Timeline & courses
On this page you can explore the curriculum and courses in more detail and get a taste of what to expect for the global online MBA experience.
The Global Online MBA from ESMT Berlin is a highly flexible, fully remote program that can be completed in two to five years. This means you can pause, or accelerate your learning progress and fit the course content around your existing schedule. Consistently ranked as one of the best business schools in Germany, ESMT Berlin is accredited by AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS, and FIBAA, the highest distinctions of quality for business schools around the world.
Curriculum and course availability are subject to change at any time.
Global Online MBA program timeline
All students of the Global Online MBA begin the program with this course, which develops a solid foundation in general management and prepares them for the courses that follow. You'll cover the following topics:
- Introduction to general management
- Global virtual teams
The next stage of the program opens up the core blocks. These are compulsory, but can be taken in any order. After completing one core block, you can also start taking electives.
Develop the mindset and skills to become a better decision maker who leads in an ethical and responsible way. Learn how to power your decision making process with data and analytics.
Courses:
- Crafting Better Decisions
- Data-driven Decisions
- Ethics and Responsibility
Learn how to critically assess the environment your business exists in and identify opportunities, with courses on business economics, marketing and sales in a digital world and customer analytics.
Courses:
- Business Economics
- Marketing and Sales in a Digital World
- Customer Analytics
Develop your understanding of how successful organizations function with courses on people, teams, and organizations; managing operations; and Accounting and financial management.
Courses:
- Accounting and Financial Management
- Managing Operations
- People, Teams and Organizations
Prepare to lead an innovative business and learn how to apply entrepreneurial strategies, how to build a truly customer centric business and how to lead in an agile, adaptable way.
Courses:
- Agile Leadership
- Customer Centricity
- Entrepreneurial Strategy
After completing the introductory block and at least one core block, the elective courses can be taken. Each elective course is worth 2 ECTS and you must select electives totaling 6 ECTS.
- Embracing technological change
- Platform economies & strategies
- Negotiations
- Human factor of innovation
- Doing business sustainably
- Berlin Experience Week (at ESMT Berlin's campus)
- Global Experience Week
- Short international exchange (2 ECTS): Spend 1 week at one of the 30+ members of the Global Network for Advanced Management (GNAM). Exchange is included in your tuition but places are limited and availability is not guaranteed; you will need to cover travel and accommodation
Once you have passed all other blocks, it is time to conclude your MBA with a final project that demonstrates what you’ve learned and puts your new skills to the test.
The final project focuses on business innovation, transformation and/or new business creation and includes a presentation and individual analytic paper.
Global Online MBA Experience Weeks
Berlin Experience Week (optional elective)
In this optional, for-credit, elective module, you will have the opportunity to meet at ESMT’s campus in Berlin.
Experience highly interactive sessions focused on key developments in the German and Global Economy, with a focus on topics such as:
- Industry 4.0,
- Germany’s Hidden Champions,
- and the Berlin startup scene.
You will also benefit from a mixture of:
- Academic sessions
- Company visits
- Team-building events
- Social events and activities
This course will take place multiple times per year if there is demand. Participation in this week is included in the program fee as a standard elective course, although participants will be required to cover their own accommodation costs and their travel to Berlin.
Global Experience Week (optional elective)
In this optional, for-credit, elective module, you can choose to take part in a Global Experience Week.
In line with ESMT’s philosophy of involving its students in decision-making where possible, all enrolled students will be polled during the program to determine which locations are chosen for the Global Experience Week.
The aim of the Global Experience Week is two-fold:
- Firstly, the week will expose participants to the business context and leadership challenges in diverse countries and cultures.
- Each week will be themed around a specific topic of global relevance, and participants will engage with leading corporates, startups and NGOs, working on assignments specific to each context.
The Global Experience Week will take place based on demand. Destinations, dates and cost will be announced 6 months in advance.
Participants will be charged a program fee (€2,000 - €3,000) that will cover single room accommodation but excludes travel costs to and from the destination.
March 2026 intake
Applications for the March 2026 intake are now open.
Please note the important deadlines on the Admissions page.
A flexible MBA program
- Irrespective of your start date, your first block will always be Managing in a connected world.
- Should you decide to take a break during the two-year program, you will be able to start again at the beginning of any block you are eligible for at that time.
- If more than one block is running simultaneously, we will recommend a block but you can change if needed. Note that the blocks are shared across intakes.
- In order to take any electives, you must have successfully passed Managing in a connected world, plus at least one core block (Making wiser decisions under uncertainty, Understanding your market, Understanding your organization, Creating strategic advantage).
- Note that the program must be completed within five years.
Online MBA course delivery: Key facts
Want to learn more about testing during the courses, the module structure and many other topics? Check out our FAQ page.
- Expect to study for an average of 15 hours per week during the program.
- Each course has three hours of live online modules (Professor Sessions), plus live office hour modules (Tutor Sessions).
- All Professor and Tutor Sessions take place twice to ensure you can join from wherever you are in the world.
- Should you wish to explore a subject area not offered at ESMT, you can opt for a non-credit SNOC course taught by one of our partner universities in the Global Network for Advanced Management.
- If you would like to add an international study experience to your course, you can choose to add either the Berlin Experience Week held on the ESMT campus or, for an additional fee, add the Global Experience Week option.
Your online learning tools
The online learning environment at ESMT is designed to support your Global Online MBA journey with flexibility, interaction, and global connectivity. It provides the resources you need to balance your studies with professional and personal commitments, while staying connected to faculty and peers across the world.
You will be able to:
- access course materials and resources
- engage with faculty and peers
- monitor your progress
- evaluate your achievements
Paid educational leave (Bildungsurlaub)
If your employer is registered in Germany, it may be possible to take advantage of educational leave (Bildungsurlaub), which grants employees extra time off work in addition to their usual vacation allowance. These can then be spent attending the program’s in-person residencies.
Career services available to you
Throughout the program, you will have access to Career Development Center workshops for specific skills development, as well as access to a robust professional network as you consider the next phase of your career.
Through the ESMT Alumni network, you'll also build your professional network on a local and international level.