Admissions
Everything you need to start your application
ESMT Berlin warmly welcomes applications from students of all nationalities. We are an international business school that thrives on international exchange and discourse.
On this page you will find ESMT Berlin's MBA requirements and find out how to make your application for the Full-time MBA; including entry requirements, the application process, and timelines.
Through the application process, we are seeking to identify a diverse range of individuals who share our values, want to be part of our mission to develop responsible leaders, and who will thrive academically, personally, and professionally in the MBA program.
What do I need to apply?
The Full-time MBA program from ESMT is a challenging and comprehensive 15-month program designed to shape you into a leader and prepare you for success in the businesses of tomorrow.
When looking for individuals and reviewing applications we are specifically seeking candidates with the following competencies and qualities:
- Excellent analytical ability, both quantitative and qualitative
- International outlook, intercultural competence, and a responsible approach to business
- Proven teamwork skills in stressful situations
- Leadership potential, especially for high-performance career growth in a global environment
- Willingness to learn from others in a collegial environment
Visit us on campus and get €300
Meet us in Berlin – join an Open House or an on-campus chat and we will even pay your expenses: you'll get €300 off if you enroll in an MBA program.
How do I apply?
Admission requirements
To apply to the program you will need to meet all of the following requirements:
- At least three years of postgraduate professional experience at the time of program start.
- A bachelor’s degree of at least three years duration (minimum 180 ECTS), or equivalent qualification.
- Strong score in an admission test. ESMT accepts scores from the following admission tests:
- The ESMT admission test (BAT, learn more). This is a two-hour, online, test that costs US$100 and is delivered by Business Test Methods. Contact the admissions team if you want to take the BAT.
- The GMAT exam
- GRE
- GMAC Executive Assessment.
- English proficiency test score (if applicable)
- If English is your native language or you earned a university degree exclusively taught in English you do not need to take an English proficiency test. If you have worked in an English speaking country or an organization whose language of communication was English for 12 months or more the English proficiency test requirement may be waived. A strong command of the English language should also be demonstrated in the admission interview.
- TOEFL - 95 minimum; we accept MyBest™ scores; our institution code is 8707
- PTE - 64 minimum
- IELTS - 7 minimum
When evaluating your application, we look for a diverse group of professionals who share the school’s mission and who will succeed academically and professionally in the MBA program.
Step 1: Online application
To begin the admissions process, applicants complete and submit an online application. The application is easy to follow, and will ask you for the following information:
- An up-to-date CV showing at least three years of postgraduate professional experience
- Two professional recommendations
- Answers to the following questions: (max 250-500 words per essay)
- Describe your specific career aspirations and reasons for pursuing an MBA at ESMT Berlin.
- Failures are rich learning opportunities and help us to grow. Tell us about a setback in your life (personal, academic, or professional), your reaction to the setback, and how it changed you.
- You can invite one guest for dinner, be they living, dead, fictional, or other. Who would you invite and why?
- Optional: Is there any other information, not covered in the application, that you would like us to know about you?
- Transcripts of your undergraduate degree detailing courses and grades
- A valid GMAT, GRE or ESMT admissions test (BAT)
- €100 application fee
Depending on your indicated preferences you can now take the ESMT Business Admissions Test (BAT). This is a two-hour, online, test that evaluates academic aptitude over four sections of 30 minutes each: communication analysis, critical thinking, data analysis, and data interpretation. The test costs $100 USD and must be paid before it can be taken. Please ask your admissions manager for more details.
Please note applications submitted without one of these documents will be considered incomplete and will not be considered for review in that round. Therefore, incomplete applications will be reviewed only in the following round if the necessary documents are submitted and the application can be considered complete.
Step 2: First screening
Completed online applications will be reviewed once the application round has closed (see table below for admission deadlines).
- If you meet our minimum requirements, you will be shortlisted and invited for your admissions interview.
- If you do not meet our requirements, we will let you know on the day your application was reviewed.
Step 3: Interview
If shortlisted, you will be invited to interview. Admission interviews take place at the ESMT Berlin campus or via Zoom.
The interview will last 40-50 minutes and is a two-way conversation that allows you to discuss your goals, ask questions, and explore whether the program is the right fit for you. Your admissions manager will learn more about you, and assess your interpersonal skills, career goals, and aspirations. This is also an opportunity for you to ask us any questions about the school or program.
Interviews take place approximately one-to-two weeks after each application round closes (please see the table below for an indication of dates).
Step 4: Decision
After all interviews in a particular round are completed, the Admissions and Scholarship committees meet to agree on admission and scholarship decisions.
This means that if you are accepted into the MBA program, you will receive both an admission and a scholarship decision at the same time.
Decisions are communicated approximately three weeks after the admissions deadline for each round.
Step 5: Accept your offer
To secure your place in the MBA, you will need to pay a non-refundable deposit of €6,500 by the date indicated in your offer letter.
Congratulations and we look forward to welcoming you to ESMT Berlin!
Admission deadlines
The 2027 intake is now open
Applications for our 2027 intake are now open. Successful applications submitted before March 1 (the first round application deadline) will be automatically eligible for a €6,000 Early Application Award that will be applied to the cost of the program. Earlier applications also have a stronger chance of receiving scholarships.
Apply now to join ESMT Berlin’s Full-time MBA class in January 2027 and advance your career with us.
Deadlines for the 2027 intake
See the table below for the Full-time MBA application deadlines, including the cut-off dates for our early application awards.
- If shortlisted, you will be invited to interview. Interviews happen approximately one-to-two weeks after the deadline for each round.
- The Admissions Committee publishes admissions decisions approximately three weeks after the deadline for each round.
- Early applications are highly recommended, especially for those applying for scholarships.
2026 application rounds and deadlines (2027 intake)
| Round | Application deadline | Early application award | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round one application deadline (current round) | March 1 | €6,000 | ||
| Round two application deadline | March 31 | €6,000 | ||
| Round three application deadline | May 17 | €3,000 | ||
| Round four application deadline | June 30 | €1,500 | ||
| Further deadlines | ||||
|
Round five application deadline
|
July 31 | |||
| Round six application deadline | September 15 | |||
| Round seven application deadline | October 31 | |||
| Round eight application deadline | December 8 | |||
Important notes
- If you are a graduate of a Chinese or Indian university, there are some additional steps you need to take in order to study at a German university. This process can take up to 6 months to complete. Please visit the appropriate APS website: China (Chinese; Deutsch) India, for further information.
- Students from outside of the EU who need a visa are encouraged to apply as early as possible to leave enough time for visa processing.
- If you are applying from Australia, Brazil, Canada, El Salvador, EU, Honduras, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, United Kingdom, or the United States, you DO NOT need a visa to enter Germany as a student. This can change so please check with us or your nearest German Embassy or Consulate for further details.
Review of your application will only begin after it is complete. That means that we need to receive your online application plus digital copies of your transcripts (including grade overviews), your GMAT, GRE, EA, or BAT test score, and at least one professional recommendation. You will be informed about the next steps soon after the round deadline and if you are successful we look forward to meeting you during an interview.
Additional information
ESMT Business Admissions Test (BAT)
The ESMT admission test (BAT) is taken online and is administered on behalf of ESMT by Business Test Methods. It costs US$100 and preparation materials are available online once you have registered.
In order to take the test, please reach out to our admissions team.
Find out how to ace the BAT with MBA programs director Rebecca Loades.
GMAT Online Test
The GMAT can be taken online Instead of sitting for the traditional GMAT test, we recommend that you submit results for the GMAT online test.
Testing times are flexible and there is no need to find a local test center.
The Mini GMAT Quiz
Preparing to take the GMAT? Test your knowledge with the Mini GMAT Quiz.
GRE General Test at home
ETS offers candidates the option to take the GRE® General Test at home or at a test center.
The GRE® General Test is available everywhere that the computer-delivered GRE General Test is normally available, with the exception of Mainland China and Iran.
A Q&A with ESMT's Admissions Director
You can find out more about the application process with ESMT's Director of Admissions, Stephanie Kluth, in this Q&A with Clear Admit.
