Where to study an MBA degree in Germany

I am thinking of doing an MBA. There are so many schools out there it is hard to make a decision.

Is it worth paying mega-bucks to go to one of the top schools or can be satisfied with maybe doing something like Open University or FOM München where i can study and work at the same time?

Any advice would be great.

OG

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MBA courses at the Euro Business Uni in Munich

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Well I have heard the OU is generally very good, and it does make it possible to work and study.

Yes it is worth paying mega-bucks, your return on investment will be much higher even with a larger up-front cost. Business Week will be posting new ranking for US and interntional schools tomorrow.

There some thoughts and info on this issue here: Graduate level courses offered in English, Economics, accounting, business, etc.

@ JML... that was a great post/novel... bloody helpful, cheers.

yep read in detail and checked out some of the links posted in response.

The problem i find is that most of the info available about pros and cons of MBA is still very US oriented. I have been trying to figure out what is best for me in a European/rest of world scenario, since it rather unlikely that i will end up in the US (although...)

As you rightly say the best returns seem to be from the top 5 schools but then only if you manage to get recruited by a US company and want to spend the next 5-10 years there. Now, I have nothing against this per se but that would mean many life decisions that i am not sure i am ready to make.

Here's the thought process I went through...

1) will it really help you get further than you are now
2) depends what you studies first time around
3) could you get your company to sponsor you (if they think it's worth you doing it, it shows it will bring you added value)
4) Do you really want to study almost every night for 3 years when you could be playing rugby and drinking with TT?!

@JB: So what did you decide?

@OG: It doesn't need to be a US-based company, just an international one that regularly recruits MBAs. They will know the financial commitment you make and pay accordingly.

You can find this kind of info out from the B-Schools themselves - many list recruiters on their websites.

ROI is always a tricky thing to work out. According to Forbes (see website) INSEAD has the best ROI based on change in salary. But I dunno - word is that lots of consultancies send people to INSEAD for a 'cheap and quick' MBA as part of their promotional system. Which makes lots of the results void. There is also a lot less time to find a job due to the length of the course.

With my ear to the ground I hear that employers think that a Euro MBA is best for US students who want to get some international experience - i.e. an active career choice. Europeans that stay in Europe for their MBA are presumed not to have been able to get into a US school.

Talk to Parrothead..he went through the Duke MBA Program..he should be able to help you out..

re change in salary: all the numbers qouted don't seem that high to be frank and honest. A company would have to offer way above average for it to make good financial sense for me if i had to finance myself (my current employer does not sponsor MBAs being a good bavarian company)

rr not good enough for US if you study in Europe, yes with a few notable exceptions, but in general you are probably right.

still lots to think about.

Well the question must be 'what do you want to go for?'
Most people, when it really boils down to it want to increase their salary - let's face very few people study business and finance because they find it inherently fascinating.

If you are at a stage in your career where you are paid so much that you would take a drop in salary then:
(i) it doesn't sound like it would be much use to you. Try an EMBA or don't bother
(ii) you need to want to make a certain kind of career move to justify it - from well paid techy to management etc.
(iii) stop whining and pay for it out of your loose change

ok. understand what you mean.

my main reason for wanting to study an MBA is for the challenge, not for future financial gain, which i see as at best to be minimal. I have done well at my company so far and have no desire really to work for another. I have a vision of where i want to be within 10 years and an MBA will certainly help.

I already studies an international business course in which i have two degrees. I would like to study an MBA with a "schwerpunk" in Finance, since i have a finance background.

My original plan post graduating was to qualify with CIMA but this quali is next to useless here in Germany so didn't follow through. I am now at the age where I have to act upon my desire for further academic studies or ditch it forever.

@ satman (and graham) that is the point I was making. Ok I am biased, I have a 4 year degree, a (dropped-out) year of chartered accountancy, and a Masters (recognised as MBA) behind me so am sick of study.

And when I came to Germany my "MBA" got me into Siemens at the same pay grade as a german university graduate... who didn't have to pay for a masters with no state funding, no grant and no parental support /state financing system, still paying off the original BSc student debts on the side.

Which is why I know you have to be really sure of several things:
1) do you have the money (not working for at least a year, losing (or still having to pay for) flat, travel if studying abroad, taking on debt for study fees and living.. all lost savings which could be going towards pension, house, Porsche, Playboy bunnies, etc.)
2) Do you really want to study again (especially with OU you have to be really sure, my chartered accoutnacy was in my spare time and in intensive courses.. I felt like I had no life at all, constant stress.. but to be fair I did the exams in 6 months and you normally take 12). Either way, 2 more years of it would have killed me.
3) Is it really bringing you that much added value? My Masters felt like I was paying for a list of contacts, I learn far more in my job. I think working for a multinational gives you more value and opportunites, as they train you and support you if you want to change careers within the company. You can also do management courses which are like MBA's, but moulded to your company and with a network of colleagues.

But here I'm biased too, as I studied Business to start with so an MBA is an adder. If you studied sciences or engineering or something, I'm sure it would help a lot more.

Try countrygirl too, she did the Cranfield MBA for 2 years.

I was thinking of Oxford (cos of their one year deal) if i can get in of course. I can take a sabatical from my company for 6 months where i still get base pay. all holiday money, chritsmas money, bonus, overtime hours and holiday get rolled up into the six months salary that you are off. So that shortens the time with no money.