Two Years of Business Psychology & Management MASTER at MCI: A Look Back

With its third cohort starting and its first graduates completing the program, the part-time master's reaches an important milestone.

For two years, MCI's English-taught master's program in Business Psychology & Management has combined business expertise with business psychology and a deeper understanding of people and their behavior in organizations. Delivered in a part-time blended learning format, the program enables students to pursue further education alongside their professional commitments.

Growing Interest and International Diversity

The growing student numbers and increasing international diversity reflect the interest in the master's program in Business Psychology & Management. In 2024, 27 students from five nationalities began their studies, with an average age of 31. In 2025, the cohort comprised 30 students from seven nationalities, with an average age of 31.2. In 2026, the program welcomed 31 students from ten nationalities, with an average age of 34.3. The students' international diversity, professional experience, and varied personal backgrounds enrich discussions and bring a wide range of perspectives to business and organizational challenges.

Looking Back and Ahead

After two years, it is time to reflect on the program's development and look ahead. Christiane Altendorfer, Head of Department and Program Director, shares her personal highlights, reflects on the program's progress, and discusses her plans for the years to come.

What has been your personal highlight in the past two years, and what are you particularly proud of?

Honestly, it is difficult to choose just one highlight, so I will share two. The first was our Welcome Day in early September, when we had the opportunity to welcome the new cohort to the MCI campus in Innsbruck for the first time. Over three days, the students got to know each other in person, learned more about the program, and worked together on topics such as lifelong learning, growth mindset, and collaboration. Feeling that energy in the room (and on the Umbrüggler Alm mountain) was fantastic. The second highlight was the first master's examinations a few weeks ago, after which we were able to congratulate our first graduates in Business Psychology & Management. The students, as well as our program team, have invested a great deal of time and energy into this program over the past two years. Seeing that work now come to fruition was a very moving moment, and I am truly proud of what we have achieved.

How has the master's program in Business Psychology & Management developed since its launch, and what makes it stand out today?

Before launching the program, we conducted market research and knew that both business psychology and online study options would be in demand. Even so, the actual level of interest pleasantly surprised us. It confirms that our part-time master's program with its blended learning format meets an important need. Our students want to combine their careers with further education without having to give up one for the other. That is exactly what our program makes possible. What also makes the program special to me is the cohort itself. The students bring extensive professional experience and a wide range of backgrounds. Everyone benefits from this diversity: theory meets practice, and discussions often go far beyond what is covered in textbooks.

What goals and priorities would you like to pursue in the coming years, and how do you see the program developing in the future?

We want to continue strengthening business psychology as a focus area at MCI. An important step in this direction was the launch of our bachelor's program in Business Administration & Business Psychology last year. This means we now offer a pathway from bachelor's to master's level in this field. Another priority close to my heart is building connections. I want to further strengthen the exchange among students and involve our alumni in the future, creating a vibrant business psychology community that brings together people who want to make a difference at the intersection of people and organizations, long after they have completed their studies.

First Graduates Share Their Personal Experiences

Lisa Oberascher (Sr. Ops Data & Reporting Governance Expert, Red Bull): “The flexible study model was an excellent fit alongside my full-time job. I was particularly impressed by the innovative content and the opportunity to enrich my studies through a voluntary two-week Summer School in China. I gained many new perspectives from the program and emerged with a much more reflective mindset.”

Madlen Singer (Recruiting & Employer Branding, ÖBB): “What I appreciated most about the BPM program was the flexible format, which allowed me to continue working alongside my studies. The highlights for me were the on-site days and the skills labs. Rather than focusing only on theory, these sessions gave us space to apply what we were learning to real-world scenarios. Overall, this hands-on approach was a major strength of the program. It helped me gain an in-depth understanding of human behavior and apply it effectively in a professional context.”

Sabrina Steiner (Graduate Business Psychology & Management): “The Master’s in Business Psychology & Management was the ideal choice for me to complement my solid management knowledge with psychological expertise. The program not only provided me with practical methods for forward-looking business management, but also fostered significant personal development and strengthened my self-management skills. Thanks to the flexible structure, I was also able to complete the program very successfully alongside my professional career.”