What is an MBA?
An MBA (Master of Business Administration) is a postgraduate degree focused on business management, leadership, and strategic decision-making. Originating in the US, MBAs are now offered by universities worldwide.
MBA programmes are designed for professionals who want to develop advanced business knowledge, improve career prospects, or transition into management or leadership roles.
MBA programmes in Germany typically cover subjects such as:
- Business strategy and management
- Finance and accounting
- Marketing and international business
- Leadership and organisational behaviour
- Entrepreneurship and innovation
- Operations and supply chain management
Many MBA programmes in Germany are taught in English, making them popular among international students and professionals looking to build global business careers.
What is the benefit of doing an MBA?
Completing an MBA can provide several professional and personal advantages, particularly for individuals aiming to progress into senior management or specialised business roles.
Key benefits of doing an MBA include:
Career advancement opportunities
An MBA can help professionals move into leadership positions, management roles, or executive-level roles in multiple different industries.
Higher earning potential
MBA graduates tend to earn higher salaries compared to professionals without postgraduate business qualifications.
Professional networking opportunities
MBA programmes provide access to industry contacts, alumni networks, and career development resources. This helps graduates to better position themselves in the job market.
Career flexibility
The business, management and critical thinking skills that students acquire during their MBA are highly transferable, and many graduates go on to switch careers, start their own businesses, or transfer into different sectors.
Is Germany a good place to do an MBA?
Germany is a popular destination for people looking to do an MBA, as it promises a high-quality education along with access to one of the strongest business markets in Europe.
The federal republic is often named one of the most popular countries in the world for MBA students, alongside the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, France, Spain, Singapore and Switzerland. The QS Global MBA Ranking 2026 includes five business schools in Germany among the top 200 in the world.
Some of the benefits of studying an MBA in Germany include:
- Access to some of the best business schools in the world, many of which hold triple accreditation from AACSB, EQUIS or AMBA
- Strong local economy and job market, particularly in industries such as engineering, technology, finance and manufacturing
- Relatively lower tuition fees compared to some other countries, while still offering a high-quality education - more on this below
- Opportunity as an international student to work in Germany after graduation, if you successfully apply for a residence permit
- Many programmes taught in English, making studying accessible to students from all over the world
How much does it cost to do an MBA in Germany?
Doing an MBA is typically an expensive business, with many business schools around the world charging upwards of €50.000 for their programmes.
Things are slightly different here. That’s because higher education in Germany is divided into public and private institutions. While public institutions are subsidised by the government and charge only nominal fees, private institutions are not, and they tend to charge a lot more.
Doing an MBA at a private university
Most business schools in Germany are private universities. Their fees are therefore quite high - higher than for your typical masters in Germany - but lower than in other countries around Europe. At a private university, you can expect to pay in the region of €15.000 to €50.000+ for an MBA programme. You may qualify for a scholarship to help you cover the cost.
Doing an MBA at a public university
However, there are some public universities that offer masters of science courses in business administration. Because they are public universities, they do not charge tuition fees. This essentially means you can do an MBA for free in Germany.
That being said, you do need to factor in that you’ll still need to pay a semester fee (a small contribution of a few hundred euros per semester), and cover your living expenses while you’re studying in Germany.
What’s the average salary after an MBA in Germany?
Many people complete an MBA expecting a large salary increase u[on graduation. According to QS, the average salary increase upon graduating from an MBA is 77 percent. But is this also true in Germany?
According to QS, graduates in Germany can look forward to the 10th-biggest salary increase worldwide. The average MBA graduate earns around $77.200 per year. The number one country on the ranking was Switzerland, where MBA graduates earn $123.500 per year, on average.