Thinking of pursuing an MBA in Germany? Looking to learn management and leadership skills from some of the most reputed B-Schools in Europe? Looking to enhance your career prospect by adding an MBA to your list of qualifications? An MBA in Germany is an excellent option.
This article will talk all about an MBA in Germany, top B Schools in Germany, and all other necessary information.
Topics covered
Why study in Germany?
Many international students wish to pursue their higher studies in Germany. Let us take a look at why Germany is one of the most preferred study destinations in the world:
- Reasonable Tuition fees: For international students seeking higher education options in Germany and other countries, one of the most crucial factors in deciding on a particular college or university is the tuition fee.
Students are perplexed over the question, MBA in Germany free must know that the tuition fee for most of the public universities in Germany offers higher education for free. Although the top MBA colleges in Germany are private universities, each has its own annual or semester-wise fee structure. Even most of the private MBA colleges in Germany offer affordable fees for international students as compared to the US or UK. - Top business schools: In Germany, there is a host of top MBA colleges ranking in the top 100 Global MBA Rankings 2017, i.e., Manheim Business School (rank 54) and ESMT Berlin (rank 70).
As per the ICEF, higher education in Germany has been ranked as the most attractive study destination in Europe.
Factors like academic teaching staff/ faculty and MBA program structure and other important factors make an MBA in Germany highly reputed. The faculty in top MBA colleges in Germany holds international profiles with a strong academic background, having rich experience in business and administration.
- Scholarships: One of the most important aspects of studying higher education in Germany is the availability of several scholarships for MBA programs. International MBA candidates can easily avail of college/ business school scholarships to obtain financial aid. Some of the scholarships are mentioned below.
- English is the language of Instruction: According to Destatis data, most international students prefer business and social science-related courses at the top colleges in Germany. Now the German universities offering MBA to international students in the English language have attracted more students to opt for higher education in Germany.
- Advanced course curriculum: The study program/course curriculum for MBA in Germany is built not only to help students gain an independent style of doing business but also in generating innovative ideas and leadership strategies.
Should you study for an MBA?
One of the most significant questions before you take up an MBA is that should you study for an MBA. And if yes, then MBA in which major/ specialization and from which college or university? Your selection should aim to find the MBA or PGDM College which fits your skills, aptitudes, knowledge, and your career plan.
What do you want to do after an MBA? Are you really aware of the opportunities as per your own capabilities? In general, for selecting the best MBA College, you can use the steps shown in the figure below:
List of the Top 10 Business Schools in Germany
According to ICEF, Germany is the most popular and preferred education destination for international students who are seeking higher education. There are several MBA colleges in Germany offering full-time, part-time, executive and other MBA programs.
Let’s take a look at the Top Business Schools in Germany:
- ESMT, Berlin
- IUBH University of Applied Sciences
- Frankfurt School of Finance & Management
- Mannheim Business School
- Munich Business School
- WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management
- GISMA Business School
- Hochschule fur Wirtschaft und Recht Berlin, Berlin School of Economics and Law
- HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management
- EU Business School
List of Specializations offered by MBA colleges in Germany
The B-Schools in Germany offer full-time, part-time, executive, and other MBA programs. Some of the top Business Schools in Germany offer subject specializations in diverse fields/ study areas such as:
- International Business
- Big Data Management
- Engineering Project Management
- Finance & Accounting
- International HR Management
- Health Care Management
- Hospitality
- International Marketing
- Global Banking and Finance
- Leisure and Tourism Management
- Logistics & Transport
- Clinical Research Management
- Entrepreneurship
- Digital Business
- Sports Management
- Design Management
- Blockchain Management
MBA in Germany: Eligibility, Program details & Tuition fee
To apply for MBA in Germany, applicants must take a look at the eligibility requirements and tuition fee of the designated college/ university prior to applying for admission. As most colleges/ universities have slightly different eligibility criteria, let us take a look at the breakup of important details of some of the MBA colleges in Germany:
| Name of Business School | Course Duration & Tuition Fee | Eligibility |
| ESMT Berlin | 12 Months EUR 43,500 | – Undergraduate/Postgraduate degree – 3 years of Professional Experience – GMAT or GRE (The average GMAT score is 640.) – English Proficiency test-TOEFL, PTE, IELTS. |
| IUBH University of Applied Sciences | 12 Months EUR 24,495 | – Undergraduate/Postgraduate degree – At least 1 year of full-time professional and relevant experience – English Fluency (min. score IELTS 6.0/ TOEFLIBT 80 points/ PTE 56 points (overall)/ Duo lingo 105 points/ Cambridge Advanced or Proficiency. |
| Frankfurt School of Finance & Management | 12 Months EUR 38,000 | – Bachelor or equivalent – 3 years of post-graduate work experience – GMAT or GRE – English Fluency (min. score TOEFL 90IBT, IELTS 7.0 or equivalent) Knowledge of the German language (Not compulsory but preferred) |
| Mannheim Business School | 12 Months (can be extended to 3) EUR 39,500 | – Bachelor or equivalent – 3 years of post-graduate work experience – GMAT/ GRE necessary – English Fluency (min. score TOEFL 95, IELTS 7.0, or equivalent) – German language* (Not compulsory but advisable) |
| Munich Business School | 12 Months EUR 32,000 | – Bachelor or equivalent – At least two years of relevant professional experience – GMAT/ GRE Necessary – English Fluency (min. score TOEFL 85, IELTS 6.5, ELS English for Academic Purposes: Advanced Level 112) |
| Name of Business School | Course Duration & Tuition Fee | Eligibility |
| WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management | 12 Months EUR 40,500 | – Bachelor or equivalent – At least 2 years of post-graduate work experience – Proof of fluency in English – GMAT score (a min. score of 600 is recommended) |
| GISMA Business School | 24 Months (One academic year + Final management course) EUR 31,450 | – Bachelor or equivalent. – 3 years of post-graduate work experience. – English Fluency (min. score TOEFL-IBT: level 94, IELTS overall band score 6.5, Cambridge Proficiency Exam (CPE): A, B, C Pearson Test of English (PTE) min. 63) |
| Hochschule fur Wirtschaft & Recht Berlin, Berlin School of Economics and Law | 15 Months EUR 19,800 | – Bachelor or equivalent – Minimum of three years of post-graduate work experience – English Fluency (min. score TOEFL: CBT 213 points or IBT 79 points, IELTS: 6.5 points) |
| HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management | Fast Track: 12 months courses on campus + 3 months master thesis. Advanced Track: Up to 21 months including an optional term abroad or a professional internship. EUR 38,000 | – A completed Bachelor’s degree in any field – At least 3 years of post-graduate work experience – GMAT or GRE score – English Fluency (minimum score TOEFL of 90+/IELTS 7.0+) |
| EU Business School | 12 Months EUR 20,850 | – Bachelor or equivalent – Must have 2 years of professional work experience – GMAT or GRE score – English Fluency (Min. score TOEFL 89 IBT, 233 CBT, IELTS 6.5, CAE Cl 176, PTE score 59, English native or equivalent) |
Eligibility for MBA in Germany
To be eligible for MBA in Germany, the criteria vary for different Business schools. Look at the following pointers to get a general idea of the eligibility criteria:
- Bachelor’s degree: Candidates applying for MBA in German business schools must have a graduate degree in any discipline.
- Professional Work-experience: To be eligible, most MBA colleges in Germany require prior professional work experience of 2.5 or more years.
- Good GMAT/GRE score: Universities, institutes, and business schools in Germany require a good score in GMAT/ GRE. Applicants have to send the scores (GMAT/GRE) directly from the testing service organization by using the codes given on the official website of the designated college/ university.
- English Proficiency: Applicants must be able to speak and understand fluently in the English language. To submit proof of English language proficiency, applicants must demonstrate their proficiency by submitting scores from one of the following: IELTS indicator test, or TOEFL.
- Applicants must refer to the specific guidelines mentioned on the official website of the designated institute/ university for information regarding minimum test scores and other eligibility criteria.
How to apply for MBA in Germany?
The application process for most Canadian institutes/ universities varies as per their admission policies. Take a look at the most common way to apply for admission to the best MBA programs in Canadian Universities:
- To apply for an MBA in Germany, candidates are requested to select the institute as per choice and apply on the official website.
- While applying for the international study program, candidates are requested to make sure they provide their personal details & scan and upload all the documents (list of documents required in the application process mentioned below) correctly.
- The eligibility requirements for most of the top MBA colleges in Germany have been briefly discussed in the table above. MBA applicants also have to submit a list of documentation for the completion of the application process for higher education in Germany.
MBA in Germany: Details of documents required
Take a look at the following list of documents required during MBA application process:
- College Application form: Candidates are requested to fill in the respective details and submit the college application form. To be eligible for MBA colleges in Germany, candidates must apply to various Business Schools in Germany and also keep in mind the eligibility criteria and tuition fee for the said program.
- Certified transcripts of all given grades, studies, and activities (translated into English or German): Candidates applying for an MBA program in various German colleges must submit their mark sheet or scorecard for a bachelor’s degree or relevant as per the college’s eligibility criteria.
- Photograph
- CV or Resume: Candidates must have a resume or CV displaying his/ her educational qualification as well as the necessary eligibility criteria as mentioned on the official website of the college.
- Letter of motivation (professional and personal reasons for wanting to participate in the Mannheim MBA program; one page only): Candidates have to submit a letter of motivation or Statement of Purpose as a mandatory part of the entire application process.
- GMAT/GRE score: To be eligible for top MBA colleges in Germany, candidates must attain a higher score in GMAT and GRE.
- TOEFL with a minimum score of 95 or equivalent: Each college has different criteria for accepting different scores for English Proficiency tests (that has also been mentioned in the above table).
- Two reference letters (Use University/ college’s MBA reference form): Candidates applying for the MBA program in Germany must submit two letters of recommendation or reference letters.
MBA in Germany: Tuition Fees, Cost of Living, and Other costs
One of the major factors that influence an international student’s decision of studying MBA in Germany is the tuition fees, the cost of living and other expenses while their stay abroad. The cost of living varies greatly depending on the candidate’s lifestyle, budget and spending habits, but the estimated costs below will give the students a general idea of all the costs.
For international students who want to study MBA in Germany, the tuition fee for some of the business schools has been already mentioned in the article. For the cost of living and other academic fees excluding the tuition fee, take a look at the following table:
| Type of expense | Average cost (per month) |
| Rent and utilities | € 323 |
| Food and supplies | € 168 |
| Working/learning materials | € 20 |
| Travel costs (car and public transport) | € 94 |
| Health insurance, medical costs, medicine | € 80 |
| Phone, internet, TV | € 31 |
| Health insurance | € 80 |
| Semester fee | € 25-200 |
| Total | € 821 – € 996 |
MBA in Germany: Scholarships
Most of the top MBA colleges in Germany offer a diverse range of scholarship programs/offers in several specializations in MBA programs. These scholarships offer a number of partial-tuition scholarships, Early Bird Discount, GMAT or GRE scholarships, and Women Scholarships among many others, for MBA aspirants.
Take a look at the following scholarships for MBA colleges in Germany:
- ESMT’s MBA Scholarship program
- IUBH University of Applied Sciences
- HHL Asia-Pacific Scholarship (full-time MBA)
- Central Sector Scheme of National Overseas Scholarship
- Global Study Awards
- The Financial Sumo Educational Scholarship Program
- DAAD Scholarships
Job and Residence Opportunities after an MBA in Germany
- Pursuing a Master’s in business administration from Germany prepares graduates for great employment opportunities. The MBA graduates qualify for various leadership and managerial roles in various international organizations.
- MBA graduates from top German colleges may find work in industries such as: consulting, banking, finance, automotive, insurance, technology, fintech, etc.
- Some of the job roles which MBA graduates may find are Marketing Executive, Business Analyst, Executive Assistant, Human Resources Generalist (Executive), Investment analyst, Operations Leader, and Senior Product Manager, among many others.
- As Germany is a hub of the automotive industry, graduates from top business schools in Germany may find work opportunities with bigger brands such as BMW, Volkswagen, Porsche, Mercedes, etc. and many leading pharmaceutical and engineering firms like Bayer, Merck, and Bosch.
- The name of other recruiters for MBA graduates is Alstom, Bosch, Deloitte, Danone, Decathlon, Deutsche Bank, Ernst & Young, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Philips, and Siemens, to name a few.
- Students looking for work in Germany after completing an MBA/ other PG degree can extend their residence permit for up to 18 months and look for job opportunities.
- To apply for an extended residence permit, students would need the following documents:
- Passport
- Completion of degree certificate or University degree certificate
- Health insurance certificate/ document
- Proof of financial support
- For those with a temporary residence permit must soon apply for a German residence permit or EU Blue Card (it is similar to the US Green Card).
- The EU Blue Card is a Work and Residence permit for qualified professionals who belong to non-EU countries. EU Blue Card holders are allowed a permanent residence permit after 33 months of employment. Moreover, this residence permit has no time limitation.
- For those who want to stay and work in Germany permanently must apply for a “settlement permit”.
- The eligibility for a settlement permit is based on candidates having a residence permit for working in Germany for at least 2 years. The candidate must also have been employed at a job and has paid for the statutory pension insurance fund for 24 months.
How to apply for Visa in Germany?
- Describe the purpose of the visit: To obtain a German Visa, candidates must first describe the purpose of their visit i.e. either looking for study options, research, or job seeking. This article majorly talks about an MBA in Germany; therefore, candidates will be applying for a study visa.
- Fulfill the admission requirements: Candidates are required to fulfill the general requirement such as a passport, proof of financial resources, and other academic degrees and qualifications.
- Making an appointment at the German Embassy and applying for a visa: After fulfilling all the necessary document requirements, the candidates must and an appointment at the German Embassy and get official permission to enter Germany.
Is MBA free in Germany? Myth or fact?
- While most of the international aspirants who wish to pursue an MBA in Germany may have questions regarding the tuition fee for studying Master’s in Business Administration in Germany, most of the private universities mentioned above under the subheading top Business schools in Germany charge tuition fee as per their academic fee structure and this fee may vary for different institutions altogether.
- But the real question is, MBA free in Germany? Well, technically studying MBA for free is not possible. The tuition fee charged in MBA colleges in Germany may be less or in fact free of cost but education entirely is not free.
- Students need to pay for accommodation and other living expenses which may or may not be covered by scholarships. Although, most of the websites claiming that an MBA in Germany is free are misleading students.
- Most of these public universities offer Executive MBA programs in various specializations. Entry to these universities is for applicants having 5 or more years of professional experience.
- Some of the universities offering such programs in Germany are the Technical University of Munich, the Business School of the University of Cologne, and RWTH Aachen University among many others.
In Conclusion
Pursuing higher studies internationally could be both challenging as well as exciting. Challenging with regard to the huge effort one has to put in setting up all the documents and preparing for Visa and other application processes and it is exciting because it comes with amazing opportunities and life experiences.
Therefore, one must have a clear thought plan before preparing to study abroad, take proper guidance, and then select the best and most feasible action plan for their future.
Useful Links:
Germany Student Visa Process & Requirements
MBBS in Germany
Education in Germany
Best Universities in Germany
Study MBBS Abroad
Best MBA Specialization
Best Country for MBA
Education in Germany
Germany Student Visa Process
Scholarships to Study Abroad for Indian Students
MBBS in Germany
IELTS: All You Need to Know
FAQs
All students who wish to pursue a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree are aware that most publicly funded universities in Germany do not charge tuition fees. However, students must pay an administrative fee at the beginning of each academic year.
The answer is one: it depends. In terms of costs, an MBA in Germany is usually one of the cheapest for international students in Germany. An MBA degree is generally suitable for all academics who aspire to a managerial position. The degree was originally intended for non-economists and was intended to prepare them for management tasks.
In Germany, you can get an MBA without work experience, unlike many countries where previous work experience is a prerequisite for an MBA. German universities are not regulated by a central authority, which makes MBA requirements in Germany quite variable.
Some of the best universities in Germany for an MBA are the Technical University of Munich (TUM School of Management), the University of Mannheim, and the EBS University of Cologne.
Germany is a popular destination for MBA programs due to its highly regarded business schools and central location in Europe. Many universities offer MBA programs in English, so students from all over the world can get an excellent education.
The cost of an MBA in Germany at a private university varies depending on the course and institution. The typical cost of an MBA program at such a university can range from €30,000 to €50,000 (approximately INR 25,93,700 -43,22,800).
To apply for an MBA program at a German university, applicants must have a four-year bachelor’s degree or a three-year degree with a one-year master’s degree in business administration. Some universities also accept a 3-year degree with relevant work experience.
Shruti Verma has an experience of around 2+ years in research and analysis of careers, jobs, and industries. She has a knowledge of diverse fields spanning from career counselling, management consulting, engineering, and technology to science, finance, and humanities.
