The Whole Wine World in an English-speaking Degree Program
Are you equally fascinated by marketing and business as well as the art of winemaking? The English-language version of our B.Sc. International Wine Business offers you the ideal combination.
The degree course combines topics in economics with knowledge of winegrowing and winemaking. It is supported by practical projects, experts and lecturers from industry, excursions and practical training, thus equipping our graduates for various positions in the wine business.
The practically-oriented education at Hochschule Geisenheim University enjoys a good reputation worldwide, and the university's wide-ranging network makes it possible for our students to gain experience abroad, either in a study-exchange program, or in an internship.
Your Contact for Degree Program and Pre-Study Internship Advice
Your contact for the application process
For any type of general information our International Office team is happy to help. More Information
| Admission requirement | Higher entrance qualification for this Bachelor Degree Program |
|---|---|
| Practical experience requirement for degree program | 12-week pre-study internship |
| Application Deadline for Applicants with a foreign secondary school-leaving certificate | September 1 (via uni-assist) |
| Application period for Applicants with a German university admission certificate | From May until start of lectures |
| Academic Degree | Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) |
| Standard Study Period | 6 semesters |
| Start of course | Winter semester |
| Practical component of degree program | 12-week internship abroad or in international companies, seminars, practical exercises, field trips |
| Master degree program | Weinwirtschaft (M.Sc.), Vinifera EuroMaster (M.Sc.), VITIS-VINUM (M.Sc.), Weinbau, Önologie und Weinwirtschaft (M.Sc.), Oenologie (M.Sc.) |
| Degree program advice | Prof. Dr. Jon Hanf |
| Pre-Study Internship Advice | Manuela Ortner, M.A. |
English competence at minimum B2 level (CEFR) must be submitted with the application through uni-assist.
The following certificates are recognized:
- TOEFL (minimum 80 points; internet-based test) http://ets.org/toefl
- IELTS (minimum 5.5) www.ielts.org
- Cambridge First Certificate – FCE – (minimum grade B) www.cambridgeenglish.org
Knowledge of German is not required, but is strongly recommended.
International Wine Business: an ideal combination
The B.Sc. degree course international Wine Business combines business with knowledge of viticulture and enology, including in-depth knowledge of business management, marketing and winemaking. Our students are also equipped with key skills in languages and project management.
Strengthen your Professional Profile
Around two thirds of the modules in the program are compulsory. The first year builds the foundation for the rest of the degree program, with modules such as Business Operations and Economics, Marketing Basics, Law, Sensory Evaluation as well as World Wine Markets.
Second year compulsory modules include Wine & Beverage Marketing, Marketing Projects, Business Management, Management Accounting, Viticulture and Enology.
Students can additionally choose from over 30 semi-compulsory and optional modules, thus strengthening their own professional profile:
- Modules such as Investment & Corporate Finance or Business Plan prepare students for a career in Company Management and Controlling.
- Students who are interested in a career in Marketing can choose modules in E-Commerce or Market Research.
- A focus on International Markets is backed up by a wide range of country-related marketing projects as well as Business & Technical Language Courses.
Practically-Oriented from the Start
We are strongly focused on preparing our students for the challenges of professional life, running projects and case studies, involving trainers from industry and offering numerous excursions. Important contacts are made very early on.
The practical part of the degree program, which is at least 12 weeks long and takes place between the 4th and 5th semester, takes place either abroad or with an international company in Germany, and puts the theoretical knowledge gained into practice in a wine or beverage company.
Compulsory modules
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Economics (4 CP) | Management Accounting (5 CP) | Work Placement – Germany or abroad (12 CP) |
| Business Operations (4 CP) | Business Management (4 CP) | Academic Research and Presentation (6 CP) |
| Law (6 CP) | Wine and Beverage Marketing (6 CP) | Bachelor Thesis (12 CP) |
| Marketing Basics (4 CP) | Marketing Project: France (6 CP) | |
| Mathematics and Statistics (6 CP) | Marketing Project: Consumer Markets in Western and Northern Europe (6 CP) | |
| Information Technology (6 CP) | Viticulture (6 CP) | |
| World Wine Markets (4 CP) | Evaluation of Wine (4 CP) | |
| Sensory Evaluation (4 CP) | Microbiology (4 CP) | |
| Food and Wine Law (6 CP) | Enology (6 CP) | |
| Chemistry and Wine Chemistry (6 CP) |
Semi-compulsory modules – Year 1
- International Wine Profiles (6 CP)
- Introduction to Viticulture and Enology (2 CP)
- English Presentations and Writing (6 CP)
- German Language Course (6 CP)
Semi-compulsory modules – Year 2
- Marketing Project: Southern Europe (6 CP)
- Investment and Financing Planning (6 CP)
- Advanced Business English (6 CP)
- Business and Technical German (6 CP)
- Business and Technical French (6 CP)
- Business and Technical Italian (6 CP)
- Business and Technical Spanish (6 CP)
Semi-compulsory modules – Year 3
- Marketing Project: Central and Eastern Europe(6 CP)
- Marketing Project: Asia (6 CP)
- Marketing Project: Italy, Switzerland, Austria (6 CP)
- Project: “New World“ Marketing (6 CP)
- Project: Strategic Planning (6 CP)
- Business Simulation (3 CP)
Optional modules – Year 1
- Addiction Prevention (2 CP)
- Economic, Agricultural and Consumer Politics (4 CP)
Optional modules – Year 2
- Extended Exkursionen (2 CP)
- E-Commerce (2 CP)
- Project Market Research (4 CP)
Optional modules – Year 3
- Short Excursions (3 CP)
- Business Plan (3 CP)
Module handbook and Curricula
Intention and basic conditions of the obligatory pre-study internship
An important intention in our study programs is the close connection to business and to practicability from the beginning. Therefore we require a 12-week practical training or work experience in the wine industry prior to studies.
A part has to be done in grape and wine production, but the remaining time of the training can be done in wine stores, wine trading companies or in wineries and wine estates in general business, sales, purchase and marketing.
After completion of the full-time training an informal confirmation written in English on company-headed stationery has to be issued confirming the numbers of weeks and the work areas of the pre-study internship. Furthermore the position of the signatory has to be mentioned.
Recognition of work experience outside the framework of wine
We partly accept pre-study work experience outside the wine business and wine production, from business-related work areas depending on the working field, the education completed and the position.
For recognized work experience outside the framework of wine no experience report is necessary. To verify the possibility to acknowledge work experience outside the framework of wine prior to your application through uni-assist please send a detailed CV and work certificates which show details of the working fields, the workflow, the objective, the organizational framework and distinctive features of the individual operation as well as the period of working time to the Student Information Center (Email: applicants(at)hs-gm.de)
Any questions?
For questions regarding your choice of internship company, time frame or other practical questions, please contact Manuela Ortner, M.A..
The degree program B.Sc. International Wine Business offers students a direct link to practice and a great amount of freedom in their professional focus, enabling them to follow their preferred career path upon graduation.
Our graduates are in demand – whether in wine or food sales, individual wineries or cooperatives, suppliers or journalism.
Over 80 % of our graduates work in product management, marketing and sales, as experts for import and export or in wine purchasing. Further career paths include QM, controlling as well as personnel management, finance or market research.
Further Scientific Study with a Master Program
The Bachelor degree program equips graduates to deal with current scientific issues independently, providing the best prerequisites for a Master program.
Hochschule Geisenheim University offers students the possibility to further deepen their knowledge of Wine Business in Master programs such as the German-language program Wine Business (M.Sc.), the international cooperative programs VITIS-VINUM (M.Sc.) and Vinifera EuroMaster (M.Sc.) as well as the German-language program Viticulture, Enology & Wine Business (M.Sc.) run in cooperation with BOKU Vienna.
Ready for the Entrance Examination for Master of Wine
Graduation from the degree program entitles students to take part in the entrance examination for the Master of Wine, replacing the need for WSET Diploma Level 4.
Focus on the Wine and Beverage Industry
The Department of Wine and Beverage Business conducts research into consumers, companies, markets as well as management and value chain processes in the wine and beverage industry. Our field of research covers a wide range of different economic questions and methods, including consumer research, the analysis of international wine and beverage markets, company evaluations, the analysis of the economic success of companies, strategic management, cooperatives, value chain management, sensory product research and wine tourism.
A quarterly report on the economic situation of the wine industry and marketing structures of the wine producers is produced as part of our knowledge transfer for practice.
Members of the department play a central role in teaching in the English and German language degree programs "International Wine Business" (B.Sc.) and "Wine Business" (M.Sc.). In addition, courses are offered in the "Viticulture and Enology" and "Beverage Technology" degree programs.
