• What exactly is an MBA?
• How does an MBA differ from other master's programs in business administration?
• For whom does an MBA study make sense?
• When is the right time for MBA studies?
• Does an MBA program cover more than just the topics that were already the subject of an undergraduate business degree?
• What is the programme content of an MBA?
• Do I have to write as many written examinations in MBA studies as in other Master's degree programmes?
• What MBA program tracks are there?
• Who do I meet in MBA studies, who are my fellow students?
• How are the studies organized? Can I also study with a job?
• How do I raise the issue with my employer?
• What do I have to do to manage the workload successfully?
• How exactly is the quality of an MBA assured and guaranteed?
• What are the admission requirements to do an MBA in Germany?
• Does the MBA cost? If yes, how much?
• For what reason was the MBA studies developed in the first place?

What exactly is an MBA?

For some years now, the academic degree MBA, which originated in the Anglo-Saxon world, has been gaining more and more importance in Germany. In NRW, too, MBA Degree programmes are now proliferating. The Hochschule Niederrhein, for example, introduced its career-integrated MBA Degree programme "Management" in 2009. The Master of Business Administration - or MBA for short - is a general management study program that is not restricted to a specific field. It is designed to provide experienced specialists with the necessary skills in corporate management and to enable them to hold a position in the management of a company, regardless of the industry. The MBA is much more practical with a practical emphasis / orientation than, for example, a postgraduate master's degree in business administration. In addition, the MBA degree has a very good image and a high degree of recognition and is generally regarded as a career accelerator.

How is an MBA different from other master's programs in business administration?

Degree programmes in MBA are specifically designed to prepare students for management positions and therefore to impart management knowledge. In programs such as the MBA "Management" at the Hochschule Niederrhein, for example, participants have the opportunity to discuss business management issues in smaller groups and develop possible solutions together. They are supported by university teachers / lecturers with practical experience. The Hochschule Niederrhein's MBA program therefore features experienced practitioners as lecturers as well as professors with practical experience.

For whom does an MBA study make sense?

The group of MBA students is very heterogeneous. This is well illustrated by the example of the career-integrated degree programme at the Hochschule Niederrhein: in addition to economists, engineers are mainly found here, but also lawyers and (more rarely) medical doctors. However, these people have one thing in common: For them, it is no longer just the specialist knowledge acquired in their first degree that plays a role. They tend to focus more on developing their professional and personal leadership skills. The diversity of the students ensures that each participant brings a different perspective to the studies, which usually results in interesting discussions about management decisions.

When is the right time for MBA studies?

There is no right time for MBA studies. Therefore, the spectrum of participants in this respect also ranges from career starters with, for example, two years of professional experience to managers with many years of experience. However, there is a noticeable tendency for students to become younger and younger. It is therefore advisable for those interested in this Degree programme to realize their plans as soon as possible. The usually existing (initial) motivation for the study program should ideally be used!

Doesn't an MBA program only cover the topics that were already the subject of a first degree in business administration?

If you only look at the module names of some MBA programs, you quickly get the impression that the programme content offered is merely a repetition of a classic business studies course. However, a real MBA has a different approach. Here, it is much more about dealing with management-relevant aspects of business administration and approaching various practice-relevant issues from a management perspective instead of imparting even more detailed knowledge. In this respect, the studies provide new insights for both groups: students with and without a first degree in business administration.

What are the programme contents of an MBA?

The studies teach leadership-relevant knowledge in basic management functions such as accounting, marketing and human resources management, while at the same time promoting personal development in areas such as leadership behavior, teamwork and negotiation skills. Case studies as well as project and group work are typical forms of teaching in the MBA. As a rule, a master's thesis must be written at the end of the studies and defended in a final oral examination.

Do I have to write as many written examinations in an MBA Degree programme as in other Master's programmes?

In a high-quality MBA program, the focus is more on building up or expanding the participants' leadership skills, which in turn should also be reflected in the forms of examination. This is why, for example, in the MBA studies at the Hochschule Niederrhein, less than 1/3 of all examinations consist of a written examination. Here, the focus is more on interactive examination forms such as presentations with subsequent discussion or oral examinations.

What MBA program directions are there?

A total of around 250 German universities now offer more than 500 different MBA programs. In addition to the classic generalist programs, there are also subject-specific approaches that specialize in individual industries or functional areas, making the market as a whole more confusing (such as an MBA in agricultural management).

Specialized MBA Degree programmes do make sense on the one hand, as experts are often needed. On the other hand, the problem can arise that specialists are too much tied to one area and their operational capabilities are thus limited. Instead, generalist MBA studies broaden the areas of application. This can be an important advantage, especially in today's world of frequently changing jobs.

There is also the so-called Executive MBA. This is aimed explicitly at senior managers who have been in professional life for at least seven years.

The career-integrated studies "Management" at the Hochschule Niederrhein represent the classic, generalistic idea of an MBA.

Who do I meet in MBA studies, who are my fellow students?

Participants in a career-integrated MBA program often have one thing in common: They all want to become fit or even fitter for leadership tasks and, to this end, develop both their business know-how and their leadership skills. Apart from this commonality, however, MBA students are very heterogeneous: they differ particularly in the professional experience they bring with them and the industry in which they work. In addition to young professionals who have only a few years of professional experience, there are also always older practitioners who want to compare their extensive experience with the course content. This heterogeneous participant structure is very appealing, as it opens up interesting perspectives for the individual and a platform for mutual exchange.

How are the studies organized? Can I also study with a job?

The MBA is offered as a full-time program on the one hand and as a part-time program specifically for working professionals on the other. The standard time to degree for full-time studies is between one and two years. This corresponds to 60 to 120 ECTS credits, whereby the programs with 60-ECTS are only suitable for graduates with a diploma after a transition period. Due to the high demand from working academics, the MBA is often offered on a career-integrated basis in the form of part-time studies or even as a distance learning program. In this form, the MBA studies can last up to three years and may include stays abroad. With its courses taking place on Friday evenings and Saturdays, the MBA program at the Hochschule Niederrhein is organized in such a way that it can be optimally completed alongside a full-time professional career.

How do I raise the issue with my employer?

Students often approach MBA studies on their own initiative, but at the same time they inform their employer and hope for their understanding. In these discussions, students should try to focus on the added value that such a postgraduate degree programme can have for the company and that it will therefore pay off for the employer if, for example, practically relevant programme content can be integrated into working life. The MBA program at the Hochschule Niederrhein also offers the opportunity to address issues from the company during studies and to work on possible solutions. Finally, participants further develop their leadership skills by interactively dealing with the programme content and thus qualify themselves for responsible tasks in the company.

What do I have to do to manage the workload successfully?

Career-integrated studies, such as the MBA, mean an additional workload for the students that should not be underestimated, since you are not simply studying "on the side", but have to integrate the studies into your everyday working life. The MBA program "Management" at the Hochschule Niederrhein, for example, assumes a workload of about 20 hours per week on average, which the students have to invest in their studies. Students spend about half of this time in seminars at the university on Friday evenings and Saturdays, and the other half is spent on preparation and follow-up work, including group work. This heavy workload naturally requires good time management as well as good coordination with the student's personal environment. Understanding and support are essential here and make the studies much easier. For this reason, students should intensively discuss with their environment, i.e. partners or families, before the semester begins and obtain their consent and support.

How exactly is the quality of an MBA secured and guaranteed?

This is done through the so-called accreditation. Globally active accreditation societies watch over the quality, transparency and comparability of the MBA. These assess, for example, whether an MBA program meets certain minimum qualitative requirements. For MBA accreditation, EQUIS, AACSB and FIBAA are frequently found accreditation societies. The Hochschule Niederrhein's MBA program, for example, has been accredited as well as reaccredited by FIBAA.

What are the admission requirements to do an MBA in Germany?

The admission requirements vary from university to university. However, it can be said that the minimum requirements are usually a completed university degree (bachelor's or diploma degree) and at least initial work experience. At some universities, applicants without a degree may also be admitted, provided that they have strong management experience. If the English language is a component of the MBA, a certain level of English, such as by achieving a certain score on the TOEFL, IELTS or GMAT, is also often required.

Does the MBA cost? If Yes how much?

MBA programs that are considered continuing education programs are usually financed by tuition fees. Depending on the provider, fees in German-speaking countries vary from around 5,000 euros to more than 30,000 euros for the entire duration of study, with the average in Germany being around 17,000 euros and can be significantly higher in other countries.

What was the reason for developing the MBA studies in the first place?

The history of the MBA can be traced back to 1902, when a predecessor of the MBA, the so-called Master of Commercial Science, was first awarded at the American Tuck School of Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. This was followed by Harvard University, which in 1921 also became the second university to offer a similar program. The aim was to secure global economic competitiveness with trained managers, so within ten years numerous business schools in the USA, and later also in England, expanded their master's programs. The importance of the MBA, however, remained rather low compared to the bachelor's and master's degrees. In the 1950s, however, the orientation of MBA studies changed, as now, in addition to mandatory courses such as management, finance, marketing and accounting, the teaching of leadership skills, team building, motivation and the proper use of available resources came to the fore, thus increasing the importance of MBA programs. By the early 1970s, MBA studies were predicted to have a negative future due to declining student numbers caused by a lack of demand for MBA graduates, to which business schools responded by expanding their programs and seeking new target groups in the form of female students, students from other disciplines, members of minority groups and international graduates. Germany first came into contact with the MBA toward the end of the 1980s. In1989/90 , the first distance learning MBA studies were established by the University of the Federal Armed Forces Munich e. V. in cooperation with Henley Business School in the United Kingdom. The first purely German MBA program was established in 1990 at Saarland University. The career-integrated MBA program of the Hochschule Niederrhein was introduced in 2009 in order to better supply the economy located in the metropolitan region of the Niederrhein with executives and to open up better future opportunities for committed young professionals.