One of the defining features of the Master's in International Marketing & Sales at FH Münster is what happens in your third semester: you leave Germany. Not as a vacation, but as a deliberate, structured part of your degree – an international experience that shapes how you think, work, and communicate across cultures.
Whether you choose to study at a partner university abroad or complete a full-time international internship, this semester is where everything you have learned in the classroom gets tested in the real world.
The IMS program gives you a choice for your third-semester international experience. Both options are recognized as equal parts of the degree and both deliver the cross-cultural exposure that today's global employers actively look for.
FH Münster has built a network of over 50 partner universities across Europe, Asia, the Americas, and beyond. As an IMS student, you can spend your third semester studying at one of these institutions, taking courses that count toward your degree while fully immersing yourself in a new academic environment and culture.
Past IMS students have studied in countries including Spain, France, the United States, South Korea, Mexico, and Australia – gaining language skills, expanding their academic networks, and returning with international perspectives that set them apart in the job market.
Prefer to gain hands-on industry experience? The second option is a full-time international internship with a company abroad. This path is ideal for students who want to apply their marketing and sales skills directly in a professional context while building the kind of real-world portfolio that employers value.
Many IMS students who take the internship route secure their first professional role through connections made during this semester – making it one of the most career-defining parts of the entire program.
In a survey of global HR professionals, intercultural competence consistently ranks among the top skills employers seek in marketing and sales candidates. Spending a semester abroad is one of the most effective ways to develop exactly that – not just by experiencing a new culture, but by navigating professional and academic environments where your assumptions are constantly challenged.
You come back with more than a stamp in your passport. You return with:
• A global professional network spanning multiple continents
• Demonstrated adaptability and cross-cultural communication skills
• A stronger academic record, with courses from a recognized international institution
• Personal confidence that comes from successfully living and working abroad
• Practical language skills and cultural fluency
The International Office at FH Münster supports IMS students throughout the entire process – from selecting a partner university and completing the application paperwork, to finding accommodation and organizing course credits. You are never navigating this alone.
Students are encouraged to start researching their preferred destinations early in the first or second semester. The IMS program coordinator also holds information sessions each semester where current students and alumni share their experiences and answer questions.
"The mandatory international experience was a game-changer for me. I opted for a global marketing internship abroad, which gave me invaluable cross-cultural business insights and expanded my professional network. Thanks to the specialized skills I gained during this Master's degree, I secured a competitive position as an International Brand Manager immediately after graduation."
– Liam Chen, International Brand Manager (Alumni, Class of 2024)
The IMS Master's at FH Münster does not just prepare you for an international career – it takes you there. If you are ready to build your global marketing and sales expertise while experiencing the world firsthand, the IMS program is the right next step.
Explore international experiences and exchange opportunities through our student stories on Instagram.
