15 Best Business Schools in Germany-Tuition & Programs

If you are a student that has an interest or wants a career in the business sector, You can find some of the best business schools in Germany.

I would always advise that before you make any plans, you should first research the best universities in the country of your choice.

To give you a head start, this article contains the 15 best business schools in Germany, including their tuition fees and requirements.

Germany was formerly known as the Federal Republic of Germany. It is the second-most populous country in Europe, and the business schools in the country are some of the most prestigious business schools in the world. 

Recently, Germany has transformed their educational system with up-to-date and innovative teaching methods and techniques. They also took the transformation up a notch by getting well-known professors from all over the world to teach their field of expertise. 

Germany has the fourth-largest economy in the world and it also exists in the top five nations with the most ranking business schools. They also offer a low cost of education, especially if you decide to study at a public university. This makes the country one of the most popular destinations for international students. 

To emphasize how low studying in Germany is, most of their study programs are free. Let me explain, the public universities in Germany do not charge tuition fees for Bachelor’s and Master’s programs. 

They charge a tuition fee if you want to pursue a program in Master’s degree that is different from the program you studied as a Bachelor’s student. 

There is more, the German free tuition system is available to all students, regardless of their country of origin. Yes, this means it is also available to international students. 

In addition to all this, these universities offer quality education in numerous programs at the Bachelor’s and Master’s levels.  And some of these programs are taught in English. 

Students studying business in Germany can get various specializations in their courses that will help them in their careers. According to the European Journal of Business Research, it becomes 29% simpler for a student to achieve a higher designation with an MBA degree from Germany.

The country is huge on technology, research, and the use of innovation, this makes it full of ideas and opportunities.  These opportunities are also open to international students, the country has a total of over 320,000 international students and this amounts to 10% of the total student body.

Requirements to Study Business in Germany

The first tip, before applying to the university of your choice, make sure to check that your current qualifications are recognized by the university. The first requirement to study in Germany is a higher education entrance qualification. 

For students who want to get admitted to an undergraduate program in business, a high-school diploma, school-leaving certificate, or a university entrance exam result should work.

For international students, they may have to sit for an entrance examination (Feststellungsprüfung) after attending a preparatory course (Studienkolleg). 

The language requirements are also important. Most courses in German universities are taught in German, this requires international applicants to submit proof that they are proficient in the German language.

Two main tests for this are the German language examination for university entrance (Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang) and the TestDaF.

On the other hand, if the course you’re applying for is taught in English, you will need to prove that you are proficient in the English language. The test for this is IELTS or TOEFL. 

Although the specific required documents and application process are set by the university of choice, the commonly required documents are: 

  • A certified copy of your high-school diploma or previous degrees. 

  • A translated overview of your course modules and grades. 

  • A passport photo. 

  • A copy of your passport (personal information and photo ID page).

  • Proof of language proficiency; either English or German language. 

  • You may also need to pay an application fee.

The List of Best Business Schools in Germany

You will find a list of 15 of some of the best business schools in Germany and the links to their tuition fee details below.

The WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management:

WHU is a German business school that was founded in 1984. The school is regarded as one of the most prestigious in Germany.

The school maintains a network of over 200 partner universities while offering several double degree programs.

They are known for their master’s program in management and their entrepreneurship programs.

The school is accredited by EQUIS, AACSB, and FIBAA. Their academic programs follow four core values: community, cosmopolites, entrepreneurship, and excellence. 

The details of the tuition fee for WHU can be accessed here.

Mannheim Business School (MBS):

MBS is under the University of Mannheim and the business school is triple-accredited by the European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS), the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), and the Association of MBAs (AMBA).

MBS is one of the leading institutions and is continuously ranked as No.1 in Germany.

They offer international MBA programs in four categories: the Mannheim Master of Business Administration (part-time and full-time), Executive MBA, weekend and modular Executive MBA, and the Mannheim & Tongji Executive MBA. 

They are known for their world-class research and teaching and they are also highly competitive and selective.

The tuition fee for MBS can be viewed here.

The European School of Management and Technology (ESMT Berlin):

ESMT Berlin is a private non-profit business school based in Germany and founded in 2002.

The school is one of four business schools in Germany with triple accreditation from the European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS), the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), and the Association of MBAs (AMBA).

The school offers several programs in business such as a full-time MBA, an executive MBA, a part-time MBA, a global online MBA, a master’s in management, a master’s in global management, a master’s in innovation and entrepreneurship, a master in analytics and artificial intelligence program.

They also offer open enrollment and customized executive education programs. 

ESMT has a global network of alumni in over 40 countries and the school is also one of the top-ranked business schools in Germany.

The link to the details of the tuition fees is here.

GISMA Business School:

GISMA is a privately owned business school in Germany that was launched in September 1999.

The school offers several undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, including MBAs, as well as short courses in executive education.

The qualifications offered by GISMA are internationally recognized all around the world.

Take a look at the tuition fee details here.

The ESB Business School:

This business school is under Reutlingen University. The business school was founded in 1971 and it is responsible for all business and production management-related degree programs of the university. 

The school offers 17 undergraduate and graduate programs, also with double degree programs in cooperation with several other business schools from around the world.

This business school is ranked among the top business schools in Germany and they have earned the AACSB accreditation.

The school offers international quality and educational standards with innovative, relevant teaching and applied research that shapes business practice,

You can view the tuition fee of this school here.

The WFI – Ingolstadt School of Management:

WFI is a German business school of the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt.

WFI stands for Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Fakultät Ingolstadt and it is one of Germany’s foremost business schools. The school is also Germany’s only catholic business school.

Ingolstadt School of Management was founded in 1989 and is one of the youngest and most successful business schools in Germany.

Their students are selected based on their educational background, intellectual capabilities, and social competence.

Their teaching staff offers highly interactive and intensive learning experiences for the students. 

Students of the institution are educated to fulfill management and specialist tasks required in a national and international environment.

The students also develop an understanding of other cultures and intercultural issues.

The tuition fee details can be accessed here

Munich Business School (MBS):

MBS is a private international business school that confers degrees exclusively in business administration. The school offers ranks among the top private business schools in Germany. 

The school offers an undergraduate Bachelor’s program, graduate programs (Masters and MBA), a terminal DBA degree in cooperation with Sheffield Hallam University, and double degree programs in cooperation with numerous other business schools from around the world. 

The students of the institution will benefit from small classes, passionate professors, award-winning programs, and study experiences that are tailored to meet every student’s needs

The tuition fee for this university can be viewed here

The CBS International Business School (CBS):

CBS is a state-recognized, private business school and they offer predominantly English-language business management study courses with the academic degrees Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Master of Arts, Master of Science, and MBA.

The school’s motto is “Creating tomorrow” and their business studies introduce students to a world of management (Bachelor’s) or make them an expert in their field (Master, MBA). 

The school always endeavors to link theory and practice. To this end, their study programs have a compulsory internship that provides the necessary field knowledge and skills. 

You can view a comprehensive breakdown of the tuition fee here

EU Business School (EU):

It is a private business school that was established in 1973. The school offers business education programs taught in English.

The offers include bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs in Business Administration.

Dual degree programs are also possible in Spain, Switzerland, Germany, the UK, Russia, Kazakhstan, Taiwan, China, the USA, Malaysia, and Thailand.

The MBA program in the EU has been ranked No.2 in  Spain by the distinguished business publication, Forbes Magazine.

The school focuses on academic excellence, hands-on learning, and the professional development of its students. 

They stand out for their approach to global business education, which follows a broad program portfolio designed to adapt to the rapid changes in the industry. These make the school one of the best business schools in Germany.

Click here to take a look at the tuition fee for this school.

Berlin School of Creative Leadership:

This is an international business school that was founded in 2006. The Berlin School offers three international degree programs — an Executive MBA, an MSc, and a BA. 

The programs are taught by academics from top-ranking universities in the world.

Students who graduate from Berlin School are awarded a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree, conferred by Steinbeis University Berlin. 

The details of the tuition fee for the school can be seen here

The Northern Institute of Technology Management (NIT):

NIT is an educational institute that was founded in 1998. Students get to go through an English-Language master’s program in Technology Management (M.A. and MBA), together with several professional training courses and workshops. 

The study program is accredited by the Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation (FIBAA) and the Deutschen Akkreditierungsrat.

Access the details of the tuition fee for this school here

ICN Business School:

ICN Business School has a triple accreditation from AACSB, EQUIS, and AMBA. The school was founded in 1905 and has four campuses: two in France (Nancy and Paris La Défense) and two in Germany (Nuremberg and Berlin).

The campus in Berlin has almost 40% foreign students and attaches value to tolerance, diversity, and commitment.

Their identities are rooted in Management, Technology, and Art.

The school offers high-level programs, from undergraduate to postgraduate level with a range of specializations.

The information on their tuition fee can be viewed here

The Mercator School of Management (MSM):

MSM is the faculty of business administration of the University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany. MSM was founded in 2005.

They strive to operate on an international level by putting together profound research practices and applying those practices in the real world. 

They focus on research mixed with quality education. The school is a member of the AACSB and is accredited by the German AQAS. 

Details on MSM’s tuition fee are right here

ESCP Business School – Berlin Campus:

ESCP Business School is a business school founded in France, but has various campuses across Europe: in Paris, Berlin, London, Madrid, Turin, and Warsaw.

It is ranked among the best business schools in Europe.

The school was established in 1819, it is considered the world’s oldest business school.

The school counts among the most prestigious business schools in Germany and has three academic key areas: sustainability, entrepreneurship, and digitalization with a foundation in international management.

The Tuition fee details are here

International School of Management GmbH (ISM):

ISM is a German business school headquartered in Dortmund. It is a state-recognized, private university.

They offer career-focused management education programs that have an international orientation.

The business school offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and MBA programs in state-of-the-art infrastructure.

They have modern classrooms, libraries, hi-tech audio-visual labs, IT labs, and seminar halls on the campuses. Besides academics, ISM is a hub for extra-curricular activities. 

Students are also provided with internship opportunities so that they become familiar with the real-world work environment.

You can take a look at the tuition fee here

Can I Study In Germany Without Knowing German?

Germany has more than 400 universities that offer degree programs on different subjects. If you are an international student and you are wondering if these programs are offered in English.

About 220 universities in the country offer programs in English and the programs are open to all students, including international students.

You also do not need to speak German to study in these universities, as long as you meet the minimum language requirements for the degree program you want.

So, yes, you can study in Germany without knowing German. I hope this puts your mind at ease.

Can I Study For Free In Germany?

Germany is known as “the land of ideas”, and this might be the reason for the continuous growth in its popularity with international students.

The country offers reputable universities, relatively low costs, and high quality of life.

In most cases, there are no tuition fees charged at the undergraduate and Ph.D. levels in almost all public universities. 

Master’s students who want to study a different course from the one studied at the undergraduate level will typically pay upwards of $23,450 per year.

The good news is, that you might find a scholarship to help cover that fee. Also, the living cost is at least $11,950 per year.

Spending more than that depends on your lifestyle, location, and spending habits.

Why Study Business In Germany?

Studying in Germany promises to offer several advantages to students. Some of them are:

  • Committed Professors.

  • Participation in future-oriented research programs.

  • Practice-oriented teaching by renowned guest lecturers from the business community.

  • The intense exchange between academia and practice.

  • Optimal study conditions: state-of-the-art equipment in auditoriums, and libraries.

  • Practice-oriented studies through close cooperation with leading enterprises.

  • Provision of jobs and internships through our proprietary career center.

Conclusion

If you are considering getting a degree in business from a business school in Germany, that could just well be one of the smartest decisions for your life and career because the degree will surely boost your business career to the greatest heights.

I hope this article on 15 of some of the best business schools in Germany helps you with your decision.

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