.
Application deadlines
Our Admissions Department applies a rolling admissions process and does not set deadlines to submit applications because of the multiple starting dates available. Applications are reviewed continuously troughout the year. Only in case a student visa is required do we recommend to apply 1-3 months prior to the intended starting date.
Admission requirements
Students should be fluent in English, and have obtained a high school diploma (or equivalent) that allows access to higher education in the country of origin. Refer to the application process for further details on the recommended English language levels.
Students who are 17 or older who have completed less than 12 years of formal education and who do not hold a high school diploma that allows access to higher education in the country of origin should earn up to an additional 60 credits in the Pre-Bachelor program. e.g. Students who wish to earn a Bachelor degree and who are required to complete the Pre-Bachelor program will need to earn 60 + 180 credits.
Program fees
Program fees are calculated pro-rata per campus where the student completed courses and earned credits. The total fees are due payable on a quarterly basis on a fixed payment schedule. Program fees cover matriculation and tuition fees but do not include the cost of living, housing, travel, transport, health insurance, study materials and other expenses. For more details, refer to the document attached.
Credit system
Bachelor programs consist of 180 European credits, equivalent to 120 American semester credits. Courses are assigned a number of credits, indicating the estimated workload. Each credit equals up to 30 learning hours, including contact hours, exam hours, self-study hours and group-study hours. Contact hours vary depending on total student enrollments per course. The workload of a typical full-time undergraduate student amounts to 20 credits and 600 learning hours per quarter, for a total of 60 credits and 1800 learning hours per typical academic year.
| Program | European Credits (ECTS) | American quarter credits | American semester credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor | 180 | 180 | 120 |
| Associate | 90 | 90 | 60 |
| Certificate | 30 | 30 | 20 |
Grading system
Students are assessed on a combination of attendance, participation, individual assignments, group assignments and exams. Assignments may include reading materials, term papers, reports, presentations, and others. The combination of these assessments provides students with an equal opportunity to demonstrate their skills and knowledge. The minimum passing grade is D (60%). In case of an FX grade, students have the option to request a second exam in order to obtain the minimum passing grade of 60%.
| Percentage | Grade | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| 90 to 99 | A | Excellent |
| 80 to 89 | B | Good |
| 70 to 79 | C | Average |
| 60 to 69 | D | Poor |
| 50 to 59 | FX | Unsatisfactory |
| 0 to 49 | F | Fail |
Honor system
Students who achieve a certain GPA (Grade Point Average, or the weighted average of all grades earned, calculated on a 4.0 scale), will have their academic honors listed on the academic transcript issued together with the diploma.
| Percentage | GPA | Academic Honors |
|---|---|---|
| 90 | 3.6 | Summa Cum Laude |
| 85 | 3.4 | Magna Cum Laude |
| 80 | 3.2 | Cum Laude |
Academic degree
Upon successful completion of the study program students receive an international private Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree awarded by the school's headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, based on the recommendation of the faculty of the local campuses where credits were earned. Learn more about the school's academic degrees.
Accreditation
Our Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree program is programmatically accredited by the US-based Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) and the EU-based European Council for Business Education (ECBE). Learn more about the school's accreditation.
Program content
- ACC1001 Principles of Accounting
- ACC3001 Cost Accounting
- ACC3002 Managerial Accounting
- BUS2002 Entrepreneurship
- CUL3001 Cross-Cultural Training
- ECO2004 Macro Economics
- ECO2005 Micro Economics
- ECO3001 Managerial Economics
- FIN1001 Principles of Finance
- FIN3001 Managerial Finance
- HUM2001 Human Resource Management
- HUM3001 Leadership
- HUM3002 Organizational Behavior
- INF2001 Information Systems
- MAN1001 Principles of Management
- MAN2003 Managing Growth
- MAN3001 Strategic Management
- MAR1001 Principles of Marketing
- MAR2002 Digital Marketing
- MAR3001 Consumer Behavior
- MAR3002 Marketing Communications
- MAR3003 Marketing Management
- OPE3001 Supply Chain Management
- QUA1002 Principles of Business Calculus
- as well as any course with the following course codes:
- BUS xxxx
- ECO xxxx
- FIN xxxx
- MAN xxxx
- MAR xxxx
- view the list of all undergraduate courses
Electives can be any course scheduled that does not already count towards other program requirements.
Program options
The Study Abroad option allows students to transfer for one or more quarters to another campus without experiencing program interruptions or extensions. Courses and programs remain fully compatible across all campuses, however not all majors and minors are available at all campuses. Refer to the program schedule for further details. Students in the Bachelor in Business Studies programmay also study abroad with one of our academic partners for up to 30 credits.
The Summer School option allows students to accelerate their studies by earning up to 20 additional credits per academic year. Summer school is available at most main and satellite campuses.
The Private Tutoring and Private Coaching options allow students to schedule additional one-on-one sessions with professors or study coaches to catch up on missed contact hours or to receive additional academic support. Sessions are charged per hour and take place on-campus at a time that is convenient for both the student and professor or coach.
The Internship option encourages students to put their skills and knowledge into practice through offers received by our Careers Department from regional and international companies and organizations. Up to 30 elective credits can be awarded upon successful completion of the internship.
Additional Undergraduate programs
The Dublin Extension Program is operated by our local academic partner, the Dublin Business School (DBS), and is available to all Undergraduate students who wish to complete a study abroad period of up to 2 semesters in Dublin, Ireland in addition to the studies at UIBS. Credits earned at DBS may also partially count towards a second Bachelor degree at UIBS. Exclusively for students in the Bachelor in Business Studies (BBS) program, up to 30 European credits can be transferred from DBS into the program at UIBS. Specific admissions and/or academic conditions may apply.
The New York Extension Program is operated by our local academic partner, the Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY), and is available to all Undergraduate students who wish to complete a study abroad period of up to 2 semesters in Manhattan, New York, in addition to the studies at UIBS. Credits earned at MCNY may also partially count towards a second Bachelor degree at UIBS. Exclusively for students in the Bachelor in Business Studies (BBS) program, up to 20 American semester credits (30 European credits) can be transferred from MCNY into the program at UIBS. Specific admissions and/or academic conditions may apply.
The California Extension Program is operated by one of our local academic partners, the Haas School of Business from the University of California at Berkeley (UC Berkeley), through its Berkeley Haas Global Access Program (BHGAP), and is available to all Undergraduate students who wish to complete a study abroad period of up to 2 semesters in Berkeley, California, in addition to the studies at UIBS. Credits earned at UC Berkeley may also partially count towards a second Bachelor degree at UIBS. Exclusively for students in the Bachelor in Business Studies (BBS) program, up to 20 American semester credits (30 European credits) can be transferred from Berkeley Haas into the program at UIBS. Specific admissions and/or academic conditions may apply.
The California Extension Program is operated by one of our local academic partners, the Division of Continuing Education from the University of California at Irvine (UC Irvine), and is available to all Undergraduate students who wish to complete a study abroad period of up to 2 semesters in Irvine, California, in addition to the studies at UIBS. Credits earned at UC Irvine may also partially count towards a second Bachelor degree at UIBS. Exclusively for students in the Bachelor in Business Studies (BBS) program, up to 30 American quarter credits (30 European credits) can be transferred from UC Irvine into the program at UIBS. Specific admissions and/or academic conditions may apply.
The International Graduate Studies Preparation Program (IGSPP) is operated by one of our local academic partners, the Division of Continuing Education from the University of California at Irvine (UC Irvine), and is available to all Undergraduate students who wish to complete this 9-month program in Irvine, California, in addition to the studies at UIBS. Credits earned at UC Irvine may also partially count towards a second Bachelor degree at UIBS. Specific admissions and/or academic conditions may apply. This program can also be combined with our Online Pre-Master Foundation Program.
Continue in the Undergraduate program at UIBS and earn a second private programmatically-accredited Bachelor degree by completing an additional 60 European credits on a full-time or part-time basis throughout the campus network, including also in an online or blended format. Shorter Undergraduate Certificate programs are also available.
Continue in the Undergraduate program at our sister institution, the European College for Liberal Studies (ECLS), and earn a second private Bachelor degree by completing an additional 60 European credits on a full-time or part-time basis throughout the campus network. Shorter Undergraduate Certificate programs are also available.
Continue in an Undergraduate program at our academic partner, the Dublin Business School (DBS), and earn a second European state-recognized Bachelor degree in Dublin, Ireland by completing an additional 60 European credits. Exclusively for students in the Bachelor in Business Studies (BBS) program, two Bachelor degrees are awarded after first earning minimum 120 European credits at UIBS and then earning minimum 60 European credits at DBS in a combined program. Specific admissions and/or academic conditions may apply.
Continue in an Undergraduate program at our academic partner, the Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY), and earn a second American regionally-accredited Bachelor degree in Manhattan, New York by completing an additional 30 American semester credits. Exclusively for students in the Bachelor in Business Studies (BBS) program, two Bachelor degrees are awarded after first earning minimum 135 European credits at UIBS and then earning minimum 30 American semester credits (45 European credits) at MCNY in a combined program. Specific admissions and/or academic conditions may apply.
Beyond the Bachelor degree
Continue in a Graduate program at UIBS and earn a private programmatically-accredited Master degree by completing an additional 60 European credits on a full-time or part-time basis throughout the campus network, including also in an online, executive or blended format. Shorter Graduate Certificate programs are also available.
Continue in a Graduate program at our sister institution, the European College for Liberal Studies (ECLS), and earn a private Master degree by completing an additional 60 European credits on a full-time or part-time basis throughout the campus network. Shorter Graduate Certificate programs are also available.
Continue in a Graduate program at our academic partner, the Dublin Business School (DBS), and earn a European state-recognized Master degree in Dublin, Ireland by completing an additional 60 European credits. Specific admissions and/or academic conditions may apply.
Continue in a Graduate program at our academic partner, the Maastricht School of Management (MSM), and earn a European state-recognized Master degree in Maastricht, the Netherlands by completing an additional 60 European credits. Specific admissions and/or academic conditions may apply.
Continue in a Graduate program at our academic partner, the Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY), and earn an American regionally-accredited MBA degree in Manhattan, New York by completing an additional 39 American semester credits (58.5 European credits). Specific admissions and/or academic conditions may apply.
Featured
Global Bachelor program
Earn a global degree at UIBS by studying in Europe and Tokyo, and finishing with one of our academic partners in New York.
Dual Bachelor programs
Earn a second degree at UIBS for an additional 60 credits, or continue with one of our academic partners around the world.
Study Abroad in Tokyo, Japan
Spend one or more quarters at our satellite campus in Tokyo, Japan and experience all the city and country have to offer.
Flexible Liberal and Global Studies
Consider alternative programs from our sister institution, European College for Liberal Studies (ECLS), including International Relations.
Suggested
One-minute Introduction
Watch our animated one-minute introduction video to learn more!
Student Interviews
Check out several interviews with students from our various campuses!
Professor Interviews
Check out several interviews with professors from our various campuses!
Graduation Ceremony
Watch the video of our most recent Graduation Ceremony in Barcelona!
connect with us and learn more about our various programs and campuses
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