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Germany’s private universities offer more than 190 English-taught master programmes – from affordable online MBAs at €9,547 to elite programmes at WHU, Frankfurt School and ESCP. Fields span Management, Data Science, Engineering, Media, Public Policy and dozens of specialisations. No Numerus Clausus, flexible admission, and an 18-month post-study work visa after graduation.
This page compares every English-taught master at a private university in Germany: tuition fees, study formats, locations and career prospects. Use the finder below to narrow down your options in two clicks.
Overview of all Courses
We have a total of 198 courses in the field of English-Taught Master. The first 20 top courses are displayed. Use the filter function or our search to discover more courses in the field.
Master of Public Policy
- Hertie School
- 4 Semester
- Berlin
- from 1438 € monthly
- English
International Healthcare Management
- IU International University of Applied Sciences
- 2 Semester
- online
- from 449 € monthly
- English
Applied Data Science
- Frankfurt School of Finance and Management
- 4 Semester
- Frankfurt
- English
Industrial and Organizational Psychology
- IU International University of Applied Sciences
- 2 Semester
- online
- from 449 € monthly
- German or English
Bioanalytical Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Analysis
- Fresenius University of Applied Sciences
- 4 Semester
- Idstein
- from 880 € monthly
- English
Master of Business Administration
- University of Europe for Applied Sciences
- 3 Semester
- Berlin, Hamburg or Iserlohn
- from 958 € monthly
- English
Medical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
- Fresenius University of Applied Sciences
- 4 Semester
- Idstein
- from 880 € monthly
- English
Industrial Engineering and International Management
- Fresenius University of Applied Sciences
- 4 Semester
- Cologne, Berlin
- from 880 € monthly
- English
Master of Law and Business
- Bucerius Law School
- 2 Semester
- Hamburg
- English
Data Science
- IU International University of Applied Sciences
- 2 Semester
- online
- from 475 € monthly
- English
Business Management
- Macromedia University of Applied Sciences
- 4 Semester
- Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, Leipzig, Munich, Stuttgart
- from 895 € monthly
- German or English
Finance, Accounting and Taxation
- IU International University of Applied Sciences
- 4 Semester
- online
- from 299 € monthly
- German or English
Cyber Security
- IU International University of Applied Sciences
- 4 Semester
- online
- from 329 € monthly
- German or English
International Health Economics & Pharmacoeconomics
- Fresenius University of Applied Sciences
- 4 Semester
- Wiesbaden
- from 880 € monthly
- English
Executive MBA
- Frankfurt School of Finance and Management
- 3 Semester
- Frankfurt
- from 2639 € monthly
- English
Global Logistics and Supply Chain Management/Business Administration
- Kühne Logistics University
- 4 Semester
- Hamburg
- English
International Healthcare Management
- Frankfurt School of Finance and Management
- 3 Semester
- Frankfurt
- English
Master of Business Administration
- FOM University of Applied Sciences
- 4 Semester
- Berlin, Bochum, Düsseldorf, Essen, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, Cologne, Mannheim, Munich, Nürnberg, Stuttgart or Wien
- from 495 € monthly
- 2 Comments & Questions
- German or English
Executive MBA
- ESCP Business School
- 4 Semester
- Paris, London, Berlin, Madrid, Turin
- from 3125 € monthly
- English
Management
- Frankfurt School of Finance and Management
- 4 Semester
- Frankfurt
- from 1500 € monthly
- English
What Can You Study at Master Level in English?
English-taught masters at private universities in Germany cluster around five areas. The selection is far broader than at public universities, where most master programmes still require German. Around 150 programmes are taught on campus, over 30 are fully online and 25 run part-time alongside employment.
Business & Management
The dominant field with around 100 programmes. Options range from general International Management and Marketing to specialised degrees in Supply Chain Management, HR, Real Estate and Healthcare Management. Prices vary enormously: Steinbeis University starts at €8,400, while Frankfurt School charges €36,000 for its full-time Master in Management. IU has the broadest distance learning selection with over 20 masters from €9,547.
| Course | University | Fees | |
|---|---|---|---|
| International Management, Master of Science On-campus program | Steinbeis University | from 8400 € total from 350 € monthly | |
| Media and Communication Management, Master of Arts Fulltime programm (blended learning) | Macromedia University of Applied Sciences | from 8910 € total from 495 € monthly | |
| Artificial Intelligence, Master of Science Distance learning program | IU International University of Applied Sciences | from 10099 € total from 475 € monthly | |
| International Business and Engineering, Master of Engineering On-campus program | SRH University | from 20160 € total | |
| Master of International Affairs, Master of Arts On-campus program | Hertie School | from 34500 € total from 1438 € monthly |
Data Science & IT
Around 20 programmes cover Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Computer Science, Cyber Security and IT Management. SRH Heidelberg leads on campus with five tech masters from €13,860. IU offers fully online AI, Data Science, Computer Science and Cyber Security from €10,099. Frankfurt School and ESMT Berlin run premium programmes in Financial Technology and Analytics at €35,000+.
MBA Programmes
18 MBA programmes span the full spectrum: IU’s online MBA at €9,547 is the cheapest in Germany. FOM offers a part-time MBA at €11,880. At the other end, WHU’s Kellogg-WHU Executive MBA costs €105,000 as a joint programme with Northwestern University. Frankfurt School, ESCP, ESMT, EBS and HHL Leipzig fill the mid-to-premium range. MBA programmes typically require 2–5 years of work experience.
Media, Design & Communication
More than a dozen programmes in Media Management, Digital Marketing, Design Strategy, Journalism and Brand Management. Media University of Applied Sciences (Berlin) offers five English-taught masters from €16,680. Macromedia University starts at €8,910. Brand University Hamburg focuses exclusively on branding and design with four masters at €14,500 each.
Engineering, Health & Specialized Fields
Around 40 programmes in Engineering Management, Healthcare, Psychology, Public Policy, Sustainability, Renewable Energy and more. Hertie School (Berlin) is Germany’s top public policy institution with masters from €34,500. SRH Heidelberg covers Renewable Energy, Healthcare Management and Music Therapy from €13,860. Zeppelin University combines public management with digital transformation. IU has online options for Engineering Management and Healthcare.
Where to Study – Big City, Small Town or Online?
At master level, location is often dictated by your target industry. Frankfurt for finance, Berlin for tech and policy, Heidelberg for focused research, online for career changers. Germany offers three distinct models.
Major Cities – Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich
Berlin hosts over 30 English-taught masters from institutions like ESCP, ESMT, Hertie School and Media University. Frankfurt is the gateway to finance and consulting with Frankfurt School and EBS nearby. Hamburg has Kühne Logistics University and Brand University. Munich offers Munich Business School and Macromedia. Living costs are higher (€900–1,300/month) but direct industry access compensates.
Key universities in major cities:
- Frankfurt School of Finance and Management – Frankfurt, finance and management, from €35,500
- ESCP Business School – Berlin, multi-campus (Paris, London, Madrid), from €19,000
- ESMT Berlin – Berlin, technology and innovation, from €29,500
- Hertie School – Berlin, public policy and governance, €34,500
- International School of Management – Hamburg, Frankfurt, Munich, Cologne, Dortmund
- Media University of Applied Sciences – Berlin, media and communication
Focused Campuses – Heidelberg, Bremen, Vallendar, Friedrichshafen
WHU in Vallendar (near Koblenz) consistently ranks among the top business schools in Europe – its Master in Management is in the Financial Times global top 20. SRH Heidelberg offers the broadest range of English-taught masters at a single campus: over 15 programmes from €13,860. Constructor University Bremen provides a residential campus with students from over 100 countries. Zeppelin University in Friedrichshafen combines management with cultural and political studies. Living costs run €600–900/month.
- WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management – Vallendar, FT top 20, from €30,300
- SRH University Heidelberg – Heidelberg, 15+ English masters, from €13,860
- Constructor University – Bremen, residential campus, from €40,000
- Zeppelin University – Friedrichshafen, interdisciplinary, from €19,320
- HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management – Leipzig, one of Europe’s oldest business schools
Distance Learning – Study from Anywhere
IU International University dominates English-taught distance masters with over 20 programmes from €9,547 total (€397/month). Fields include Management, Data Science, AI, Cyber Security, Engineering Management, Psychology and MBA. SRH Fernhochschule adds Data Science & Analytics at €8,588. WHU offers a Global Online MBA at €36,000 for those who want the prestige of a top business school with online flexibility. All distance programmes are compatible with full-time employment.
- IU International University of Applied Sciences – 20+ English-taught online masters
- SRH Fernhochschule – The Mobile University – Data Science & Analytics, €8,588
How Much Does an English-Taught Master Cost?
Total tuition for an English-taught master at a private German university ranges from around €650 to €105,000. The average sits around €22,000 for the full programme. Here are the most affordable options across fields:
| Course | University | Fees | |
|---|---|---|---|
| International Management, Master of Science On-campus program | Steinbeis University | from 8400 € total from 350 € monthly | |
| Sustainable Design Management, Master of Arts On-campus program | Fresenius University of Applied Sciences | from 8420 € total from 685 € monthly | |
| Data Science & Analytics, Master of Science Part-time program | SRH Fernhochschule - The Mobile University | from 8588 € total from 509 € monthly | |
| Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Master of Science Distance learning program | IU International University of Applied Sciences | from 9547 € total from 449 € monthly | |
| Master of Business Administration, Master of Business Administration Distance learning program | IU International University of Applied Sciences | from 9547 € total from 449 € monthly | |
| Engineering Management, Master of Engineering Distance learning program | IU International University of Applied Sciences | from 10099 € total from 475 € monthly |
Budget Tiers
| Tier | Total tuition | Monthly | Typical providers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | €8,400–15,000 | €175–400 | Steinbeis, IU (distance), SRH Fernhochschule, Macromedia |
| Mid-range | €15,000–30,000 | €400–800 | SRH Heidelberg, ISM, Fresenius, CBS, Brand University, ESCP (M.i.M.) |
| Premium | €30,000–50,000 | €800–1,400 | WHU, Frankfurt School, EBS, Hertie School, ESMT, Constructor, HHL |
| Top-tier | €50,000+ | €1,400+ | ESCP (Executive), WHU (Kellogg-WHU Executive MBA), Frankfurt School (EMBA) |
Total Cost of Ownership
Tuition alone does not tell the full story. Add living expenses to get the real investment:
| Scenario (2 years) | Tuition | Living costs | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| IU distance (from home country) | €9,547 | €0* | €9,547 |
| SRH Heidelberg (mid-range, small city) | €13,860 | €16,800 | €30,660 |
| ISM Frankfurt (mid-range, big city) | €25,920 | €26,400 | €52,320 |
| WHU Vallendar (premium, small city) | €37,200 | €16,800 | €54,000 |
| Frankfurt School (premium, big city) | €36,000 | €26,400 | €62,400 |
*Living costs in your home country not included.
International Comparison
Compared to the UK, US or France, Germany offers strong value – even at private universities:
- UK: £20,000–45,000/year international tuition (€23,000–52,000)
- US: $40,000–80,000/year at private universities
- France (grandes écoles): €15,000–45,000/year
- Germany (private): €4,200–52,500/year – with many options under €10,000/year
Master vs. MBA – Which Is Right for You?
International applicants often confuse the two. The distinction matters for admission, career paths and cost.
| Specialised Master (M.A./M.Sc.) | MBA | |
|---|---|---|
| Target group | Recent graduates or those with 0–2 years of experience | Professionals with 2–10+ years of experience |
| Focus | Deep expertise in one field (Data Science, Finance, Engineering) | Broad management skills, leadership, strategy |
| Duration | 1–2 years full-time | 1–2 years full-time, or 2–3 years part-time/online |
| Cost range | €8,400–40,000 | €9,547–105,000 |
| Work experience required | Usually not | Typically 2–5 years |
| Typical career outcome | Specialist or team lead | General manager, director, C-suite |
If you want to change industries or move into general management, the MBA is the standard path. If you want to deepen your expertise in a specific field, choose a specialised master. Some universities – like ISM and CBS – offer specialised MBA variants (e.g. MBA General Management, MBA International Management) that blend both approaches.
Admission Requirements
Private universities set their own admission criteria. There is no centralised application system. Requirements vary by programme type.
For Specialised Masters (M.A./M.Sc.)
- Bachelor’s degree: In a related field (or any field, depending on the programme). Must be from an accredited institution. International degrees are generally accepted – check equivalency at anabin.kmk.org.
- ECTS credits: Most programmes require 180 ECTS (standard 3-year bachelor). Some accept 210 or 240 ECTS bachelors and adjust the master duration accordingly.
- No NC: Private universities do not use the Numerus Clausus. Admission is based on your profile, not a GPA cutoff.
- GRE/GMAT: Required by some business schools (WHU, Frankfurt School, ESMT). Many others accept applications without standardised tests.
For MBA Programmes
- Bachelor’s degree: In any field – MBA programmes are designed for career changers.
- Work experience: Typically 2–5 years. Executive MBA programmes require 5–10+ years in management positions.
- GMAT/GRE: Required by top programmes (WHU, Frankfurt School, HHL). Some waive the requirement based on work experience.
- Interview: Most MBA programmes include a personal interview as part of the admission process.
Language Requirements
- English: IELTS 6.5–7.0 or TOEFL iBT 90–100. Some accept Duolingo (110+). Native speakers are usually exempt. Business schools at the top end may require IELTS 7.0+.
- German: Not required for fully English programmes. However, some part-time programmes include German-taught modules.
Visa & Blocked Account
- Student visa: Non-EU students need a student visa before arrival. Apply at the German embassy with your admission letter.
- Blocked account (Sperrkonto): Deposit €11,904/year (2024/25 rate) to prove you can cover living expenses. Released monthly at €992/month.
- Health insurance: Mandatory. Public insurance costs around €120/month for students under 30. Students over 30 must use private insurance (typically €80–200/month).
- Distance learning: If you study fully online (e.g. at IU or SRH Fernhochschule), you do not need a student visa to start.
Career Prospects – What a Master’s Degree Adds
A master’s degree from a German university – public or private – qualifies you for the 18-month post-study work visa. But beyond the visa, a master’s changes your career trajectory in measurable ways.
Salary Premium
In Germany, a master’s degree typically adds €5,000–15,000 to your starting salary compared to a bachelor. The premium is highest in consulting, finance and engineering. MBA graduates from top programmes see even larger jumps.
| Field | Entry-level (Master) | After 5 years |
|---|---|---|
| MBA (Top schools) | €65,000 | €85,000–120,000 |
| Data Science & IT | €55,000 | €70,000–95,000 |
| Business & Management | €48,000 | €62,000–85,000 |
| Engineering | €50,000 | €65,000–80,000 |
| Media & Design | €40,000 | €52,000–68,000 |
Which Sectors Hire English-Speaking Master Graduates?
- Consulting & Finance: McKinsey, BCG, Goldman Sachs and Big Four firms recruit directly from German business schools. An MBA or M.Sc. in Finance is the entry ticket. English is the working language.
- Tech & Data: Berlin, Munich and Hamburg tech companies hire M.Sc. graduates in Data Science, AI and Computer Science without German requirements. Demand far exceeds supply.
- Automotive & Industry: Germany’s Mittelstand and DAX companies hire international master graduates for R&D, supply chain and project management roles. German helps but is not always required in international teams.
- Public Sector & NGOs: Hertie School graduates work at the EU, UN, World Bank and German government agencies. Public policy masters open doors that business degrees do not.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Over 190 master programmes at private universities are taught fully in English. You do not need German for admission or for completing the degree. However, learning German significantly improves your career prospects, especially outside the tech and consulting sectors.
No. All private universities accept international bachelor degrees, provided they are from an accredited institution and equivalent to a German bachelor (usually 180 ECTS). Check your degree’s equivalency at anabin.kmk.org. Some programmes accept 3-year degrees from countries with shorter bachelor systems and adjust the master duration.
Total tuition ranges from €648 (niche programmes) to €105,000 (Kellogg-WHU Executive MBA). Most programmes cost between €10,000 and €35,000 for the full 1–2 year duration. Add €17,000–31,000 for living expenses if you study on campus in Germany.
Yes. Both IU and SRH Fernhochschule are state-recognised and all programmes are accredited by German accreditation agencies. Online degrees carry the same legal status as campus degrees. Employers may value campus programmes from elite schools more for networking, but the academic qualification is identical.
A Master in Management (MiM) targets recent graduates with 0–2 years of experience and focuses on building management foundations. An MBA targets professionals with 2–10+ years of experience and focuses on leadership, strategy and career acceleration. MiM programmes are typically cheaper (€8,400–37,200) than MBAs (€9,547–105,000). Both are widely recognised by employers.
Yes. Non-EU students on a student visa may work 120 full days or 240 half days per year. Part-time and distance learning masters are specifically designed for working professionals – many IU and FOM students work full-time alongside their studies. Executive MBA programmes assume participants continue working.
After graduating from any accredited German university (including private), non-EU citizens receive an 18-month residence permit to search for a job in Germany. During this period you can take any employment – it does not need to match your degree. Once you find a qualifying job, you switch to a regular work permit or EU Blue Card.
About the Author Marcus Schütz
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