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The Central State Office for Distance Learning (ZFU) has approved the course General Management under the number 136508c. Who this online MBA fits – and what you need to qualify
This programme suits experienced professionals with a non-business first degree who want to step into management without pausing their career. Typical profiles include: engineers or IT specialists aiming for lead or product roles in European companies; healthcare or legal professionals moving into hospital, practice or firm management; and founders who need structured management skills to scale a venture. If you are based outside Germany and seek a recognised European MBA you can complete fully online, this format is designed for you.
Admission requirements
Admission is possible in three variants, depending on your first degree and experience. Teaching and exams are delivered in German; the study platform and materials are online.
- MBA with specialisation (120 ECTS, typical duration 24 months): first, non-business higher-education degree with at least 180 ECTS (Bachelor, State Examination or Diploma of any recognised university type) plus at least 1 year of relevant work experience.
- MBA without specialisation (90 ECTS): first, non-business degree with at least 210 ECTS plus at least 1 year of relevant work experience.
- Executive variant (60 ECTS): first, non-business degree with at least 240 ECTS plus at least 3 years of relevant work experience.
- Total ECTS rule: your Bachelor’s and this MBA must add up to 300 ECTS. With a 180-ECTS Bachelor you choose the 120-ECTS MBA; with 210/240 ECTS you may select 90/60 ECTS accordingly.
- International qualifications: recognised Bachelor, State Exam or Diploma from accredited institutions are accepted; prior equivalent master’s-level credits can be considered for recognition (case-by-case).
- Language skills: programme delivery is in German. In addition, you must demonstrate English at B2 level (Cambridge scale or equivalent). If you lack a certificate, an internal telephone test can be used.
- Format and approval: distance learning with no mandatory on-site phases; state-approved by ZFU (No. 136508c).
Personal requirements
Studying remotely from abroad requires consistent routines and honest time planning. Expect about 15–20 hours per week during coursework; during the master’s thesis this can rise to 20+ hours. You need disciplined self-organisation, comfort with independent reading and academic writing, and the perseverance to progress module by module without classroom pressure. Because teaching and assessments are in German, you should have robust German comprehension and writing skills for academic texts; solid English helps with specialist literature. Reliable internet access, basic office software skills, and the ability to engage in online exams and supervision complete the profile. If you can block fixed study slots, communicate proactively with tutors, and pace yourself across busy work periods, you will handle this online MBA effectively alongside your job and time zone.
What will you study in the MBA General Management at Allensbach University of Applied Sciences?
This MBA is taught in German. You need very good German to follow lectures, materials and exams. The university also expects English at B2 level (for literature and case studies; a telephone test is offered if you lack a formal certificate). The programme covers core management fields and lets you specialise in a third semester before completing a research-based Master’s thesis.
You start with management fundamentals across disciplines. Typical core topics include Strategic Management and Organisation (how firms create and execute strategy), Project Management (planning, steering and controlling projects) and Accounting and Controlling (external and internal reporting as a basis for decisions). You also build academic skills in Scientific Work and Empirical Methods to read, design and evaluate applied research.
Finance and operations form a second pillar. In Corporate Finance you learn financing, investment appraisal and value creation. Process and Information Management focuses on process optimisation and information flows that underpin efficient operations and data-driven decisions.
People and change complete the generalist toolkit. Human Resources Management and Leadership develops your understanding of the employee lifecycle and leadership approaches. Change Management and Sustainability examines transformation, responsible governance and sustainable business models in competitive environments.
In the third semester you choose a specialisation to sharpen your profile. Options include, for example, Digital Business Management, Finance Management, Human Resources Management, International Business, Marketing and Sales, Engineering Management, PR and Communication, Transformationsmanagement, Economics, Business Psychology, and Business Law and Tax. A free combination of three elective modules is also possible. The fourth semester is dedicated to your Master’s thesis with individual online supervision and an online colloquium.
Allensbach is a Fachhochschule – a university of applied sciences with a practice-oriented focus – and is staatlich anerkannt (state-recognised) in Baden-Württemberg. The distance-learning format is admitted by the German State Central Office for Distance Learning (ZFU, No. 136508c), a quality check specific to distance study programmes.
How does studying in the MBA General Management work?
Teaching language, and what certificates you need
The MBA is delivered in German throughout (study materials, teaching, exams). You therefore need strong academic German. The university also expects English at B2 level; if you do not hold a recent certificate, a telephone assessment is offered. If your everyday or academic German is not yet at this level, plan time to upskill before applying.
Study model and where you will study from
This is a distance-learning MBA designed to be completed alongside full-time work. You study online from anywhere; no attendance on campus is required. The university is based in Konstanz on Lake Constance in southern Germany, but all organisation, teaching and assessments run digitally, so you do not need to relocate to Germany for this programme.
Learning format, support and pacing
All teaching content, assignments and advising are provided via the online campus. You study self-paced with structured modules and receive targeted academic support, particularly during your thesis. Start dates are flexible – you can begin at any time. The standard track for the 120 ECTS variant spans four semesters, with a free extension of up to 12 months if life or work requires more time.
How you will be assessed
Assessments are conducted online and include written exams or e-assessments, applied assignments and case-based coursework, depending on the module. The programme concludes with a supervised Master’s thesis and an online colloquium where you present and defend your work.
What does the MBA General Management cost?
The published tuition for the 120 ECTS version is €590 per month, adding up to €14,160 in total over 24 months. This covers access to the online campus, learning materials, supervision, examinations and the thesis colloquium. If you need more time, extensions within the stated limits are free of charge and do not add tuition.
Payments can usually be arranged from abroad by monthly transfer. The university also offers different MBA variants (60/90/120 ECTS) with correspondingly shorter durations; choose the track that matches your prior credits and time budget.
Because study is fully online, you avoid relocation and daily living costs in Germany. If you happen to live or work in Germany anyway, note that Konstanz and the wider Lake Constance region have living costs that are relatively high by German standards; budgeting carefully for rent and health insurance is advisable. For international students staying in their home country, factor in a reliable laptop, internet access and exam-time quiet space.
In addition to personal savings or employer support, external scholarships may be an option. Check scholarship schemes in your home country or international foundations that fund graduate management study.
What careers and recognition does the MBA General Management offer?
The MBA is awarded with 120 ECTS credits under the Bologna framework. Allensbach University of Applied Sciences is a state-recognised private university of applied sciences in Baden-Württemberg. The MBA is programme-accredited for eight years by the German Accreditation Council, ensuring academic quality and international comparability. For a distance format, the ZFU admission confirms suitability for online delivery. Together, these signals mean the degree is formally recognised in Germany and widely understood in the EU and beyond.
Graduates combine their first discipline (e.g. engineering, law, healthcare, sciences) with a generalist management qualification. Typical next steps include:
- Operations, product or plant management in manufacturing and engineering firms
- Business unit or project leadership roles in hospitals, health providers or NGOs
- Management positions in professional services, e.g. legal or consulting practices
- HR, transformation or strategy roles in multinational companies
- Entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship, including founding or scaling ventures
Career development depends on your sector experience, specialisation and location. In Germany, MBA-trained managers in mid-level leadership often move into roles with significant responsibility for budgets and teams; salaries vary widely by industry (manufacturing and finance typically pay more than education or non-profits). The MBA also qualifies you to apply for doctoral studies, which can be relevant for academic or R&D careers.
Who is the MBA General Management right for – and who not?
This programme targets professionals with a non-business background who want a broad, applied management education in German and the flexibility of 100% online study. It suits those building towards leadership roles or planning entrepreneurial projects while working full-time.
- You want a German-taught MBA that integrates core management with a chosen specialisation.
- You prefer a fully online, no-presence study path you can complete from anywhere.
- You have strong German and solid English reading skills for international sources.
- You value recognised quality: state-recognised university, accreditation, and 120 ECTS.
- You plan to leverage the MBA to step into leadership in Germany, the EU or internationally.
Some candidates are better served by a different programme or provider. Read the points below carefully before you decide.
- You need an English-taught MBA. This programme’s teaching and exams are in German.
- You want an on-campus experience in Germany with face-to-face classes and labs. This MBA is 100% online with no attendance.
- You prefer very low tuition and can study in German at a public university; private-university fees here are higher than most state universities.
- You are aiming for a regulated profession (e.g. clinical practice, legal qualification). An MBA does not grant professional licensure.
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