Master of Business Administration (MBA) — Entrepreneurship & Innovation Saarland University

For over 35 years, the European Institute for Advanced Behavioural Management (EIABM) at Saarland University has been firmly established as a provider of top-tier continuing education for international executives through the MBA programme European Management. Starting in the 2026/27 winter semester, the institute will expand to include the MBA in Entrepreneurship & Innovation, thereby meeting the growing demand for university-level continuing education programmes specifically tailored to those interested in starting a business and in the field of innovation management.

The MBA in Entrepreneurship & Innovation imparts scientifically grounded and practice-oriented economic competencies with a focus on entrepreneurship and innovation management. The programme specifically prepares students for start-up ventures, corporate management, and the leadership of innovation projects, and it qualifies graduates for a wide range of roles in companies across all industries or in self-employed entrepreneurial activities. The English-language curriculum combines general management with a specialisation in entrepreneurship and is characterised by a strong practical focus, in-person classes, and transfer-oriented teaching formats. The courses are interactive and closely aligned with professional practice, supplemented by case studies, soft skills seminars, and field trips. Enrolment is limited, ensuring direct interaction in all courses between participants and university professors from Germany and Europe, as well as experienced professionals. Guest lectures and practical reports from successful experts in the field enrich the curriculum. Students also benefit from the excellent entrepreneurship ecosystem at Saarland University, which features outstanding partners and infrastructure such as Triathlon.

The degree offers direct support for founders during the start-up process, while also equipping graduates to successfully manage innovation projects within companies, contribute to research and development, or advance corporate spin-offs. Thanks to the specialised and interdisciplinary competencies of the programme and its international orientation, graduates are qualified for diverse professional roles across organisations of all sizes and in various geographical regions.

Career opportunities span entrepreneurship, business management, and the broader economic sector. Both before and after completing the programme, professional pathways are highly diverse; graduates can work in virtually any field or industry, domestically or internationally, and they may assume leadership roles or pursue their own entrepreneurial initiatives. The programme is designed for a wide range of target groups, including founders and those interested in founding a business, practitioners, entrepreneurs and employees as well as PhD students from other disciplines and affiliated institutes.

The programme lasts one year and includes 15 courses: Strategic Management, Corporate Sustainability and Social Responsibility, Soft Skills, European Institutions, European Regulations, Economics and Finance, Learning Business by Doing Business, Marketing of Innovations, Prototyping and Agile Project Management, Business Model Development, Data Analytics Project, Consumer Behaviour, Entrepreneurship, Leadership and Human Resource Management, and Entrepreneurial Management.

Each course usually runs from Wednesday to Saturday, as a blocked course. All courses are designed to be transfer-oriented and highly interactive, closely aligned with professional practice and complemented by case studies, soft skills seminars, and excursions to business enterprises. At the end of the programme, students write a Master's thesis on an innovative and relevant topic. There is a writing time of three months for full-time students.

The entire curriculum of the MBA programme is offered in English.

Students at the EIABM come from all over the world. On their way to taking the lead in global teams, they learn the necessary basics of modern management in the MBA programme: economic, legal, and political strategies as well as essential intercultural aspects, through discussions and case studies.

Field trips, lectures, case studies and company visits to the institute's European partner universities offer students the opportunity to deepen and apply theoretical knowledge and interact with international students, practitioners and scholars. The programme is very practice-focused. State-of-the-art teaching methods such as interactive case studies, teamwork and real-life examples enhance the study experience. Students get valuable insights into the industrial world on various company visits and networking events with experts from the business world. This offers excellent opportunities to start building their career networks for their successful futures, right from the beginning.

Courses are taught by renowned professors from Saarland University as well as from other recognised universities in Germany and other European countries. EIABM chooses its lecturers very carefully from the elite range of leading experts in their fields.

An excellent qualification at the highest level is guaranteed by a high degree of practical relevance and internationality in the study programme. EIABM's industry connections and advisory board foster ongoing collaboration with local industries, enhancing networking opportunities and industry relevance.

There are no integrated internships in the programme. However, students who are interested are welcome to pursue an internship and receive support from EIABM and Saarland University's Career Centre.

The application deadline for the academic year is set to 15 July of the respective year.

Late registration is possible by 30 September at the latest.

Applicants must have an undergraduate degree (minimum: Bachelor's) with at least 240 ECTS. Furthermore, applicants must have professional experience (of at least one year after graduation).

Additionally, TOEFL or IELTS is required.

A GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) is required, but this requirement might be waived in some exceptional cases or justified cases.

APS is required for applicants from India, China, and Vietnam.

Approx. 344.30 EUR per semester (as of summer semester 2026; semester fees are subject to change), including a "Deutschlandticket".

More information: https://www.uni-saarland.de/en/study/organisation/fees/semester-fee.html

The Welcome Center at Saarland University provides information on working and living in Saarbrücken. For more information, please visit their website: https://www.uni-saarland.de/en/global/welcome-center/living-working.html.

Cost of living: https://www.uni-saarland.de/en/global/welcome-center/preparing/financing/cost-of-living.html

Saarland University has a Career Centre, an Innovation Centre, a Welcome Centre and an International Office that all help students with everything related to future careers, finding jobs, part-time jobs, students jobs and internships, etc.

Please find further information here or contact the welcome centre on campus.

There is a student scholarship, exclusively available to the MBA programme, called "Deutschlandstipendium". MBA students can apply for it in June of every year. At the end of the MBA course studies, there are also two monetary prizes announced every year: the "Villa Lessing Prize" for very good Master's theses with a European focus, and the "Hans Werner Osthoff Prize" for the most successful MBA student. Both have prize money attached to them. It is also possible to apply for student loans at various institutions. More details are available at https://www.uni-saarland.de/en/global/welcome-center/preparing/financing.html.

Boasting a modern campus and excellent infrastructure, the institute provides an ideal environment for start-ups, entrepreneurial activities and enhancing management careers. Students benefit from Saarland University’s profile as an Entrepreneurial University, gaining hands-on experience through close links to start-up activities and the Triathlon ecosystem for entrepreneurship, innovation, and transfer.

Moreover, Saarland University's Career Center continuously offers events to help students start networking right from the beginning of their studies.

The International Office helps students find accommodation. Rooms and apartments are affordable and relatively easy to find. Compared to other big cities in Germany where affordable accommodation is often difficult to find, Saarbrücken offers a wide range of different options within reasonable time frames.