MBA in Germany

Last Updated on August 10, 2023 by Diya

Are you an MBA aspirant from Germany? Are you an international student looking to pursue MBA in Germany? If yes, this article will be of help to you. Here, you will find useful information such as – the best MBA programs, colleges, relevant tests, requirements, eligibility, admission process, and fees.

“How’s this article of help to me?”, you may ask. Before securing admission into any B-School in Germany, it is very important to know some basic details. Details such as college rating, eligibility, tests & scores required, fees structure, etc will help you make an informed choice!   MBA stands for Master of Business Administration. It is a postgraduate-level management education program.

MBA is a very popular choice among graduates in Germany. Not just that, many international students also dream about pursuing an MBA Degree in Germany! It is a dream destination among International Students.

It is not uncommon to see Graduates from around the world moving to Germany to pursue MBA! The quality of institutes, easy immigration process, low tuition fees, minimum living expenses, and availability of new opportunities – are the main attractions that Germany offers to International Students. You may also check – Studying MS in Germany.

“What are the benefits of pursuing an MBA?”, you may ask. The benefits are many! You will find the main advantages in the next section.

Why MBA?

Managerial/administrative jobs are financially well rewarding. An MBA can help you build a dream career in the management sector!   Reports show that employers are keen on recruiting candidates with management skills. Irrespective of the nature of the job, employers want employees to have basic management skills. Such candidates are highly valued and rewarded by recruiters!

A Bachelor’s Degree will help give direction and shape to your career. But a Master’s Degree like an MBA will help broaden the career prospects. It will open new doors of opportunities in front of you!

It is not uncommon to see Bachelor’s Degree holders hitting a plateau (career-wise) after setting sail! An MBA can give a boost to your stalled career! It is not uncommon to see working professionals going after an MBA for obtaining a promotion!

Why Germany?

Looking from International Students’ point of view, German B-Schools have a lot to offer. Some of the main attractions are –

• Competitive curriculum.
• Availability of reputed Institutes and Universities.
• Chance to settle down in Germany.
• Chance to experience the culture and lifestyle.
• Experienced faculty.
• Excellent infrastructure.
• Low tuition fees.
• Availability of free MBA programs.
• Low expenses in terms of housing, food, etc.
• Opportunity to work part-time.

Germany has always been a very popular destination among International Students. The higher education system in Germany is designed to accommodate them easily. Apart from that, the diversity of the ‘student population’ is also an advantage that attracts foreign students to Germany.   Curriculum-wise, MBA programs available in Germany can be classified into two types.

Types of MBA programs in Germany

MBA programs can broadly be classified into two types –

• General management program.
• Specialization program.

A general MBA program focuses on the fundamentals of management. The curriculum covers core management subjects such as HRM, Marketing, Finance, Entrepreneurship etc.   Apart from that, there also exists numerous MBA programs, which focus on a particular niche/domain/discipline. Such programs are known as specialization programs.   A typical specialization program focuses on both general management subjects and specialization-specific subjects.

Best MBA Specializations in Germany

German B-Schools are also generous when it comes to modes of learning. They offer a wide variety of modes of learning. Here they are –

MBA in HR Management

HRM is here to stay! As long as companies recruit and employ personnel, HR managers will be in demand! Companies hire skilled HR managers to take care of tasks such as recruitment, employee development, training & retention, performance analysis, compensation, and rewards.

MBA in Marketing Management

To sell goods and services, businesses need an effective marketing strategy. They depend on skilled marketing managers to develop, test and execute marketing campaigns and strategies. In short, skilled marketing managers will always be in demand!

MBA in Digital Marketing

Thanks to the advent of IT and Digital Technology, Digital Marketing has become very important. Sectors such as Digital Media, Online Branding, and E-Commerce have opened doors to new opportunities!   To remain competitive in Digital Age, companies need skilled Digital Marketers. This relatively new MBA specialization is here to stay and will generate more job opportunities in the future!

MBA in IT

IT (Information Technology) plays a key role in our day-to-day lives. We use IT systems for purposes such as healthcare, education, governance, entertainment, and shopping!   MBA in IT program is well known for churning out IT managers. IT managers are hired by IT firms and allied companies to take manage IT projects.

MBA in Travel and Tourism Management

Germany has a thriving travel and tourism industry. Each year, hundreds of thousands of tourists visit NZ! If you want to build a career in the travel and tourism sector, this academic program will be of help to you!

MBA in Finance Management

Why do companies hire finance managers? Finance managers ensure that there is good cash flow. They take care of strategic management and monetary decisions. They play a crucial role in ensuring the operational health of a company. Skilled finance managers will always be in demand!

MBA in Business Analytics

Data, if analyzed properly, can work wonders for a company! Business analytics mainly deals with data analytics and statistical methods!   Business analytics uses a set of metrics to investigate and study the past performance of a company. The conclusion can be used to formulate strategy and plans for the company’s future!

MBA in Healthcare management

The healthcare sector is growing at a healthy pace in Germany. To ensure the healthcare system’s smooth functioning, we need skilled healthcare managers!

MBA in Media Management

Media managers are recruited by newspapers, Digital media firms, Internet media firms, Publishing firms, etc. Media – traditional and new age – is here to stay. As long as it stays, skilled media managers will always be in demand!

MBA in Aviation Management

The aviation industry is doing decently well in Germany. Around the globe, this sector is doing well. It generates ample job opportunities. Aviation management professionals are hired by Airlines, travel, and tourism firms.

Different modes of learning

In Germany, you will find learning modes designed for everyone’s needs! An individual may choose a learning mode based on his/her present status (employed, student, international student, etc).   Here are some of the notable learning modes –

• Regular Classroom programs.
• Online learning programs.
• Distance Education programs.
• Fast-track programs (Accelerated MBA).
• Executive MBA programs.
• Part-time MBA programs.

Free MBA/No Tuition Fees Universities

Why is Germany one of the most popular destinations among International students? Low/no tuition fees are one of the main reasons responsible for it!   German and International students may study for free in Public German Universities! ‘No tuition fees’ policy is applicable for local and international students for both undergraduate and graduate studies!

Under this policy, students studying in public Universities have to pay zero tuition fees! All they need to pay is a nominal ‘administrative fee’ of 100-200 EUR per year. However, public Universities in some regions are making changes to this rule though!

The main problem associated with studying MBA in a tuition-free University is that the medium of learning is German! It means that the subjects will be taught in German (not English).   So, if you want to avail free MBA education in Germany, you must be fluent in German! English MBA programs are mostly offered by Private German Universities. They, unfortunately, don’t have a tuition-free policy though!

Dynamic nature of programs

The MBA curriculum is constantly evolving. We are living in the Digital Age now. Here, business practices get easily influenced by technology. As a result, to keep up with these changes in business practices, the MBA curriculum must also be updated!

Signs of change are visible though. The emergence of relatively new MBA programs such as the MBA in Digital Marketing & MBA in IT (Information Technology) shows that management education is still capable of evolving!

Eligibility

To be considered eligible to pursue this academic program, one must satisfy some basic requirements. Let’s take a look at the basic eligibility criteria –

• Minimum educational qualification: Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent.
• GMAT or relevant admission test.
• Work experience (1-3 years, may vary though).
• Non-native English speakers and International students must hold a valid score on English language tests such as TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or PTE (Pearson Test of English Academic).

Eligibility criteria may vary from one institute to another. For example, some institutes demand 2-3 years of work experience. Some other institutes have pretty relaxed norms when it comes to work experience.

Admission Process

While applying for admission, applicants must submit GMAT (Graduate Management Admissions Test) or other relevant admission test scores.

Non-native English speakers and International students must hold a valid score on English language tests such as TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or PTE (Pearson Test of English Academic).

Apart from that, depending on the admission policy of the institute, they must also submit the following documents and applications –

• Resume.
• Essays.
• Transcripts.
• Other supporting documents.

Colleges

Here are some of the best MBA colleges in Germany –

• Frankfurt School of Finance and Management.
• Manheim Business School.
• WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management.
• HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management.
• EBS University Business School.
• European School of Management and Technology.
• ESCP Europe, Berlin.
• University of Cologne Faculty of Management.
• Offenburg University of Applied Sciences.
• The Technical University of Munich.
• The University of Kiel.
• The University of Uln.
• University of Hamburg.
• The University of Bamberg.
• University of Bayreuth.
• University of Regensburg.
• University of Augsburg.
• RWTH Aachen University.
• Goethe University Frankfurt.
• The University of Bremen.
• University of Rostock.
• FA University Erlangen.
• Free University of Berlin.
• The University of Stuttgart.
• The Humboldt University of Berlin.
• Esslingen University of Applied Sciences.
• Schiller International University.

Fees

Fees charged for the program varies from one institute to another. Tuition fees depend upon the following factors.

• Type of college (State or Private).
• Scholarship status of the student.
• College rating and reputation.

Public German Universities charge zero tuition fees. But students must pay a nominal administration fee per semester. This fee is usually around 100-300 EUR.

Private Universities charge tuition fees. Fees may vary from one institute to another. Generally, it is around 5-15K EUR per year. But there exist colleges that charge lower tuition fees!

For Institute-specific tuition fees, readers should check the institute’s prospectus or website.