State-certified business economist or business administration bachelor?

State-certified business economist or business administration bachelor's degree: which training is better?

"State-certified business economist" is the term for a qualification that is obtained through further training. This is primarily aimed at business administrators and trained business people and is one of the highest non-academic qualifications in the field of business administration. An alternative is the Bachelor in Business Administration, which you can obtain at Allensbach University within six semesters. In the following, we examine the question of whether the "Staatlich geprüfter Betriebswirt" degree is a worthwhile study goal for business administrators.

State-certified business economist: Prerequisites

To start a course to become a state-certified business administrator, you need at least a secondary school leaving certificate or an equivalent qualification. A further requirement is the completion of three years of vocational training as a business administrator. Depending on the educational institute, applicants may also be able to tackle the state-certified business administrator course with proof of several years of professional experience (usually 5 to 7 years). Before the final state examination, you should also be able to demonstrate regular attendance at the seminars and completion of all study materials. In order to obtain the "Staatlich geprüfter Betriebswirt" degree, a good knowledge of mathematics and English is also required. Ideally, you should have an analytical way of thinking and working.

Prerequisites for studying business administration

In contrast to the "Staatlich geprüfter Betriebswirt" degree, for which the intermediate school leaving certificate (Realschulabschluss) is sufficient, at least the Fachabitur (Fachgebundene Hochschulreife or Fachhochschulreife) is required to study business administration. According to the Baden-Württemberg State Higher Education Act (LHG), people who have a vocational qualification and further vocational training are also permitted to study business administration. With regard to knowledge of mathematics and the English language, similar requirements apply as for a course to become a state-certified business economist. If you are planning to enrol at a traditional face-to-face university, admission to the desired course may be restricted. If the Abitur grade is not sufficient, the prospective student must either apply to another university or take one or more Waiting semester insert.

Which degree gives graduates better career prospects?

The career prospects for holders of the title "State-certified business economist" can generally be described as good. A significant difference to a business administration degree with a Bachelor's degree is that many graduates remain in their own company after obtaining their degree. Thanks to their additional qualification, they have the opportunity to advance to higher positions (e.g. middle management). For recruiters, the title "Staatlich geprüfter Betriebswirt" is a recognized professional qualification, as it is often obtained while working and the applicant thus demonstrates his or her willingness to perform and commitment at an early stage. Due to the existing professional experience, the chances of being hired are higher than for applicants with the title "Fachwirt". Typical professional fields in which holders of the title "Staatlich geprüfter Betriebswirt" can work are the automotive industry as well as tourism and retail companies. Business graduates with a Bachelor's degree are also welcome in commercial enterprises. The fields of activity are broadly diversified and range from insurance and the healthcare market to consulting. Jobs in sales, finance and controlling are particularly easy to find. Unlike holders of the "Staatlich geprüfter Betriebswirt" degree, most job applicants have no professional experience to speak of. An exception are candidates who have completed their degree part-time have completed a distance learning course. Experience has shown that recruiters often give preference to business administration distance learning students if two candidates have comparable qualifications or final grades.

Income differences and study costs

Specialists with the title "State-certified business economist" earn an average of 35,000 euros per year. This results in a gross monthly salary of around 2,900 euros. In contrast, specialists with a bachelor's degree in business administration earn an average of 40,000 euros at the start of their career, provided they work in a company that is bound by collective agreements. In companies without collective wage agreements, the annual income is in the range of 36,000 to 37,000 euros. In addition, employees often receive further benefits such as insurance, a job ticket or subsidies for company pensions. In general, the larger the company, the higher the salary. In addition to the actual salary, development opportunities are also important. In this respect, graduates with a Bachelor's degree have clear advantages over specialists with the title "State-certified business economist". Bachelor's graduates can develop very well at the start of their career, particularly in large companies. Possible prospects include a posting abroad or taking on smaller management tasks. The cost of a part-time business administration course is roughly the same as the cost of a course to become a "Staatlich geprüfter Betriebswirt". Fees vary greatly from institute to institute - it is therefore worth carrying out a comprehensive comparison.

At Allensbach University of Applied Sciences, you can train to become a business economist for a monthly fee of 325 euros. You will have access to a modern learning environment and receive individual support from our experienced lecturers. After graduation, all doors will be open to you in the world of business. If you have already completed further training, it is possible to receive credit for the Bachelor's degree course. For detailed information, please contact our educational advisory service.