The degree programme consists of compulsory and supplementary modules. The compulsory modules include economics and administrative sciences (35%), law (40%), political science, sociology and social psychology (8%), statistics (5%) and communication (12%). In the 5th and 6th semesters, you choose eight supplementary modules and the topic of your thesis according to your personal interests, and in the 7th semester the topic of your Bachelor's thesis. The elective options allow you to specialise in business administration as well as administrative law.

The degree programme includes two practical semesters, which ensures a strong practical focus. This gives you excellent career prospects after completing the degree programme. A special offer from Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences is that study and internship semesters are also possible abroad.

Structure of the study programme

If you start your studies in the winter semester, which is usually the case, you will study according to the following curriculum:

From the summer semester 2025, you can alternatively start your studies in the summer semester. You will then complete the same modules, just in a different order. In this case, your degree programme will look like this:

Supplementary modules

As supplementary modules (outlined in green above) you choose eight modules, including at least three and a maximum of five law modules, including at least one module from the field of special administrative law.

As a rule, the following supplementary modules are offered:

a) Supplementary modules in law:

• European law (specialisation)
• Administrative procedural law
• Building and environmental law
• Police and regulatory law
• Migration and civil status law
• Institution-related social law
• Public institutions in tax law
• Corporate and municipal business law

b) Further supplementary modules:

• Macroeconomics (in English)
• Administrative marketing
• Strategic administrative management
• New ways of working and leading in digital administrative structures
• Preparation and interpretation of the municipal financial statements
• Analysis of the municipal annual financial statements
• Auditing I
• Auditing II

If chosen accordingly, a focus can be set, e.g. for the performance of sovereign tasks in the regulatory and social area, in which administrative acts (decisions) are primarily issued, or in the area of public accounting (preparation and interpretation of the municipal financial statements, analysis of the municipal annual financial statements, audit I, audit II).

Practical study programme

Practical experience during your studies is of great importance for starting a career later on. It has now become the most important selection criterion for employers. One "plus point" of the degree programme is therefore the fact that there are two practical semesters supervised by the university, with a stay abroad also possible in the second semester in particular.

As action-orientated training phases, the practical semesters are intended to illustrate the links between the theoretical and practical areas of public management. Under academic guidance, you will explore professional practice and make it the subject of reflection. You can incorporate the results into your academic work.

The internship in the 4th semester takes place in the general internal administration (federal, state, municipal). It can be split between different authorities and should provide a broad overview of the tasks of the authority(ies) and the forms of administrative action. Administrative procedures are to be processed independently using the knowledge and skills acquired to date and prepared for decision-making. In this way, acquired knowledge and skills are measured against reality and further studies can be approached in a more targeted manner based on practical issues. Many work placements also offer the opportunity to work on administrative reform projects.

You can complete the internship in the 7th semester in public administration, but also in another public institution or a private company with close links to the public sector, including abroad. In conjunction with the internship, you will write your Bachelor's thesis, usually on a specific topic related to the internship organisation. Under certain circumstances, this final internship can also offer you the opportunity to subsequently take up a permanent position.

Both internship semesters are supervised by the university. On the one hand, the university will provide you with a subject supervisor. He or she will maintain personal contact with the internship organisation and with you, provide you with specialist support if required and evaluate your internship experiences with you. On the other hand, accompanying seminars are held at the university in which practical work-related topics are discussed in addition to the academic supervision of the internships.