Explore business and discover your passion with a master's in global management
The Master in Global Management (MGM) is designed for those who want to build an international career that spans industries and borders.
Whether you have a clear direction or are still exploring your interests, the program equips you with general management expertise and the skills to think across functions, tackle challenges from multiple perspectives, and apply solutions in global business contexts.
ESMT Berlin is currently ranked #1 in Germany in the Financial Times Global Masters in Management Ranking 2025 and #7 globally in international work mobility. We achieved leading scores in Career Progress, Number of international students, and ESG and Net Zero teaching among all represented German schools.
Program highlights
- A globally focused curriculum covering all relevant general management disciplines from strategy to finance, taught through interactive, and practice-oriented teaching methodologies.
- Customizable learning paths with 50% elective flexibility, cross-program course options, and an optional Finance & Investment Certificate.
- Built-in opportunities for hands-on experience, including 3 to 6-month internships, social impact projects, and applied consulting projects.
- International exposure through study abroad at 20+ partner schools, the Global Impact Program with University of Virginia, and a double degree option with Yale SOM.
- Top-ranked faculty trained at leading institutions worldwide, who teach executive education and advise global companies, bringing real-world experience into the classroom.
Why choose master's in global management at ESMT Berlin
- Gain experience that matters through practical projects and real business challenges.
- Access dedicated career support from ESMT’s Career Development Center: 1-on-1 coaching, career fairs, and job search preparation throughout your studies.
- Make Berlin your campus—an international hub for ideas, innovation, and career opportunity.
- Be part of a diverse, close-knit community with small class sizes, international peers, and a strong global alumni network.
- Launch your career in Germany with an extended 18-month residence permit after you graduate.
Your profile
You are a great fit for the Master in Global Management if you:
- are a young professional in your early twenties with no more than two years of postgraduate work experience (excluding internships and work during your bachelor studies)
- are curious about global business and open to cultural diversity
- want to develop management and leadership skills for an interconnected world
- see sustainable business as key to creating a positive future
- value teamwork and are ready to grow into responsible, impact-driven leaders
- are looking for an experience outside your comfort zone to define the impact you want to have professionally and personally
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 MGM: Curriculum and timeline
The Master in Global Management curriculum offers you both a strong foundation and the flexibility to shape your own career path.
- Build your business expertise with core courses in economics, finance, strategy, AI, and supply chain management.
- Customize your learning with 35+ electives in areas of innovation, AI, and data visualization, plus the optional Finance and Investment Certificate.
- Expand your global perspective through semester exchanges at leading partner schools and the Global Impact Program with the University of Virginia.
- Build professional skills through seminars (mandatory in year one and optional in year two) covering topics such as leadership, cybersecurity, and talent management.
Learn from faculty with global expertise
ESMT’s international faculty brings together academic excellence, real-world business experience, and a passion for teaching. Many have studied or taught at top global institutions and now call Berlin home, sharing insights shaped by research, consulting, and executive education.
- Deep expertise in areas like strategy, innovation, analytics, and sustainability
- Regular advisors to global companies including Volkswagen Group and Lufthansa Group
- Active researchers and lecturers in both degree and executive education programs
- Committed to helping students connect theory to practice in global business contexts
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.
Frequently asked questions
Not the answers you were looking for? Check out our FAQ page for more.
What are the MGM 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
- Having less than 24 months of post-graduate professional experience (not including internship or work experience prior to Bachelor program graduation)
Find out more information about admission requirements 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.
- Can I extend my residence permit after I've completed the program?
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.
You will receive a "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.
What are the MGM GMAT and GRE requirements?
GMAT or GRE scores are not obligatory if candidates can provide alternative evidence of outstanding quantitative skills and/or scientific training within their Bachelor’s studies through competitive grades. As a guideline, GMAT scores below 600, or GRE scores below 304 are not competitive.
Please note that depending on the educational background, as well as the grades, the review of the scores can focus more on the quantitative section of the respective tests.
What are the MGM tuition fees and payment schedule?
Tuition for the full two-year MGM program is currently €36,000.
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 €5,000 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.
Make the most of your student life in Berlin
As a full-time master’s student, you will study at ESMT’s Berlin campus, housed in a historic building at the heart of one of Europe’s most vibrant capitals. On campus, you will connect with peers across programs through student clubs, events, and a wide range of activities.
Off campus, Berlin becomes your playground. Whether you're into food, art galleries, techno nights, or meetups with other professionals, the city offers countless ways to explore, connect, 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.
Gilles Bouman
Gilles, born and raised in Amsterdam, is a Master in Management 2016 alumni that started his career at Roland Berger in 2018. In 2023, he joined Mentha Capital (a Dutch private equity firm focused on SME in the Benelux) to help set up their new Impact Fund.
This Fund was successfully raised in the summer of 2024 and aims to invest in companies that have a positive impact on the environment whilst making a financial return. He happily lives in Amsterdam, with his partner and newborn daughter.
Michael Szadurski
Michael Szadurski is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in corporate finance, valuation, and mergers & acquisitions (M&A), particularly within the renewable energy and infrastructure sectors.
He has led numerous international M&A transactions for a DAX40 company and currently serves as a Partner and Managing Director at IOM Advisory. In this role, he advises entrepreneurs, corporations, and financial investors on medium-sized M&A transactions. Michael's expertise extends to corporate valuations and financing.
Michael holds a Master of Business Administration from the ESMT Berlin. He is also a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).
Nicole Wagner
Nicole is an ESMT Berlin Master in Management alumna and the Director of Product & Engineering at McKinsey & Company, where she is responsible for building and scaling new businesses across multiple markets, with a particular focus on the consumer sector.
Her core areas of expertise include defining and launching end-to-end customer-centric experiences (releasing MVPs within three months), scaling digital products through continuous data-driven delivery, and building high-performance, cross-functional agile teams.
Dr. Oliver Engels
Oliver Engels is an Alumni of ESMT and successfully graduated in 2006 in the first MBA class with honors and as one of two winners of the Leadership Award. His academic background is Physics, where he graduated as PhD in 1998.
Oliver held executive positions with KPMG, Fresenius and since 2014 with Deutsche Börse. In addition, Oliver had various Non-Executive Director assignments, currently on the Supervisory Board of Clearstream Fund Center Holding S.A.
Sapthagiri Chapalapalli
Sapthagiri Chapalapalli is Head of TCS in Europe, based in Frankfurt, Germany. Since 2020, he has overseen IT services, consulting, and business solutions across 22 countries, serving over 300 clients.
He led the launch of TCS Pace Ports in Amsterdam and Paris, expanded the European Delivery Network, and guided the organization to carbon neutrality in 2022. Previously, he was Vice President and Managing Director for TCS in Germany and Austria, and held leadership roles in the UK and US. He holds an MBA in Finance, HR, and Marketing from the T.A. Pai Management Institute and a BBM from GITAM (Andhra University).
Sarena Lin
Sarena Lin is a global executive and board director with 25 years of experience in life sciences and technology. She serves on the supervisory boards of Siemens Healthineers AG and Bergman Clinics.
From 2021 to 2023, she was Chief Transformation and Talent Officer and a member of the Board of Management at Bayer AG. Prior to that, she was President of Elanco Animal Health and of Cargill’s global animal nutrition business, following her role as Corporate Vice President for strategy and M&A. Sarena started her career at McKinsey, where she was managing partner for McKinsey‘s Taipei office
Sarena holds an MBA in Strategy and an MA in International Relations from Yale, and a BA in Computer Science from Harvard.
Torsten Kurth
Torsten Kurth is a Senior Partner and Managing Director at The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in Berlin, which he joined in 2000. He is a core member of its Health Care and Industrial Goods practices as well as its global scientists' network, and the Global Topic Leader for Nature, focusing on biodiversity, water, and regenerative land use.
He previously led the Berlin office for seven years, contributes to BCG’s Social Impact network, and serves on ESMT’s advisory council.
Before BCG, he was a research scientist at BASF AG, specializing in pharma, agro, and fine chemicals. Torsten holds a degree in economics and earned his master’s and PhD in biochemistry in Leipzig and at Brandeis University.
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