MBA
Full-time Study Program
Discover new opportunities with an MBA in Germany
An MBA in Germany can open new doors for both your personal and professional growth. Whether you are aiming to accelerate your career, reinvent yourself in a new role or industry, or break into a new job market, an MBA from our business school in Germany can help you achieve your goals. You will have an unforgettable experience, grow personally, and build lifelong connections along the way.
At a glance
- Degree: MBA | 90 ECTS (Fast Track) | 120 ECTS (Advanced Track)
- Location: Leipzig
- Language: English
- Start: September
- Duration: 15 months (Fast Track) | up to 21 months (Advanced Track)
- Application deadline: June 30 (non-EU candidates: May 31)
- Eligibility: Bachelor degree in any discipline, min. of 2 years of post-graduate work experience
Seven Reasons for HHL’s MBA Program
- High flexibility: The program can be tailored to your professional and personal goals. You design your customized learning journey.
- Stepping stone into the German job market: More than 90% of MBA candidates launch their MBA career in Germany and more than 90% find a job within 6 months of graduation.
- Practical work experience: Gain hands-on experience in the German job market through a student consulting project or an internship, enhancing your practical skills.
- International Experience: Explore global opportunities with an optional term abroad at one of our 140 partner universities, or even earn a double degree.
- Social Impact Expedition: Explore social and sustainability issues firsthand through travel and interactions with social entrepreneurs, focusing on social innovation and sustainable solutions.
- German language courses: Increase your career prospects in Germany with an intensive beginner’s German course offered before the MBA program begins, followed by German language courses for all levels running throughout the program.
- Study location Leipzig: Leipzig is a dynamic city that offers a high quality of life at an affordable cost of living.
The HHL Full-time MBA: Program Overview
1. Welcome Weeks
Where your HHL adventure begins!
The Welcome Weeks dive straight into the HHL spirit. With a mix of intercultural team-building activities and informative sessions about HHL and the program, you will embark on your unforgettable HHL adventure. You will connect with classmates from all of our programs and lay the foundation for a powerful network of contacts that will support you not only through your studies but far beyond.
2. General Management Essentials
The key qualifications for tomorrow
Here, you will lay the foundation for your management career. Our three pillars provide a balanced mix of essential management fundamentals and cutting-edge knowledge.
3. General Management Deep Dives
Tailored to your needs
Our Deep Dives empower you to tailor your MBA experience to the areas that will most effectively strengthen your personal and professional growth.
In the Fast Track, you select 3 out of 8 Deep Dives, giving you a focused yet flexible opportunity to sharpen your skills.
The Advanced Track offers an even broader learning experience, requiring at least 4 out of 8 Deep Dives.
You can also create your own Advanced General Management Module: Mix-and-match module by combining 10 credits from two different Deep Dive modules, allowing you to shape a curriculum that truly reflects your ambitions.
4. Customization Modules
Gain practical and international experience
Only in the Advanced Track will you have access to several additional practical options. Whether you are working on a real-life project, studying abroad, or completing an internship, the practical experience you gain and the connections you build will benefit you long after graduation.
5. Master Thesis
The culmination of your MBA program
The Master Thesis in our full-time MBA program is the crowning achievement of your academic journey, highlighting your expertise in business and management. This independent research project lets you delve into a topic of your choice, focusing on real-world relevance and critical thinking. With guidance from experienced mentors, your thesis will showcase your ability to analyse and apply the knowledge you’ve gained throughout your MBA program.
AI Literacy in the Full-time MBA
Big Data Analytics
Data literacy is a core competency for tomorrow’s business leaders. In this course, students learn to work with the programming language R in a hands-on environment – covering data preparation, visualization, and machine learning methods. Real-world use cases provide the basis for developing and critically evaluating statistical models. The course builds a solid understanding at the intersection of business and technology – no prior programming experience required.
Key Topics:
- Programming fundamentals with R
- Data wrangling, visualization, and exploration
- Machine learning: supervised, unsupervised, and reinforcement learning
- Text analytics and sentiment analysis
Coding & Data Literacy
Programming skills are increasingly essential for leaders navigating a data-driven economy. This course offers a hands-on introduction to the programming language R – from basic syntax and data processing to first applications in machine learning. Students develop the ability to analyze data independently and to confidently operate at the interface of business and technology.
Key Topics:
- Programming fundamentals with R
- Data wrangling, visualization, and exploration
- Introduction to data science and machine learning
- Application to real-world business problems
Disruptive Technologies & Business Models
Technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and robotics are disrupting entire industries – while simultaneously opening up new entrepreneurial possibilities. This course provides a solid overview of the most significant disruptive technologies and examines the business models emerging from them. Case studies and industry examples illustrate how organizations can strategically navigate and shape technological change.
Key Topics:
- AI, blockchain, and robotics as drivers of change
- New and disruptive business models
- Impact on incumbent organizations
- Strategies for implementing technological innovation
Program Schedule
Open new doors for your career
The full-time MBA program at HHL unlocks your potential for a successful career in Germany and beyond. Pursuing an MBA in Germany allows you to quickly embark on an upward career trajectory in both the German and global job markets, offering an exceptional return on investment. Consistently ranked in the top 20 worldwide for ROI by QS, our graduates often see their investment pay off within just a few years—what we call “low risk, high reward!”
92%
launch their post-MBA career in Germany
HHL MBA Emloyment Report 2025
91%
employment rate 6 months after graduation
HHL MBA Employment Report 2025
#5
Career Service worldwide
Financial Times Masters in Management Ranking 2025
#25
Worldwide ROI
(QS Global MBA Ranking 2026)
Tailored Support for Your Career
With passion and commitment, HHL’s top-ranked Career Development team provides personalized support to help you pave the way for a successful and fulfilling career. We’ll assist you in identifying your strengths, developing your skills, and strategically focusing on achieving your professional goals.
Identify your purpose
- Personality tests
- Career orientation workshops
- Self-leadership training
- Individual coaching
- Webinars
Navigate the job market effectively
- CV & cover letter checks
- CV optimization software VMock
- Interview preparation
- Case study training
- Digital career center with talent bank
- Advice on salary negotiations
- Tips for the onboarding process
Maximize your network
- On-campus company presentations
- On-campus interviews
- Alumni talks
- Company excursions
- Recruiting workshops
- Student consulting projects
- Yearly Career Day
Visa options after graduation
Did you know that Germany’s visa regulations are very favourable for international students looking to enter the German job market? After completing your studies, you can apply for a range of options, including:
- 18 months job seeker visa: search for employment opportunities that match your skills and aspirations
- a work permit: enables graduates to work and reside in Germany as long as they hold the position which the work permit is tied to
- EU Blue card: a permit for highly skilled professionals who meet a minimum salary threshold per annum
Want to learn more about your post-MBA visa options?
What our alumni say
After seeing Bertelsmann’s on-campus presentation at HHL and learning how interested they are in international profiles, I approached the company representative at the get-together afterwards to learn about internship opportunities in HR. One thing leads to another, and I ended up landing an internship in Talent Management at Bertelsmann’s corporate headquarters. This internship turned into a job offer. My first day of work was actually coming to HHL to do a company presentation – talk about full circle! Several years later I’m now Senior Vide President Corporate Employer Branding, and still visiting HHL once a year to get to know the latest generation of students.
Pamela Taylor
Senior Vice President Corporate Employer Branding | Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA, Director People Development & Transformation | Penguin Random House Verlagsgruppe GmbH
Start your journey now!
Take the first application step without the HHL Entry Test or GMAT
Our student community is a carefully selected collegial network of motivated peers. We not only take hard facts into consideration, such as your work experience or HHL Entry Test/GMAT but also your personality, your motivation and your ambition.
Are you unsure if your profile fits with our admission criteria?
Please contact us and we will help you.
An MBA in Germany: Education that pays off!
Investing in your MBA degree at HHL pays off quickly. QS rankings consistently demonstrate that our MBA graduates experience an exceptionally high return on investment, allowing them to recoup their educational costs within just a few years. Why? Our graduates swiftly transition into managerial positions at leading companies, enjoying an average salary increase of 80 percent. An MBA from HHL is not only a fantastic career booster but also delivers quick returns!
Tuition fees
The tuition fees for the MBA program amount to EUR 42,500. We offer a tuition fee reduction if you submit your complete application by the following Early Bird deadlines*:
- Early Bird 1: November 30 – Discount: EUR 6,000
- Early Bird 2: January 31 – Discount: EUR 4,500
- Early Bird 3: March 31 – Discount: EUR 1,500
This covers all tuition including the fees for one term abroad at one of our partner universities.
*To qualify for the early bird discount, you must submit your completed application by the deadlines above. This includes providing all remaining documents and test scores (GMAT, GRE, or HHL Entry Test) by January 31 (Early Bird 1), March 31 (Early Bird 2), or June 30 (Early Bird 3).
Scholarships
We gladly support you in financing your studies. Various financing options are available. We also offer scholarships for particularly committed and outstanding applicants. How do you obtain a scholarship? Win us over not just with your excellent academic record but also with your personality.
Payment terms
Pay your tuition fees in instalments!
Of course, the tuition fees at HHL do not have to be paid in one lump sum. After having been admitted to HHL, we ask you to pay a down payment of EUR 3,500 to secure your place in the full-time MBA program. The remaining fees will be paid in 3 instalments: at the beginning of Term 1, Term 3 and Term 5.
In vogue: Living and learning in Leipzig
Leipzig is open, international, and vibrant. Located just over 1h south of Berlin, at the crossroads of historic European trade routes, the city boasts a 1,000-year tradition of commercial vitality and a reputation as a hub for trade, science, and the arts. Beyond its modern infrastructure, Leipzig’s dynamic and rapidly expanding economy hosts world-renowned brands like Porsche, BMW, DHL, and Amazon. HHL, established in 1898 as the first “HandelsHochschule” in German-speaking Europe, laid the groundwork for Leipzig’s rich tradition in management education.
Affordable and student-friendly living
The best news is that Leipzig offers students a very high quality of life for extremely affordable prices. In contrast to many other student cities in Germany, Leipzig still has affordable student accommodation. The approximate living costs per month including accommodation in Leipzig are around EUR 800, while the average living costs in Germany are estimated at EUR 934.
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