MBA in Berlin | TopMBA

Berlin has become the epicenter for so many things that its ability to attract people from all over the world is hardly surprising. What once provided a direct contrast between East and West Germany has evolved into one of the most accepting and vibrant cities in the world. Between all night techno clubs, some of the world’s best cuisine and a history that has borne witness to some of the previous century’s most influential moments, Berlin has something for everyone. Read on to learn more, or check out the MBA in Germany guide for an insight into the country as a whole.

An MBA in Berlin can prepare you for what is currently one of Europe’s most tech savvy hubs, or for a myriad of other jobs in Berlin and around the world. For example, tech giantSiemens, has one of two headquarters in Berlin and Deutsche Telekom (the parent company of T-Mobile’s international brand) is an important employer in the city. Berlin is also home to the growing e-commerce firm, Zalando.

In terms of top business schools in Berlin, ESMT Berlin (which ranked 26th our QS Global MBA Rankings: Europe 2020) and ESCP Europe Business School (ranking joint 37th in the QS Global Executive MBA Rankings 2019).

Berlin’s top business schools offer MBA programs with truly global mindsets. At ESCP, students have the opportunity to study in Paris, London, Madrid, Turin and Berlin, while ESMT features Global Network Weeks in locations around the world.

Top Business Schools in Berlin

 

ESCP Europe Business School

 

One of the top business schools in Berlin is ESCP Europe Business School. Founded in Paris in 1819, ESCP is the world’s oldest business school. Today, diversity is a lynchpin of the school, with campuses in Paris, London, Berlin, Turin, and Madrid. It is also a triple-accredited school, holding all three of the sought-after EQUIS, AACSB, and AMBA accreditations.

 

Students on the ESCP EMBA program can study at any of the campuses over the course of their program, or even choose an itinerant study track that will see them spend time at each of the five ESCP campuses. The executive MBA program is part time and can last anywhere between 18 to 30 months, depending on an individual student’s schedules.

 

ESMT Berlin

 

ESMT Berlin is another MBA based in Berlin, highly ranked in Europe and respected throughout the world. The school was founded in 2002 by 25 leading German corporations and institutions, boasts AACSB and AMBA accreditation, and offers MBA, executive MBA, and master’s in management degrees.

 

While it is almost 100 years younger than ESCP, ESMT is a highly respected institution that places graduates in MBA jobs in Berlin and around the world with 82 percent of the ESMT MBA Class of 2018 graduates receiving job offers three months after graduation – a year in which 10 percent of students went on to start their own companies or returned to existing entrepreneurial endeavors.

 

The ESMT MBA in Berlin focuses on leadership and social responsibility, being competitive in Europe, and the management of technology. The one-year program offers specializations in a number of these areas, such as sustainable business and managing innovation and technology. Students also have the opportunity to take part in bi-annual Global Network Weeks where they pitch up at partner institutions around the world.

 

ESMT’s executive MBA, meanwhile, takes students around the globe over a period of 18 months. The EMBA is conducted across one-week modules that take place every other month in Berlin, alongside two international modules at partner schools in Russia or Turkey, and one international field seminar in a country deemed a strategic location, such as the emerging markets of the BRIC nations.

 

Berlin School of Economics and Law

 

The business and economics department within the Berlin School of Economics and Law, or HWR Berlin, offers a number of master’s degrees in disciplines ranging from international finance to business engineering. Most of these offerings are taught in English, allowing the school to cater to a large and diverse body of students.

 

HWR Berlin’s MBA program provision comes courtesy of the school’s Institute of Management Berlin (IMB), established in 2004 – some 12 years after the launch of the school’s MBA program. Today, the school’s MBA (known as the Berlin MBA) runs for 15 months on a full-time basis and offers seven pathways for specialization, for example in entrepreneurship or healthcare management.

 

MBA Jobs in Berlin

Berlin is a large city of more than three million people and is home to a number of leading international companies. The city is also home to one of the more credible rivals to Silicon Valley – Silicon Allee, which is home to a thriving startup culture, built on relatively cheap workspace rent and labor force – in comparison to some parts of the US and even Asia.

SoundCloud is a notable success story of Berlin’s startup scene – moving its HQ from Germany’s capital in Munich to Berlin and incidentally taking off.

Berlin has a more service-orientated economy than other parts of Germany, according to labor market information from the European Commission’sEURES earlier this year (June 2019), in the year-on-year comparison between sectors, the predominant picture in Berlin was of growth across the board. The agriculture, forestry and fishing sector saw the highest increase, with a growth of 20.8 percent.

However, there is an abundance of roles in the professional, scientific, technical services and real estate sectors – encouraging signs for those looking to secure MBA jobs in Berlin. Moving from one of the top business schools in Berlin to a top company in Berlin can be an easy move. National statistics for Germany as a whole, meanwhile, found a 0.7 percent growth in employment.

Top Companies in Berlin

The 10 largest employers in Berlin in 2018, as reported in the Berliner Morgenpost are:

1)    Deutsche Bahn (transport/ logistics)

2)    Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (health)

3)    Vivantes network for health (health)

4)    Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (traffic)

5)    Siemens (electrical engineering)

6)    Edeka, including Thürmann/Netto (retail)

7)    Daimler AG (automotive)

8)    Deutsche Post DHL (logistics)

9)    Deutsche Telekom (Telecoms)

10) Zalando (digital economy)

One of Europe’s first technology hubs, Berlin continues to keep its prominence in the industry strong. In 2018, the country's startups received €4.6bn (US$5.1bn) in investments with those based in Berlin getting €2.6bn (US$2.9bn).

The top 10 hottest startups in Berlin in 2019 according to Wired are:

1)    HelloFresh

2)    Teraki

3)    FreightHub

4)    TIER Mobility

5)    N26

6)    Rasa

7)    Relayr

8)    Ocean Protocol

9)    Peat

10) Motor AI

Whether you’re looking to join, or even start, a new tech company, or to work at a much more established company after your MBA in Berlin, the opportunities are there.

Berlin Culture

Berlin is truly a city that never sleeps - from a renowned nightlife scene to elegant symphonies as well as a history to rival the very best in the world – there is certainly no reason to run out of things to do. What was once a city of contrast and divide between Germany’s East and West is now a city with a strong sense of diversity and a drive for innovation in art, technology, music, fashion, cuisine and more.

However, the city also has a laidback side, with plenty of public parks and open spaces for those in need of a breath of fresh air and to slow down for a moment. Open-air cinemas and theaters also promise to liven up evenings in the warmer seasons of the year.