Full-time MBA Admissions

Requirements and steps

Admission requirements

Before starting an online MBA application, prospective students must meet all of the following requirements:

At least three years of postgraduate, professional experience
An undergraduate degree or equivalent qualification
Strong GMAT or GRE scores
- The average GMAT score is 640. ESMT’s MBA GMAT code is H4D-SJ-46 or simply search for ESMT by name. We also accept GRE scores, and our Designated Institution (DI) code is 7768.
English proficiency test scores
- TOEFL scores (95 minimum), PTE score (64 minimum), IELTS score (7 minimum) or other English proficiency tests are accepted). ESMT Berlin accepts MyBest™ scores for the TOEFL iBT® test, in addition to TOEFL iBT scores from a single test date. The ESMT TOEFL institution code is 8707.
- If English is your native language or you earned a university degree exclusively taught in English you do not need to take an English proficiency test.

ESMT's admissions team is looking for a diverse group of professionals who share the school’s mission and who will succeed in the MBA program, both academically and professionally. ESMT considers each detail of a potential student's application to assess their abilities and goals. Specifically, ESMT MBA Admissions looks for these key qualities in applicants:

Excellent analytical ability, both quantitative and qualitative
International outlook, intercultural competence, and a responsible approach to business
Proven teamwork skills in stressful situations
Leadership potential, especially for high-performance career growth in a global environment
Willingness to learn from others in a collegial environment

Application steps

Step 1: Online application
To begin the admissions process, applicants complete an online application. The application is easy to follow, and will ask you for the following information:
- Personal data
- Your academic and professional background
- Essay questions
- Your CV
- Two recommendations
- Your test scores
- Copies of your university transcripts
- € 50 application fee
Step 2: First screening

ESMT’S Admissions Team will review your completed online application. If all information meets our minimum requirements, Admissions will invite you for the next application step: the personal interview.
Step 3: Interview

ESMT invites applicants to a personal interview, either at ESMT’s Berlin campus or via Skype. Applicants interview with an ESMT professor, director, or senior professional. The interview lasts about an hour, and assesses various aspects of the applicant’s interpersonal competency as well as career goals and aspirations.
Step 4: Admissions and Scholarship Committee

After the interview, ESMT’s Admissions Committee reviews the complete application and makes an admission decision. Following the Admissions Committee meeting, the Scholarship Committee meets to review applications for scholarship consideration.

Admitted applicants receive both admission and scholarship decisions, if applicable, at the same time soon after the committee meetings. To confirm attendance and reserve your place in the program, you must pay a deposit of €4,000 toward your tuition by the date indicated in the offer of admission.

IMPORTANT UPDATE - GMAT / GRE

GMAT & Essential Skills Online Test

The GMAT is now online! Instead of sitting for the traditional GMAT test, we recommend that you submit results for the GMAT online test. More information in the link below!

ESMT Berlin now also accepts the online GMAC ESSENTIAL SKILLS ASSESSMENT to meet the application requirements degree programs (until September 1, 2021). PLEASE NOTE: Candidates who submit the Essential Skills Assessment do not qualify for the GMAT scholarships awarded by ESMT.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ABOUT THE GMAT ONLINE

GRE General Test at Home

To meet the needs of students who are unable to take the GRE^® General Test at a test center due to public health concerns, ETS is temporarily offering a GRE General Test at home option.

As of April 2, 2020, the GRE^® General Test is available everywhere that the computer-delivered GRE General Test is normally available, with the exception of Mainland China and Iran.

Learn more about the GRE General Test at home

Admission deadlines

Please follow this link to create your profile and start your application for the January 2022 intake.

MBA Admissions operates a rolling deadline, with available places in the class filled on a continual basis. Space in the ESMT MBA class is limited, and early application is strongly recommended. The following are deadlines for the next MBA intake:

April 5: Early decision deadline. Applicants will receive the first chance to reserve their seats in the class.
June 28: Early bird tuition discount deadline. Students planning to enroll in the optional pre-MBA language course running from October to December are equally encouraged to apply by this date. Students not needing a visa* to enter Germany may apply after this deadline. **
October 4: Many of ESMT’s competitive scholarships are awarded by this deadline. (NOTE: applying before October 1 does not increase your scholarship chances. After the October deadline there will still be partial scholarships available)
November 1: This is the last deadline for the MBA program, if you require a visa to enter Germany. If the class becomes full, students will be waitlisted.
December 6: For students not requiring a visa to enter Germany* Applications submitted after this date will still be considered on a case by case basis.

*Applicants from Australia, Brazil, Canada, El Salvador, EU, Honduras, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and the United States, DO NOT need visas to enter Germany as a student. As these regulations can change without notice, please confirm with ESMT or your nearest German Embassy or Consulate.

** Applicants who have graduated from a Chinese university are required to undergo an APS procedure in order to be able to study at a German university. Please visit the APS website in Chinese or in German for all further information. It is recommended to apply by this deadline in order to have ample time to undergo the APS procedure.

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