Training programmes

Degree in business management with special emphasis on central banking ( University of Applied Sciences)

Why not study at our University of Applied Sciences in Hachenburg and - after you have completed our broadly based, theoretical and strongly practice-oriented training/study programme and graduated in business management - take on demanding tasks as a junior civil servant in our Upper Intermediate Service?

Requirements

You can enrol for our business management diploma programme at the Deutsche Bundesbank's University of Applied Sciences if you meet the following conditions.

• You have either a certificate of aptitude for higher education ([Fach-]Hochschulreife) or a recognised equivalent.
• You have good written and oral communication skills.
• You have a high level of proficiency in English.
• You have strong analytical skills.
• You are willing to work anywhere in Germany.
• You are a national of one of the European Union member states, another signatory to the Agreement on the European Economic Area or a third country whose vocational qualifications are recognised by the Federal Republic of Germany and the European Union (section 7 of the Federal Civil Servants Act).

Selection procedure

Before a decision about admitting you to the course is made, a selection procedure will be conducted to determine whether you have the knowledge and personal skills needed to cope with the degree and subsequent functions. The selection procedure consists of a written achievement test that is intended to gauge your ability to think logically, your powers of concentration, mathematical skills, spelling and other areas of knowledge, and a written English test. It also includes a group activity, an individual interview and a written exercise, all of which help us to get to know you better.

Please see our selection guideline for further details on the selection procedure.

Recruitment

You will be recruited by our Central Office in Frankfurt am Main as a “trainee Bundesbank clerical assistant” (Bundesbankinspektoranwärter) in the civil service with a revocable appointment. The starting dates are 1 October and 1 April every year. Your task areas during and after the training programme will depend on the Bank’s requirements although your personal wishes will be taken into consideration as far as possible.

Example of pay during training (as at July 2008)

Note: Married trainee clerical assistants and trainee clerical assistants with children receive a family allowance.

Training: theory

During the theoretical part of the training programme, you will aquire the specialist knowledge needed to perform your future tasks independently and flexibly in your chosen career path. The theoretical groundwork will involve 18 months of specialised studies at the Deutsche Bundesbank’s University of Applied Sciences in Hachenburg (Westerwald region). Your specialised studies will cover the following compulsory subjects.

• General business studies and banking operations, data processing
• Financial mathematics, accounting and statistics
• Economics
• Law and civics
• Central bank operations

Your optional subject can be data processing, English or French. English courses are provided to help you to improve your fluency.

Training: practice

Practical training lasts 18 months or 12 months in the case of students who have already completed a course of vocational training as a bank clerk. During the practical part of your studies, we will provide training in interesting and central-bank-specific areas of work at the Bundesbank's branches, Regional Offices and Central Office. During the period of practical training, you will become familiar with the Bundesbank’s many and varied functions and will deal with complex issues independently.

Examination

Once you have completed the basic course of studies, you will sit an intermediate examination, which you must pass in order to continue your training. Your studies will end when you sit the career development examination for the Upper Intermediate Service, which consists of a dissertation to be completed during your practical training and a written and an oral examination. If you pass the final examination, you will be awarded a degree in business management by the Bundesbank’s University of Applied Sciences.

Probationary period

Once you have passed the career development examination for the Upper Intermediate “Bundesbank clerical assistant” (“Bundesbankinspektor”) and accepted into the civil service on probation.

Permanent civil servant

Once you have successfully completed your probationary period – which generally lasts three years – you become a permanent civil servant provided that the other relevant conditions under civil service law are fulfilled.

Planned introduction of bachelor's degree

As part of the Bologna Process, the Bundesbank intends to change the higher education of its junior staff in the Upper Intermediate Service over to the new bachelor's degree. Once the bachelor's degree has been successfully accredited, the standard duration of study will be three years for all students. This period can no longer be reduced for students who have completed an apprenticeship as a bank clerk.  For more information, see Planned changeover to bachelor's degree on the website of the Bundesbank's University of Applied Sciences.

Applications

The next dates for admission to the dual training programme leading to a degree in business management, with a special emphasis on central banking, are 1 October 2011 and 1 April 2012. Places on this course are scheduled to be advertised as of the end of May 2010 on our Job opportunities page. From then onwards we will be happy to accept online applications.

These should be accompanied by the usual documents as file attachments (cover letter, copies of your last two school reports and, if applicable, copies of job references or training certificates and confirmation of having completed military/community service), preferably in PDF format.

After graduation

Following the successful completion of your studies, we will offer you attractive career prospects in the Upper Intermediate Service.

Contacts

If you have any questions about application deadlines or the structure and content of the study programme, please do not hesitate to contact us.

For questions on the application process:

• Ms Caren-Berit Opper
• +49 69 9566 4188

• Mr René Freitag
• +49 69 9566 6047
•  
• E-Mail: personalmanagement@bundesbank.de

For questions on the course content:

• Mr Heinz Eckert
• +49 69 5808 5142
• Heinz.Eckert@bundesbank.de

• Ms Franziska Fiebiger
• +49 69 5808 5131
• Franziska.Fiebiger@bundesbank.de

• Ms Annika Baer
• +49 69 5808 5144
• Annika.Baer@bundesbank.de