Frequently Asked Questions

The ESMT Master’s in Management (MIM) is a ‘pre-experience’ full-time program. Targeted at young, recent graduates in their early twenties with limited or with no work experience. Combining a series of internships and a social impact project with applied coursework and research on the latest business and management theories.

Most ESMT MIM students share a desire to launch an international career while applying analytical and strategic solutions to today's business challenges. ESMT searches for students with international experience who can perform work in high-performing, diverse teams. Our MIM program is by far the most international in Germany - no one nationality makes up more than 20% of the class.

ESMT's MIM is a personalized degree for high-potential candidates with little or no previous work experience.

When evaluating applications, we look for the following qualities in our candidates:

• International outlook, intercultural competency, and a responsible approach to business

• Potential for high-performance career growth in a global environment

• Willingness to learn from others

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities

• Collegial behavior in high stress situations

• Academic excellence

The requirements for applying to ESMT’s MIM program are:

• A Bachelor´s degree

• Proof of English proficiency (e.g. TOEFL, IELTS) or graduating from a university program taught in English

• Completed application, including essays and one recommendation

• Having less than 18 months of post-graduate professional experience (not including internship or work experience prior to bachelor program graduation)

Depending on the track (Quantitative Business or Innovative Management Track) additional information may be required. More information on the specific track and program requirements on our webpage.

Yes, applications are encouraged from final-year undergraduate students awaiting completion of their degree.

However, a grade overview or transcripts must be included with the application.

Depending on your choice of MIM track, a GMAT or GRE score may be required.

• If you apply to the Innovative Management track, GRE or GMAT scores are optional. You must present, however, excellent grades during your bachelor's program.

• If you apply to the Quantitative Business track, a GMAT or GRE is highly recommended.

We do not have a specific minimum score for GMAT/GRE scores. However, the average scores for admitted candidates are: GMAT (640) or GRE (equivalent scores of approx. 160/160).

The Admissions Committee may decide to request GMAT or GRE scores for any candidate following a complete review of their application.

There is no minimum GPA requirement for the MIM. Candidates with excellent grades, especially in quantitative areas, may have a competitive advantage. Strong GMAT or GRE scores may help or be required in some cases to boost weak academic performance.

No work experience is required to apply to the program. You should have no more than 18 months of post-graduate (following your BA degree) work experience at the time of application. (The average work experience in the current MIM class is 4 months).

Part-time work undertaken before graduation does not count towards the 18-month total.

Similarly, if your post-graduate work experience is not “career-relevant” you can request that this not be considered as part of the 18-month limit.

You must include one recommendation letter to complete your MIM application. You can choose either an academic or professional referees (from previous internships).

The ideal letter of recommendation is from a referee who can evaluate your performance either in an academic or professional setting and will take the time to write a thorough and supportive letter, detailing specific examples rather than general statements.

You can send the recommendation template to your referee from within the application platform. If you have a previously written recommendation letter, you can upload it to the application platform. Should you not be able to upload it as part of your online MIM application, you can send it to the Office of Admissions via email.

The essays are an opportunity to let the admissions team get to know you a bit better. Please answer the questions as truthfully and directly as you can in whatever style you see fit. We highly recommend using a spellchecker to avoid easy mistakes, but apart from that, there are no further guidelines.

Common mistakes that can be easily avoided: not using a spellchecker for your essays, using a different school’s name in your essays, not answering the question.

English is the working and instructional language at ESMT. Should you need to submit proof of English proficiency with your MIM application, we accept TOEFL (95 minimum), PTE (64 minimum), IELTS (7 minimum) or other English proficiency tests. If you have taken the TOEFL more than once, we consider your MyBest™ scores on the TOEFL iBT® test, as well as yourTOEFL iBT scores from a single test date. The ESMT TOEFL institution code is 8707.

You can request a waiver of the English proficiency test requirement if English is your native language or you have earned a university degree from a program exclusively taught in English.

German language proficiency is not required. English is ESMT´s working and teaching language.

However, studying a business critical foreign language is part of the MIM curriculum. You can use this opportunity to study German or another language.

During the application process, you can upload scanned copies of the official documents required (Passport, GMAT/GRE, TOEFL, Bachelor/Master or other diploma and grade overviews).

• Should the documents have an Apostille or be officially translated?

All the official documents uploaded to the online application, must show the seals and signatures of the institution from which they were emitted. No apostille is required.

• How will ESMT verify the authenticity of the documents?

As part of the enrollment process, you must present, in person, the original hard copies of all documents mentioned above for official verification. Please do not send original documents (diplomas / transcripts) to ESMT before arriving on campus to begin your studies. Students generally present them at the beginning of the program, and they are immediately returned following verification.

If the documents are in a language other than English or German, an official translation is required.

Note: German foreign authorities or other official institutions may have different requirements than those of ESMT for the purposes of visa application or other official government procedures.

Application review for our Master’s in Management operates on a rolling basis. As soon as your application is completed, it will be reviewed and considered for admission. Places in the MIM class are limited, and an early application is strongly recommended.

For more specific information about application deadlines, visit this page.

Tuition for the full two-year MIM program is currently €29,500.

MIM full tuition fees are paid in three installments over the two academic years, as follows:

• To officially confirm your enrollment and reserve your place in the class, a first deposit of €4,000 should be paid no later than four weeks after receiving your acceptance offer. This deposit will be deducted from future tuition payments.

• The remaining tuition fees are to be paid in two equal installments, at the beginning (September) and after the first year of the program.

ESMT MIM tuition fees cover all courses and seminars, teaching materials, orientation, and career support.

In addition to tuition, students should budget enough money for relocation and living expenses. We recommend that you budget around €1,200 per month for living expenses.

Full tuition fee information can be found here.

Scholarships are offered to accepted students who show academic merit and leadership potential. To be considered for a scholarship, you should complete the scholarship essay included in the online application form, and indicate your suitability for a scholarship.

The scholarships offered in ESMT cover partial tuition fees. Most of our students cover the costs of their studies with a mix of scholarships, loans and personal savings.

Read all about your MIM scholarship options.

Besides scholarships, admitted students may be eligible to borrow the program’s full tuition costs through Prodigy Finance or Brain Capital.

Prodigy Finance offers an innovative model of alumni-funded loans to international students at the world’s top business schools, including ESMT Berlin. Offering competitive rates to over 150 nationalities of students. Read all information about Prodigy Finance, their model and requirements here.

Brain Capital, on the other hand, offers ESMT degree seeking students, who are citizens of the EU, Canada or USA, the ability to cover tuition fees through an innovative funding scheme. Find more information about Brain Capital, their model and requirements here.

 More information can be found in the recent alumni employment statistics report.

According to German regulations, students are able to work a maximum of 20 hours per week in order to maintain their student status. However, due to the program’s high academic load, students generally prefer to work a lower number of hours in order to prevent negatively affecting their studies.

• Visas

As a general rule, all foreigners staying in Germany for more than 90 days wanting to work or study in Germany need a visa before entering the country.

Depending on the country, issuing a student visa for studying in Germany can take up to 6 months. Though the process is often quicker, we advise all of admitted students to book an appointment with the embassy in their countries as early as possible.

* EU nationals do not require a visa to enter Germany.
 

• APS

The APS Certificate is mandatory for Chinese students who are interested in studying in Germany. Before applying to a German university you have to hand in your academic certificates and documents to the APS office in Beijing. This procedure may require some time. We would recommend you to book an appointment as soon as possible.

You can read all about the APS on their official website or by contacting the German embassy.

• What is a residence permit?

After moving to Germany, students are required to register as a resident at their new address with the local authorities and apply for a residence permit (“Aufenthaltserlaubnis”) at the immigration authority. This document is the permit that allows non-EU or non-EEA nationals to live and study in Berlin for the duration of the program.

Upon receiving a valid residence permit in a Schengen member country, you may travel to another country within the Schengen zone, visa-free, using a valid passport for up to 90 days per six-month period.

• Can my residence permit be extended after the MIM is finished?

According to current German regulations, after finishing a graduate degree in Germany, you have the option of extending your residence permit for up to 18 months. During this time, you can search for suitable employment that complements your German university degree.

ESMT does not offer on campus student housing. You are able to live anywhere in Berlin! Most students typically find housing within 25 minutes or less of campus. Through our student services platform, current students and alumni share relevant housing information with all incoming students.

Our MIM student ambassadors are here to help you understand what it means to study at ESMT Berlin and to be part of the MIM experience. Whether you want to learn more about classes, internships or simply what life as a student in Berlin is like – our ambassadors are here to answer any questions you may have.

You may contact the ambassadors via email. Be sure to tell them a bit about yourself, and what you are interested in knowing more about.

The ESMT Full-time MBA is a generalist business degree program with a specific mission-led focus on issues of responsible leadership, entrepreneurship, and innovation. Our program has three core tracks reflecting the strengths and needs of the German labor market: Managerial Analytics, Strategic Leadership, and Innovation & Entrepreneurship.

Although our students are 95% international, over 85% of them stay in Germany to work after graduation. This is because of some friendly visa regulations, quality of life, and our reputation for providing top international management talent in Germany, Europe’s strongest economy.

ESMT is ranked as the #1 business school by the FT and is among the top 1% of business schools in the world to have achieved Triple Crown accreditation - AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS. The “Triple Crown” is the highest distinction of quality for business schools worldwide. You can read more about our accreditation and latest rankings on our webpage.

We look for MBA candidates who will suit our school in terms of diversity and background, and who will learn from our strengths while sharing theirs. We strive to achieve a fit between what our program has to offer and what candidates need for their professional advancement and self-development.

The ESMT Full-time MBA is not only aimed at students who have a management background. Diversity across all areas, is a key component to the program and learning experience. The program is designed for those who have strong professional experience in any field and now feel ready to move to broader business-wide leadership responsibility.

The requirements for ESMT’s Full-time MBA are:

• A Bachelor-level university degree

• At least 3 years of relevant managerial and leadership post-graduate work experience

• A satisfactory GMAT or GRE score. Our last class average GMAT score was 640 (approx. 160/160 GRE).

Proof of English proficiency (e.g. TOEFL, IELTS) - will be waived for native English speakers or if your university education was in English

• Completed application, including essays and two recommendations.

Read all about the admission requirements.

We do not have a specific minimum for GMAT/GRE scores. However, accepted students average scores are: GMAT 640 or GRE equivalent scores of approx. 160/160.

Either the GMAT or GRE test is required and can NOT be waived. The test is an important part of the application process as it helps us judge all applicants on an equal basis. Review of these test scores allows the Admission Committee to ensure a consistent comparable measure and a standard predictor of academic success for all applicants.

There is not a minimum GPA requirement for admission to the Full-time MBA program. Applicants from different fields of study are encouraged to apply. We assess your quantitative performance through your GMAT or GRE scores.

Two reference letters are required. Your recommenders can fill in the online reference form, which you can send from the online application system once you have filled in your referee’s contact details. Alternatively, they can send a recommendation letter directly to us via email or provide you with the recommendation letter for you to upload into your online application or send to us via email.

Ideally, letters of recommendation should be written by current or recent supervisors. Referees should be able to comment on your job performance and will take the time to write a thorough and supportive letter, detailing the tasks with specific examples rather than general statements.

English is the working and instructional language at ESMT. Should you need to submit proof of English proficiency with your MBA application, we accept TOEFL (95 minimum), PTE (64 minimum), IELTS (7 minimum) or other English proficiency tests. If you have taken the TOEFL more than once, we consider your MyBest™ scores on the TOEFL iBT® test, as well as your TOEFL iBT scores from a single test date. The ESMT TOEFL institution code is 8707.

You can request a waiver of the English proficiency test requirement if English is your native language or you have earned a university degree from a program exclusively taught in English.

German language proficiency is not required. English is ESMT´s working and teaching language and English is widely spoken in Berlin.

As part of the pre and post MBA program, you can take an intensive German language course. Certainly continuing your German language studies during the MBA is strongly encouraged too!

During the application process, you can upload scanned copies of the official documents required (Passport, GMAT/GRE, TOEFL, Bachelor/Master or other diploma and grade overviews).

• Should the documents have an Apostille or be officially translated?

All the official documents uploaded to the online application, must show the seals and signatures of the institution from which they were emitted. No apostille is required.

• How will ESMT verify the authenticity of the documents?

As part of the enrollment process, you must present, in person, the original hard copies of all documents mentioned above for official verification. Please do not send original documents (diplomas / transcripts) to ESMT before arriving on campus to begin your studies. Students generally present them at the beginning of the program, and they are immediately returned following verification.

If the documents are in a language other than English or German, an official translation is required.

The admissions process for our Full-time MBA operates on a rolling basis. Places in the ESMT MBA class are limited, and an early application is strongly recommended.

The most recent application deadlines can be found here.

The Full-time MBA tuition fee is €43,500. It is paid in three installments over the academic year, as follows:

• To officially confirm your enrollment and reserve your place in the class, a first deposit of €4,000 should be paid no later than four weeks after receiving your acceptance offer. This deposit will be deducted from future tuition payments.

• The remaining tuition fees are to be paid in two equal installments at the start (January) and half way point (July) of the program.

ESMT's Fullt-time MBA tuition covers all courses and seminars, teaching materials, orientation, and career support. However, does not include travel to and from the Global Network exchanges.

In addition to tuition, students should budget enough money for relocation and living expenses. We recommend them to budget €1,000 to €1,500 per month for living expenses.

Full tuition information can be found here.

ESMT’s scholarships are allocated based on the candidate’s academic excellence, personal and professional achievement, leadership potential and superior interpersonal skills.

To be considered for a scholarship, you should complete the scholarship essay included in the online application form, and indicate your suitability for a scholarship.

ESMT scholarships cover partial tuition fees. Most of our students cover the costs of their studies with a mix of scholarships, loans and personal savings.

More information about MBA scholarships can be found here.

Besides scholarships, admitted students may be eligible to borrow the program’s full tuition costs through Prodigy Finance or Brain Capital.

Prodigy Finance offers an innovative model of alumni-funded loans to international students at the world’s top business schools, including ESMT Berlin. Offering competitive rates to over 150 nationalities of students. Read all information about Prodigy Finance, their model and requirements here.

Brain Capital, on the other hand, offers ESMT degree seeking students, who are citizens of the EU, Canada or USA, the ability to cover tuition fees through an innovative funding scheme. Find more information about Brain Capital, their model and requirements here.

ESMT Full-time MBA alumni work in diverse industries and companies in over 40 countries.

Alumni employment statistics can be found in the latest employment report.

PRE-MBA

Optional Pre-MBA courses, offered to students who wish to get a head start of their learning experience in Berlin. More information can be found here.

POST-MBA

After completing all the Full-time MBA program academic requirements, students can participate in a variety of program extensions designed to provide alternative post graduation options. More information can be found here.

• Visas

As a general rule, all foreigners staying in Germany for more than 90 days wanting to work or study in Germany need a visa before entering the country.

Depending on the country, issuing a student visa for studying in Germany can take up to 6 months. Though the process is often quicker, we advise all of admitted students to book an appointment with the embassy in their countries as early as possible.

* EU nationals do not require a visa to enter Germany.

• APS

The APS Certificate is mandatory for Chinese students who are interested in studying in Germany. Before applying to a German university you have to hand in your academic certificates and documents to the APS office in Beijing. This procedure may require some time. We would recommend you to book an appointment as soon as possible.

You can read all about the APS on their official website or by contacting the German embassy.

• What is the Residence Permit?

After moving to Germany, students are required to register as a resident at their new address with the local authorities and apply for a residence permit (“Aufenthaltserlaubnis”) at the immigration authority. This document is the permit that allows non-EU or non-EEA nationals to live and study in Berlin for the duration of the program.

Upon receiving a valid residence permit in a Schengen member country, you may travel to another country within the Schengen zone, visa-free, using a valid passport for up to 90 days per six-month period.

• Can my Residence Permit be extended after the MBA is finished?

According to current German regulations, after finishing a graduate degree in Germany, you have the option of extending your residence permit for up to 18 months. During this time, you can search for suitable employment that complements your German university degree.

ESMT does not offer on campus student housing. You are able to live anywhere in Berlin! Most students typically find housing within 25 minutes or less of campus. Through our student services platform, current students and alumni share relevant housing information with all incoming students.

According to German regulations, students can work a maximum of 20 hours per week in order to maintain their student status. However, due to the program’s high academic load, students generally prefer to work a lower number of hours in order to prevent negatively affecting their studies.

Our Full-time MBA student ambassadors are here to help you understand what it means to study at ESMT Berlin and to be part of the MBA experience. Whether you want to learn more about classes, internships or simply what life as a student in Berlin is like – our ambassadors are here to answer any questions you may have.

You may contact the ambassadors via email. Be sure to tell them a bit about yourself, and what you are interested in knowing more about.

Our Part-time Blended MBA in Business Innovation is an ideal way to continue working full-time while gaining knowledge and competences to support not only your personal development but also the growth and transformation of your company. Due to its blended format the program is offered to German and international students.

The content concentrates on essential MBA topics, followed by specifically designed courses on customer centricity, entrepreneurial strategy and innovation, digital business, and agility. More details on the core courses (e.g. data analytics for managers, economics for digital business, ethics and responsibility) as well as the innovation and transformation courses (e.g. data-driven technological innovation) can be found on our website.

We are looking for people who want to transform their career and learn how to develop an innovation mindset, regardless of their position in the organizational hierarchy.

You are a strong candidate if among other things:

• you want to develop your management expertise and leadership skills while expanding your professional network across diverse industries

• you have a university degree and several years of work experience with potential to move into leadership roles

• you have the ambition and motivation to work full-time and study part-time

• you have clear career goals that you can achieve with an MBA

ESMT's Part-time Blended MBA in Business Innovation consists of 80% online study, with 20% of the program taking place in person over 14 weekends in either Berlin or Munich. The face-to-face weekend modules start Thursday evening, with full days of courses on Friday and Saturday. The exact timeline can be found here. When you are not on campus, you will be doing coursework on ESMT’s online learning platform. You can expect to contribute around 15 hours per week to coursework.

You will be able to choose face-to-face modules in either Berlin on the ESMT campus or in Munich at a location in the heart of the innovation sector of the city. However, you must complete the weekend module in the same city. For example, if you choose Munich for the first face-to-face module, you must complete that module in Munich. You could then choose Berlin for module two or continue with the face-to-face modules in Munich.

Before starting an online application, prospective students must meet all of the following admission requirements. Find the full list here.

Yes, you will be prompted to pay a €50 fee before submitting your online application. Start your application!

We do not have a specific minimum for GMAT/GRE scores. However, accepted students average scores are: GMAT 640 or GRE equivalent scores of approx. 160/160.

Either the GMAT or GRE test is required and can NOT be waived. However, we do accept the ESMT’s Admissions Test as an alternative to the GMAT or GRE. The test is an important part of the application process as it helps us judge all applicants on an equal basis. Review of these test scores allows the Admission Committee to ensure a consistent comparable measure and a standard predictor of academic success for all applicants.

The Business Admissions Test (BAT) is administered by ESMT Berlin an can be taken online or in person. The duration of the test is around 2 hours.

The test consists of four parts (each 30 minutes long)

1. Communication Analysis (CA)

2. Critical Thinking (CT)

3. Data Interpretation (DI)

4. Data Analysis (DA)

As part of the application, you must include 2 letters of recommendation. These may be academic or professional referees (from previous employers).

The ideal letter of recommendation is from referees that know about your performance and will take the time to write a thorough and supportive letter, detailing specific examples rather than general statements.

Your recommenders can fill in the online reference form, which you can send from the online application system once you have filled in your referee’s contact details. Alternatively, they can send a recommendation letter directly to us via email or provide you with the recommendation letter for you to upload into your online application or send to us via email.

English is the working and instructional language at ESMT. Should you need to submit proof of English proficiency with your MBA application, we accept TOEFL (95 minimum), PTE (64 minimum), IELTS (7 minimum) or other English proficiency tests. If you have taken the TOEFL more than once, we consider your MyBest™ scores on the TOEFL iBT® test, as well as your TOEFL iBT scores from a single test date. The ESMT TOEFL institution code is 8707.

You can request a waiver of the English proficiency test requirement if English is your native language or you have earned a university degree from a program exclusively taught in English.

German language proficiency is not required. English is ESMT's working and teaching language and English is widely spoken in Berlin.

Pre- and/or post-MBA program, you can take an intensive German language course. Certainly, continuing your German language studies during the MBA is strongly encouraged too!

No, you do not have to be currently employed to apply to the program.

During the application process, you can upload scanned copies of the official documents required (Passport, GMAT/GRE, TOEFL, Bachelor/Master or other diploma and grade overviews).

• Should the documents have an Apostille or be officially translated?

All the official documents uploaded to the online application, must show the seals and signatures of the institution from which they were emitted. No apostille is required.

• How will ESMT verify the authenticity of the documents?

As part of the enrollment process, you must present, in person, the original hard copies of all documents mentioned above for official verification. Please do not send original documents (diplomas / transcripts) to ESMT before arriving on campus to begin your studies. Students generally present them at the beginning of the program, and they are immediately returned following verification.

If the documents are in a language other than English or German, an official translation is required.

The admissions process for our Part-time MBA operates on a rolling basis. Places in the ESMT Blended MBA class are limited, and an early application is strongly recommended.

Application deadlines can be found here.

For the part-time MBA you do not need a student visa. You should apply for a Schengen visa which allows multiple entries into Germany. Given the structure of the program, you can enter Germany with a tourist visa, not a student visa. For countries which require a Schengen visa, multiple entries will be provided.

Note: graduates will not be allowed to apply for a job seeking visa or residence permit in Germany.

Given the blended nature of the Part-time Blended MBA in Business Innovation program, you have full career services access during your residential modules and are encouraged to take advantage of all events that are held on campus, which are focused on corporate connections. Blended program students are full members of the ESMT Berlin community and are encouraged to participate in all the networking events organized.

The Hub is a cutting-edge virtual learning the platform used to provide online classes and communications with you. It offers a variety of options for you to interact with other students, faculty and program management. Courses are divided into sessions and each session will contain a selection of mini-lectures, links to readings and cases, individual and group activities. You can find assessment details and links to live online sessions in the relevant course section.

Sign up for a test of the Learning Hub here.

Live online classes are sessions that take place on Zoom in real time. We expect to agree on a fixed time slot for live classes (e.g. Friday, 4pm). You will then block this date in your calendar (live classes will not be scheduled every week!). Live classes are designed to maximize interaction with the course teaching team and your classmates. Ideally, you participate in each course, but ESMT also records the live classes so you can watch them later if you were perhaps unable to join.

Coursework should be completed on a weekly basis. Each course consists of 10 sessions, and each session should ideally be completed in the week it is scheduled. Working ahead is usually possible, but you should strive to follow the course pace to ensure effective group work.

Graded assignments do NOT happen every week in each course. There are on average 3 graded assignments per 10 week-course, and they tend to be scheduled towards the end of a course, but deadlines will be distributed over the entire course to keep workload at a decent level.

We seek to provide you with a variety of meaningful opportunities to show your learning and therefore, we have a wide selection of assessment types (essays, presentations, quizzes) in each course. In some cases this will include an exam, but more often assessment will take the form of essays, presentations, and group projects. Most courses include a combination of individual and group assessment.

Our courses use a variety of media (presentations by Faculty, you tube clips, etc.) and all materials are available to you at the start of a course. The recording of these lessons are always uploaded within 24 hours. Our courses are designed for you to study at your own pace, though there are occasional synchronous activities.

There are a variety of collaboration opportunities for you and most courses will involve a combination of individual and group assessment. The ability to collaborate successfully with peers is traditionally an essential part of the MBA learning experience, your fellow students will bring a wealth of different perspectives and knowledge from their various backgrounds. Our courses are designed to encourage and reward collaborative learning.

Tuition is payable in three installments throughout the length of the program.

Full tuition fee information can be found here.

A few classes may require online textbooks and you will need purchase those. The majority of our courses will have all materials provided through the Hub or available for free online. We strive to keep any additional costs to a minimum.

Our Global Online MBA is an ideal way to continue working full-time while gaining knowledge and competences to support your personal and professional development. The program is modular and consequently allows you as a student to learn with ultimate flexibility, at your own pace. This means that you can access online lectures and other study materials from anywhere.

The core topics of the program include decision making, analytics and innovation, in addition to all essential MBA topics. At the same time, interaction between participants and faculty, as well as interaction among participants themselves, is encouraged, with a strong focus on social learning.

After successful completion of the opening module, individual program modules can be freely selected and booked in any order, offering you a high degree of individualization. As all courses are delivered exclusively online, there is no travel or on-campus attendance requirement (although a face-to-face module is offered in Berlin). Optional additional services such as personal career counseling or an international learning expedition, can be booked for an additional fee.
 

The Global Online MBA is for participants who want to develop their analytical skills, leadership qualities and their ability to innovate - but without having to give up their jobs. The program is particularly suitable for those who rely on a high degree of flexibility. As a student you can complete the program in as little as 24 months, but have a total of up to five years to complete the degree.

You must have at least three years of professional experience. In addition, an undergraduate degree or another equivalent qualification is required. A GMAT or GRE admission test is not mandatory, but is strongly recommend. Since the program is entirely in English, we also require you to provide appropriate language credentials.
 

ESMT’s Global Online MBA consists of 100% online study. The program can be started either in May or in September every year. A unique kick-off module is followed by four core modules, followed by an elective and an optional global exchange module. The program is rounded off by the final report module.
The MBA is set up to be a 24-month program, with the option to take up to five years to complete it at your own pace.
Please visit our website for complete module dates and details.
ESMT’s innovative course design means you can study at times which suit you. Each module lasts for 15 weeks and contains nine hours of live teaching sessions and weekly live office hours. Each live teaching session is offered twice to ensure you can join from any time zone. Course materials including mini-lectures and interactive activities are built into all modules to allow studying at your own pace.

Before starting an online application, prospective students must meet all of the following admission requirements. Find the full list here: 

• 3 years postgraduate, professional experience
• An undergraduate degree or equivalent qualification
  • applicants to the Online MBA program with a first degree, proof of a GMAT/GRE/ESMT Business Admissions Test score is optional. Graduates of non-quantitative or non-business subjects are strongly encouraged to provide evidence of an above average and well-balanced GMAT/GRE/ESMT Business Admissions Test score.
  • If the Admissions and Examinations Committee is of the opinion that an applicant cannot adequately demonstrate the ability to study through his or her academic courses, proof may be requested by submitting an appropriate GMAT/GRE/ESMT Business Admissions Test score and made a condition of admission.
• English proficiency test scores (non-native speakers who did not earn a university degree exclusively taught in English have to prove a strong command of the English language, demonstrated as a rule in the admission interview, in case of a doubt an applicant might be asked to pass a test such as TOEFL or a similar one)
• One written and one two minutes video essay upload
• Two recommendations
• Interview (per video call)
• Application fee of €50

Yes, you will be prompted to pay a €50 fee before submitting your online application. Start your application!

GMAT, GRE and ESMT’s admissions test are optional, but strongly recommended for applicants who have a non-quant / non-business undergraduate background. They may be requested by the Admissions Committee upon reviewing your submitted application.

The Business Admissions Test (BAT) is administered by ESMT Berlin and can be taken online or in person. The duration of the test is around 2 hours.

The test consists of four parts (each 30 minutes long):

• Communication Analysis (CA)
• Critical Thinking (CT)
• Data Interpretation (DI)
• Data Analysis (DA)

As part of the application, you must include two letters of recommendation. These may be academic or professional referees (from previous employers).

The ideal letter of recommendation is from referees that know about your performance and will take the time to write a thorough and supportive letter, detailing specific examples rather than general statements.

Your recommenders can fill in the online reference form, which you can send from the online application system once you have filled in your referee’s contact details. Alternatively, they can send a recommendation letter directly to us via email or provide you with the recommendation letter for you to upload into your online application or send to us via email.

An English proficiency test will be waived if

• English is your native language or
• You earned a university degree exclusively taught in English or
• You have worked in an English speaking country or an organization whose language of communication was English for 12 months or more

In addition, a strong command of the English language should also be demonstrated in the admission interview.  The admission rules state: Non-native speakers who did not earn a university degree exclusively taught in English have to prove a strong command of the English language, demonstrated as a rule in the admission interview, in case of a doubt an applicant might be asked to pass a test such as TOEFL or a similar one.

German language proficiency is not required. English is ESMT´s working and teaching language and English is widely spoken in Berlin.

No, you do not have to be currently employed to apply to the program.

During the application process, you can upload scanned copies of the official documents required (Passport, GMAT/GRE, TOEFL, Bachelor/Master or other diploma and grade overviews).

Should the documents have an Apostille or be officially translated?

All the official documents uploaded to the online application, must show the seals and signatures of the institution from which they were emitted. No apostille is required.

How will ESMT verify the authenticity of the documents?

As part of the enrollment process, you must present, in person, the original hard copies of all documents mentioned above for official verification. Please do not send original documents (diplomas / transcripts) to ESMT before arriving on campus to begin your studies. Students generally present them at the beginning of the program, and they are immediately returned following verification. If the documents are in a language other than English or German, an official translation is required.

The admissions process for our Global Online MBA operates on a rolling basis. Places are limited, and an early application is strongly recommended. Application deadlines can be found here.

All of the Global Online MBA courses are conducted virtually. Exceptions are the two Global Experience electives: The Berlin Experience Week requires presence in Berlin for one week, whereas the Global Experience Week takes you on an international study trip anywhere in the world. Participation in either Experience week is optional. Participation in the Berlin Experience week is included in the Global Online MBA tuition. Participation in the Global Experience Week is not included in the Global Online MBA tuition and will be subject to an additional fee. 

The Hub is a cutting-edge virtual learning platform used to provide online classes and communications with you. It offers a variety of options for you to interact with other students, faculty and program management. Courses are divided into sessions and each session will contain a selection of mini-lectures, links to readings and cases, individual and group activities. You can find assessment details and links to live online sessions in the relevant course section. Sign up for a test of the Learning Hub here.
 

The majority of the schedule will include weekly topics and activities to be completed asynchronously. In addition, live online classes take place via Zoom and The Hub in real time. Live classes are designed to maximize interaction with the course teaching team and your classmates. Each live session will be repeated twice to accommodate students in different time zones. Ideally, you participate in live classes at one of the two times each is offered, but ESMT also records the live classes so you can watch them later if you were perhaps unable to join.

Coursework should be completed on a weekly basis. Each course consists of 10 sessions, and each session should ideally be completed in the week it is scheduled. Working ahead is usually possible, but you should strive to follow the course pace to ensure effective group work.

Graded assignments do NOT happen every week in each course. There are on average 3 graded assignments per 10 week-course, and they tend to be scheduled towards the end of a course, but deadlines will be distributed over the entire course to keep workload at a decent level.

We seek to provide you with a variety of meaningful opportunities to show your learning and therefore, we have a wide selection of assessment types (essays, presentations, quizzes) in each course. Most courses include a combination of individual and group assessment, with deadlines which will be balanced across the courses in a module in a manageable way.

Our courses use a variety of media (readings, presentations by Faculty, YouTube clips, etc.) and all materials are available to you at the start of a course. Our courses follow a weekly schedule but are designed for you to study at your own pace within those weeks, with occasional synchronous activities.

There are a variety of collaboration opportunities for you and most courses will involve a combination of individual and group assessment. The ability to collaborate successfully with peers is traditionally an essential part of the MBA learning experience; the ability to collaborate in globally located virtual teams is an essential part of today's business landscape. Our courses are designed to encourage and reward collaborative learning, and your fellow students will bring a wealth of different perspectives and knowledge from their various backgrounds.

The tuition and fees for the Global Online MBA is €25,000, which includes access to the learning platform and content, and required case study licenses.

For the greatest financial flexibility, the Global Online MBA tuition can be paid by module.

Tuition can also be paid in full in advance, resulting in a 10% discount of the overall price of €25,000.

If you submit your full application by the early-bird deadline you are eligible for a tuition reduction of €2,000.

Please refer to our Tuition & Fees webpage for more details.

A few classes may require online textbooks and you will need to purchase those. The majority of our courses will have all materials provided through the Hub or available for free online. We strive to keep any additional costs to a minimum.

The ESMT Executive MBA can help you realize your fullest potential – and drive your career to the next level. At ESMT, we realize both intellectual and behavioral qualities affect your prospects for success. The EMBA program is a generalist business degree program with a specific mission-led focus on issues of responsible leadership, innovation and analytics.

Generally, we look for applicants who have solid professional experience with strong managerial record, managing either people or projects. What the admissions committee will probably focus on most is what is motivating you to do an EMBA and how you see your career evolving after the program. It is important that your expectations are aligned with what the program can deliver.

Space in the ESMT EMBA class is limited, and early application is strongly encouraged.

Please visit our application information page for the latest EMBA application deadline information.

Please be prepared to write short essays on your motivation to choose the EMBA at ESMT, your intercultural exposure, your goals after completing the program and about your managerial experience with an emphasis on leadership qualities and achievements (managing people, process, or budgets).

The first step is to create and submit your complete application through our online application system. You will be asked for personal data, your educational background, language skills and some other basic information.

• Your CV, including dates and periods of your educational and career path

• An organizational chart (a diagram which shows the structure of your division/company and the relationships and ranks of its parts and positions)

• Academic transcripts (an inventory of all courses taken and grades earned through those courses). You must submit your transcripts in either English or German languages.

• ID/Passport

• GMAT/GRE scores (if available, otherwise, you can take ESMT’s Business Admissions Test (BAT).

• Evidence of your proficiency in English

• 2 recommendation letters

You should ask employer (former or current), colleagues, supervisors or other individuals who are able to comment on your professional and educational goals and potential (no friends or relatives) to write your recommendation letters.

Yes, the English test will be waived if you have graduated from an English-speaking university or work daily in an English-speaking environment.

The Business Admissions Test (BAT) is an admissions assessment test for business education programs and an alternative to the GMAT or GRE. Business Test Methods (the Creators / BT Methods) is used by many business programs worldwide. Please visit the BAT website for more information.

The BAT is divided into 2 modules, totaling 5 sections. You will need 2.5 consecutive and uninterrupted hours (30 minutes to complete each section) and must complete the test in one sitting.

Module 1 is a four-part MCQ aptitude test using Verbal and Quantitative questions to elicit the candidate’s approach to problem solving, communication, numerical and factual data management, and logical thinking. The four parts are:

1. Communication Analysis (CA)
2. Critical Thinking (CT)
3. Data Interpretation (DI)
4. Data Analysis (DA)

Module 2 is a case presentation that evaluates your career maturity and business acumen for a graduate business education program. A case study is a scenario set in a particular professional context with which you need not necessarily be familiar. You are expected to analyze and then provide an individual response to the scenario, answering questions that gauge your analysis of the scenario. You will receive the topic of the case at the beginning of this module.

Admission Interview

You can choose to take the BAT at the ESMT campus in Berlin or take the test online from your home or office. In either case, your admissions interview will immediately follow the test and case presentation.

The Admission Interview comprises two parts:

• a case study presentation and discussion (Module II of the BAT)

• a general interview (e.g. about your goals and experiences)

The BAT is the test of choice for around 87% of ESMT EMBA applicants. You can choose where you take the test, either on campus or online. The BAT is similar in structure to the GMAT, requires less time for preparation, and is tailored specifically to satisfy the admission requirements of business schools. The costs of the BAT are covered by ESMT.

For the BAT test, you will need:

• A stable and fast internet connection (A mobile connection or hotspot is not recommended.)

• A computer with webcam

• A photo identification - passport, national ID card, company ID, driver's license, etc.

• Access to install proctoring software on your computer for the duration of the test. (Please insure that you have the proper user access to install the software in case you use your company’s computer to take the test. We therefore recommend using a personal computer.)

The ESMT EMBA in Berlin is an 18-month, part-time, modular program for developing global executives. You will attend intensive six-day modules every two months on the ESMT campus in Berlin. Seven modules take place in Berlin and three are international modules. The EMBA program begins in October each year.

Please follow this link to find out the exact dates for each module.

Candidates are always welcome to contact us to arrange an informational visit or to sit in on a class. However, since the program structure means that on-campus classes happen only every two months and given the current COVID situation, visiting campus may not always be an option for you.

You are always welcome to join our virtual open houses and webinars. For a full schedule of events, please visit our website. In the meantime, we encourage you to watch some of our previously recorded open house and information sessions.

The EMBA tuition totals € 57.500. The program tuition includes teaching fees, required cases and books, e-learning resources, lunch, snacks, and coffee while on campus, partial payment of accommodation and meals during the International Field Seminar and the registration fee for the Academy of Management conference in the second international module.

EMBA tuition is payable over three calendar years.

• A first deposit of 4000 Euros (deducted from future tuition payments), within 4-6 weeks after receiving the enrollment offer. In order to officially confirm the enrollment and reserve a place in the class.

• The remaining tuition fees are to be paid in three equal installments one third at the start of the EMBA (October) another third the second calendar year of the program (February) and the final instalment at the start of the last calendar year of the program (January).

You can apply for partial scholarships when applying to the EMBA program. We do not offer full tuition scholarships to EMBA applicants. Scholarships are available to self-funded candidates only.

You will find a list of funding opportunities here.

• 54 students

• 26 nationalities, 63% international

• 39% female participants

• 25% candidates from founders

• Average age: 37

• Average work experience: 11 years