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Master’s · Business & Management

Global MBA MBA

Gisma University of Applied Sciences · Potsdam · Official programme page

23 facts from 7 official pages · last checked 8 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
“All of our academic courses taught in English and we also offer free German lessons at our Berlin campus”

www.gisma.com/life-at-gisma/frequently-asked-questions · checked 8 November 2026

Institution-wide statement; the programme page gives no language field.

Study mode
On campus
Source
“The degree programmes are offered in face-to-face, full- … time or part-time format. MSc Social Media and … Influencer Marketing and MSc Creative … Entrepreneurship are also offered in distance learning … format.”

www.gisma.com/uploads/sites/5/2026/07/Study-Regulations-for-Master-Programmes.pdf · checked 8 November 2026

Taken from the framework regulations, which are binding. The programme pages describe delivery less strictly: "Gisma University of Applied Sciences supports flexible and individual learning by applying a systematic hybrid learning scheme", with part of the lectures in class and "face-to-face phases … complemented by e-learning sessions", and the FAQ says the offer "includes presential programmes as well as blended delivery". Regular on-campus attendance is required, so the programme is recorded as on-campus. The key-facts box gives "Location: Potsdam, near Berlin" while the body of the same page says lectures are "in class at our Berlin or Potsdam campus"; the key-facts box is followed here.

Attendance
Full-time
Source
“Duration: … 12 months (full-time)”
“The Master's programme comprises a standard period of … study of four semesters for full-time study and eight … semesters for part-time study. For the Global Master of … Business Administration programme, the standard … period of study comprises two semesters for full-time … study and four semesters for part-time study.” page

www.gisma.com/programmes/postgraduate/global-mba · checked 8 November 2026

The regulations add a part-time version of four semesters.

Length
2 semesters
Source
“The Master's programme comprises a standard period of … study of four semesters for full-time study and eight … semesters for part-time study. For the Global Master of … Business Administration programme, the standard … period of study comprises two semesters for full-time … study and four semesters for part-time study.”
“Duration: … 12 months (full-time)” page

www.gisma.com/uploads/sites/5/2026/07/Study-Regulations-for-Master-Programmes.pdf · checked 8 November 2026

Two semesters full-time (12 months), four semesters part-time.

Credits
60 ECTS
Source
“Global MBA (60 ECTS Credits) … € 22,500”
“30 ECTS in the 60 ECTS Master's (or Global MBA)” page

www.gisma.com/life-at-gisma/tuition-fees-and-funding · checked 8 November 2026

Conflict: the programme page says the degree "comprises eight core courses, three electives chosen from a portfolio of eight, and a master's thesis, totalling 65 ECTS credits", while the fee page and the framework regulations treat the Global MBA as a 60-ECTS master's. The regulations and the fee page are followed here.

Intakes
Winter, Summer, Other
Source
“Intakes: … Jan, Apr, Jul, Oct”
“The winter semester begins in October, the summer … semester in April. The semesters are divided into self- … contained quarters. Students may begin their studies at the … start of each quarter.” page

www.gisma.com/programmes/postgraduate/global-mba · checked 8 November 2026

October is the winter semester and April the summer semester; January and July are the other two quarter starts.

Non-EU deadline
Not stated by the university
4 pages checked, 8 Nov 2026

No Gisma page publishes an application deadline, and none states that applications are open at any time. There are four starts a year (January, April, July, October) and the regulations say students may begin at the start of each quarter. No separate date for visa applicants is given either; the how-to-apply FAQ only says "The visa confirmation will take 2-3 months, depending on the student's home country."

Start months
January, April, July, October
Source
“Intakes: … Jan, Apr, Jul, Oct”

www.gisma.com/programmes/undergraduate/bsc-computer-science · checked 8 November 2026

The same four start months are given on every Gisma degree programme page.

Non-EU tuition
€22,500 per programme
Source
“For all applicants … – € 22,500”
“Gisma Tuition Fees 2026 Intakes … Global MBA (60 ECTS Credits) … € 22,500” page

www.gisma.com/programmes/postgraduate/global-mba · checked 8 November 2026

Fee table headed "Gisma Tuition Fees 2026 Intakes"; Gisma publishes no separate 2027 price list. The page adds that fees "may vary depending on your applicant status" and that savings, regional offers and discounts (e.g. a 35% siblings and spouse discount, a €1,000 Think Digital discount at Potsdam for digital programmes) are available on request; the list price is recorded here.

Application fee
None
Source
“All-Inclusive Fees: … Covers any application/enrollment, examination, and thesis fees.”

www.gisma.com/life-at-gisma/tuition-fees-and-funding · checked 8 November 2026

The tuition fee covers the application and enrolment fee, so no separate application fee is charged. A deposit is due after acceptance (see the institution's otherFees).

Registration fee or deposit
None
Source
“All-Inclusive Fees: … Covers any application/enrollment, examination, and thesis fees.”

www.gisma.com/life-at-gisma/tuition-fees-and-funding · checked 8 November 2026

No enrolment or matriculation fee on top of tuition; the deposit paid after acceptance is deducted from the programme fee.

Places
Selection procedure
Source
“Applicants for the "Global Master of Business … Administration" programme complete a personal interview … to check their linguistic, professional and personal suitability … with a permanent Gisma lecturer.”
“Personal Interview” page
“There is no legal entitlement to admission to a study … programme at Gisma University of Applied Sciences.” page

www.gisma.com/uploads/sites/5/2026/07/Study-Regulations-for-Master-Programmes.pdf · checked 8 November 2026

No number of places is published, but admission depends on a personal interview with a permanent Gisma lecturer that assesses language, professional and personal suitability, and a job reference.

Programme accreditation
Accredited
Source
“State-recognised in Germany, the Gisma holds the Accreditation Council Foundation's quality seal, reflecting its commitment to teaching excellence and positive student outcomes”

www.gisma.com/programmes/postgraduate/global-mba · checked 8 November 2026

The Accreditation Council Foundation (Stiftung Akkreditierungsrat) seal. The Global MBA additionally holds AMBA accreditation and BGA accreditation, which are international business-school accreditations, not German programme accreditation.

Admission

What you need to apply

3-year bachelor’s
Accepted with conditions
Source
“The degree referred to in paragraph (1) must be a … university degree with at least 180 ECTS credit points. … Master's degree programme variants comprising 90 ECTS … credit points, a Bachelor's degree with 210 ECTS credit points … or, in the case of Master's degree programmes with 60 ECTS … credit points, a Bachelor's degree with 240 ECTS credit points … must be proven.”

www.gisma.com/uploads/sites/5/2026/07/Study-Regulations-for-Master-Programmes.pdf · checked 8 November 2026

The Global MBA is a 60-ECTS master's, for which the regulations ask for a bachelor's degree with 240 ECTS. An applicant with a three-year, 180-ECTS bachelor's can still be admitted if relevant professional experience gained after the first degree is credited (max. 30 ECTS per year and 60 ECTS in total, after at least six months of uninterrupted work), or if modules recommended by the examination board are completed. Three years of work experience are required for this programme in any case.

Subject background
A bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline, or equivalent work experience, plus at least three years of professional work experience after the first degree.
Source
“Bachelor's degree in relevant discipline or equivalent work experience … At least three years of professional work experience across varied industries.”
“In the programme "Global Master of Business … Administration", a professional activity of at least three years … after obtaining the first university degree is required.” page

www.gisma.com/programmes/postgraduate/global-mba · checked 8 November 2026

Minimum grade
Not stated by the university
3 pages checked, 8 Nov 2026

No minimum grade or GPA is published for this programme.

How your grade is converted
No conversion formula is published. Degrees from non-European higher education institutions are checked for comparability against the databases of the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB, i.e. anabin), and comparable services such as ENIC-NARIC may be consulted.
Source
“Degrees from non-European higher education … institutions are checked for comparability using the current … databases of the Central Office for Foreign Education (ZAB).”

www.gisma.com/uploads/sites/5/2026/07/Study-Regulations-for-Master-Programmes.pdf · checked 8 November 2026

Pre-master or bridging course
Not stated by the university
3 pages checked, 8 Nov 2026

The Global MBA page does not offer the Premasters (Brückensemester) route that Gisma's MSc pages offer, and the Premasters page names only Business and Computer Science master's pathways.

English
Level B2. IELTS 6.5 in every section · Duolingo accepted. no IELTS component below 6.0; TOEFL iBT, Pearson PTE and Duolingo are accepted at equivalent scores but no minimum is published for them; Gisma also offers its own English test free of charge
Source
“English proficiency: B2 (IELTS 6.5 overall, no less than 6.0 in any component) or equivalent scores in TOEFL iBT, Pearson PTE or Duolingo. Gisma also offers an English test free of charge.”
“Applicants must prove sufficient knowledge of the … language of the degree programme in which the degree … programme is conducted at a level of at least B2 according to … the Common European Framework of Reference for … Languages” page

www.gisma.com/programmes/postgraduate/global-mba · checked 8 November 2026

The highest English requirement at Gisma: IELTS 6.5 overall instead of 6.0. Gisma publishes a minimum only for IELTS and does not say whether TOEFL iBT Home Edition is accepted.

German
Not needed when applying. During studies: optional German Add-On Course from A1 to B2 over two years (three cycles a year, 50 class hours per cycle), for on-campus students only, €100 per cycle / €600 for two years, without a certificate
Source
“The German Add-On Course at Gisma University of Applied Sciences is designed to equip students with German language skills from A1 to B2 levels over a span of two years. This course is exclusively available for on-campus students”
“All of our academic courses taught in English and we also offer free German lessons at our Berlin campus” page

www.gisma.com/german-add-on-course · checked 8 November 2026

No Gisma page or regulation asks for German at application, during the degree or at graduation: the only language certificate required is for the language of instruction, which is English. Conflict: the FAQ calls the German lessons free, while the German Add-On Course page prices them at €100 per cycle (€600 for two years); the more specific page is followed here.

GRE / GMAT / GATE
Not stated by the university
3 pages checked, 8 Nov 2026

Neither GRE nor GMAT is mentioned for the Global MBA.

Other required tests
Not stated by the university
2 pages checked, 8 Nov 2026

No admission test. Selection is by personal interview with a permanent Gisma lecturer plus a job reference.

Selection
A personal interview with a permanent Gisma lecturer checking language, professional and personal suitability, plus a job reference and at least three years of professional work experience.
Source
“Personal Interview … Job reference”
“Applicants for the "Global Master of Business … Administration" programme complete a personal interview … to check their linguistic, professional and personal suitability … with a permanent Gisma lecturer.” page

www.gisma.com/programmes/postgraduate/global-mba · checked 8 November 2026

India, Pakistan, Nigeria

Rules for applicants from India, Pakistan and Nigeria

English test waiver
Possible for applicants from India, Nigeria, Pakistan, because English is an official language there, or with a previous degree taught in English
Source
“The proof is not required if … the student comes from a country in which the language of … the degree programme is the usual language of … communication and teaching or if the student already has a … degree for which the above-mentioned conditions or … comparable ones already had to be fulfilled.”

www.gisma.com/uploads/sites/5/2026/07/Study-Regulations-for-Master-Programmes.pdf · checked 8 November 2026

From the framework admission regulations for master's programmes, which are binding for all Gisma master's programmes; no Gisma web page mentions an English-test exemption. The regulation does not name countries: the exemption is for applicants from a country "in which the language of study is the usual language of communication and teaching", which Gisma itself decides ("The university shall determine equivalence" / "In individual cases, the examination board will decide"). English is an official language in India, Nigeria and Pakistan, so this is the closest basis in our schema; applicants should get Gisma's decision in writing. The second route is a previous degree for which the same conditions already had to be met (a degree taught in English). The Global MBA interview additionally checks language suitability, so an applicant exempted from the certificate is still assessed on English in the interview.

Rules that name these countries
None named on the pages checked

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.