Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Mannheim Business School is Germany's leading institution for management education and is accredited by AACSB, EQUIS, and AMBA - an achievement known as the "Triple Crown", held by less than 1% of all business schools worldwide. This guarantees that your degree meets the highest international academic and professional standards.

Mannheim Business School combines the best of two worlds: on the one hand the University’s academic rigor with research and teaching excellence and on the other hand strong practical orientation, international exposure, and personalized career support. Unlike many public institutions, MBS offers classes with handpicked candidates and a network of global corporate partners, ensuring that you can immediately apply what you learn to real-world challenges.

Our learning environment is highly interactive and practice-oriented. Courses are taught by internationally recognized faculty and experienced professionals, integrating case studies, consulting projects, and teamwork in diverse groups. You will learn with and from peers with different academic, professional, and cultural backgrounds - creating a truly global and collaborative experience.

The Mannheim Master in Sustainable Business & Technology is designed for working professionals who wish to combine full-time employment with academic advancement. However, due to the program's intensity and personal requirements, we individually recommend discussing workload adjustments with your employer to ensure a balanced learning experience.

Since this is a part-time program with limited on-campus attendance, it does not qualify for a student visa under German regulations. The program requires participants to attend on-campus modules on our Mannheim campus for a total of approximately 10 weeks over the course of 24 months.

The program follows a rolling admissions process, meaning applications are reviewed continuously until all places are filled. We strongly encourage early application, as it offers several advantages:

• Higher chances of securing a place in the program
• Early access to the MBS network
• Eligibility for Early Bird offers
• More time for personal planning and employer coordination

Yes. Mannheim Business School offers several opportunities to learn about the program and school as well as to get to know our campus and staff before applying. You can participate in online or on-campus information events specifically for the Mannheim Master in Sustainable Business & Technology. These sessions allow you to meet the team, ask questions, and gain detailed insights into the curriculum and participant experience.

To begin your personal consultation process, you can also use the  “Introduce Yourself” feature. Based on your submitted LinkedIn profile or CV, the Admissions Team conducts a preliminary profile check followed by a Personal Orientation Interview to discuss your goals and program fit.

In addition, prospective students may: 

• Book an on-campus visit by contacting info.msbt@mannheim-business-school.com
• Explore the campus through a virtual 360° campus tour, offering an immersive impression of MBS facilities and the Mannheim environment

The program is designed specifically for working professionals and offers a modular structure. Nevertheless, attending classes and project sessions in person is a key part of the MBS learning philosophy. You should ensure that your schedule allows for active participation.

While the program is designed for working professionals, it requires a consistent time commitment. On average, participants should plan for preparation, group work, and assignments between modules ≈ 10 hours/week. Workload intensity may vary depending on the module and project phase, but the modular structure allows for long-term planning and coordination with professional responsibilities.

Assessment is based on a mix of individual and group work, including applied projects, presentations, written assignments, as well as closed book exams (≈ 20%) and the Master Project. This ensures that academic rigor is combined with practical relevance, allowing participants to demonstrate their ability to apply concepts to real-world sustainable business challenges.

We offer a Master of Arts awarded by the University of Mannheim. The Mannheim Master in Sustainable Business & Technology is an M.A. program emphasizing strategic and managerial perspective – bridging technology and sustainable business. An M.Sc. typically focuses more on technical and quantitative aspects, while this program prepares you for an active role as a driver at the intersection of technology and sustainable business.

The MSBT targets professionals with backgrounds in business, engineering, or science who aspire to lead sustainable business transformation in organizations. Whether you come from a corporate, startup, or NGO environment, the program equips you with both managerial and technological skills to drive responsible innovation.

While technical universities focus primarily on the scientific and engineering side, MBS integrates business strategy, technology management, and sustainable technology in a holistic framework. You will not only gain technical understanding but also leadership and decision-making competencies that are essential for shaping the future of sustainable business.

MBS believes in the power of face-to-face learning. The immersive classroom experience encourages critical thinking, collaboration, and personal growth - qualities that cannot be fully replicated online. The on-campus format fosters a strong network and interactive hands-on learning environment essential to our holistic educational approach.

Absolutely. The curriculum, faculty, and student body are highly international. Through global perspectives, intercultural teamwork, and corporate projects with international partners, you will develop the skills and mindset to succeed in a global business environment.

Yes. Sustainable Business, twin transformation, and innovation are among the most in-demand competencies according to industries. The program equips you with the managerial and analytical skills required to navigate these evolving fields and to make a meaningful impact within your organization and beyond.

The MBS Career Development Team offers multiple workshops, corporate connections, and access to exclusive job opportunities. Students benefit from strong ties with industry partners and from the support of MBS's extensive alumni network, helping you transition into new roles to accelerate your current career path.

Beyond immediate role changes, graduates often move into positions with broader (strategic) responsibility. This includes managing sustainable business transformation initiatives, working at the interface of data and business, shaping ESG or impact strategies, or acting as internal drivers of innovation and technology-enabled change across organizations.

The curriculum equips students with transferable skills that are highly valued in both technology- and finance-driven environments, such as data-driven decision-making, strategic thinking, sustainability analytics, and stakeholder management. Combined with our workshops and access to industry-specific employers, MBS actively supports career transitions into areas such as ESG, sustainable finance, digital business, and technology-enabled consulting.

Many participants use the program to grow into more strategic, sustainability- or technology-related roles within their existing organizations. By applying tools and frameworks directly to company-specific challenges, particularly through projects and the Master Project, participants often create immediate value for their employers while strengthening their internal career trajectory.

Yes. MBS students can engage in a variety of Network Clubs and student initiatives focusing on topics such as sustainable business, consulting, entrepreneurship, finance, and technology. These clubs offer workshops, speaker events, company visits, and peer-to-peer exchange, complementing the academic curriculum with practical insights and professional exposure. Find more information here.

Graduate testimonials and alumni insights can be found on the Mannheim Business School website, during information events, and through direct exchange with students and alumni arranged by the Admissions Team. These first-hand perspectives provide authentic insights into the academic experience, career impact, and long-term value of an MBS degree.

The Mannheim Master in Sustainable Business & Technology is recognized for its strong academic foundation, practical orientation, and close alignment with real business needs. Employers value graduates for their ability to connect sustainability goals with operational realities, data-driven decision-making, and technological understanding.

Graduates of the Mannheim Master in Sustainable Business & Technology enjoy strong career progression:  

• Average salary at the end of the program: €72,200
• Average salary increase: 29% upon completion of the program  
• Estimated average ROI: ~1.9 years
• Career development during the program: 59% of students experienced career development  
• Sustainability-focused roles: 22% of graduates hold a sustainability-related position  
• Data-related roles: 25% work at the interface of data and business

Alumni hold positions such as: ESG Data Scientist, Manager Sustainability & Impact, Sustainability & Impact Consultant, Transformation Manager, Business Analyst, Product Manager, Impact Investment Associate, Sustainable Finance Analyst, Business Development Manager, Project Manager Sustainability, or Research Analyst.

These outcomes highlight how the program prepares professionals to lead at the intersection of sustainable business, technology, and business strategy, equipping them with both the technical and managerial skills employers demand.

The curriculum is closely aligned with the skills identified as most in demand by global employers. By combining strategic, technological, and sustainable business-focused modules, the program equips participants with many of the top competencies highlighted in recent industry studies (see GMAC Corporate Recruiters Survey).

The Mannheim Master in Sustainable Business & Technology is explicitly designed to develop the competencies that global employers value most - and it fully covers the current top five future skills while integrating the rest of the high-demand skills almost completely throughout the curriculum.

• Skills in using AI tools: The AI, IoT & Big Data for Sustainable Business Decisions course teaches practical applications of AI and big data in decision-making and sustainable operations. Participants work with real use cases showing how advanced technologies improve resource efficiency
• Strategic thinking: The Strategic Planning & Market Intelligence module equips participants with frameworks for crafting strategies in dynamic markets, including sustainability-driven business contexts.
• Technology / IT skills: The AI, IoT & Big Data and Blockchain & Decentralized Solutions for Sustainability courses deliver direct experience with technologies shaping tomorrow’s business landscape, such as distributed ledgers and smart systems.
• Problem solving: The Master Project, the Intrapreneurship & Business Case Development course, and numerous case-based modules challenge students to analyze and solve real organizational challenges. These are aligned with real partner company problems or entrepreneurial opportunities.
• Data analysis / interpretation: Data-driven decision-making is woven throughout the curriculum: from Strategic Planning & Market Intelligence to the AI, IoT & Big Data module, students interpret complex datasets to extract insights and translate them into strategic action.

Across these modules and learning experiences, participants gain both technical fluency and strategic insight, ensuring they are not only familiar with current tools and technologies but able to apply them in business-critical contexts that drive sustainable impact. 

By aligning the curriculum with top competencies identified in the latest GMAC survey, the program ensures that students acquire both the technical and soft skills needed to succeed in modern, international, and sustainable business-driven organizations.

Yes. Mannheim Business School is part of a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem that actively supports founders and innovators. The University of Mannheim ranks #4 in Germany for entrepreneurial activities and is one of only two top-ranked universities without a technical focus among the national Top 6, underscoring the strength of its interdisciplinary and business-oriented startup culture.

At MBS, this is reflected in several ways:

• Master Projects can be developed into business plans or entrepreneurial ventures, allowing applied learning to turn into real businesses
• The Startup Club within our MBS Network Clubs offers regular meetups, presentations, and networking opportunities for aspiring founders to exchange ideas and connect with peers.
• Collaborating with NEXT Mannheim links students and alumni to Mannheim’s dynamic startup scene, enabling connections with investors, accelerators, and early-stage ventures.

Mannheim’s entrepreneurial ecosystem also reflects broader trends in team composition: 63% of founding teams in Germany consist of multidisciplinary experts, similar to diverse, multi-competence teams cultivated in MBS programs.

Yes. Alumni from the Mannheim network have founded impactful ventures. Here are two examples:

• Resourcly – an AI-powered platform that helps manufacturers harmonize parts data, reduce redundancies, and improve operational sustainability through machine learning. The company has raised significant seed funding and is scaling solutions for circular manufacturing. Learn more about them: Resourcly
• Carbonsate – a climate tech startup focused on carbon dioxide removal (CDR) credits by securely storing biomass, enabling climate impact and verified carbon removal. Find out more about them: Carbonsate | Carbon Credits | Biomass

These examples illustrate not only the entrepreneurial opportunities available through Mannheim’s ecosystem, but also how founders from the region are building solutions with global impact in sustainable business and technology.

The MBS Alumni and Career Office connects you with a global community of leaders and professionals across diverse industries. This network offers mentorship opportunities, exclusive events, and lifelong learning programs to help you stay connected and continuously grow.

Yes. Current students regularly engage with alumni through guest lectures, networking events, and mentoring programs. This enables you to build valuable relationships even before graduation. As a #mannheimerforlife you are part of this amazing network not only after graduating, but from day one.

Yes. All graduates and even participants become part of the MBS Alumni Network, a global community of professionals across industries and functions. Alumni stay connected through dedicated networking platforms, professional events, regional alumni chapters, and lifelong learning opportunities, enabling continuous exchange of knowledge and career opportunities. All under the organization of our very own Alumni and Career Development Office.

In many cases, tuition fees and study-related expenses are tax-deductible. This can include tuition fees, study materials (books, software, stationery, etc.) travel expenses, and even application related costs such as test fees (e.g., TOEFL, IELTS, etc.) and document certification. Please consult your tax advisor for personalized advice according to your country of residence. For tax advice outside of Germany, please consult your local tax advisor.

Yes. Many participants receive financial assistance from their employers, especially when the program aligns with corporate sustainable business and innovation goals. Additionally, MBS provides guidance on partial scholarships and payment plans. We offer several Early Bird Discounts (up to € 2,500) as well as a current introductory fee of €29,900 (regular fee €32,000).