MSc Digital Transformation Leadership
Digitalisation: lead the business into the next stage.
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In a rapidly evolving digital landscape, distinguishing yourself requires more than ambition—it demands the right qualifications and skills. Our MSc in Digital Transformation Leadership provides the strategic expertise and cutting-edge knowledge essential to excel in this dynamic field. This master’s programme is designed to prepare you for independent entrepreneurial ventures or senior management positions with leadership responsibilities across various industries and business sizes.
The curriculum offers a unique combination of leadership, decision-making, and digital competencies, equipping you to advance into a future-oriented career in a global company or innovative start-up. Digital technologies are omnipresent in today’s society and business world, driving a digital revolution that evolves at an unprecedented pace. Technologies such as artificial intelligence, 5G, Big Data, the Internet of Things, and Blockchain are set to disrupt traditional business models and transform job roles in the industry.
Students will enhance their leadership and management knowledge, and acquire application-specific specialisation skills through real-world challenges and practical experiences
Key Skills Developed
Leadership and Decision Making
HR Management and Organization Design
Cross-Cultural Team Management
Virtual Team Collaboration
Emotional Intelligence in Business
Digital Innovation Management
Strategic Decision Making
Who is this Programme For?
This programme provides you with all of the essential tools and practical skills to pursue a career in leading transformation projects and change agendas for the digital economy.
- Suitable for aspiring managers and consultants who want to take on leadership roles in the digital domain.
- Opens career opportunities across multiple industries like business management, government administration and digital consulting.
- Helps you gain additional skills in Big Data, cybersecurity, and cloud computing through technical know-how provided by Amazon.
- Provides in-depth knowledge about digital transformation efforts like innovation management, technology, and data control organisation.
Accreditations
The degree programme has been awarded the quality seal of the Accreditation Council Foundation. The Accreditation Council Foundation is a joint institution of the federal states of Germany for quality assurance in study and teaching at German universities.
Gisma University of Applied Sciences is state recognised. It also benefits from AMBA accreditation, which was awarded for the Global MBA and is an honour shared by only 6 universities in Germany and 2% of all universities worldwide. The prestigious AMBA accreditation represents innovation and excellence in education.
How Will You Study?
Gisma University of Applied Sciences supports flexible and individual learning by applying a systematic hybrid learning scheme. You will spend part of your lectures in class at our Potsdam campus. These face-to-face phases are complemented by e-learning sessions. You will work on cases, reflect on readings, take part in online discussions, and participate in group exercises and projects. This variety of learning methods is part of our unique teaching strategy, which includes student-centred pedagogy, project-based learning, collaborative learning, and personalised coaching.
Location:
Potsdam, near Berlin
Duration:
Standard Track: 120 ECTS (24 months)
Eligibility-Based Track: 60 or 90 ECTS (12 or 18 months)
Intakes:
Jan, Apr, Jul, Oct
Tuition Fee:
From € 13,000 per year
From Foundations to Future: Your Digital Transformation Journey
The course is available to study both full-time and part-time. The standard period of study is two years full-time, part-time correspondingly longer. If you have the relevant academic or professional experience, you could be eligible to shorten the study period to one, or one and a half years. Talk to our programme consultants to find out whether this is the case for you.
The programme is modularised, which means each module is assigned a fixed number of credit points and concludes with an examination. This programme consists of 60, 90, or 120 ECTS credits, depending on the track and your eligibility. The standard track spans 24 months (120 ECTS), while the credit-based track can be completed in 12 or 18 months (60 or 90 ECTS), based on prior academic credits, qualifications, or work experience.
In the 2-year format (120 ECTS credits), the curriculum includes a ‘mobility window’ in the 5th semester: a semester reserved for you to study abroad, undertake an internship, or complete a business project in practice.
Modules
Leadership and Decision Making
- HR Management and Organization Design
- Cognitive Psychology & Leadership
- Management of People in Cross Cultural Environments
- Behavioural Competencies in Virtual Teams
- Emotional Agility in International Business
- CEO Decision Making & Case Studies
Project Management and Sustainability
- Project Management
- CSR, Diversity and Ethics
Digital Competencies
- Innovation Management and Digital Transformation
- I.M.E. in a Digital World
- Digital Marketing and Analytics
- Cybersecurity and Digital Risk Management
- Electives in Cloud Computing, Big Data and Cyber Security from Amazon, Alibaba and Co.
Study Abroad or Internship or Business Project Option
Scientific and Methods Competencies
- Research Methods and Scientific Work
- Master Thesis
Your Future Career
A digital transformation leadership degree can help you a manage and lead digitisation in any international organisation. As a consultant, you will be in the pole position to bring businesses to the next (digitised) level. Potential graduate opportunities:
- Cloud specialists; annual salary ranges about € 65,000.
- Digital product managers; annual salary ranges about € 68,000.
- Financial analysts; annual salary ranges about € 48,100.
- Solution architects; annual salary ranges about € 69,710.
- Chief digital officers; annual salary ranges about € 1,41,463.
- UX designers; annual salary ranges about € 42,602.
- Digital transformation specialist; annual salary ranges about € 76,333.
As a student at Gisma, you will be supported by our Career Centre, who provide personalised career support and development.
In today’s competitive job landscape, employers seek well-rounded graduates ready to hit the ground running. Gisma’s Double Degree programme equips you with the in-demand knowledge and versatile skillset to stand out from the crowd. Combine this Gisma specialised degree specialisation with a prestigious International Business Management degree from Kingston University London, creating the perfect launchpad for your dream career – all in a streamlined timeframe.
Double Your Impact With a Double Degree
Our Potsdam Campus
An innovative campus, nestled amidst scenic beauty and iconic palaces
Hear From One of Your Future Professors
Teaching tech concepts is like tightrope walking. The topics are so interesting, but you need to be very careful to not overwhelm students with too much theory. I found a solution a long time ago: We empower students to implement concepts right after learning theories. I really love the thrilled look on their face when students notice they can understand a complex tech concept and implement it in action. This is what the job market is looking for: Graduates who possess such a precious mix of theory and practice.
Prof. Dr. Mohammad Mahdavi
Professor for Data Science
Fees & Admissions
Entry Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline (business, economics or social sciences, psychology, law, engineering, computer science, or closely related sciences)
- English proficiency: B2 (IELTS 6.0 overall, no less than 5.5 in any component) or equivalent scores in TOEFL iBT, Pearson PTE or Duolingo. Gisma also offers an English test free of charge.
Tuition Fees
We offer a range of savings and funding options for our programmes. Fees will vary depending on your applicant status:
- Germany/EU applicants
- Ex-pat applicants
- International applicants
For a full breakdown of all our fees, visit our Fees and Funding page.
How To Apply
Learn about the application process at Gisma University of Applied Sciences! We’ve streamlined the application steps to ensure a smooth journey into our diverse academic community.
Visit our how to apply page below.
Pre-Master’s
A solid undergraduate background in a field relevant to our Master’s programmes is usually required for admission onto our various Master’s programmes. However, many prospective students find that their Bachelor’s degree does not meet the necessary admission criteria. In accordance with German educational standards, these candidates can complete a bridging semester of 30 ECTS, referred to as our “Premasters programme”, to establish familiarity with concepts and skills necessary to do well in their intended Master’s programme. Regardless of your Bachelor’s degree field, we will prepare you for success in your chosen Masters programme!
Learn From The Very Best in The Field
You can be confident that you will be learning from some of the most accomplished and industry-respected professionals. Our professors at Gisma University of Applied Sciences are experts in their respective fields, with a wealth of experience and knowledge. They have come from and worked with some of the world’s largest and most prestigious companies, including Amazon, United Nations, Harvard, 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, KPMG, Boston Consulting Group, IBM, and Allianz.
Thrive in the Digital Age: Gisma Partners with SAP
Gisma is a proud member of the prestigious SAP University Alliances program, offering unparalleled opportunities for our students and staff. This exclusive partnership provides access to SAP’s academic materials, internships, and graduate programs. Our students benefit from open access to SAP training, certifications, and exciting workshops on cutting-edge topics. With the support of SAP experts, we equip our students for success in the digital economy. Join us to thrive in the world of endless possibilities.
Gisma Alumni Survey
At Gisma University of Applied Sciences, we empower our students to launch successful careers. We go beyond education, providing the skills and experience they need to thrive in the professional world. Our graduates are job-ready and make a lasting impact, with many landing positions at top companies.
Alumni Survey (2022)
93%
of our students found employment six months after graduation
88%
of our Gisma students secure a job before graduation
66%
of graduates hold managerial positions in leading organisations
77%
of our graduates enjoy a salary ranging from €55k to €60k
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
Question 1: Is studying in Germany worth it?
Yes! Germany ranks among the topmost popular study destinations across the world owing to its academic excellence and high standard of living.
Question 2: Where can I study leadership in digital transformation?
Gisma University of Applied Sciences in Potsdam offers a great MSc Digital Transformation Leadership, which can be apt for you. This course teaches you everything you need to know about leading digital transformation efforts in your company.
Question 3: What are the four main areas of digital transformation?
The four primary areas of digital transformation include technological transformations, data transformations, operational or process-related transformations and organisational level policy changes.
Question 4: Which leadership skills are essential during digital transformation?
Here is a list of must-have skills for business leaders heading digital transformation changes in their company:
- Excellent communication skills
- Digital literacy
- Familiarity with the latest tech
- Innovation
- Organisational skills
Question 5: What is the role of leadership in digital transformation?
The top responsibility of business leaders in digital transformation is to ensure that the employees are comfortable with adopting new technology. They should also introduce tech that can reduce manual errors and workload.
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