FAQs Executive MBA

The Executive MBA represents the most senior MBA offering at ESMT. 

Participants bring the highest average level of professional experience – currently around 14 years – and have established track records in managerial and leadership roles.

Accordingly, the curriculum is designed at a more advanced level, with a strong emphasis on refining strategic thinking and further strengthening leadership capabilities.

The Executive MBA cohort consists of experienced professionals from a wide range of industries and functions. This creates a powerful peer-learning environment and a high-caliber network of senior leaders. 

Generally, we look for applicants who have solid professional experience (at least three years of managerial experience), with a strong leadership record, managing either people or projects

However, your career history is only one part of the story. What the admissions committee will probably focus on most is what is motivating you to do an EMBA and how you see your career evolving after the program. It is important that your expectations are aligned with what the program can deliver.

The Executive MBA is designed to fit alongside your professional responsibilities while requiring a clear commitment of time and focus. In-person residencies take place approximately every two months, running from Monday to Saturday.

Between residencies, coursework continues online. You should plan to dedicate around 10–15 hours per week for readings, assignments, and preparation. The exact time required may vary depending on the course content and your individual professional background and experience.

A detailed program schedule is available under the Timeline & courses tab on our website. 

Employer support for an Executive MBA can take different forms, depending on company policy and individual agreements. Common types of support include:

• Time flexibility: Adjusted working hours, study leave, or time off to attend in-person residencies and complete coursework.
• Practical integration: Opportunities to apply program learnings directly to strategic projects or real business challenges within the organization.
• Financial support: Partial or full sponsorship of tuition fees, and in some cases coverage of additional expenses such as travel or accommodation.

Clarifying internal policies and discussing expectations early with your manager or HR department can help define a mutually beneficial arrangement. 

When approaching your employer, preparation is key. Consider the following steps:

• Seek initial alignment with your manager by discussing how the Executive MBA supports your long-term career goals within the company.
• Prepare a clear business case that outlines the value of the program in terms of growth for both you and the organization. Even if not formally required, submitting one demonstrates initiative and strategic thinking.
• Clarify internal procedures for requesting professional development funding by consulting your HR department or manager.

Supporting your Executive MBA at ESMT Berlin can create tangible value for your organization, including:

• Enhanced leadership capabilities that contribute to sustainable company growth
• Fresh perspectives and innovative approaches to current business challenges
• Stronger talent retention and employee engagement
• Cross-cultural competencies through international collaboration
• Exposure to global best practices and insights from leading companies worldwide 

Executive MBA participants bring at least three years of managerial experience, with demonstrated leadership responsibilities such as managing teams, processes, or budgets. Effective time management is therefore already an integral part of their professional and personal lives.  

Many participants also balance additional commitments, including family responsibilities such as childcare. The program is designed with this reality in mind, combining structured in-person modules with flexible online learning in-between the in-person residencies.

To gain first-hand insights, watch our participant webinar to learn how current MBA students successfully manage work, study, and personal life. Or, read our blog article about balancing work life, home life, and your MBA.

While the Executive MBA does not offer formal specializations, the program provides several opportunities to customize your learning experience.

You can apply for a Global Network Week at one of our partner universities and select a course aligned with your interests. During the elective phase, you may choose from a broad range of topics to deepen your expertise in specific areas.

The International Field Seminar also allows you and your peers to help shape aspects of the experience. 

And, your Final Project offers significant flexibility, enabling you to focus on a company, industry, or strategic question that reflects your professional goals. 

You can find more information about the modules on our Executive MBA timelines page. Alternatively, you can read about an EMBA participant's transformational program experiences here: Global exposure, personal growth: My EMBA in Brazil & South Africa.

No. As the Executive MBA is a part-time program designed for working professionals, participants are generally not eligible for a German student visa based on enrollment in the program.

If you have specific questions regarding your individual residency status, we recommend consulting the relevant immigration authorities or a qualified legal advisor. 

You have many avenues to find the resources and support you need to thrive at ESMT. 

The Executive MBA Program Management team is your primary point of contact for any questions or concerns throughout the program. 

For academic-related matters, you may also connect with the Academic Lead or the Director of MBA Programs. 

Once you begin the program you will be given contact details for all support staff and faculty.

Executive MBA graduates follow a variety of career trajectories, depending on their experience, ambitions, and professional goals.

Many continue to advance within their current organizations, taking on greater leadership responsibilities or moving into more strategic roles. Others use the program as a catalyst to transition into a new industry or function. Some graduates also choose to bring entrepreneurial ideas to life and launch their own ventures.

The Executive MBA is designed to support diverse career outcomes – whether you aim to accelerate your corporate progression, pivot professionally, or build something of your own. 

Many Executive MBA participants and alumni leverage the skills, strategic frameworks, and network gained during the program to found or grow their own ventures.

ESMT supports entrepreneurial ambitions through access to dedicated resources such as Vali Berlin, ESMT’s entrepreneurship hub, as well as its strong connections within Berlin’s dynamic startup, scaleup, and venture capital ecosystem.

Through mentoring, networking opportunities, and exposure to investors and founders, you can further develop your idea and position it for long-term success. 

Read an ESMT EMBA entrepreneurial success story: From marketer to startup founder: The Evotym journey

Yes, you can study for the Executive MBA and work at the same time.

In fact, the Executive MBA program has been deliberately designed as a modular program for ambitious professionals who don't want to hit pause on their career.

The six-day, In-person modules for the EMBA take place approximately every two months (six on-campus in Berlin and two abroad), giving you space for life in between.

The EMBA class is a cohort made up of executives preparing to take the step into senior and C-suite management. 

You can consult this page to learn about our current EMBA cohort.

ESMT runs multiple events throughout the year for prospective participants. These include:

• Our Open House – a chance to tour the ESMT campus, get time with the program directors and admissions team, and network with potential future classmates. Find the dates for the next Open House.
• Coffee chats – one-to-one invitations where you can get personalized guidance on admissions, scholarships, and career advancement. Book a coffee chat.
• EMBA Breakfast Bites – start your day by connecting with the ESMT EMBA community in an informal, welcoming setting. Meet EMBA students and program directors over a relaxed breakfast and find the answers to your questions.
• Our ESMT Bites series – online, bite-sized lectures that can give you a taste of the ways ESMT professors introduce core ideas, share their expertise, and offer a preview of the transformative learning environment that defines our MBA programs. Register for a webinar.

You can find an overview of all our upcoming events here. 

As well as world-class business education, the ESMT Executive MBA offers many chances to network with both your peers and the wider business ecosystem. These include:

• Fireside chats – intimate, EMBA-exclusive discussions with notable alumni or other business leaders.
• The Annual Alumni Meeting – our yearly event for alumni to reconnect and network while attending captivating lectures and engaging workshops.
• The Berlin Global Dialogue, an innovative global summit that provides a platform to debate and promote solutions for global economic cooperation.

Yes, you will have the opportunity to connect with ESMT alumni throughout your Executive MBA program, with networking opportunities continuing after graduation.

Pre-program:

• You can join us on campus for an Open House event, where you will get the opportunity to meet alumni and current students, as well as program organizers. See the date for the next Open House. 

During the program:

• You will be able to get a chance to meet alumni through talks, corporate visits, and events, including the Executive-MBA exclusive Fireside Chats series with notable alumni.
• Executive MBA participants can also choose to work individually with the Career Development Center and the EMBA Faculty Lead to arrange one-to-one networking opportunities with relevant alumni. 

After graduation:

Once you graduate, you will unlock the full power of the ESMT alumni network. This includes:

• A yearly invite to the Annual Alumni Meeting, a highly anticipated weekend event that sees alumni return to campus from around the world. You will get a chance to  meet old friends, expand your ESMT network beyond your cohort, and experience skills-refreshing seminars.
• The option to join our global ESMT Alumni chapters and clubs: exclusive, international alumni circles where you can share experiences, offer support, and create further networking and career opportunities.

Space in the ESMT EMBA class is limited, and early application is strongly encouraged, especially if you are aiming to secure an early application award and/or a scholarship.  

Please visit the Admissions page for the latest EMBA application deadline information.

1. Essays

Please be prepared to write short essays on your motivation to choose the EMBA at ESMT, your intercultural exposure, your goals after completing the program and about your managerial experience with an emphasis on leadership qualities and achievements (managing people, process, or budgets).

2. Interview

If your application is shortlisted, you will be invited to an in-person interview (on campus, or online). During your interview we will discuss a business case sent to you the day before.

Successful candidates will then be invited to a personal conversation with the program’s academic director.

Once these two conversations have taken place, the Admissions Committee will make a final decision regarding your application. You will be notified of the outcome and next steps soon after.

The first step is to create and submit your complete application through our online application system. You will be asked for personal data, your educational background, language skills, and some other basic information.

• Your CV, including dates and periods of your educational and career path
• An organizational chart (a diagram which shows the structure of your division/company and the relationships and ranks of its parts and positions)
• Academic transcripts (an inventory of all courses taken and grades earned through those courses). You must submit your transcripts in either English or German languages.
• ID/Passport
• GMAT/GRE scores (if available, otherwise, you can take ESMT’s Business Admissions Test (BAT). However, a test waiver may be granted if you hold a PhD, or have studied a STEM subject at bachelor’s or master’s level.
• Evidence of your proficiency in English
• Two recommendation letters

You should ask employer (former or current), colleagues, supervisors or other individuals who are able to comment on your professional and educational goals and potential (no friends or relatives) to write your recommendation letters.

Yes, the English test will be waived if you have graduated from an English-speaking university or work daily in an English-speaking environment.

The Business Admissions Test (BAT) is an admissions assessment test for business education programs and an alternative to the GMAT or GRE. Business Test Methods (the Creators / BT Methods) is used by many business programs worldwide. Please visit the BAT website for more information.

The BAT is divided into 2 modules, totaling 5 sections. You will need 2.5 consecutive and uninterrupted hours (30 minutes to complete each section) and must complete the test in one sitting.

Module 1 is a four-part MCQ aptitude test using Verbal and Quantitative questions to elicit the candidate’s approach to problem solving, communication, numerical and factual data management, and logical thinking. The four parts are:

1. Communication Analysis (CA)
2. Critical Thinking (CT)
3. Data Interpretation (DI)
4. Data Analysis (DA)

Module 2 is a case presentation that evaluates your career maturity and business acumen for a graduate business education program. A case study is a scenario set in a particular professional context with which you need not necessarily be familiar. You are expected to analyze and then provide an individual response to the scenario, answering questions that gauge your analysis of the scenario. You will receive the topic of the case at the beginning of this module.

Admission Interview

You can choose to take the BAT at the ESMT campus in Berlin or take the test online from your home or office. In either case, your admissions interview will immediately follow the test and case presentation.

The Admission Interview comprises two parts:

• a case study presentation and discussion (Module II of the BAT)
• a general interview (e.g. about your goals and experiences)

The BAT is the test of choice for around 87% of ESMT EMBA applicants. You can choose where you take the test, either on campus or online. The BAT is similar in structure to the GMAT, requires less time for preparation, and is tailored specifically to satisfy the admission requirements of business schools.

The ESMT EMBA in Berlin is an 18-month, part-time, modular program for developing global executives. You will attend intensive six-day modules every two months. 

Six modules take place on the ESMT campus in Berlin and two are international modules. The EMBA program begins in October each year.

Please visit the Timeline and Courses page to find out the exact dates for each module.

The Executive MBA includes two international components within its eight-module structure.

One is the Global Network Week, offered in collaboration with the Global Network for Advanced Management (GNAM), which allows participants to study at a partner institution abroad. The second is the International Field Seminar, an immersive experience that provides first-hand insights into international business environments. 

You can read about an EMBA participant's transformational international program experiences here: Global exposure, personal growth: My EMBA in Brazil & South Africa.

The Global Network Week (GNW) is an international learning experience offered in collaboration with the Global Network for Advanced Management (GNAM) –  a network of leading business schools worldwide.

During this week, you have the opportunity to study at one of GNAM’s partner institutions and immerse yourself in a new academic, cultural, and business environment. Each host school offers a focused course on a topic of its choice, often reflecting regional strengths and expertise.

The Global Network Week allows you to broaden your global perspective, exchange ideas with an international cohort of executives, and expand your professional network across industries and geographies. 

The International Field Seminar (IFS) is an immersive, practice-oriented module that provides first-hand exposure to international business environments. During this module, participants travel to a selected global business hub to explore its economic landscape, key industries, and geopolitical context.

The seminar typically includes company visits, meetings with senior executives and policymakers, and academic sessions that connect on-the-ground insights with strategic frameworks discussed in the program. Previous destinations have included countries such as Brazil, Japan, Argentina, and many others. 

Working closely with your cohort, you will analyze regional opportunities and challenges, engage directly with decision-makers, and deepen your understanding of how global trends shape business strategy.

No, as most Executive MBA participants continue to work full-time throughout the program, a traditional semester-long international exchange is not part of the format.

However, the program offers two international experiences: the Global Network Week (GNW) and the International Field Seminar (IFS), which provide valuable global exposure within a structure designed to fit alongside professional commitments, see more information above.  

You will need equipment that allows you to complete both online and in-person course content. 

All Executive MBA participants are required to have:

• a personal computer (laptop or desktop) with a webcam,
• a headset and microphone,
• administrator rights on the computer to install required software, and
• a high-speed broadband internet connection capable of streaming video.

The EMBA tuition totals €64,800. The program tuition includes teaching fees, required cases and books, e-learning resources, lunch, snacks and coffee while on campus.

EMBA tuition is payable over three calendar years.

• A first deposit of 4000 Euros (deducted from future tuition payments), within 4-6 weeks after receiving the enrollment offer. In order to officially confirm the enrollment and reserve a place in the class.
• The remaining tuition fees are to be paid in three equal installments one third at the start of the EMBA (October) another third the second calendar year of the program (February) and the final installment at the start of the last calendar year of the program (January).

In addition to tuition, students are expected to cover travel to and from modules, as well as accommodation and daily expenses during all modules. 

Your final total could be slightly higher or lower depending on how far you must travel.

Any travel costs needed to complete the Final Project are also the candidate’s responsibility. 

You can apply for partial scholarships when applying to the Executive MBA program. We do not offer full tuition scholarships to EMBA applicants. 

Successful Executive MBA applications submitted received by our Early Application Deadlines will also qualify for automatic Early Application Awards that can be applied to the full cost of tuition.

Please note: Scholarships and awards are available to self-funded candidates only.

You will find a list of our application deadline and the corresponding scholarship and award opportunities here.

If you are employed in Germany, you may be eligible to claim certain Executive MBA-related expenses as tax-deductible.

This can include tuition fees, as well as study-related travel and accommodation costs. Be sure to retain all relevant invoices and receipts for your annual tax declaration.

As tax benefits depend on your individual income situation and tax classification, we recommend consulting a certified tax advisor for personalized guidance

ESMT Berlin is among the top 1% of business schools in the world to have achieved Triple Crown accreditation – AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS. The "Triple Crown" is the highest distinction of quality for business schools worldwide.

ESMT is also ranked highly by many leading business publications, including the Financial Times, Corporate Knights, and Poets&Quants. Learn more about our accreditation and the latest rankings. 

No you do not need to speak German to study at ESMT Berlin.

English is ESMT’s working and teaching language. All the Executive MBA modules will be taught in English.

While English is also widely spoken in Berlin, it can however be useful to know basic German for your in-person visits.

We regularly feature stories and insights from Full-time MBA students on our Knowledge Hub.

You can filter by the 'Students & Alumni' topic to find interviews with current ESMT students and graduates. Topics covered include program experiences – from academics to socializing – and post-degree career paths.  

You can also follow us on LinkedIn to discover even more insights from our students, alumni, and faculty.