8 Reasons Why You Should Study Your MBA In Germany

If you want to pursue a career in business, getting an MBA in Germany could be your shortcut to success. German MBA degrees are becoming more popular and competitive, with much of the demand comes from foreign students.

According to Studying-in-Germany.org, more than 400,000 international students are currently studying in Germany, and the two-thirds of them want to stay and work in the country after graduation.

German business schools have been steadily rising up the rankings in recent years, with the likes of Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management, and Mannheim Business School all featuring in the global top 100 of the QS and Financial Times rankings.

Here are eight reasons why you should consider an MBA in Germany:

1. Tuition fees in Germany are affordable

Tuition fees are often the biggest concern international students have to deal with, and MBA programs are among the most expensive degrees in the world. While public higher education in Germany is offered for free, many of the best German MBA schools are in private ownership and come with higher fees. 

However, the cost of an MBA in Germany tends to be lower than in the UK or US. For example, the full-time MBA program at the University of Oxford Saïd Business School costs around costs around $120,000 whereas the MBA at Frankfurt School of Finance & Management—ranked in the top 50 worldwide by QS—costs $49,000.

2. Schools in Germany are highly ranked 

MBA rankings put together by the Financial Times and QS place several German MBAs among the world’s top 100 programs. Top-ranked business schools include Frankfurt School of Finance and Management, Mannheim Business School, WHU Otto Beisheim, ESMT Berlin, EU Business School, ESMT Berlin, and HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management.

Their high regard is partly down to the quality of German business school faculty, who tend to be highly international, highly experienced, and highly capable. For instance, the ESMT Berlin faculty includes professors who have taught at Chicago Booth School of Business, McGill University, and the University of Oxford.

3. MBAs in Germany are usually taught in English

English is widely spoken across Germany—and that proficiency is reflected in the country’s scope of English-taught MBA programs. It’s standard practice for MBA programs in the country to ask for proof of English proficiency, and the vast majority are taught in English.

To get a better idea of just how international German MBA programs are, take a look at the international student cohort at some of the country’s leading programs: 78% at WHU, 97% at Frankfurt, 98% at Mannheim, and 100% at ESMT Berlin. Simply put, you won’t have any issues finding an English-taught MBA in Germany.

4. German MBA programs are highly innovative

Study modules and curricula at MBA courses in Germany are under constant revision, aiming to be leaders in teaching and research innovation.

Your MBA course in Germany won’t just get you through the important concepts and topics in the business field, but will also help you to gain an independent style of doing business and ability to generate innovative ideas. German MBA programs often have a strong focus on practical, experiential learning, giving you the chance to apply your knowledge in a real-world setting. 

For example, the full-time MBA at Frankfurt features an Individual Research Project, which is a study of a real-life business problem carried out in collaboration with a business corporation. 

5. Studying in Germany can help your language skills

Although English is widely spoken across Germany, it’s also true that studying in Germany will give you the opportunity to study German: one of the world’s most-spoken languages.

At a time of globalization, many German businesses are relocating and expanding their networks internationally while at the same time welcoming foreigners into Germany for work.

It means that studying German alongside your  MBA will give you access to a deeper pool of jobs and career opportunities in the country

6. Access to generous German scholarships

In addition to being an affordable place to study and live in, there are a lot of opportunities to finance  your studies in Germany. Thousands of scholarships are granted by the German government every year- a portion of which are granted to outstanding international students.

Several German business schools have dedicated scholarship schemes for international students, while many companies headhunt talented students in return for paying for their education in Germany.

Major scholarship schemes include: The Deutschland Stipendium, DAAD Scholarships, Expatrio, and Erasmus+. Other privately-funded scholarship schemes include the HHL Part-Time MBA Global Diversity Scholarship, the HHL Leipzig Full-Time MBA Young Leader Scholarship, and the Heinrich Boll Foundation Scholarship.

7. Access to grad roles at highly regarded Germany companies 

German MBA schools are highly research-based universities aiming to prepare you with the skills and knowledge required in the job market. German cities like Frankfurt are valued as European financial and business centers and boast globally-recognized companies like Adidas, Amazon, Bosch, Google, the European Central Bank, and automotive companies like Daimler, Porsche, and Volkswagen. And all these companies hire MBA graduates from local universities.

Germany is also one of the easiest countries to get a work visa, offering a range of lucrative visa options for anyone with strong skills and a good educational background.

8. You'll enjoy an unforgettable experience

Studying an MBA in Germany is not all about earning a degree—there are countless things to experience in Germany aside from your study adventure.

Germany’s international student community is highly diverse and provides an opportunity to socialize with people from different nations and learn about their culture, customs, and traditions. Germany is also a land of wonderful sights such as the Black Forest or medieval castles like the Neuschwanstein in Bavaria, which inspired Disney’s Cinderella Castle. But there's variety too. Berlin is arguably the coolest city in Europe but Hamburg, Munich, Dresden and Cologne are also steeped in both history and culture. When studying in Germany you're also in the heart of the continent with easy rail connections to much of central Europe, offering endless opportunities to explore.

This is a guest post written originally by Gent Ukehajdaraj of Studying-in-Germany.org. It was first published in Nov 2018 and updated in July 2025 by BusinessBecause writers.