IU International University of Applied Sciences
Master of Business Administration (One Year)
Cologne, Germany
MBA
DURATION
12 months
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
01 Oct 2026
TUITION FEES
EUR 5,017 / per semester *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* the price includes discount on tuition fees. For more details check on IU’s website
Key Summary
Why should you consider studying for an MBA?
The Master of Business Administration at IU offers a variety of career opportunities after graduation. The international orientation of the programme makes it possible to prove one's skills in the global working world and to assign with international companies. By imparting knowledge in areas such as finance, economics, marketing and leadership, you qualify for challenging tasks in middle to upper management in various fields.
This program is offered on-site at IU's global campus situated in the vibrant city of Cologne. Additionally, you'll have the option to extend your experience with an 18-month post-study work visa, enabling you to work and explore Germany.
What does it mean to study on IU Campus?
- All programmes taught in English
- Experience exciting real-world industry collaborations
- Career-oriented face-to-face teaching by our experienced professors and lecturers, supplemented by self-study with our digital tools
- IU’s AI-driven teaching assistant helps you prepare for exams, find materials in the virtual library, and clarify questions
Other perks:
- Face-to-face lectures that allow you to discuss current industry trends
- Apply and deepen your acquired knowledge already during your studies through internships (optional or mandatory, depending on the programme) or student part-time jobs (maximum 20 hours per week)
- 18-month post-study visa eligibility
Why IU?
- Career-oriented: IU provides specialised degree programs in high-demand fields.
- Courses: combine theory and practical application through real-life case studies
- Kickstart your career in Germany: after graduation with an 18-month post-study visa
- All programmes are accredited: according to German and EU standards in education
- IU degrees are internationally recognised and can be converted to overseas equivalents for work or further studies
- Recognised by WES Canada & US and member of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU)
Study with IU! Find out what it’s like to study at IU. IU's experienced study advisors will give you all the insights about the study programmes, online or on campus, study coaching and more. It’s also a great chance to ask your questions.
Change your future with IU - apply and save up to 20%!
IU is always looking for new ways to help you combine high-quality education, accessible education, no matter your circumstances. You have the chance to get up to 20% off your on-campus studies!
Join IU at its campus in Cologne and gain the practical skills, industry knowledge and international experience you need to launch your career in Germany and beyond.
Our 60-credit MBA teaches you how to analyse competitors and markets, develop new products and business ideas, advise customers, lead departments and teams or strategically position a brand. It is an excellent choice for anyone looking to enter a role in leadership or entrepreneurs that want to start their own business. You'll gain a solid foundation for business administration and management and start to build a network of business contacts that could fuel your success later in your professional journey. You can also choose to extend your MBA, specialising in one of five areas and focusing on your ideal career. Our team and academics are always on hand to give you support and advice.
1st Semester
- Leadership
- Innovation and Entrepreneurship
- International Marketing
- Performance Measurement
- Corporate Finance
- Managerial Economics
2nd Semester
- Strategic Management
- Operations and Information Management
- Business Ethics and Corporate Governance
- Capstone Thesis and Defence
Specialise with our MBA
Want to specialise in a particular area or industry? You can also choose to extend your degree for an extra 30 ECTS credits with our Master of Business Administration. Choose between areas including Finance and Accounting, Big Data, Marketing, Information Technology, or Engineering. Head to the Master of Business Administration page to find out more.
Accreditations, Rankings, and Memberships
 | AccreditationIU International University of Applied Sciences has received system accreditation from EQAR, FIBAA, the German Accreditation Council, and the German Council of Science and Humanities. This means that their courses, faculty and teaching materials meet the rigorous standards set according to European academic guidelines and they can now accredit their own programmes. |
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| Awards and RankingsIU is the first German university to get 99/100 on the QS Stars Report, but they also topped 6 out of 25 categories in Germany’s largest university ranking by CHE. Recently IU’s online MBA programmes ranked 26th in Europe in the prestigious QS Online MBA Rankings, an impressive achievement and recognition on the international stage. |
| | MembershipsIU is a member of the Business Graduate’s Association, Online Learning Consortium, AASCB, and UNESCO's Global Education Coalition. These memberships give them connections to other institutions, companies, and NGOs as well as top-tier degree programmes and lifelong learning development courses. By leveraging cutting-edge technology, IU helps students in need to continue their education and pursue lifelong learning Since April 2023, IU is a member of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), the largest university association in the world with foreign universities as an associate member. IU is also the only European member of Association of African Universities (AAU), a network of over 420 universities and research centres from across the African continent |
Global Recognition and Academic Partners
Global RecognitionAs IU is recognised by WES Canada and U.S., their degrees can be converted into points according to local academic standards in the Canadian Immigration Point System and American Immigration Assessment Scheme. |
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Academic PartnersThrough partnerships with academic institutions from all around the world, IU offers a more affordable way for students to study and live abroad. The IU Study Abroad Alliance lets students start a degree online at IU and complete it at a partner university in the US, Canada, Australia or Europe, where career opportunities are aplenty |
Career Possibilities
An MBA is recognised around the world and prepares you with methods, tools, and skills to make your mark in the business world. Whether you want to start your own business or enter top positions at big-name companies across the world, the “One-Year MBA” from IU will help you get to where you want to go.
Business Development Manager
As a Business Development Manager you need to have a feel for change and trends. You analyse developments and markets and develop new products and business ideas on this basis. In addition, you bring sound knowledge in the areas of finance, economics and law to the right place.
Consultant
As a Consultant, you consult various businesses. These consultations could be on general management of the business or how to go through a process of change. You adapt your basic consultation concept to the individual needs and assignments of your client while meeting your own, or your employer's targets.
Senior Brand Manager
As a Brand Manager, your job is to strategically develop, position and coordinate a company's brand or image with the goal of making it highly recognisable and differentiating it from other companies. As part of this, your responsibilities include cross-product strategy planning using effective external communication. As a Brand Manager, you also design innovative, cross-channel media campaigns that are implemented, analysed and optimised nationally and internationally.