Master in Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Visit us on campus, get €150 off tuition
Meet us in Berlin—join an Open House or an on-campus chat and get €150 off tuition if you enroll in an MSc program.
What you will study in the Master in Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Curriculum and timeline
The Master in Innovation and Entrepreneurship curriculum offers you both a strong foundation and the flexibility to shape your own career path.
- Build a solid understanding of how businesses operate to identify opportunities, challenge assumptions, and create lasting value.
- Apply your learning to practice through the Sustainability Bootcamp, Summer Entrepreneurship Program (SEP), DEEP Tech Innovation Program, NEXT Accelerator Program, Social Impact Project, and Corporate Innovation Project (CIP).
- Customize your learning with 35+ electives in areas of innovation, AI, and data visualization, plus the optional Finance and Investment Certificate or study abroad at 20+ partner schools.
- Build professional skills through seminars (mandatory in year one and optional in year two) covering topics such as leadership, cybersecurity, and talent management.
- Access self-paced online courses through AWS Academy and Datacamp, covering topics like generative AI, machine learning, cloud computing, and data analytics.
Your flexible learning path options
Be part of a vibrant ecosystem that fuels your growth
Innovation thrives on collaboration. As an MIE student, you will be part of a dynamic and high-value ecosystem that extends across ESMT and Berlin, where talented individuals, startups, and global companies come together to drive the next wave of innovation. Each connection you make helps you grow, gain new perspectives, and turn your ideas into real opportunities.
Learn from faculty with global expertise and networks
ESMT’s international faculty don’t just teach entrepreneurship and innovation, they shape it. Many have studied or taught at top global institutions and now call Berlin home, sharing insights shaped by research, consulting, and executive education.
- Active researchers in areas like innovation management, design thinking, behavioral economics, valuation, and capital markets
- Lecturers in both degree and executive education programs for senior leadership
- Strong industry networks comprising of entrepreneurs, investors, and decision-makers across sectors
- Regular advisors to global companies including Volkswagen Group and Lufthansa Group
- Committed to helping students lead with an entrepreneurial mindset
A good network is everything. Berlin's start-up community is thriving...
...and the Sustainability Bootcamp (SB) was a fantastic opportunity to make initial connections. I got to know some of the founders associated with Vali, one of whom is now our mentor for the SEP.
At ESMT, learning isn't confined to classrooms...
It thrives through dynamic student initiatives and inspiring conferences hosted right on campus. Innovation is our beacon for tackling collective challenges, and everyone holds a pivotal role.
I'm thrilled to collaborate on groundbreaking ideas with the Innovation Club. Together, let's break barriers and pioneer change! Join us in pushing the boundaries at ESMT.
16:15 - 20:45 | Budapest, Hungary
09:00 - 19:00 | Budapest, Hungary
16:00 - 19:00 | Space Shack Coworking
15:30 - 16:00 | Online
Frequently asked questions
Not the answers you were looking for? Check out our FAQ page for more.
Am I a “good fit” for the MIE?
ESMT’s Master in Innovation and Entrepreneurship has a strong focus on practical, hands-on learning and experimentation.
The qualities we are looking for in our applicants are:
- Creative thinking
- Willing to take risks and learn from mistakes
- Keen sense for identifying and acting on opportunities
- Willingness to collaborate and effectively communicate
- Natural leader
What are the MIE application requirements?
- 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
- Ideally, applicants to the MIE program will have between 0-3 years of post-graduate work experience. Applicants with up to five years of post-graduate work experience will be considered for admission on a case-by-case basis, following assessment and alignment of their academic and professional goals to the respective program.
Find out more information about admission requirements here.
What kind of scholarships are available for MIE applicants?
Scholarships are offered to accepted students with outstanding academic merit and leadership potential. To apply for a scholarship, you should complete the proper 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.
Find more information about the scholarships and financing options here.
Does ESMT Berlin offer on-campus housing?
ESMT offers student accommodation in 7 shared flats near campus, just a 10-min walk away.
Full-time ESMT students can apply for single or double rooms in the shared flats – each fully furnished and equipped with WIFI. For more information on ESMT student accommodation, click here.
As there are limited rooms available, please also consider other housing options.
What should I consider before moving to Berlin?
Visas
All non-EU/non-EEA nationals staying in Germany are typically required to obtain a visa before entering the country, if they intend to stay for more than 90 days to work or study.
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 students holding bachelor or Master degrees from China (Mainland), India, Mongolia and Vietnam who are interested in studying in Germany. Before applying for a visa, you have to hand in your academic certificates and documents to the APS office in your respective country. This procedure might take time. We would recommend booking an appointment as soon as possible.
You can read all about the APS for China and the APS for India on their respective websites or contact the German embassy.
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.
Make the most of your student life in Berlin
As a full-time MIE student at ESMT, you will study at ESMT’s Berlin campus, housed in a historic building at the heart of Germany's startup capital. On campus, you will connect with peers from across programs through clubs, projects, and events that spark new ideas and collaborations.
Off campus, Berlin becomes your playground. With startup meetups, pitch events, networking sessions, and idea exchanges in coworking spaces, the city’s energy inspires you to experiment, explore, and grow.
Program Advisory Committee (PAC)
Each MSc program at ESMT Berlin is supported by a Program Advisory Committee (PAC) made up of alumni and industry professionals. These committees offer strategic guidance on program development, career placement, and market relevance, working closely with the Director of Programs and Faculty Leads.
Dash (Daria) Markova
Dash is an impact-driven entrepreneur and startup advisor with a decade of experience scaling ventures and building innovation ecosystems worldwide.
An ESMT MBA alumnus and Master’s degree holder in Economics, Dash has designed, launched, and managed over 30 successful startup programs—accelerators, incubators, and venture studios—benefiting more than 1,000 enterprises across Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.
Beyond guiding early-stage teams on venture building, impact business modeling, financing, and pitching, Dash has founded four ventures, including a startup hub (Space Shack) and an event series (Coworking Festival Germany), and led a biannual startup course at TU Berlin.
Dr. Andreas (施安德) Schmidt
Dr. Andreas Schmidt is a serial entrepreneur who has built deep tech startups across Asia, Europe, and the US. After selling his last company Proteona to Singleron Biotechnologies, he now leads their global business development, applying single-cell technologies to precision medicine.
Andreas is Managing Director and Co-Founder of Springboard Health Angels, an expert network and venture capital firm investing in innovative health and life science startups globally. He serves as a board member, mentor, and shareholder across companies, research, and government institutions. Andreas holds a joint PhD in immunology from Berkeley and Cologne and was an early entrepreneur at the Singapore-MIT Alliance of Research and Technology (SMART).
Dr. Lisa Portz
Dr. Lisa Portz is an ESMT Berlin Master in Management alumna who runs a consulting and training business supporting early-stage founders.
She designs, leads, and advises on startup programs and entrepreneurship training, while also consulting founders, SME owners, and aspiring entrepreneurs. Lisa gained first-hand experience across all stages of building a business, from idea to seed funding, through multiple ventures she was a part of.
Lisa also holds a PhD in Entrepreneurship from Imperial College London, focusing on first-time founders and ways to support them through startup programs.
Matthias Treutwein
Matthias Treutwein is the co-founder of enpact e.V., founded in 2013. Previously, he worked in international development and cultural management at Transparency International, The Owners Forum, InWent, the Goethe-Institut, and the Robert Bosch Foundation.
He leads monitoring, capacity building, and sustainable development at enpact and is active as a mentor, business angel, and speaker on leadership, entrepreneurship, and impact. Matthias has strong intercultural expertise, especially in the Middle East and North Africa, and holds an MA in Arabic, French, and Spanish Linguistics & Literature from the University of Göttingen as well as an EMBA from ESMT Berlin.
Michael Tekabe
Michael Tekabe serves as the COO at Kubik, where he guides a team committed to transforming hard-to-recycle plastic waste into low-carbon building materials.
Armed with an MBA from ESMT Berlin—and bolstered by certifications in Data Analytics and UX Design—he brings a decade of cross-functional financial experience to the table, driving sustainable, tech-focused solutions.
A dedicated champion of venture building and startups, Michael oversees strategy, operations, and finance at Kubik, ensuring data-driven innovation delivers tangible social and environmental impact.
Adeline Lee
Adeline holds an MBA from ESMT Berlin andis an experienced product leader with a strong track record in Europe, driving growth and innovation across B2B and B2C products. She is currently Head of Product at Babbel in Berlin, shaping language learning experiences.
Previously, she led growth at Framer in Amsterdam, launching Framer X and building the growth team from the ground up. At Clue in Berlin, she played a key role in expanding the app’s user base from 1 to 15 million. Adeline is also an active advisor and angel investor, supporting early-stage startups across Europe.