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Deutsch Who this German-taught Master fits – and what you need to get in
This part-time M.Sc. in Finance & Accounting is a good match if you already work and want to deepen your professional footprint in Germany. Typical paths include: you are a junior financial analyst or controller aiming for more responsibility in reporting, corporate finance or asset management; you work in accounting or audit and want to step into group accounting, IFRS or performance management roles; you come from a related field (e.g. engineering, data) and now build a finance profile backed by relevant experience. You study on campus in major German cities (e.g. Berlin, Essen, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich, Stuttgart) in evening/weekend formats, or live online via FOM’s “Digital Live” model.
Admission requirements
To qualify you need a first degree and a finance-relevant background. Key points at a glance:
- First university degree: Bachelor, Diplom, Magister or Staatsexamen; degrees from accredited cooperative universities are recognised.
- Subject fit:
- With at least 40 ECTS in business/economics: direct entry.
- With another discipline: entry possible with 1.5 years of relevant professional experience; a preparatory business course is recommended.
- Current employment is required (the programme is designed for working professionals).
- International applicants: first degrees from recognised universities outside Germany are accepted subject to an academic equivalence check.
- Programme language: German. You must provide proof of sufficient German language proficiency to follow lectures, complete exams and write the thesis. Recognised, formal language certificates are required; the university specifies accepted proofs for each intake.
- Admission without Abitur: not relevant for a Master’s degree – your first higher-education degree is decisive, not your school-leaving certificate.
Personal requirements
Success in this working-professionals programme depends on realistic planning and consistency. Expect classes on weekday evenings and some Saturdays (or live online), plus self-study for readings, cases and exam prep. You should bring solid self-organisation, perseverance over five semesters, and the ability to coordinate study phases with work peaks and personal commitments. For Digital Live study from abroad, ensure a quiet study space, stable high-speed internet and the discipline to engage actively in live sessions. Your German should be strong enough for specialist texts in accounting, finance and controlling; even with practical teaching, you will read standards, methods and research in German. If your prior degree was outside business, be ready to refresh fundamentals early so you can keep pace once advanced topics start.
What will you study in the Finance & Accounting (M.Sc.) at FOM University of Applied Sciences?
The programme is taught in German (Deutsch). You must be able to study at academic level in German; accepted language certificates are set by FOM during admission. Over five semesters (four semesters of modules plus the master’s thesis), you deepen finance and accounting expertise with strong practical application while working.
You build a common core across corporate finance and accounting: topics typically include international financial reporting (IFRS), performance measurement and corporate valuation, plus financial statement analysis for decision-making. You learn to read, model and communicate numbers to management.
The finance track develops analytical and market-facing skills, for example in asset management, portfolio theory and risk/return, as well as Digital Finance and data-driven financial decision-making. You work with methods that translate into treasury, investment or FP&A roles.
The controlling and steering track focuses on planning and control, such as management accounting/controlling, budgeting and cost management, and value-based steering. You learn how financial and operational KPIs connect to strategy and governance.
Methodology and research skills underpin the degree: modules cover quantitative methods, corporate research practice and project work, preparing you for your master’s thesis. As a Fachhochschule (university of applied sciences), FOM emphasises application: you regularly transfer concepts to workplace cases and current company data.
Extras and options: before starting, you can refresh foundations via free compact courses. During your studies, optional International Summer Academies at partner universities allow short study stays abroad with credit recognition, strengthening language and intercultural skills.
FOM is staatlich anerkannt (state-recognised) and the programme awards 120 ECTS within the Bologna framework. The master’s degree qualifies you for doctoral studies subject to the requirements of the receiving university.
How does studying in the Finance & Accounting (M.Sc.) work?
Teaching language: German throughout
All teaching, assessments and academic writing are in German. To succeed, you need advanced German skills at university level. FOM specifies accepted proofs of German proficiency during admission; plan sufficient preparation time if you are an international applicant.
Study model for working professionals: on campus or Digital Live
This is a part-time master designed to fit full-time employment. You can study in the Campus+ format at FOM centres in Berlin, Bonn, Dortmund, Düsseldorf, Essen, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, Hannover, Köln, Mannheim, München, Münster or Stuttgart. Alternatively, choose the Digital Live model with lectures streamed live from FOM Studios. Before each semester you may switch formats or combine modules to match your schedule.
When and where you learn
Classes run in working-friendly time models: evenings, Saturdays, or mixed day/evening slots depending on campus and format. Learning combines lectures, case discussions and applied exercises. Teaching is delivered by lecturers from academia and industry, linking theory with up-to-date business practice. Group sizes are oriented to interaction and personal support typical of a university of applied sciences.
Assessments and thesis
You complete module assessments across the programme and finish with a master’s thesis that applies research methods to a finance or accounting topic, ideally connected to your employer. The standard duration is five semesters (four taught semesters plus thesis).
What does the Finance & Accounting (M.Sc.) cost?
Tuition is charged in monthly instalments over 30 months; at the current rate this totals €12,300 for tuition across the standard duration. In addition, there is a €1,590 enrolment fee (payable in instalments during the first semester) and a €500 examination fee due at the end of your studies. This brings the overall study cost to €14,390.
As a working-professional programme, many students finance tuition from employment income. FOM offers recognition of prior learning where suitable, which can shorten study time and reduce total tuition. In special personal or financial hardship, individual payment arrangements and temporary study breaks (up to two semesters without tuition fees) are possible.
If you pay from abroad, consider bank transfer fees and exchange rates in your budget. Living costs vary by city: for major German cities such as Berlin, Munich or Frankfurt am Main, a realistic student budget ranges from roughly €1,000–€1,400 per month for rent, health insurance, food and transport; mid-sized cities like Essen, Dortmund or Mannheim often fall somewhat lower. Your actual costs depend on housing and lifestyle.
What careers and recognition does the Finance & Accounting (M.Sc.) offer?
FOM is a state-recognised (staatlich anerkannt) university of applied sciences. The programme is a 120-ECTS master within the Bologna framework, which standardises degrees across Europe and supports recognition for further study or employment. The master is accredited within FOM’s system accreditation; the current accreditation period runs from December 2023 to August 2032. ECTS credits and a Master of Science title are widely understood by employers across the EU and internationally.
With integrated finance and accounting skills, you position yourself for roles such as:
- Financial analyst or corporate finance specialist in companies or consultancies
- Controller or management accountant steering planning, budgeting and performance
- Corporate accountant or group reporting specialist (IFRS/local GAAP)
- Asset management or treasury analyst managing liquidity and investments
- FP&A manager or business partner supporting executive decisions with data
Career development in Germany and the EU is strong for graduates who combine IFRS, controlling and corporate finance. Salaries vary by location, sector and experience; progressing from analyst/specialist roles to senior controller, finance manager or head of reporting typically increases responsibility and pay. Note: access to regulated professions in Germany (e.g. Wirtschaftsprüfer/auditor or Steuerberater/tax adviser) requires separate state examinations and pathways beyond this master’s degree.
Who is the Finance & Accounting (M.Sc.) right for – and who not?
This master suits professionals who want to deepen finance and accounting expertise while working, and who value flexible study formats across multiple German cities or live online.
- You already work in finance, accounting, controlling or a related field and aim for advanced, practice-oriented skills.
- You need evening/weekend schedules or a live-online option and the ability to switch formats per semester.
- You want a state-recognised, 120-ECTS master that is compatible with doctoral ambitions.
- You are motivated to study in German and apply methods directly in your workplace.
- You value optional short study experiences abroad through FOM Summer Academies.
It is not a fit for everyone. The most common reasons to look elsewhere are language and study logistics.
- The programme is taught entirely in German. If you need an English-taught master, this is not suitable.
- For Campus+ you must live in or commute to a German city; even Digital Live requires attendance at fixed German/European time slots.
- Tuition and fees are higher than at German public universities; if you seek the lowest possible tuition, compare state university options.
- This degree does not grant direct access to regulated German professions like auditor (Wirtschaftsprüfer) or tax adviser (Steuerberater); additional state exams and requirements apply.
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