Study Program
Graduates of this program are equipped with all the necessary skills to manage companies that want to exploit their growth potential internationally. Emphasis in this English-language Master’s program is placed on the strategic management of organizational growth and restructuring processes. The development of problem-solving skills, leadership capabilities and the ability to adapt to changes in the business environment are also key focus areas.
Highlights
- Program taught in English
- Uses the established MOC Harvard method (Microeconomics of Competitiveness)
- Comprehensive teaching in interdisciplinary business administration as an important supplement to previously completed specialist training
Organization
Type of degree program
Part-time (PT)
Teaching usually two to three days per week in this time frame:
Lectures are mainly held on Thursday evenings, Fridays from 14:50 and all-day on Saturday;
Resit examinations possible on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 16:00
Language of instruction
English
Study-abroad semester
Possible in the 3rd semester, also as a summer school
Beginning
Every winter term in September
Place
wko campus wien, Währinger Gürtel 97, 1180 Vienna
(U6 station Währinger Straße/Volksoper)
Application
Information events
Information on Admission
Admissions procedure
- Deadlines & Dates
- Requirements for our Master’s degree program Executive Management
- Specific Admissions procedure for our MA Executive Management
Tuition fees
€ 363.36 per semester (excl. Austrian students‘ union fee)
Brush-Up Courses
Focus & Qualifications
Profile
The Master’s degree program in Executive Management offer graduates a two-year, part-time, generalist business degree for managers.
The program prepares graduates for leadership roles in the management of organizations. The Master’s Degree in Executive Management includes a large amount of interdisciplinary courses and projects. The aim is to train students to become “business all-rounders”, so that they can recognize the interactions between all business areas.
The focus of the degree program
The contents of the degree program is based on the following four pillars:
- Strategic management: current management models, international trends, strategic controlling and change management
- Organizational growth: development and implementation of expansion strategies both in Austria and internationally, company growth processes, innovation management, business planning and much more
- Organizational restructuring: crisis prevention, crisis identification, company restructuring, turn around management
- Leadership behavior development of social skills, team development, leadership, conflict management
Target groups
The degree program in Executive Management is geared towards graduates who already have a basic knowledge of business administration. For example
- Graduates of specialized business degrees (i.e. real estate, finance, marketing) who want to have broader career opportunities in their field by having a more comprehensive perspective of business.
- Self-employed persons, who want to protect themselves by identifying possibilities for crisis.
- Graduates from non-business degree programs (i.e. technology, natural sciences, law) with professional experience in a business environment and who need a sound knowledge of management.
Practical relevance
The degree program offers graduates a supplement to their prior specialism and permits them to gain a strategic management perspective, which is necessary for reaching the next rung of the career ladder.
Graduates are able to recognize and develop the national and international growth potential of their companies as well as carrying out reorganization measures. Good social skills are important for managers, who must respond in a genuine and proactive way.
Curriculum
Know more – do more
The requirements of the labor market are growing and growing – making it increasingly important to be “fit for the job” after completing your degree program. Curricula are improved on an ongoing basis so as to fit in with developments in the working world and new international trends. This is to prepare our graduates for the beginning of – or the next step in – their careers. Our motto spans from “know more” to “do more” – meaning that we focus more on practical strengths learned. Teaching, learning and exams at FHWien der WKW are completed in modules. This means: Topic blocks make up modules, and at the end of the module there is an exam.
What is a module?
A module is a teaching unit consisting of multiple topic blocks, which are thematically linked and cover a specific area relevant to the degree program. In this module, clearly defined skills will be developed, with an examination of all sub elements at the end.
How does it help students?
Teaching is directed towards learning outcomes. Competency-based learning and fewer exams – which are integrated and more comprehensive – make up the curricula. Students’ personal development and their employability in business is our central goal.
| Module | ECTS |
| Professional Purposes Teambuilding, Business Negotiations, Business Research |
6 |
| International Economics and Economic Policy International Economics and Economic Policy, Resilience |
6 |
| Bridging Course/Elective Course 1* | 6 |
| Bridging Course/Elective Course 2* | 6 |
| Bridging Course/Elective Course 3* | 6 |
*Three out of six BC/EC courses (Bridging Courses/Elective courses):
- BC General Management and Strategy Fundamentals
- BC Accounting and Financial Management
- BC Strategic HR and Project Management
- EC Business Ethics and Sustainability
- EC Resource and Export Management
- EC Strategic and International Marketing
| Module | ECTS |
| Leadership and Change Management Leadership, Change Management |
6 |
| Sustainable Management Risk and Stakeholder Management, Project Portfolio Management, Strategic Sustainability Management |
6 |
| European Business Law and Compliance Management | 6 |
| Performance Management Planning and Performance Management, Value Based and Risk Management |
6 |
| Master’s Thesis – Research Proposal | 6 |
| Module | ECTS |
| Strategic Transformation Strategic Change, Microeconomics of Competitiveness (MOC) |
6 |
| Innovation and Technology Management | 6 |
| Corporate Finance and Mergers & Acquisitions Corporate Finance, Mergers & Acquisition |
6 |
| International Cooperations International Sustainability Project, Conflict Management, Negotiations for Leaders |
6 |
| Master’s Thesis – Theory | 6 |
| Module | ECTS |
| Business Simulation | 6 |
| Turnaround Management and Crisis Communication | 6 |
| Interdisciplinary Reflections | 6 |
| Master’s Thesis – Empiricism | 6 |
| Master’s Final Examination | 6 |
Quotes of graduates & lecturers
What makes this program special is its interdisciplinary orientation, which provides students with a comprehensive understanding of different processes in companies. The teaching of contents in projects and lectures held by well-known entrepreneurs and adjunct faculty promotes the networking of students with managers from the real world.
Graduates of this program are equipped with all the necessary skills to manage companies that want to exploit their growth potential internationally. Emphasis in this English-language Master’s program is placed on the strategic management of organizational growth and restructuring processes. The development of problem-solving skills, leadership capabilities and the ability to adapt to changes in the business environment are also key focus areas.
Job & Career
A variety of areas of responsibility and constantly changing professional challenges define current and future careers in management. The requirements on employees will change multiple times throughout their careers.
Strategically minded business generalists with leadership skills are needed now more than ever. A Master’s Degree in Executive Management prepares you for this.
Graduates from a Master’s degree program in Executive Management can work in one of the following fields in a management position in all sectors and company sizes.
Positions & Functions
Examples for positions and functions of graduates:
- Commercial manager
- Managing partner
- Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
- Senior consultant
- Project manager
- Business unit, company or branch manager
- Company founder or successor
Activities & Tasks
Activities and tasks carried out by graduates include
- Development of strategic goals for companies or divisions
- Operative Management and leadership of the company, project management
- Staff management
- Creating budgets and finance plans
- Development of mid-term business plans
- Internal and external communication
- Development, acquisition, management and implementation of consultancy projects.
Qualifications & Skills
Graduates of the Master’s degree program in Executive Management are business generalists. The content of the program and therefore your unique qualities are in:
- Leadership: management of team, team building, conflict management
- Strategic management: management models
- Growth management: managing organic growth, growth through mergers and acquisitions, business collaboration, aspects of international expansion, increasing personnel
- Restructuring including financing: core elements of corporate restructuring, insolvency law, special areas of financing, layoff of staff
- Management systems: building and dealing with management systems, management information systems
- Multi-project management: project controlling
- Company start-up: evaluating business ideas, business plans
Application
Curious about our study programs? Inform yourself about the requirements and the admissions procedure at FHWien der WKW.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Here you will find the most frequently asked questions and answers (FAQ) about the Master’s program in Executive Management.
Study program
The Master’s program in Executive Management prepares students for leadership roles in the management of organizations. Graduates become business all-rounders and are equipped with all the necessary skills to manage companies that want to exploit their growth potential internationally.
The focus of the program is on the following four pillars:
- Strategic management: current management models, international trends, strategic controlling and change management
- Organizational growth: development and implementation of expansion strategies both in Austria and internationally, company growth processes, innovation management, business planning and much more
- Organizational restructuring: crisis prevention, crisis identification, company restructuring, turnaround management
- Leadership behavior: development of social skills, team development, leadership, conflict management
The Master’s program is entirely taught in English and uses the established MOC Harvard method (Microeconomics of Competitiveness). Our students also take part in exciting business field projects.
The Master’s program in Executive Management is entirely taught in English.
At FHWien der WKW you study real business. All study programs have a very high practical relevance. Two-thirds of the lecturers come directly from the business world and pass on their expertise to our students.
During business field projects and case studies our students deal with real assignments from companies.
The Master’s program in Executive Management is suitable for everybody who wants to reach the next rung of the career ladder and develop leadership skills to become a future leader and manager. The program is geared towards graduates who already have a basic knowledge of business administration, e.g.:
- Graduates of specialized business degrees (i.e. real estate, finance, marketing), who want to have broader career opportunities in their field by having a more comprehensive perspective of business.
- Self-employed persons who want to protect themselves by identifying potential crises.
- Graduates from non-business degree programs (i.e. technology, natural sciences, law) with professional experience in a business environment and who need a sound knowledge of management.
Organization
The Master’s program in Executive Management lasts 4 semesters.
No, the Master’s program in Executive Management is a part-time study program. Lectures usually take place two to three days per week in the following time frame: Thursday evenings, Fridays from 14:50 p.m. and all day on Saturday. Resit examinations are possible on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 16:00 p.m.
About 30-35 % of the lectures are guided e-learning units.
You must plan approximately 30 hours per week (lectures & self-study) for the Master’s program in Executive Management.
It’s a part-time study program and therefore designed to be easily combined with a job.
No, proof of employment is not required. Due to the schedule, part-time study programs give working professionals the opportunity to efficiently combine their career and studies. However, employment is not mandatory.
International
No, a semester abroad is only mandatory for our full-time study programs. In the part-time Master’s program in Executive Management a semester abroad is optional. It is possible in the 3rd semester, also by participating in a summer school.
A semester abroad is an unforgettable experience and offers a unique opportunity to get to know foreign cultures, improve foreign language skills and make international friends. It is also a great asset on your resume.
FHWien der WKW collaborates with approximately 160 partner universities worldwide. An overview of our partner universities can be found here. Please note that not every partner institution is suitable for every study program. You can use the map to filter which partner universities are suitable for your study program.
Career & Job
No, you do not have to do a professional internship in the Master’s program in Executive Management.
Upon completion of the Master’s program in Executive Management, you will be awarded the academic degree Master of Arts in Business.
Thanks to our practical training, our graduates are highly sought after in the job market. The graduates of our Master’s program in Executive Management become for example:
- Commercial manager
- Managing partner
- Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
- Senior consultant
- Project manager
- Business unit, company or branch manager
- Company founder or successor
View here the video of our graduate Patrick Batka.
They are able to carry out the following tasks and activities:
- Development of strategic goals for companies or divisions
- Operative Management and leadership of the company, project management
- Staff management
- Creating budgets and financial plans
- Development of midterm business plans
- Internal and external communication
- Development, acquisition, management and implementation of consultancy projects
FHWien der WKW has its own job platform for students and graduates. In the Career Center, you will find exciting jobs and internships from companies in various industries. The platform also provides helpful career and application tips.
Once a year in fall, FHWien der WKW also holds its Career Day. This career fair offers a free CV check and an application photo shoot. You can also get in touch with exciting companies and find out about current job vacancies.
Costs & Subsidies
Tuition fees amount to € 363.36 per semester for EU and EEA citizens, Swiss citizens and third-country nationals with exceptional circumstances. Third-country nationals who do not qualify for exceptional circumstances are required to pay different tuition fees.
In addition to the tuition fees, the ÖH contribution and the special contribution of € 25.20 per semester must be paid.
A detailed list of costs and exceptions for third-country nationals can be found here.
(As of August 2025)
Under certain conditions, students are entitled to various forms of financial support (e.g. study grants, travel allowances, insurance contributions, childcare allowances) and scholarships (e.g. graduation scholarships, self-support scholarships). The ÖH FHWien is available to answer any questions you may have.
In accordance with the Study Grant Act (Studienförderungsgesetz), merit-based scholarships are also awarded each year for outstanding achievements in the previous academic year. The amount of each scholarship is determined annually by the Federal Ministry of Science and Research and ranges from EUR 726.72 (double tuition fees) to EUR 1,500.00. You will be informed annually about the application and award process by mail.
(As of August 2025)
Application
All information on admission requirements, the admissions procedure, dates and deadlines, as well as helpful downloads, instructions and FAQ can be found here.
Start of studies
The program begins every winter term in September.
For first-semester students, there is a kick-off event where you can meet the Head of program and lecturers as well as your fellow students and receive important information about the university and your study program.