ESMT Berlin
Berlin, Germany · Private · 15-month full-time, 100% in-person, January start; tracks in Managerial Analytics or Innovation & Entrepreneurship
- Class size: 35 (Class of 2027)
- Program tuition: €56,835 (full program)
Deadlines
- Round 7 (current round, Jan 2027 intake): Oct. 31, 2026
- Round 8 (Jan 2027 intake; later applications case-by-case, space available): Dec. 8, 2026
Essays
Essay 1 (250 words)
Describe your specific career aspirations and reasons for pursuing an MBA at ESMT Berlin.
Essay 2 (250 words)
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
Essay 3 (250 words)
You can invite one guest for dinner, be they living, dead, fictional, or other. Who would you invite and why?
Optional essay
Is there any other information, not covered in the application, that you would like us to know about you?
Scholarship questions (examples)
Dean's Excellence scholarship: "What impact would you like to have as an ambassador of ESMT?" Gender pay gap scholarship: "What do you believe are the biggest systemic barriers preventing more women from reaching senior leadership roles? How might businesses innovate to overcome them, beyond traditional diversity initiatives?" Impact scholarship: "How have you positively impacted society or the environment?"
Editor's notes
- You have two real deadlines left: Oct. 31 and Dec. 8, 2026. Admission and scholarship decisions come together about three weeks after each deadline, and ESMT says earlier applicants have a better shot at scholarship money. If you need a German visa or an APS certificate, Oct. 31 is the safer date.
- The class is small (a student describes 35 people from 22 nationalities) and 91% international, with an average of seven years of experience. That's a more senior room than many one-year programs. Your essays should show what you'd add in a discussion, not just what you want to take away.
- There's no test waiver, but you choose the test. If the GMAT isn't your friend, the BAT is a two-hour online test for US$100, and a strong score on any accepted test can also earn the automatic €3,000 award. Check the thresholds before you pick.
- The career story here is Germany. 89% of recent graduates work there, and the school rewards German skills with awards up to €5,000. If your goals point elsewhere, say so plainly in Essay 1 and explain how an ESMT network gets you there.
