Master in Global Management FAQ

The ESMT's Master in Global Management (MGM) is a ‘pre-experience’ full-time program. Targeted at young, recent graduates in their early twenties with limited or with no work experience. Combining a series of internships and a social impact project with applied coursework and research on the latest business and management theories.

Most ESMT MGM students share a desire to launch an international career while applying analytical and strategic solutions to today's business challenges. ESMT searches for students with international experience who can perform work in high-performing, diverse teams. Our program is by far the most international in Germany - no one nationality makes up more than 20% of the class.

When evaluating applications, we look for the following qualities in our candidates:

• Candidates who want to change business to make a positive impact
• International outlook, intercultural competency, and a responsible approach to business
• Potential for high-performance career growth in a global environment
• Willingness to learn from others, collegial behavior in high-stress situations
• A strategic mindset

• A Bachelor's degree
• Proof of English proficiency (e.g. TOEFL, IELTS) or graduating from a university program taught in English
• Completed application, including essays and one recommendation
• Having less than 18 months of post-graduate professional experience (not including internship or work experience prior to bachelor program graduation)

Yes, applications are encouraged from final-year undergraduate students awaiting completion of their degree.

However, a grade overview or transcripts must be included with the application.

We do not have a specific minimum score for GMAT/GRE scores. However, the average scores for admitted candidates are: GMAT (640) or GRE (equivalent scores of approx. 160/160).

The Admissions Committee may decide to request GMAT or GRE scores for any candidate following a complete review of their application.

There is no minimum GPA requirement for the MGM. Candidates with excellent grades, especially in quantitative areas, may have a competitive advantage. Strong GMAT or GRE scores may help or be required in some cases to boost weak academic performance.

No work experience is required to apply to the program. You should have no more than 18 months of post-graduate (following your BA degree) work experience at the time of application. (The average work experience in the current Master's class is 4 months).

Part-time work undertaken before graduation does not count towards the 18-month total.

Similarly, if your post-graduate work experience is not “career-relevant” you can request that this not be considered as part of the 18-month limit.

Your application must include one recommendation letter. You are free to choose either an academic or professional referees (from previous internships).

The ideal letter of recommendation is from a referee who can evaluate your performance either in an academic or professional setting and will take the time to write a thorough and supportive letter, detailing specific examples rather than general statements.

You can send the recommendation template to your referee from within the application platform. If you have a previously written recommendation letter, you can upload it to the application platform. Should you not be able to upload it as part of your MGM application, you can send it to the office of admissions via email.

The essays are an opportunity to let the admissions team get to know you a bit better. Please answer the questions as truthfully and directly as you can in whatever style you see fit. We highly recommend using a spellchecker to avoid easy mistakes, but apart from that, there are no further guidelines.

Common mistakes that can be easily avoided: not using a spellchecker for your essays, using a different school’s name in your essays, and not answering the question.

English is the working and instructional language at ESMT. Should you need to submit proof of English proficiency with your MIM application, we accept TOEFL (95 minimum), PTE (64 minimum), IELTS (7 minimum) or other English proficiency tests. If you have taken the TOEFL more than once, we consider your MyBest™ scores on the TOEFL iBT® test, as well as your TOEFL iBT scores from a single test date. The ESMT TOEFL institution code is 8707.

You can request a waiver of the English proficiency test requirement if English is your native language or you have earned a university degree from a program exclusively taught in English.

Tuition for the full two-year MGM program is currently €32,000.

MGM full tuition fees are paid in three installments over the two academic years, as follows:

• To officially confirm your enrollment and reserve your place in the class, a first deposit of €4,000 should be paid no later than four weeks after receiving your acceptance offer. This deposit will be deducted from future tuition payments.
• The remaining tuition fees are to be paid in two equal installments, at the beginning (September) and after the first year of the program.

These fees cover all courses and seminars, teaching materials, orientation, and career support.

In addition to tuition, students should budget enough money for relocation and living expenses. We recommend that you budget around €1,200 per month for living expenses.

Full tuition fee information can be found here.

Scholarships are offered to accepted students who show academic merit and leadership potential. To be considered for a scholarship, you should complete the scholarship essay included in the online application form, and indicate your suitability for a scholarship.

The scholarships offered in ESMT cover partial tuition fees. Most of our students cover the costs of their studies with a mix of scholarships, loans, and personal savings.

Read all about your Master scholarship options.

Besides scholarships, admitted students may be eligible to borrow the program’s full tuition costs through Prodigy Finance or Brain Capital.

Prodigy Finance offers an innovative model of alumni-funded loans to international students at the world’s top business schools, including ESMT Berlin. Offering competitive rates to over 150 nationalities of students. Read all information about Prodigy Finance, its model, and requirements here.

Brain Capital, on the other hand, offers ESMT degree-seeking students, who are citizens of the EU, Canada, or USA, the ability to cover tuition fees through an innovative funding scheme. Find more information about Brain Capital, its model, and its requirements here.

According to German laws and regulations, students are able to work up to 20 hours per week to maintain their student status. Please, note that due to the program’s high academic load, master's students at ESMT generally prefer to work a lower number of hours in order to prevent negatively affecting their studies.

Visas

As a general rule, all non-EU/non-EEA nationals staying in Germany for more than 90 days for work or study purposes need a visa before entering the country.

Issuing a German student visa might take up to 6 months. Though the process is often quicker, we advise all admitted students to reach the embassies in their countries as early as possible.
 

APS

The APS Certificate is mandatory for Chinese students who are interested in studying in Germany. Before applying to a German university you have to hand in your academic certificates and documents to the APS office in Beijing. This procedure might take time. We would recommend booking an appointment as soon as possible.

You can read all about the APS on their official website or by contacting the German embassy.

What is a residence permit?

After entering Germany for study purposes, students are required to register as a resident at their new address with the local registration office (Bürgeramt) and apply for a residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis/Aufenthaltstitel) at the local immigration authority (Ausländerbehörde/Landesamt für Einwanderung). This document is the permit that allows non-EU or non-EEA nationals to live and study in Berlin for the duration of the program.

Upon receiving a valid residence permit in Germany, you may travel to another country within the Schengen zone, visa-free, using a valid passport for up to 90 days per six-month period.

Can I extend my residence permit after the program is finished?

According to current German immigration regulations, after successfully graduating from a German higher education institution, you are eligible to extend your residence permit for up to 18 months and receive a so-called job search permit (which is more beneficial compared to job seeker visas for specialists without a German diploma). During this time, you can search for suitable employment that complements your German university degree.

There are many student clubs  active on campus, covering a vast variety of topics such as agriculture, entrepreneurship, investment, women in leadership, and many more. All students are welcome to join and take part in initiatives.

The latest information regarding COVID-19 and its impact on programs and ESMT campus activities can be found here.