The Master of Business Administration (MBA Degree) is a university degree created to equip students with a wide set of skills and knowledge which are applicable in business and management.
Since managerial and business-making strategies are essential for every enterprise, MBA graduates enjoy high employability and countless career options.
An MBA degree in Germany will give you an in-depth insight into numerous things of critical importance in doing business and managing a business.
Moreover, MBA courses in Germany are highly research-oriented study programs so you’ll get exposed to different real-life experiences where your critical thinking and decision-making skills will improve and as a final result, you’ll become an employable graduate.
It is not hard to see why choosing German universities for getting an MBA degree is an excellent choice, but below we’ve covered some of them.
Why is Germany the perfect place to get your MBA degree?
There are several reasons why Germany is a paradise for prospective MBA students. Here are just some of these reasons:
- Countless MBA degrees. The first advantageous trait about doing an MBA in Germany is that you have plenty of options. This variety will enable you to find something that will perfectly match your academic interest and goals. You can check the degree program on the university’s website.
- Affordable price. Traditionally MBA degrees are the most expensive ones and not many have the money to afford them. But this is not the case with German universities. Although such a degree comes at a certain price it is much smaller than popular MBA degrees like those in MBA while it is equal by academic standards. Tuition fees at MBA german universities change largely as we’ll explain below, but on average you can expect to pay something between 4,000 and 10,000 for an academic year.
- World-class academic staff. The professors you’re taught from play a major role in your professional formation and German universities are aware of this fact. Thus, they’re home to world-class academics who are there to guide your way to becoming a successful manager and businessman.
- Prospects. Last but not least important. Being the fourth strongest economy in the world and the top one in Europe, according to the World Bank, Germany is a paradise for MBA graduates. All around the place there are internationally branded companies that are eager to hire young, motivated and well-educated individuals, ready to enter a challenging career in the business world. Once you get your degree you will have countless available options in front of you.
How much does it cost to get an MBA degree in Germany?
Traditionally, MBA degree courses are the most expensive to attend and many students can’t afford them. Germany is not a major exemption to this rule, however, the cost of getting an MBA degree in Germany is more affordable than in popular countries like the UK, while at the same time is of similar quality.
Since universities in Germany are allowed to charge students, whatever fees they decide to, the cost of an MBA degree in Germany varies largely. Typically, private universities charge higher tuition fees as they mostly rely on private funds, in contrast to public universities which accumulate huge funding from the government.
The bill for your MBA will also depend on what type of MBA course you’re choosing to attend. That said, the MBA Executive courses carry higher fees than Full-time MBA courses.
On average, tuition fees for Full-time MBA courses range from around €30,000 to €50,000, while for Executive MBA courses may amount to around €90,000.
If we compare the total cost of getting an MBA degree in the UK with that of Germany, it turns that an MBA degree in Germany will cost you by 15% less than in the UK, on average.
Best MBA degrees in Germany
There are a lot of universities in Germany that offer degree courses in Business Administration.
Here are the universities with the best MBA programs in Germany:
Manheim Business School: Located close to Germany’s financial center Frankfurt, Mannheim Business School is home to one of just two MBA programs in Germany currently ranked in the Financial Times’ Global MBA Ranking. The school’s full-time MBA offers five tracks that allow students to prepare for international careers by focusing on one of a selection of international locations: Asia, Europe and North America are three of the options. Mannheim Business School is triple accredited by AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS. Additionally, the school offers strong Executive MBA options, with international study options in China, Singapore and France.
ESMT: MBA students at the European School of Management and Technology (ESMT) are able to make the most of the dynamism and diversity of Germany’s capital, Berlin. The school offers a one-year full-time MBA with two specialization options: Managing Innovation and Technology or Global Sustainable Business. ESMT is currently ranked among the top 100 schools in the Financial Times’ Global MBA Ranking, as well as in Bloomberg Businessweek’s Best International Business Schools. ESMT is accredited by AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS.
HHL Leipzig: HHL is the reportedly the oldest business school in German-speaking Europe. Its full-time MBA has been ranked among the Top 100 in the Economist’s MBA Ranking 2017 and it has previously been ranked highly in other international rankings for its focus on entrepreneurship. As well as offering full and part-time MBA programs, HHL is part of the Euro*MBA, an executive-level program run by a consortium of European universities, which sees students participate in short residencies at different institutions throughout Europe.
WHU Otto Beisheim: WHU’s full-time MBA was ranked in the top 100 of the Economist’s Full-Time MBA Rankings for 2016. Based in two locations, one in Vallendar and the other in Düsseldorf, the school’s MBA program has excellent salary statistics: the Economist’s survey recently found that graduates’ post-MBA salaries had increased by 89 percent on pre-MBA salaries. WHU has a reputation for graduate placements in the manufacturing sector, both in Germany and in other countries. The joint Executive MBA program that WHU runs with Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management is also highly regarded.
TUM Technische Universität München: Another business school offering a triple-accredited Executive MBA in Germany, TUM also offers a Master in Management and Technology. Students can choose the Executive MBA in Business and IT, the Executive MBA in Innovation and Business Creation, or a general Executive MBA. The school’s location in historic – and economically humming – Munich puts it in the center of one of Germany’s dynamic hubs.
Frankfurt School of Management: For those looking for a finance-grounded MBA in Germany, the Frankfurt School is a great choice. Found in Germany’s finance hub Frankfurt, the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management’s location makes it an easy sell for MBA students looking to work in finance and consulting. The program offers parallel German language courses to ensure a smooth transition into the job market in Germany. The Frankfurt School has a strong track record of having graduates placed in finance and consulting roles following graduation.
ESCP Europe: ESCP Europe is a pan-European business school with campuses in London, Paris, Madrid and Berlin, among others. The Berlin campus welcomes students for the MBA in International Management, which sees them spend each of two years at different campuses within Europe, gaining a degree with a multicultural focus while making the most of the school’s multiple locations. ESCP’s Executive MBA was ranked in the top 100 programs by the Financial Times and the school is triple-accredited.
Hochschule Pforzheim: Although it’s not located in a hub like Berlin or Frankfurt, Hochschule Pforzeim’s location is a major draw card for MBA students interested in Germany’s manufacturing and auto industries. The surrounding Baden-Württemberg region is home to Porsche, Bosch and Daimler, among other manufacturers, and the city Pforzheim marks the northern gateway to the Germany’s picturesque Black Forest. The school’s 21-month MBA in International Management offers concentrations in Innovation and Business Dynamics and Sustainable Globalisation and is extremely good value.
Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Recht Berlin (HWR) – Berlin School of Economics and Law: Another business school located in Germany’s lively capital Berlin is HWR. The school is home to a host of budget MBA options, where students can focus on management in a European context, an Asian-European context or a Transatlantic context. These MBAs include study abroad options in London, Hong Kong, the UK, France or in other EU member states, so that students can get some international experience. Additionally, HWR offers part-time MBA programs in Entrepreneurship, Change Management and Health Care Management.
University of Cologne Business School: The University of Cologne Business School is one of Germany’s triple-accredited schools and home of the Cologne-Rotterdam MBA, which it offers in partnership with the Rotterdam School of Management in the Netherlands. The University of Cologne Business School is located within the Ruhr valley, comprising a group of large, industrial cities in northwestern Germany that offer ample business and employment opportunities. The two-year EMBA makes the most of its location at the crossroads of Europe’s trade routes and its local corporate network.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for a German MBA degree change from university to university. However, there is surely a list of documents that are common for all universities in Germany.
The following documents are mostly required to apply for your MBA degree course in Germany
- A recognized undergraduate degree
- A certified transcript of your grades
- Strong GRE or GMAT scores
- Proof of Language Proficiency (English or German)
- Two to three years of professional experience (Optional)
- Motivation and Reference Letters (Optional)
As per your undergraduate degree, you must first check if it’s recognized in Germany. Usually, universities have a list of qualifications that are accepted at their institutions.
If the degree you’ve attained in your home country is not recognized in Germany, the University of your choice will require you to sit in a two-semesters preparatory course before you commence your regular studies.
Note that there are universities that may also accept other relevant qualifications or work experiences instead of an undergraduate degree.
Also, note that work experience is highly valued if you want to apply for MBA Executive degree courses.
