FAQs about Business Studies in Germany
In our chat forum our experts Gaby Geysel and Isabel Roessler answered many questions about Business Studies in Germany: 
Discussion, Photo: DAAD
1.Requirements and application
2.Career prospects and special programmes
3.Costs
4.Rankings
1.Requirements and application
In which times of the year does the universities accept requests for apply in MBAs?
Most of the MBAs start in the winter semester. You must submit your complete application by July 15th the latest. But normally you can apply at any time you like.
How long does it take to complete an MBA in Germany?
This depends on the programme and the University. Normally it takes one to one and a half years.
What are the basic requirements for an MBA for international students?
You need a copy of your Bachelor degree certificate and if you come from a university from a non-English speaking country it is necessary to translate this certificate. In addition to this it may also be necessary to provide letters of recommendation and some universities also hold interviews. Normally one or two years of professional experience, good knowledge of English (GMAT and/or TOEFL and/or a special English test) and sometimes of German, and a successful performance in an assessment interview are required. But the specific requirements depend on the programme and the University.
For pursuing MBA in Germany do I need any work experience and what are examinations to be taken?
We have three different kinds of Masters in Germany and only for the "Weiterbildender" Master work experience isrequired. Usually you need at least one or two year's of work experience.
My knowledge of English is not so good. I have "Intermediate" level only. Which level do I need for study in Germany?
Normally good knowledge of English (GMAT and/or TOEFL and/or a special English test) is necessary.
Are there foreign student quotes to the Bachelors in Business Admin course in public German universities? Do we compete within the foreign student quote or also among all other German students?
In public German universities the foreign students compete with all the other students and there are no quotes concerning the nationalities.
May I choose a non-consecutive MBA in Germany?
There are several offers of non-consecutive MBAs - e.g. for an engineer who wants to do a Master in Business Administration.
I would like to apply to University; however I do not speak German fluently. I want to study in English only. What Universities offer courses only in English without German language test?
There are several programmes that are offered in English only. I recommend to you the DAAD-Database for International Programmes. And if you would like to get an overview of these programmes you can visit the website of the Hochschul-Kompass where you can search for programmes taught in English only.
Is there any age limit for the MBA programmes?
There is no age limit.
How can I study management in finance in Germany?
Please check the DAAD Database for International Programmes or the website of Hochschulkompass to find such programmes.
I’m interested in pursuing a doctoral degree in Germany in corporate governance and finance. I 've contacted more than 100 professors, but none of them are ready to supervise my research. Any suggestions?
Perhaps recommendation letters of professors of your university could help. Or perhaps the DAAD Database concerning doctoral programmes can help you. Please note: Instead of writing emails to many professors, you should rather focus on those you really like and who are into your topic.
2.Career prospects and special programmes
Are there any special features to a German MBA compared e.g. to French or British MBAs? Will the degree be recognized internationally?
Each country has its own tradition concerning the MBAs, but normally the contents of a General Management MBA are very similar and internationally oriented. The international recognition of an MBA depends on the recognition of the School and the accreditation of the particular programme.
Can you do a Bachelor in BWL and than a Master in Business Informatics?
Yes it is possible to do a Master in Business Informatics after a Bachelor in BWL but you can only choose to do a non-consecutive Master. That means that you do not necessarily need a bachelor in the same subject.
What are the job prospects available for Business and Management students?
We made the experience with our MBA alumnis that they really had good career perspectives with their MBA e.g. in international companies as Consultants or Marketing Directors.
Is there a difference in the value of a degree from a University of Applied Science and a University?
By law there is no difference between a University of Applied Science (FH) and a University but usually the programmes at FH are a bit more practice-oriented. It is good to know that you are also able to do a PhD with a degree from a FH.
Is a student who finishes a Hochschule better prepared for a job?
This depends on the job!
Which universities have the non-consecutive MBAs - e.g. for an engineer who wants to do a Master in Business Administration?
Please search the web e.g. the homepage of "DAAD" or www.mba-master.de or www.postgraduate.de as mentioned above and ESB Business School/Reutlingen University. We offer such an MBA for engineers.
Can I do a Bachelor at a University of Apllied Science (FH) and then a Master at a University?
Yes, it is possible - but the universities sometimes expect additional certificates. For example you have to do some courses additional to the regular master’s programme.
What options open up for me post my MBA in Germany? Are industries and government policies open to let international citizens work in Germany?
As far as I know, you can work here up to three years after completing your studies without any problem. International companies in Germany are very open to foreign specialists. However it is necessary to acquire a job related to the subject studied at university within one year of completing the degree.
Are the courses taught in German better than those taught in English and are the English speaking students popular on the job market?
There is no quality difference between courses taught in English or in German. English language skills are really necessary - also on the German job market.
Do you support PhD programmes in finance? In which institutions?
There are such PhD programmes e.g. in Frankfurt. Please check the DAAD Database.
3.Costs
Are there any MBAs which cost less than 1000 Euros per semester?
I only know of one MBA which costs exactly 1000 Euros per semester: at the University of Leipzig and our MBA at Reutlingen University costs 1.500 Euros/Semester.
I want to find out if I can find a DAAD sponsored Master programme in Business Administration?
There are several MBA programmes in Germany for which the DAAD offers scholarships, please check the DAAD Scholarship Database. At our University, the DAAD offers seven scholarships per year to qualified applicants from developing and transformation countries to enable them to take part in the MBA-programme "International Management" at ESB Business School / Reutlingen University.
What type of academic and financial reqiurements do I need to fulfill to get admission for MBA?
You need to have a qualifying bachelor’s degree and you will need to pay between 1,000 and 50,000 Euro for the programme but you also need to keep in mind that there will be additional costs such as accommodation and social activities. You also need to know that there a differences in costs between the cities in Germany. For more information about this, visit http://ranking.zeit.de. There you can also find information about accommodation costs etc. www.study-in.de/en is also a site you can use for information about living costs.
Is it allowed to work during studying for MBA?
You are allowed to work 90 full days or 180 half days per year. If an internship is a compulsory part of your studies, it is not subjected to these conditions. But you have to keep in mind that there is a big workload in a MBA-programme. And the money you earn in such a job normally is not enough to cover all the costs.
4.Rankings
What is the best university for doing a MBA in Germany?
There is no such "best" university in Germany because the best university and programme for you strongly depends on your special interests and your personal qualifications. But there exists a ranking organised by the "Zentrum für Hochschulentwicklung (CHE)" which gives you an overview of some aspects of the different universities/programmes.
Which are good business schools in Germany?
It is difficult to say which schools are the best because it depends on aspects other than reputation of the school. For example you need to keep in mind the study organisation, city and course options. And the international recognition of an MBA depends on the standing of the School and the accreditation/s of the special programme. If you would like an overview of the possibilities offered by the schools you can visit our ranking website.
What are the best colleges in Germany for doing MBA for students with less than 2 year of work-experience?
Meanwhile there are some MBAs (e.g. Offenburg) where you can apply with only one year work experience. See also DAAD Database.
I am looking for a school for my master in finance and accounting.
As we mentioned above, please search the web e.g. check the DAAD Database. There will be differences in study content of a master in finance. As a result it is necessary to look closely at the programme content and when doing so you can also look at things like study organisation, support from professors and contact the International Office of the university. Here at Reutlingen University /ESB Business School we offer a Master in Accounting and Taxation.
How important is a ranking and how trustworthy?
The ranking of a MBA programme is of crucial importance. As well as the accreditations such as AACSB, EQUIS, AMBA. The reliability of such a ranking depends on the ranking :-) For example there are rankings which ask the human resources manager which university is the best or which university is the best world-wide. But these rankings do not usually take into consideration student input. In contrast to this, our CHE ranking is largely based on student opinion.
