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Master’s · Business & Management

Business Administration MBA

FOM University of Applied Sciences · Essen · Official programme page

22 facts from 3 official pages · last checked 14 November 2026

Reviewed by Dennis Maaß, admission and immigration expert
Published 8 November 2026 · Last reviewed 8 November 2026

Key facts

Length, deadlines and costs

Language
English
Source
“Develop global strategies, conduct negotiations, make corporate decisions - the English-language MBA programme at FOM University prepares you to take on responsibility as a manager. … Duration 3 semesters plus thesis Language English”

www.fom.de/de/hochschulbereiche/wirtschaft-und-management/business-administration-ma.html · checked 14 November 2026

FOM's German site states "Language English" for this programme; it is the only programme in FOM's German-language range that is taught in English (all others state "Sprache Deutsch").

Study mode
Blended
Source
“Facts at a glance Study model Campus-Studium+ In the lecture hall plus live digital lectures: Cologne | Düsseldorf | Essen | Frankfurt a. M. | Hamburg | Munich | Stuttgart Scope of performance 90 credit points according to ECTS Duration 3 semesters plus thesis Language English”
“Depending on your choice, courses take place virtually or as block seminars abroad as part of the FOM Study Abroad Programmes” page

www.fom.de/de/hochschulbereiche/wirtschaft-und-management/business-administration-ma.html · checked 14 November 2026

"Campus-Studium+" combines lectures at a study centre with live digital lectures; FOM adds that students may take additional modules digitally, study completely virtually or change study centre before each semester, and that several modules are "taught in virtual presence". The third-semester specialisation can be taken virtually or as a block seminar abroad (Boulogne-sur-Mer, San Diego, Sydney, Atlanta); the degree itself is delivered in Germany.

Attendance
Part-time
Source
“You will complete your part-time "Master of Business Administration (MBA)" programme with a state-recognised and internationally accredited master's degree from FOM University. … Semester start: March (summer semester) or September (winter semester) Time models: Evening and Saturday studies”
“How flexible is the programme? The programme is designed to be taken alongside work. Classes take place in the evenings and at weekends, supplemented by digital learning formats - so you can easily combine it with your job.” page
“Please note that the jobseeker visa is only available for students of the full-time programmes in Germany.” page

www.fom.de/de/hochschulbereiche/wirtschaft-und-management/business-administration-ma.html · checked 14 November 2026

Part-time, in the evenings and on Saturdays, and FOM requires applicants to be in current employment, so it is designed for people who already live and work in Germany. FOM does not say whether applicants who need a student visa can take it; it is not offered on FOM's international site, and FOM states that the 18-month jobseeker visa after graduation is "only available for students of the full-time programmes in Germany".

Length
4 semesters
Source
“The programme usually lasts four semesters (two years). You can start in either the winter semester (September) or the summer semester (March). Depending on your previous education, the duration of the programme may be shortened.”
“Duration 3 semesters plus thesis” page

www.fom.de/de/hochschulbereiche/wirtschaft-und-management/business-administration-ma.html · checked 14 November 2026

The facts box says "3 semesters plus thesis" and the FAQ on the same page "four semesters (two years)": the same thing, because the semester plan on the page lists three taught semesters (21, 21 and 23 ECTS) plus a fourth for the master's thesis and colloquium (25 ECTS). There is no three-semester track, but FOM says the programme can be shortened when earlier study is credited.

Credits
90 ECTS
Source
“Scope of performance 90 credit points according to ECTS”

www.fom.de/de/hochschulbereiche/wirtschaft-und-management/business-administration-ma.html · checked 14 November 2026

Intakes
Winter, Summer
Source
“Semester start: March (summer semester) or September (winter semester) Time models: Evening and Saturday studies”

www.fom.de/de/hochschulbereiche/wirtschaft-und-management/business-administration-ma.html · checked 14 November 2026

March and September, unlike FOM's international full-time programmes, which start in April and October.

Non-EU deadline
Not stated by the university
2 pages checked, 14 Nov 2026

No application deadline is published for this programme; FOM only offers online registration and says previous study can be credited. The international FAQ's advice to register 6 to 8 weeks before the semester starts is written for the full-time programmes.

Start months
April, October
Source
“When will all the courses start? The summer semester will start in April and the winter semester will start in October.”

www.fom-international.com/en/international-office/faqs.html · checked 14 November 2026

For the English-taught full-time programmes. The part-time Business Administration (MBA) starts in March and September.

Non-EU tuition
€13,800 per programme payable in 24 monthly instalments of €575; the matriculation fee of €1,590 and the examination fee of €500 are charged on top
Source
“Tuition fee 13,800€, payable in 24 monthly payments of 575€ each, plus a one-off payment of matriculation fee 1,590€, payable in 6 monthly payments of 265€ within the first semester, and examination fee 500€ payable at the end of the programme.”

www.fom.de/de/hochschulbereiche/wirtschaft-und-management/business-administration-ma.html · checked 14 November 2026

Same price for all applicants; FOM publishes no non-EU rate. Together with the matriculation and examination fees the programme costs €15,890. The English-taught full-time MBAs on FOM's international site cost €18,750 including those fees.

Application fee
Not stated by the university
2 pages checked, 14 Nov 2026

No application fee is mentioned; registration is through FOM's online form.

Registration fee or deposit
€1,590 one-off matriculation fee, payable in six monthly instalments of €265 in the first semester
Source
“plus a one-off payment of matriculation fee 1,590€, payable in 6 monthly payments of 265€ within the first semester, and examination fee 500€ payable at the end of the programme.”

www.fom.de/de/hochschulbereiche/wirtschaft-und-management/business-administration-ma.html · checked 14 November 2026

An examination fee of €500 falls due at the end of the programme as well.

Places
Unrestricted
Source
“Are there admission restrictions for the FOM degree programmes? FOM degree programmes are open to students from all over the world. Admission requires only that you meet the specific entry requirements of your chosen programme”

www.fom-international.com/en/international-office/faqs.html · checked 14 November 2026

No number of places, no numerus clausus and no ranking of applicants is published; admission depends only on meeting the stated entry requirements. Master's applicants who are short of the required credit points can instead sit FOM's admission examination.

Programme accreditation
Accredited
Source
“Yes, all degree programmes offered by FOM are accredited and bear the seal of the Accreditation Council.”

www.fom-international.com/en/international-office/faqs.html · checked 14 November 2026

FOM has been system-accredited by FIBAA since 2012 (reaccredited on 4 December 2018 until the end of the 2027 summer semester), which lets it accredit its own new programmes and award the Accreditation Council's seal itself; the programme pages repeat that all FOM degree programmes are "state and internationally recognised". FOM publishes no accreditation decision for an individual English-taught programme, so the seal rests on FOM's own internal accreditation under the system accreditation.

Admission

What you need to apply

3-year bachelor’s
Accepted with conditions
Source
“You must also meet the following requirements Your university degree must comprise at least 210 ECTS credits , or Your university degree comprises 180 ECTS credits and you can compensate for up to 30 ECTS credits through additional qualifications , such as academic achievements or professional experience.”

www.fom.de/de/hochschulbereiche/wirtschaft-und-management/business-administration-ma.html · checked 14 November 2026

A 180-ECTS bachelor's is accepted only if up to 30 ECTS are compensated by additional qualifications such as academic achievements or professional experience; one year of professional experience after graduation and current employment are required in addition.

Subject background
A first university degree (bachelor's, master's, Diplom, Magister or Staatsexamen; degrees from accredited vocational academies are also recognised) worth at least 210 ECTS, or 180 ECTS with up to 30 ECTS compensated by other qualifications, plus at least one year of professional experience after graduation and current employment.
Source
“You must also meet the following requirements Your university degree must comprise at least 210 ECTS credits , or Your university degree comprises 180 ECTS credits and you can compensate for up to 30 ECTS credits through additional qualifications , such as academic achievements or professional experience.”
“You will need: At least one year of professional experience after graduation adequate English language skills at language level B2 (e.g. at least 860 points on the TOEIC or at least 83 points on the TOEFL) current employment” page

www.fom.de/de/hochschulbereiche/wirtschaft-und-management/business-administration-ma.html · checked 14 November 2026

Minimum grade
Not stated by the university
2 pages checked, 14 Nov 2026

No minimum grade or GPA is published for this programme.

English
Level B2. TOEFL iBT 83. TOEIC at least 860 points
Source
“You will need: At least one year of professional experience after graduation adequate English language skills at language level B2 (e.g. at least 860 points on the TOEIC or at least 83 points on the TOEFL) current employment”

www.fom.de/de/hochschulbereiche/wirtschaft-und-management/business-administration-ma.html · checked 14 November 2026

Higher scores than on FOM's international programmes (TOEIC 785 / TOEFL iBT 72): this page names TOEIC 860 or TOEFL 83 as examples of B2. It does not say whether a Medium of Instruction letter is accepted.

German
Not needed when applying
Source
“You will need: At least one year of professional experience after graduation adequate English language skills at language level B2 (e.g. at least 860 points on the TOEIC or at least 83 points on the TOEFL) current employment”

www.fom.de/de/hochschulbereiche/wirtschaft-und-management/business-administration-ma.html · checked 14 November 2026

The requirements list only English at B2; no German certificate is asked for. The programme is taught in English but the study centres and the surrounding administration are German-speaking.

GRE / GMAT / GATE
Not stated by the university
2 pages checked, 14 Nov 2026

Neither GMAT nor GRE is mentioned for this MBA.

Selection
Admission is on the degree, the professional experience and the English certificate; FOM also requires current employment and asks applicants who are not employed to contact the student advisory service. Previous academic achievements can be credited and may shorten the programme. There is no entrance examination for this programme.
Source
“You will need: At least one year of professional experience after graduation adequate English language skills at language level B2 (e.g. at least 860 points on the TOEIC or at least 83 points on the TOEFL) current employment”
“Yes, you can have academic achievements already completed credited to your degree programme. To do so, upload your supporting documents-such as transcripts, certificates, or module descriptions-using the online form.” page

www.fom.de/de/hochschulbereiche/wirtschaft-und-management/business-administration-ma.html · checked 14 November 2026

India, Pakistan, Nigeria

Rules for applicants from India, Pakistan and Nigeria

English test waiver
Not stated by the university
2 pages checked, 14 Nov 2026

This page names only test scores. FOM's acceptance of a Medium of Instruction letter is published on the international site for its English-taught full-time programmes, and no page says it applies to this part-time MBA.

Rules that name these countries
  • India: Applicants whose school-leaving certificate or university qualification was obtained in India need an APS certificate from the Academic Evaluation Centre; it is submitted with the FOM application and for the visa appointment.
    Source
    “If you obtained your school-leaving certificate or university qualification in India, China or Vietnam, you may require an APS certificate before studying in Germany. … Include your APS certificate in your application to FOM University of Applied Sciences and provide it for your visa appointment, if required.”

    www.fom-international.com/en/Study-and-life/aps-certificate.html · checked 14 November 2026

    The rule covers India, China and Vietnam; of our three home countries only India is affected. FOM advises starting the APS process before applying because it can take several months.

  • India: Indian master's applicants whose previous degree is in Engineering, Commerce, Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business or Management and who start from the 2027 summer semester must take the digital Master Test (dMAT); FOM reimburses the €150 fee against tuition after enrolment.
    Source
    “The dMAT test is required for Indian Master's applicants whose previous degree is in Engineering, Commerce, Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business or Management and who plan to start their studies in Germany from summer semester 2027 onwards. FOM University will reimburse the €150 dMAT fee by crediting it towards the tuition fees after successful enrolment.”
    “If you completed your undergraduate degree in India and plan to start a Master's programme at FOM from the 2027 summer semester onwards, you may need to take the digital Master Test (dMAT) as part of the APS verification process.” page

    www.fom-international.com/en/international-office/faqs.html · checked 14 November 2026

    The dMAT is part of the APS procedure, has no pass mark and, FOM says, does not affect admission.

The rules for your country across all universities, and the visa rules on English tests, are on the India, Pakistan and Nigeria pages.

More on this programme

Every value was read on an official page and is stored with a verbatim quote; open “Source” to see it. “Not stated by the university” means none of the pages we checked says, and lists those pages. Rules change: confirm with the university before you apply or pay.