Bachelor in Innovation, Product and Engineering Management

Bachelor in Innovation, Product and Engineering Management is one of 9 English-taught Business Administration programmes at bachelor’s level in the register, offered by 8 institutions. 7 of them list an annual fee for students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland; this programme lists EUR 727 a year.

This is a hands-on bachelor's degree at the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, taught entirely in English on the Wels campus. It sits where marketing, design and technology meet, and the aim is simple: turn ideas into products that actually sell.

What you study

The curriculum is split into blocks. Business and marketing make up 25 ECTS, science and engineering 52 ECTS, innovation and design 44.5 ECTS, and social skills and languages 8.5 ECTS. Your bachelor thesis and internship together account for 28 ECTS. You also pick two elective specialisations: one from marketing or design (5 ECTS each), and one from mechatronics or informatics (6 ECTS each). The study focus runs through innovation management, concept development and design, engineering and technology, marketing and product management, start-up thinking and entrepreneurship, and interdisciplinary skills.

How the programme is organised

It runs over six semesters, full time, with Mondays off. Project-based learning starts in the first semester: you work on real challenges set by companies, not just case studies. In the sixth semester you do a minimum 10-week internship in Austria or abroad, at a company you choose. A semester abroad is encouraged and actively supported. You can also spend the six semesters developing your own business idea with coaches, build a first prototype, and pitch it to a jury in a Shark Tank-style format. Courses sometimes take place off campus, for example at the Startrampe in the Tabakfabrik, and the programme organises excursions to companies, start-ups, coworking spaces and research institutions.

Who it suits

Students who want to work across disciplines rather than specialise early. If you are interested in economics, technology and design at the same time, and you like the idea of presenting your work and building a network while you study, this fits. The programme is taught in English, so you need English at B2 level (IELTS or TOEFL). The degree is a Bachelor of Science in Engineering, BSc, with 180 ECTS.

Admission, language and next steps

You need an A level, high school diploma or equivalent, plus proof of English at B2. The application is online, and shortlisted candidates have an interview on MS Teams. There is no central application portal: you apply directly to the institution, and its own page gives the application period. The general deadline is 30 June for EU/EEA citizens, holders of a valid residence permit, or those who can enter visa-free; if you need a visa, the deadline is 31 May. The programme is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission. The teaching language is English throughout. If you have questions, the programme offers a personal consultation with the head of studies by phone or MS Teams.

New products do not come into being by coincidence or spontaneous flashes of inspiration. They require innovation and product & engineering managers who find ideas tailored to customer requirements, evaluate and select them correctly, and support their successful implementation. Their work is the key to success, and their creative minds are therefore in great demand in companies. They work at the interfaces between marketing, design and technology, turning ideas into successful products.

Möglichkeit im 1. Studienjahr in verwandten Studienrichtungen zu schnuppern und am Ende des 1. Jahrs zu wechseln.

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.