
Cologne, Germany

Cologne, Germany

Cost Of Living

Undergraduate Fees International Students

Post Graduate Fees International Students

The CBS International Business School (CBS) distinguishes itself through a strong international orientation and practice-focused approach, making it an ideal choice for students aiming for global business careers. The school offers numerous English-taught programmes and maintains partnerships with over 180 universities worldwide, providing opportunities for semesters abroad and extensive global networking. Its curriculum emphasizes real-world projects, internships, and collaborations with industry, ensuring that students gain practical experience alongside academic knowledge. CBS provides flexible study models, including full-time, part-time, and dual-study options, allowing learners to combine professional experience with their studies. The school is accredited by FIBAA and IACBE, reflecting high standards in management and business education. Additionally, CBS fosters entrepreneurship, leadership, and innovation through workshops, start-up support, and career services, while its campuses in major German cities such as Cologne, Berlin, Hamburg, and Mainz give students access to thriving business hubs and industry networks. Overall, CBS prepares graduates to succeed in a competitive, global business environment through a combination of international exposure, applied learning, and strong career support.
Thomas Bachem is a German entrepreneur, software developer, and investor, widely recognized for founding the CODE Univer... View More
Thomas Bachem is a German entrepreneur, software developer, and investor, widely recognized for founding the CODE University of Applied Sciences in Berlin, a private university focused on digital product development. From a young age, he taught himself programming and launched multiple tech ventures, including the video-sharing platform sevenload, the game Fliplife, and the online CV editor Lebenslauf.com, which was later acquired by XING AG. Bachem’s vision for practical, project-based education has made him one of Germany’s youngest university chancellors and earned him awards such as Founder of the Year and inclusion in MIT Technology Review’s Innovators Under 35. View Less
CBS graduate in "International Business" and founder of the start-up Green For Me.
Christopher Muhr is a German serial entrepreneur and executive known for co-founding CityDeal, which was acquired by Gro... View More
Christopher Muhr is a German serial entrepreneur and executive known for co-founding CityDeal, which was acquired by Groupon in 2010, one of Groupon’s largest international acquisitions. After the acquisition, he joined Groupon’s leadership team and later contributed to scaling Auto1 Group, one of Europe’s fastest-growing startups, and co-founded the property-tech company McMakler. Muhr has been recognized in The Wired 100 for his influence in tech and for successfully growing international technology businesses. View Less
Gleb Tritus is an entrepreneur and corporate innovation leader who currently serves as Managing Director of the Lufthans... View More
Gleb Tritus is an entrepreneur and corporate innovation leader who currently serves as Managing Director of the Lufthansa Innovation Hub, the division of Lufthansa Group dedicated to emerging technologies and new mobility solutions. Tritus focuses on bridging the startup world with corporate innovation, helping Lufthansa identify, pilot, and scale digital business models. His career blends startup experience with strategic leadership in large enterprises, reflecting CBS’s emphasis on entrepreneurial and global business education. View Less
CBS International Business School operates a network of modern campuses across Germany with the main campus in Cologne (Rodenkirchen district) situated right on the banks of the Rhine, offering a blend of a peaceful, green setting and excellent transport links to the city center. The school also has additional campuses in cities including Berlin, Hamburg, Mainz, Rheine, Solingen, Neuss, and Rostock, each designed to provide a dynamic learning environment tailored to students’ needs.
Across these campuses, CBS provides modern academic infrastructure that supports a practice‑oriented business education. This includes well‑equipped lecture halls and classrooms, interactive learning spaces, and technology‑enabled environments conducive to collaborative and experiential learning. Many locations are designed to integrate digital learning formats with in‑person interaction, reflecting CBS’s hybrid teaching model that combines personal exchange with modern digital advantages.
Student life at CBS International Business School in Germany combines academic engagement, international exposure, community activities, and practical professional development to create a dynamic and enriching student experience. Students come from around 75+ countries, fostering a truly multicultural environment where intercultural exchange is part of daily campus life both inside and outside the classroom. The learning culture focuses on interactive, practice‑oriented education, including business projects with real companies, guest lectures, teamwork, and networking opportunities that build practical skills alongside theoretical knowledge. Campus life is supported by a vibrant student community, where you’ll find opportunities to network, collaborate, and socialise with peers from diverse backgrounds. The international office and study buddy programmes help new students settle in, while Welcome Nights, cultural evenings, city excursions, and other events help foster connections and ease the transition to life in Germany.


At CBS International Business School, campus recruitment and career support are integrated into the student experience through strong company connections, practical project work, and a dedicated Career Service that helps students transition into the job market. The school collaborates with a large network of corporate partners (around 1,300 companies) across industries including well‑known firms giving students access to internship opportunities, employer projects, and networking events that can lead directly to job prospects as part of their studies. Many programmes include practical business projects and guest lectures from industry experts, helping you build relevant skills and professional contacts early on. The Career Service also provides talent coaching and personalised career development support to assist with applications, interviews, and recruiting events, improving students’ preparedness for roles in fields like consulting, finance, marketing, and management after graduation.
The below information is required while
completing the university application :
For a Master's programme, applicants need an officially certified copy of their Bachelor's degree (a minimum of 180 ECTS credits from a recognised university with a final grade of at least "good" in a business-related degree).
If the degree was obtained abroad, official recognition may be necessary. Applicants must also submit a CV in tabular format, a valid visa (for international applicants), proof of health insurance, a copy of an official photo ID, proof of language proficiency, and academic transcripts from previous studies.
Know moreAt CBS International Business School, campus recruitment and career support are integrated into the student experience through strong company connections, practical project work, and a dedicated Career Service that helps students transition into the job market. The school collaborates with a large network of corporate partners (around 1,300 companies) across industries including well‑known firms giving students access to internship opportunities, employer projects, and networking events that can lead directly to job prospects as part of their studies. Many programmes include practical business projects and guest lectures from industry experts, helping you build relevant skills and professional contacts early on. The Career Service also provides talent coaching and personalised career development support to assist with applications, interviews, and recruiting events, improving students’ preparedness for roles in fields like consulting, finance, marketing, and management after graduation.



CBS International Business School has earned multiple prestigious awards and recognitions over the years, reflecting its excellence in business education and international orientation. In 2018, it became the first German university to receive accreditation from the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE), highlighting its globally focused, practice-integrated programmes. The school has consistently ranked among the top universities of applied sciences for business administration in Germany, with WirtschaftsWoche naming it the best private university for business administration in North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate in 2023 based on employer surveys assessing graduate preparedness. CBS has also been recognized multiple times as a top digital education provider, combining innovative online learning formats with personalized student support. Its academic quality is further confirmed by system accreditation from the German Accreditation Council, FIBAA programme accreditations, and institutional accreditation by the German Council of Science and Humanities (Wissenschaftsrat), underscoring the school’s commitment to high standards in teaching, research, and applied business practice.


CBS International Business School and EU|FH combine their competencies under the umbrella of CBS University of Applied Sciences, expanding the study portfolio to include health, social sciences, and education.
CBS is voted one of the top 3 best digital education providers in the business school category by WirtschaftsWoche for the fourth time in a row.
In 2023, WirtschaftsWoche named CBS the best private university of applied sciences for business administration in the German states of North Rhine‑Westphalia and Rhineland‑Palatinate, based on a nationwide employer survey assessing how well universities prepare students for business careers.
CBS International Business School has actively developed research, innovation, and applied business projects since the mid-2010s. In 2016, it established the Center for Advanced Sustainable Management (CASM) to drive research in corporate ethics, sustainability, and social innovation, promoting knowledge transfer between academia and business. From 2018 to 2020, CBS participated in the ISSUE Erasmus+ project, creating innovative sustainability teaching formats and hosting international conferences on responsible leadership. Between 2019 and 2023, the school engaged in Erasmus+ projects like EFFORT, CEIP, and TRUST-Finance, advancing sustainability education, circular economy practices, and sustainable finance research. CBS has also conducted applied research on EU non-financial reporting legislation and its impact on corporate governance and HR practices, linking theory with real-world business challenges. Its ongoing thematic research clusters focus on sustainable management, digital transformation, entrepreneurship, business transformation, leadership, and financial markets, while practice-based projects with global partners such as KPMG, EY, and UPS enable students to apply innovative solutions in areas like digital strategy, sustainability, and business model innovation, reflecting CBS’s continuous commitment to applied research, innovation, and experiential learning.
Between 2019 and 2023, CASM coordinated or contributed to other Erasmus funded research activities, including: EFFORT – EFFectiveness Of Responsibility Teaching (2019), which tested the effectiveness of responsibility‑oriented teaching methods in business education. CEIP – Circular Economy in Practice and TRUST‑Finance – Transdisciplinary course on sustainable finance, extending sustainability research into economic and educational innovation. Project 1Uni‑1Book – Gender Data Gap (TheOtherHalf) focused on gender‑related research and was supported by Germany’s Stifterverband. These projects illustrate CBS’s move toward multi‑disciplinary, socially relevant research themes that combine sustainability, education innovation, and business practices.
From 2018 onwards, CASM became a partner in multiple international research collaborations funded under the Erasmus+ Strategic Partnerships programme. Notable projects included: ISSUE – Innovative Solutions for Sustainability in Education (2018–2020), aimed at developing innovative teaching formats for sustainability education across European universities. Hosting the 8th International Conference on Sustainability and Responsibility (Nov–Dec 2018) with partners including Humboldt University and Hamburg School of Business Administration, focusing on Responsible Leadership in Times of Transformation. These efforts helped CBS integrate sustainability into curricula and build networks with global research institutions.
In 2015, CBS established the Center for Advanced Sustainable Management (CASM) from the Dr. Jürgen Meyer Endowed Chair for International Business Ethics and Sustainability. CASM’s purpose is to drive research and teaching in corporate social responsibility (CSR), sustainability, and social innovation, and to promote knowledge transfer between business practice and academia. It works with companies, chambers of commerce, ministries, and NGOs to make sustainability an integral part of business and management education. Since 2018, CASM has participated in international research collaborations focused on developing innovative teaching formats for sustainable management and evaluating their effectiveness.
In April 2025, CBS ran its first international sustainability project bringing together students from CBS and partner universities (e.g., Fontys University of Applied Sciences and Vaasa University of Applied Sciences) to work with a German engineering firm on real‑world sustainability challenges. Teams tackled areas such as sustainable supply chain management, risk management, and sustainability reporting, enabling students to co‑design solutions with professional mentors—an innovation in experiential, cross‑border problem‑solving education.

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