International M.A. Diaconic Management
The IDWM has been offering a two-year Master's programme International Diaconic Management in English since 2011
The two-year, interdisciplinary MA programme is taught at two African universities: Stellenbosch University/Südafrika, Tumaini University Dar es Salaam College, Tanzania, two Southeast Asian universities: Salatiga Universitas Kristen Satya Wacana (UKSW)/Indonesien, Silliman University/Dumaguete City, Philippinen and Bielefeld University.
The programme covers the basics of economics, the St. Gallen Management Model (SGMM), corporate governance, the basics of financial and personnel management, communication, intercultural management, contextual theology, theology of diaconia and forms of diaconia. Regional "field research" with visits to diaconic organisations in the host country open up the university stay.
This international Master's programme was developed on the initiative of the United Evangelical Mission (UEM), Wuppertal/Dar es Salaam/Medan for students from South East Asia and Africa. German students have also been involved since course IV.
Basic Information
Studying Globally – Managing Contextually – Acting Responsibly
Themes of the curriculum are
- Multirational Management in Diaconia and Social Economy
- Diaconia: Emergence, Structures, Profiles
- Value-oriented Management and Diaconal Ethics
- Diaconic Theology: Tasks and Functions
- Leadership and Management in Diaconia and Social Economy
- Transforming Structuring Forces of Diaconic Enterprises: Strategy, Structure, Culture
- Instruments of Operative Management
- Innovation and Entrepreneurial Action in Diaconia and Social Economy in International Horizon
- Economy in Context / Theology in Context
- Intercultural Learning and Diaconic Management
- Diaconic Management in Context (Field Research)
Module descriptions
The English version merely serves as a guideline. Legally binding are the German texts published in the Announcements of the University of Bielefeld – Official Bulletin. The German versions shall in any event prevail. Further (German-language) information about the program can be found here.
Outline of the Programme Design for the 2026–2028 Study Programme (Course VII)
The program includes lectures, seminars and scientifically reflected field research in Asia, Africa and Europe. On top, individual own academic studying, research and text production is required in between the sections.
Students live and study together in an international, inter-culturally composed „Learning Community“. In sections of four to five weeks each (for the physical sections), they study at the following places (order of locations and dates are subject to change).
2026 | Germany: Institute for Diaconic Science and Diaconic Management (IDWM), University of Bielefeld and UEM, Wuppertal | February |
| Digital Sessions | March/May |
| South Africa: Stellenbosch University | June |
| Digital Sessions | July/Oct/Nov |
2027 | Digital Session | Jan 2027 |
| Philippines: Silliman University, Dumaguete | Febr – March 2027 |
| Digital Sessions | May/June/July/Oct/Nov |
2028 | Bielefeld: Oral Exam/Defense of Master Thesis | Jan |
Costs for the MA Program:
- € 8.500 study fees,
- approx € 24.000 travel expenses and other costs.
Scholarships must be individually obtained by the applicants from all conceivable sources.
Submission of Applications for the 2026–2028 Study Programme (Course VII) opens on July 1, 2025
Please complete the Application for Admission digitally and send it to idwm-admissions@uni-bielefeld.de. Along with the Application for Admission, please also submit the following documents:
- Proof of all qualified degrees in the form of certificates including meaningful documents of the completed examinations (e.g. diploma supplement with transcript, module descriptions etc. on request), further study certificates, if applicable
- curriculum vitae in tabular form with educational background
- description of your professional career
- proof of leadership experience (e.g. confirmation letter signed and stamped by employer)
- any other certificates, proof of qualifications and references
- proof(s) of required language skills in English:
- European Language Portfolio (ELP): B2,
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) ‘Internet-based’ Test (IBT) with a score of at least 87 points,
- IELTS test with a score of at least 5.5,
- Cambridge Test - Certificate in Advanced English (CAE),
- First Certificate in English (FCE) with a grade of at least B,
- UNIcert Level II
- thesis proposal up to five pages outlining the research project that will be written as a Master thesis during the degree programme
Completed Master's Theses - International
A list of master's theses from the "International M.A. Diaconic Management" program can be found ... [here]