Advanced Sales Management and Intelligence (MSc)
Students of the Master's programme learn how sales can better penetrate markets through digitalisation and artificial intelligence. You will be prepared to strategically develop a sales organisation as a manager. You will also implement practical projects with renowned companies.
Through "Market Intelligence", you will develop a deep understanding of markets, customers and competitors and learn how to design sales work in a legally compliant manner - at a time when data and customer relations must be handled responsibly and compliance guidelines are of high importance.
You will also be trained to move confidently in an increasingly English-speaking business landscape and in international markets. You do not need to be a native speaker to do this; at the beginning of the programme you optimise your Business English on the basis of your existing knowledge and only start with the English-language part in the second semester.
The degree programme is the only German and English-language degree programme in Germany that trains modern, internationally oriented sales strategy managers who can analyse markets, customers and sales models on a scientific basis and develop creative sales concepts for the digital age. Due to the important strategic significance of sales in many industries, a high potential for well-trained and compliance-trained sales experts can be assumed.
Those who opt for the degree programme will receive a future-proof degree in a corporate sector that is strategically oriented like hardly any other and is being transformed by digital developments and new sales channels. In this area, appropriately trained junior managers are urgently needed who bring sales know-how and digital competence with them and can move confidently in international markets.
Admission and application
Admission requirements
- University degree with a minimum of 210 ECTS credits from economics, business administration, business law or comparable subjects (University degree does not reach 210 ECTS)
- Average mark of 2.5 or better
- English B2
- For international applicants: German B2
(The language certificate must be presented at the latest at the time of enrolment). - The programme is approval-free
Application period
Summer semester: 15.11. to 15.02.
For non-EU applicants:
Summer semester: 15.11. - 15.01.
The programme is only offered in the summer semester.
Questions about admission and application
How do I apply for the programme?
To apply for this master’s programme, you need to register on the online portal (opens in a new window) found on our website. A content review without a proper application is not possible. Detailed application deadlines can be found on this page in the "Admission and application" section.
The following documents must be submitted by the application deadline:
- Application for admission
- Curriculum vitae
- Copy of high school transcript (no certification necessary)
- Single copy of your Bachelor's degree with at least 210 ECTS credits and a final grade of 2.5 or better. It is necessary that you complete your Bachelor's degree before the application deadline. If you can already foresee that this will not be possible in time, there is an interim solution: You can submit a certificate from your university about the expected final average grade ("4.0 certificate") in advance. This certificate must show that you have successfully completed all examinations, that you have submitted your Bachelor's thesis and that it has been evaluated with at least 4.0. However, this option is only available to students at German universities, as the final transcript is mandatory for the recognition of international degrees.
- Proof of English skills at level B2
- Proof of German skills at level B2; the language certificate must be submitted by the time of enrolment
- All applicants who have not obtained their Bachelor's degree in Germany must upload their certificates via the uni-assist online portal for further checks. Detailed information on the required documents can be found at www.uni-assist.de
Further information on application and admission for International degree seeking students can be found on the following page: Application for international students
My university degree does not reach the required 210 ECTS. What can I do?
The following text provides an overview of the key points from the Enrollment Statutes. In case of deviations, the text of the enrollment statutes (opens in a new window) is binding.
In the case of a Bachelor's degree with only 180 ECTS credits, the existing qualification gap of 30 ECTS credits must be filled by proving or successfully completing one of the following prior achievements:
- Co-authorship of a research publication in English (research paper).
- At least 6 months of verifiable full-time professional experience after obtaining the bachelor's degree in an occupation relevant to the study content of the degree program (evidence by employment contract and/or employment references)
- Successful completion of an admission examination in the form of a written scientific paper in English.
Deadline for submission of the paper:
Winter semester: 31.8.
Summer semester: 4.3.
You apply for participation at the latest 1 month before the deadline in English and solely by e-mail to the head of the respective degree programme.
Please contact the head of the degree programme for the provision of such proof:
- Proof of additional subjects taken amounting to 30 ECTS from a previous degree programme
What grade do I need?
The average mark on your transcript from a university or university of applied sciences must be 2.5 or better.
If you completed your degree outside of the German school system, please take note of the additional rules for applying with an international degree.
If my grade is not sufficient, can I improve it somehow? (Admission test: TM-WISO)
It is optionally possible to take a voluntary entrance test (TM-WISO) to improve the bachelor's degree grade.
In principle, the test can be taken as long as you wish before you start your studies or complete your bachelor's degree. It is valid for all future applications. At HNU, you will achieve the following with the test: If you belong to the best 60%, your Bachelor final grade will be improved by 0.3, if you belong to the best 50% by 0.5 and if you belong to the best 40% even by 0.7.
For more information about the test, visit the Institute's site:
Institute for Test and Talent Research (opens in a new window)
The registration for the test "TM-WISO" is possible on the following page of the institute:
Registration for TM-WISO (opens in a new window)
What degree do I need?
In order to be admitted, you must have a degree from a university or university of applied sciences with a minimum of 210 ECTS credits (or an equivalent degree).
If you completed your degree outside of the German school system, please take note of the additional rules for applying with an international degree.
About the programme
Content of the degree programme
What awaits you ...
Sales Management 4.0
A holistic integration of digitalisation and technology concepts (VR, AI, Big Data) into classic sales management teaching.
- You will learn what role modern technologies such as AI (artificial intelligence) and VR (virtual reality) have for sales success and understand how to use them.
- You will learn how digital and stationary sales channels can be combined in such a way that customers' expectations of the range of services are met.
- You can live out your entrepreneurial thinking and innovative spirit with us through the use of state-of-the-art research infrastructure (Media Centre, Innovation Space, UX Testing and Usability Lab, Design Thinking Lab).
Sales excellence through practical relevance and quality of teaching
A first-class academic education in sales management based on the latest research findings, lived business practice and many years of expertise.
- You will learn how to build up a deep understanding of customers, how to analyse markets, companies and competitors ("Market Intelligence"). We show you which data are necessary for this and which tools and methods can be used to evaluate them.
- You will learn what belongs to a sales strategy and how to develop it.
- You will learn what belongs to the management of a sales organisation and understand that sales is an essential part of customer-centred company management.
- Through practical and application-oriented teaching, you will build up your action and problem-solving skills and you will complete consulting projects with deep insights into everyday professional life in cooperation with corporate partners. You will learn what practical problems companies have and develop creative and research-led sales concepts as external consultants in concept seminars. Our reference companies to date are well-known companies such as Carl Zeiss AG, Mercedes-Benz AG, Red Bull, PERI GmbH & Co. KG, Procter & Gamble, etc.
- We are oriented towards your development, which is why we work in small groups so that we can provide individual support.
Structure of the degree programme
1st semester
- Basics of Sales Management
- Strategic Pricing Excellence
- Fundamentals of Compliance Management
- Data Intelligence
- Business English
2nd semester
- Strategic Growth and Sales Management
- Strategic Market Intelligence
- Marketing and Communications
3rd semester
- Conceptual seminar
- Master's thesis
Special features
Competence Centre Growth and Sales Strategies
For more than 20 years, we have been training future sales managers in Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes, have worked with more than 50 practical partners on specific projects and have inspired these companies.
Our lecturers all come from the field, have worked in management positions, have conducted research at home and abroad and combine theory and practice.
Read more about our research, teaching and cooperations on the page of the Competence Centre Growth and Sales Strategies.
Career perspectives
For graduates, the Master's degree represents a unique qualification for starting a career and taking on senior specialist and management positions in strategic sales.
Possible professional fields of employment for students after graduation are in the area of data-based sales or marketing (e.g. "Big Data" sales), in strategic or operational planning and control of omnichannel/multichannel management (e.g. in sales areas with classic field sales and digital sales platforms), generally in technology and data-driven companies, in classic sales and key account management structures with strong direct customer reference and in classic consulting companies with market-oriented consulting offers.
The explicit areas of employment after graduation can include, among others, the following professions and tasks:
- International sales, sales control and sales management and sales controlling.
- Strategic or operative planning and control of omnichannel/multichannel management
- key account management
- data-supported sales or marketing (e.g. "Big Data" sales)
Last but not least, you will already acquire skills during your studies that are suitable for freelance work as an external consultant, for example, or in the often critical marketing process (e-commerce, customer acquisition, offer optimisation) in the start-up business.
Internships and stays abroad
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Language of instruction
The language of instruction in this degree program is German. Occasionally, lectures may be held in English, e.g. when using guest lecturers from abroad.
Contributions and fees
There are no tuition fees. A semester fee (administrative fees and solidarity fee) is charged per semester. Information on this can be found on the page "HNU - Fees and Re-registration (opens in a new window)".
Contact
All study documents
Curriculums
Module handbooks
Study and examination regulations
- Studien- und Prüfungsordnung SMI (ab SS 2024)
(opens in a new window)Studien- und Prüfungsordnung Master Advanced Sales Management and Intelligence (SMI) vom 02.11.2021 in der Fassung vom 21.06.2023 (ab SS 2024) - Special study and examination regulations (valid from WS 2021/22) (DE)
(opens in a new window)Studien- und Prüfungsordnung Master Advanced Sales Management and Intelligence (SMI) vom 02.11.2021 (SS 2022 - WS 2023/24)
General examination regulations
Also of interest:
Voices about the degree programme
The concept of the Master's programme "Advanced Sales Management & Intelligence" covers the requirements of companies with modern sales processes and methods to a high degree and anticipates a development that will become more and more normal in the coming years: an ever-increasing digitisation and data-driven sales activity. The mixture of sales basics with very practical projects and aspects such as "compliance management", a strategic perspective and the consideration of the needs of an ever increasing digitalisation is extremely successful.
