Master in Innovation and Product Management

Master in Innovation and Product Management is one of 32 English-taught Business Administration programmes at master’s level in the register, offered by 19 institutions. 29 of them list an annual fee for students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland, from EUR 727 to EUR 1,453; this programme lists EUR 727 a year. 18 are at a public university, where EU, EEA and Swiss students pay no tuition within the standard duration plus two semesters.

This master's at the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria takes innovation as its starting point: how ideas become products that hold up in international markets. The programme combines marketing, design and technology, and you pick one of two specialisations, Product Concept Design or Development Process Engineering.

What you study

The curriculum is built around five study focuses: Innovation and Technology Management, International Marketing, Trends for Innovation, Development Process Engineering and Product Concept Design, plus interdisciplinary skills. You specialise in one of the two fields named above. The programme describes itself as interdisciplinary, with intercultural aspects and strategies woven through all disciplines.

Practical work starts early. From the beginning you apply your knowledge in industry projects, working in intercultural and interdisciplinary teams on real problems for local and international firms. The final thesis is written for and in a company, or with the university.

How the programme is organised

Four semesters, full time, 120 ECTS, taught in English. The campus is in Wels, part of the Faculty of Technology and Applied Natural Sciences. You are usually on campus three to four days a week, and Mondays are kept free. The student body is international, with students from more than 20 countries, and the university runs events such as an International Evening.

Who it suits

Students who want technical product development, innovation and design, product management or marketing, and who like working across engineering, design and business at once. The programme suits people with a technical interest who also want creative and organisational work. A bachelor's degree of 180 ECTS or equivalent is required, preferably in Engineering or Industrial Design. Your previous studies should include courses in Business and Marketing, Mathematics and Statistics, Natural Sciences and Engineering, and Professional Skills. Gaps in single subject areas can be made up during the first semester.

Admission, language and next steps

English language skills must be proven with an official certificate no more than two years old: TOEFL 78 points or IELTS 6.0. German is not required. Applications go directly to the institution through its online application; there is no central portal. After applying you are invited to a personal interview via MS Teams with one of the professors, which also helps you check whether the programme matches your expectations. The general application deadline is 30 June, for EU/EEA citizens, holders of a valid residence permit or those with visa-free entry. If you need a visa, the special deadline is 31 May. Tuition fees and the ÖH (Austrian Student Union) fee are set out on the institution's own fees information.

Today, if a company wants to succeed internationally, it must be capable of innovation. This can only be achieved by treating innovation as a process which integrates marketing, design and technology, combined with strategic thinking. This is the main focus of this master’s degree program. In an interdisciplinary training concept, the various aspects of integrated innovation and product management are taught both theoretically and practically. This degree program provides a comprehensive education in Mechatronics, Innovation Management and Marketing, complemented by the know-how delivered in two specialisations, namely “Product Concept Design” and “Development Process Engineering”.

There is no central application portal in Austria: you apply to the institution, here University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria. Universities of applied sciences set their own application periods and admission procedures, so read them on the programme page. Entrance examination, as the register states it: Admission procedure. Entry requirements and language tests are set by the institution, so start from the official programme page. Our guides cover tuition fees, the student residence permit and housing.