International students can have a positive and rewarding career scope after MBA in Germany. Only recently, Germany’s Labor Minister predicted that over 240,000 immigrants would be needed in Germany by 2026. The German government has eased its immigration process to attract foreign talent. It is easier for graduates of German universities to settle down in the country. According to DAAD, more than 40% of international students in Germany decide to remain in Germany after graduation.
Managers are needed in every industry and enterprise. Germany’s economy is backed by almost 4 million small and medium-sized companies. The country is also home to some of the biggest names in the corporate world, such as Siemens, Volkswagen, Merck, Allianz, SAP, etc. An MBA graduate in a high-income economy such as Germany’s can have an illustrious career.
Before we explore the career scope after MBA in Germany, let’s briefly look into some of the popular universities to study MBA in Germany.
Top Universities to study MBA in Germany
A good management school not only focuses on a world-class curriculum but also provides post-study career support. They prepare students for real-world experience with projects and simulated scenarios. Although there are many business schools in Germany, few can deliver practice-oriented education. Moreover, international students must also account for the medium of instruction. Most international students prefer English-taught MBA programs as they do not have to learn German.
Some of the best German higher education institutions for international students to study MBA in Germany are listed below. The following list of universities and universities of applied sciences are ranked per CHE Rankings for their overall study situation. Gyanberry can help you get admission into any of the following institutions. Contact us to know more details about studying in Germany.
- University of Augsburg
- University of Bayreuth
- TU Berlin
- Humboldt University of Berlin
- University of Mannheim
- University of Bremen
- Munich Business School
- Augsburg University of Applied Sciences
- FH Aachen
- University of Applied Sciences Dresden
- Cologne Business School
Top recruiters for MBA graduates in Germany
Many multinational companies have a presence in Germany. This section covers German-origin companies with a global presence and foreign companies in Germany.
German-origin companies with a global presence
| Company Name | Industry |
| Volkswagen (VW) AG | Automotive |
| Mercedes-Benz AG | Automotive |
| SAP | Enterprise software |
| Allianz | Financial services |
| Deutsche Bank | Financial services |
| Adidas | Footwear |
| BMW Group | Automotive |
| Deutsche Telekom | Telecommunications |
| Deutsche Post DHL Group | Courier |
| Bosch Group | Conglomerate |
| BASF | Chemicals |
| Merck KGaA | Pharmaceuticals |
| AUDI AG | Automotive |
| Hapag-Lloyd | Container shipping |
| Siemens AG | Conglomerate |
Foreign companies in Germany
| Company | Country of Origin |
| Amazon | USA |
| Boston Consulting Group | USA |
| AstraZeneca | Britain-Sweden |
| Infosys | India |
| Mckinsey & Company | USA |
| Apple | USA |
| Kia | South Korea |
| TATA Communications | India |
| MasterCard | USA |
| Accenture | Ireland-USA |
| Maersk | Denmark |
| Vodafone | Britain |
| Meta | USA |
| BOSE Corporation | USA |
| Lumen | USA |
It is natural for fresh MBA graduates to be a part of high-revenue companies. But students are advised not to focus solely on applying to large companies in Germany. This is to prevent students from narrowing their job opportunities. Searching for degree-specific job profiles can lead to losing several profitable openings. Students can also look for jobs that may not be directly relevant to an MBA but utilize the knowledge they gain from the program.
As mentioned earlier, there are close to four million small and medium-sized businesses in Germany. The country is abundant with suitable job openings for those with talent and the right skillsets.
Popular MBA Specializations in Germany
Your choice of MBA specialization is mainly dependent on your interest. MBA programs in Germany offer a vast range of disciplines. One can choose general management or go for a specialized field that aligns with one’s career goals. Some MBA specializations offered by popular business schools in Germany.
- General management
- Marketing management
- Financial management
- Entrepreneurship
- Product management
- Project management
- Human Resource Management
- Engineering Management
- Supply Chain Management
Career scope after MBA in Germany: Job positions
The level of jobs after an MBA depends on students’ prior experience. Students who possess work experience tend to land senior job positions. Freshers, or those with less than four years of work experience, may be at the entry-level. A student’s skillset also determines the quality of jobs. Those with in-demand skills receive attractive offers.
According to Glassdoor, these are some jobs that MBA graduates get into in Germany.
- Management Trainee
- Junior Corporate Planning and Strategy Manager
- Strategy and Business Development Manager
- General Manager
- Account Manager
- Project Manager
- Senior Analyst
- Program Development Manager
- Marketing Manager
- Finance Manager
- Consultant
Salaries for MBA graduates in Germany
According to PayScale, The average base pay of MBA graduates in Germany is €64,000 per annum. Salaries vary based on industry, qualifications, experience, company, and city. Popular cities, like Munich, tend to pay higher salaries. But the cost of living in such cities is also higher.
Gehalt.de is a prominent salary portal in Germany. It has a database of 3.6 million+ salaries. The average salaries of some jobs in Germany, according to Gehalt, are given below.
| Job Title | Estimated Annual Salary Range in EUR |
| Junior Consultant | € 53,600-72,100 |
| General Manager | € 53,000-73,000 |
| Project Manager | € 58,870-81,120 |
| Marketing Manager | € 48,000-71,000 |
| Fund Manager | € 67,800-91,200 |
According to a 2021 report by Stepstone.de, the highest earning industries in Germany are as follows.
| Industry | Average Gross Annual Income |
| Finance | € 73,847 |
| Consulting | € 64,173 |
| Banking | € 62,744 |
| Engineering | € 62,564 |
| IT | € 60,563 |
| Marketing / PR | € 60,174 |
| HR | € 58,029 |
| Logistics | € 50,538 |
Stepstone.de also reported the following statistics and trends.
- The top earners are engineers (€ 59,300), IT professionals (€ 57,000), and management consultants (€ 56,400).
- Banks (€ 58,300) and the Automotive industry (€ 55,900) offer median salaries that are around 30 percent above the average.
- Employees in management positions are rewarded with a significantly higher gross median salary (€ 86,300). They earn almost twice as much as employees without managerial responsibility.
- University graduates earn €59,700, which is 48 percent more than their colleagues without a degree (€ 40,600).
How to search for jobs in Germany?
International students who have graduated from German universities get an 18-month post-study visa to find a job in Germany. There are several options to find a suitable job. The first source for any international student is their university’s career center. Many German universities have a dedicated section for giving students career guidance. Universities are also partnered with industries. Students can find the latest job openings via their university.
Some other sources for finding a job in Germany include
- Advertisements in print or digital media
- Job search portals
- Networks and contacts
- Job fairs
Settling in Germany
Getting a job in Germany allows one to receive a work visa. Work visas are issued for the length of a job contract or a maximum of four years. Foreigners working in Germany can also apply for an EU Blue Card if they meet specific requirements. An EU Blue Card is issued to those Non-EU nationals with a gross annual income of at least € 56,400. MBA graduates who meet all the criteria can go for a Blue card.
