MBA in Germany is a 1 to 1.5-year program available for international students in the full-time, part-time and online mode of education. There are over 50 colleges and universities offering MBA in Germany, with around 5 universities ranking within the top 250 of QS Global MBA Ranking and around 3 universities ranking within the top 100 MBA schools as per FT Times.
Business Schools in Germany are becoming a new global destination for MBA aspirants because of the lost cost or tuition-free education they offer. To get into these top universities in Germany, you will not only need to have high academic standing in your bachelor’s but also need IELTS/TOEFL scores along with GMAT scores. Here are some points to ponder for international students planning to study MBA in Germany:
- A bachelor’s degree and work experience of 2 to 3 years is mandatory for the admission of Indian students in this program.
- The annual cost of an MBA in Germany ranges from 17,770 USD to 44,000 USD (the equivalent of 13 lakhs to 33 lakhs INR).
- MBA graduates from German universities can earn an average salary of 125,000 USD per annum (~91 LPA).
An MBA or Masters of Business Administration equips students with a range of skillset for interpreting and implementing into businesses. An MBA from recognized global universities will help you gain reputable job roles with cushy median salaries.
Top Universities for MBA in Germany
Some of the best colleges for MBA in Germany have been listed below along with their QS global MBA ranking, university’s national ranking, and program fees
| University | Program Offered and Duration | Total Program Fees (in USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Mannheim Business School | MBA: 1 year | 44,200 |
| Frankfurt School of Finance and Management | MBA: 1 year | 42,500 |
| WHU-Otto Beisheim Graduate School of Management | MBA: 1 year | 43,600 |
| European School of Management & Technology (ESMT) | MBA: 1 year | 26,300 |
| HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management | MBA: 1 year | 42,500 |
| European Business School | MBA: 1.4 years | 26,426 |
| Munich Business School | MBA: 1 year | 35,800 |
| Technical University Munich | Executive MBA: 2 years | 43,500 |
| University of Cologne | Executive MBA: 2 years | 38,900 |
| Business School Pforzheim | MBA in International Business: 1.8 years | 17,770 |
Why Study MBA in Germany?
- For European Business School Rankings (2020) by Financial times, Eight German business schools rank within the top 100 for their full-time MBA program.
- Five of the business schools in Germany feature in the QS Global MBA Ranking (2021). Four of these business schools lie within the top 100 among the business schools of the world.
- According to the Association of German Chambers of Commerce & Industry, there is a need for 1.5 million skilled workers from abroad.
- An increase of 10% was observed in MBA employment in the year 2017. A further 7% increase was observed for the year 2018.
- MBA degree in Germany costs a lot less than an MBA from other popular study destinations. This is because of the no or low tuition fees charged at higher education institutes in Germany.
- Executive MBA is the highest paying degree for graduates and alumni of German universities.
MBA in Germany: Highlights
| Duration | MBA: 1to 1.8 years; Executive MBA: 2 years |
| Average Tuition Fees | 17,770 USD to 44,000 USD per annum |
| Eligibility | Bachelor’s degree in any field; GMAT/GRE score; Work experience |
| Minimum GRE/GMAT Required | GMAT above 550 or equivalent GRE |
| Minimum Work Experience Required | 2 to 3 years |
| Average Salary Offered | MBA: 125,000 USD; Executive MBA: 131,000 USD |
| Job Role Available | Consultant, Business Development Manager, Project Manager, Strategist, etc |
MBA in Germany: Types & Specializations
A wide range of specializations is offered at universities for MBA in Germany. Some of the popular specializations that international students can study in Germany along with the B-schools offering the program are listed below:
| Specialization | Institutes Offering the Course |
|---|---|
| MBA in Entrepreneurship | EU Business School, SRH Hochschule Berlin |
| MBA in Finance | SIMT, EU Business School |
| MBA in HR | GISMA Business School, University of Applied Sciences Mittelhessen |
| MBA in Innovation | Munich Business School, Berlin School of Business and innovation |
| MBA in International Management | Cologne Business School |
| MBA in Marketing | WHU Otto Beisheim Graduate School, GISMA Business School |
| MBA in Leadership | HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management |
Admission Process for MBA in Germany
Most of the top universities of Germany accept students in the MBA program from all disciplines. Thus, an international student having a bachelor’s degree in any field from a recognized university is eligible to apply.
Do not have a GMAT score? Here is where you can Study MBA in Germany without GMAT!
Eligibility for MBA in Germany Admission
The basic eligibility for MBA programs in Germany is having a bachelor’s degree. However, the variation is observed in the GMAT score and work experience required. Given below are the minimum requirements for an Indian student applying to German universities offering MBA program:
| University | Admission Requirements |
|---|---|
| Manheim Business School | 3 years of work experience |
| Frankfurt School of Finance and Management | GMAT (average: 640) or GRE or MBA admission test scores; Case study assignment; 3 years of work experience; Interview |
| WHU-Otto Beisheim Graduate School of Management | 2 years of work experience; GMAT score (minimum 600 is recommended) |
| ESMT Berlin | 3 years of work experience; GMAT/GRE score; Interview |
| HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management | 3 years of work experience; GMAT/GRE score; Letter of Motivation |
| European Business School | 3 years of work experience; GMAT/GRE score; Interview |
| Munich Business School | 80% in bachelors; 2 years of work experience; 1-2 page letter of motivation; Interview |
| Technical University Munich | 4 to 5 years of work experience; Letter of Motivation |
| University of Cologne | 4 years of work experience |
| Business School Pforzheim | 2 years of work experience; Minimum GMAT score of 550 or equivalent GRE score; Motivation letter; Essay on extra-curricular activities; Interview |
Admission Requirements:
- In addition to the above requirements, you also have to submit at least two letters of recommendation (LOR) and a CV. LORcan be academic or from previous employers.
- Some universities do not specify a minimum GMAT score. However, Indian students with a score of 550 or above have higher chances of admission.
| LOR for MBA | How to Submit a LOR | SOP for MBA in Germany |
English Proficiency Requirement for International Students
Since the curriculum of most of the business schools offering MBA in Germany is in English, international students are required to submit an IELTS or TOEFL test scores to demonstrate proficiency in this language. The minimum requirement for applying in popular universities for an Indian student is:
- IELTS: 6.5 to 7.0
- TOEFL (iBT): 80 to 92
MBA in Germany without GMAT
Performed poorly in your GMAT? Have missed the exam and still want to study in Germany? Some of the universities that accept applicants without a GMAT or GRE score include the Technical University of Munich, Berlin School of Economics and Law, Cologne Business School, Accadis Hochschule Bad Homburg, etc.
TUM MBA without GMAT: An applicant with proof of a minimum of 4-5 years of work experience in a relevant field can apply for the Executive MBA program offered at TUM. You can apply for the program throughout the year as the admissions are offered on a rolling basis.
MBA at Berlin School of Economics & Law: As a part of the admission process GMAT scores are not required. Although the applicant must have experience of three years to apply for this FT-MBA program.
MBA without GMAT at Cologne Business School: International applicants are not required to submit GMAT scores for studying MBA at CBS.
Cost of MBA in Germany for Indian Students
| Business School in Germany | Cost in INR |
|---|---|
| Mannheim School of Business | 32.3 Lakhs |
| Frankfurt School | 31.12 Lakhs |
| Whu-Otto | 31.92 Lakhs |
| ESMT | 19.2 Lakhs |
| EBS | 13.84 Lakhs |
| HHL | 31.12 Lakhs |
| Munich Business School | 26.21 |
MBA in USA from the top ranking universities can cost Indian students a heavy sum of 80,00,000 Lakhs (INR). Similarly, for MBA in Canada Indian students have to pay the tuition of around 60,00,000 Lakhs (INR). However, an MBA in Germany may cost an Indian student around 10,00,000 Lakhs (INR).
Cost of Living in Germany
The monthly cost of on and off-campus accommodation in Germany range from 392 to 1100 USD. The cost of food ranges from 160-470 USD. Including the monthly student health insurance, transportation, accommodation, and food & social activities, an expenditure of around 840-1200 USD can be expected while living & traveling in Germany.
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| Type of Expense | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Accommodation | 392 – 1100 |
| Food And Drink | 160 – 470 |
| Clothing | 45 |
| Working Or Learning Materials | 23 |
| Travel | 110 |
| Health Insurance | 90 |
| Phone, Internet, Tv | 35 |
| Social Life | 68 |
| Total | 840 – 1200 |
Scholarships for MBA in Germany
Pursuing an MBA in Germany is although cheaper than other countries but still can cost you a large sum. Germany offers its international MBA applicants with a variety of scholarships. These include both privately funded and government scholarships. Some of the popular scholarships in the German universities for international students are listed below:
| University | Scholarship | Amount (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Mannheim Business School | Multiple merit-based scholarships for outstanding and excellent students | Outstanding students- 7800; Excellent students- 1100-2200 |
| Frankfurt | FS MBA scholarship | Covers partial tuition fees for all eligible MBA applicants |
| WHU-Otto Beisheim Graduate School of Management | Scholarship for participants from developing countries; Excellent GMAT result scholarships | Varies; Varies |
| ESMT | German language scholarship for non-native speakers | 2200-4400 (depending on proficiency score) |
| EBS | Deutschlandstipendium | 336/month |
Other Scholarships available for pursuing MBA in Germany
Various government-funded scholarships are available for graduates in Germany. Some of the popular scholarships available in Germany are:
- HHL Young Leader Scholarships in Germany: The scholarship partially funds the eligible applicants from all nationalities with at least 25% of the tuition.
- Women in Business Scholarship: Offered by various universities to their women applicants for encouraging female participation in business programs. The funding under this scholarship varies from university to university.
- DAAD Scholarships: Government-funded scholarships available to international students studying in Germany at various degree levels.
- Erasmus+ Scholarships: These are the largest scholarship providers funding international students studying across Europe at different degree levels.
Cost of Studying MBA in Germany
The cost of studying abroad includes expenses like costs of various standardized tests, travel & stay, tuition fees, study material, etc. The detailed expenses you may incur when planning to pursue higher studies in Germany are given below.
Pre-arrival Costs
The money that you will spend on registration fees of tests required to study in Germany, flight tickets, application forms, etc even before you have actually started the program are pre-arrival expenses. Some of these are given below:
| Type of Expense | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Program Application Fees | 145* |
| German Student Visa Application Fees | 84 (75 Euro) |
| Health Insurance | 90-180** |
| IELTS Fees | 185-190 |
| TOEFL Fees | 160-250 |
| GMAT Fees | 250 |
| GRE Fees | 205-230 |
| Airfare | 450-1400 |
*Depends on the university. Some of the top B-schools do not charge additional tuition fees.
**Depends on the age of the applicant. The health insurance cost in Euros is 80-160 Euro/month.
Tuition Fees for MBA in Germany
The tuition fee comparison for pursuing MBA in Germany from some of the top-ranking B-schools is given below:
Please note: The costs (annual) are given in USD and are approximate tuition for the program.
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