Study Master of Business Administration in Germany: All business schools + all degree programmes in comparison

MBA programmes in full-time, part-time or as an Executive MBA are among the most popular study programmes at private business schools. In the MBA programme, you deepen your knowledge from a bachelor's degree in business administration or economics, for example. In addition, you actively work on your professional network - many MBA programmes at private universities are so expensive not least because they give you exclusive access to cross-industry networks.

Here I present the most important MBA programmes at private universities such as EBS University of Business and Law or the European Business School, WHU and Fresenius University of Applied Sciences and compare them in terms of study content and costs. You will find both the classic MBA programmes in face-to-face study as well as part-time programmes and distance learning programmes.

From European Business School to WHU: Which university is the best?

MBA programmes are offered by numerous private universities in Germany, especially business schools. Many of these universities are universities of applied sciences, such as the Fresenius University of Applied Sciences or the IU International University of Applied Sciences. However, an astonishing number of business schools with MBA programmes are also universities - such as EBS University or WHU.

I can't give you a general answer here about which university is the best. There are certainly many rankings, and every private university advertises a first place in some ranking of some third institution. When choosing your university, however, you should also consider the content of the MBA programmes, the price-performance ratio and the city in which you wish to study.

Here is a brief portrait of the most important business schools with MBA programmes:

Fresenius University of Applied Sciences: Fresenius University of Applied Sciences is one of the largest private universities of applied sciences in Germany. In the winter semester 2019/2020, a total of 12,991 students were enrolled at the university. The Fresenius University of Applied Sciences is located in Idstein, Hesse, and also has campuses in Cologne, Hamburg, Munich, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Berlin and New York. The university mainly offers degree programmes in the fields of economics and natural sciences. Special feature: Many courses are not only offered as attendance courses, but also as distance learning or evening study courses. The university offers an MBA programme in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Cologne, Munich and Wiesbaden.

EBS University of Business and Law: EBS University (formerly European Business School) is a private, state-approved university based in Wiesbaden, Hesse, with an additional location in Oestrich-Winkel. The university was founded in 1971 and the business school is the oldest private university for business administration in Germany. In the winter semester 2019/2020, a total of 1,931 students were enrolled at EBS. In addition to Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes in business administration, the university also offers a law programme leading to a state examination. Special feature: As a university, EBS is entitled to award doctorates.

WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management: WHU is a private, state-recognized university located in Vallendar, Rhineland-Palatinate, with a campus in Dusseldorf. The business school was founded in 1984 and a total of 1,371 students were enrolled at WHU in the winter semester 2019/2020. In addition to its Bachelor's degree in International Business Administration/Management, the university offers a range of Master's and MBA programs.

IU International University of Applied Sciences: Dith over 100,000 enrolled students (winter semester 2022/2023), IU is one of the largest private universities of applied sciences in Germany and the largest private distance learning university in Germany. The university is based in Erfurt, but IU offers its campus study programmes mainly in Berlin and Bad Honnef. In addition to the campus programmes in Business Administration & Management, among others, the university offers over 100 distance learning programmes as well as a large number of part-time and dual programmes.

Frankfurt School of Finance and Management: The Frankfurt School is a private, state-recognised university based in Frankurt am Main, Hesse. The university was founded in 1990 and a total of 2,701 students were enrolled at the university in the winter semester 2019/2020. The university is a business school and offers Bachelor's and Master's or MBA programmes in business and IT. Special feature: As a private university, the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management is entitled to award doctorates.

ESCP Europe: ESCP Business School is a private, state-recognised university with campuses in Berlin, London, Madrid, Paris, Turin and Warsaw. ESCP was founded in 1819, and in the winter semester 2019/2020 a total of 736 students were enrolled at the university. The university is run by the ESCP Europe Wirtschaftshochschule Berlin e.V. Due to its university status, the university can also award doctoral degrees.

Munich Business School: Munich Business School is a private, state-recognised university of applied sciences based in Munich. In the winter semester 2019/2020, a total of 567 students were enrolled at the university. As the first private university in Bavaria, Munich Business School has been training managers for business enterprises since its foundation in 1991. Bachelor's, Master's and MBA programmes with integrated semesters abroad are offered.

NORDAKADEMIE University of Applied Sciences: NORDAKADEMIE is a state-recognised, private university of applied sciences based in Elmshorn/Schleswig Holstein. The university was founded in 1992, with a total of 2,655 students enrolled in the 2019/2020 winter semester. The university focuses on dual business degree programmes, such as business administration and business informatics. In addition, the university offers a part-time MBA at the Hamburg location, which leads to a degree in 4 semesters.

HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management: HHL (formerly Handelshochschule Leipzig) is a state-recognised, private university based in Leipzig. HHL was founded in 1898 as a private business school. In the winter semester 2019/2020, a total of 657 students were enrolled at HHL. The university offers Master's programmes in management in particular, including a full-time and a part-time MBA programme as well as an Executive MBA. As a university, HHL is also eligible to award doctorates.

European School of Management and Technology: ESMT European School of Management and Technology is a state-recognised, private university based in Berlin. The business school was founded in 2002 and a total of 373 students were enrolled in the 2019/2020 winter semester. The 3 study programmes focus on leadership, innovation and analytics.

RFH – University of Applied Science: Die Rheinische Fachhochschule ist eine private, staatlich zugelassen Fachhochschule mit Sitz in Köln. Gegründet wurde die Hochschule im Jahr 1985. Im WS 2019/2020 waren insgesamt 6203 Studierende an der Hochschule immatrikuliert. Neben einem Bachelor in Wirtschaftsrecht bietet die Hochschule beispielsweise einen MBA in International Business in Köln.

Dresden International University: Die DIU ist ein An-Institut der Uni Dresden, also eine Ausgründung der staatlichen Universität Dresden. Die private Universität wurde im Jahre 2003 als Weiterbildungsuniversität gegründet. Im WS 2019/2020 waren insgesamt 2.189 Studierende an der DIU immatrikuliert. Die Hochschule bietet neben weiteren Studiengängen einen MBA in Unternehmensführung.