CBS International Business School, Germany: Admissions, Tuition & English-Taught Programs Guide for International Students

CBS International Business School is a state-recognised private business school in Germany. It emerged in 2020 from two brands, Cologne Business School and the European Management School, and its roots go back to 1993, when it was founded as a pure business school. Its English-taught programs are given mainly at its Cologne campus, and it also teaches at Mainz and other German locations, with about 1,900 students from around 75 nations. Unlike Germany's low-cost public universities, CBS charges tuition, so it is a private-school choice with its own trade-offs. This guide covers exactly what CBS International Business School international students need to know: programs, accreditation, admissions, the fee questions to settle in writing, campus life, and Germany's post-study residence options.

Quick facts snapshot

• Institution: CBS International Business School, a state-recognised private business school in Germany
• History: founded in 1993 as Cologne Business School, combined with the European Management School in 2020
• Campuses: Cologne (the largest, where the English programs are given), Mainz, and other locations including Berlin, Hamburg, Neuss, Rostock, Rheine, Solingen, and Potsdam
• Students: about 1,900 from roughly 75 nations
• English-taught bachelor's programs: International Business (B.Sc.), Business Psychology (B.Sc.), and Finance and Management (B.Sc.)
• English-taught master's programs: International Business and Management, Business Psychology and Management, Digital Marketing, and Global Finance (all M.Sc.), plus MBA programs in International Management
• Admission: no GPA restrictions, with personal admissions interviews instead
• Tuition: a wide range of about €1,690 to €17,820 is quoted by a third party and depends on the program, so I could not confirm exact fees

Rankings and reputation

CBS does not appear prominently in the QS world university rankings that I could find, and its reputation rests on accreditation and applied business education. Its own site lists recognition from Germany's accreditation council, the Wissenschaftsrat, FIBAA, IACBE, and AACSB, and it says it was the first German business school accredited by IACBE and that its bachelor's model was among the first in Germany accredited by FIBAA in 1998. Accreditation status can change, so ask CBS for the current status of the accreditation that matters to you and check it with the accrediting body.

Academics and signature programs

CBS teaches business, management, finance, marketing, and business psychology, with an emphasis on practical projects with companies and international exposure through exchange and study-abroad partnerships. The wide range of English-language degrees is its main draw for international students, and it also offers pre-master and Prep4University courses for those who need bridging. Part-time and online learning options exist for some programs, but international students on a visa should confirm that their chosen format meets student-visa rules.

Admissions and international eligibility

CBS states that grades do not define potential and that it has no GPA restrictions, so applicants are assessed through personal admissions interviews. Bachelor's applicants still need a secondary qualification recognised in Germany as equivalent to university entrance, and master's applicants need a relevant bachelor's degree, so ask the admissions team to assess your certificates early.

English language requirements

• English requirements were not stated on the pages I could read
• English-taught bachelor's programs commonly require around B2-level English, and master's programs commonly require IELTS 6.0 or an equivalent, but confirm CBS's own figures
• Students whose previous degree was taught in English may be exempt
• No German is required for the English-taught programs, but basic German helps in daily life

Application checklist

Applicants submit certified transcripts, proof of English, a CV, and passport details, and then attend an admissions interview. After an offer, non-EU students apply for a German student visa, so ask what payment or deposit is required before the visa and what is refundable if it is refused.

Tuition, living costs, and scholarships

I could not find CBS's official international tuition schedule. A third-party listing quotes a range of about €1,690 to €17,820 and says CBS offers monthly, semester, annual, or total payment, but that range is too wide to plan with, and it may mix monthly and total figures. Ask CBS for the full cost of your program, including any enrolment or registration fees, exam fees, and study-abroad costs, and ask whether the fee is charged monthly for a fixed period. I could not confirm scholarships, so ask about merit and partner awards.

Estimated living costs in Germany

• Non-EU visa applicants usually must show funds, often through a blocked account, at an amount set by the German authorities, around €11,900 a year at the last update I know of
• Rents are highest in large cities such as Cologne, and student housing is limited
• Statutory or approved health insurance is mandatory for students
• Student visa holders can generally work up to 140 full days or 280 half days a year
• Public transport passes are widely available and often discounted for students

Campus life and student support

CBS's Cologne campus is in a large, lively city known for its cathedral, media industry, and strong business links. Because the school is small and international, the student community is close, and projects with companies are a regular feature. Ask about student housing help, the language courses on offer, and the career service, since these shape how quickly you settle.

Career outcomes and post-study work rights

CBS's programs aim at roles in international business, finance, marketing, digital business, and human resources, and Cologne has a large corporate and media sector. Ask for graduate employment statistics and how the school helps non-EU students find internships and jobs.

Germany's post-study residence options

After completing a recognised German degree, international graduates can apply to stay for up to 18 months to look for a job that matches their qualification, and can then move to a work permit or the EU Blue Card if they find qualifying employment. Rules and salary thresholds change, so verify the current conditions with the German authorities and confirm that your degree is state-recognised.

Health insurance and pre-arrival preparation

Students need valid health insurance before enrolment and must register their address after arriving. Budget for the blocked account, visa fee, insurance, and a housing deposit, and begin the housing search well before your start date because student rooms are scarce in major German cities.

What to expect in your first months

The first weeks involve orientation, address registration, and setting up a bank account and insurance. Teaching combines lectures, group projects, presentations, and company projects, and students who look for internships early tend to benefit most.

A realistic budget

Because the official tuition schedule was not available, first obtain the total for your whole program in writing, then add roughly €12,000 or more a year for living costs, plus insurance and visa costs. Compare that total with English-taught programs at public universities of applied sciences, which often cost far less.

Questions to ask before you accept an offer

• What is the total tuition for my program, and how is it billed?
• Is my program taught in English at my campus, and in which format?
• Which accreditations does my program hold today?
• How is my degree recognised, and how does that affect the job-seeker permit?
• What deposit is needed before my visa, and what is refundable?
• How does CBS help non-EU students find internships and jobs?

Who CBS suits best

CBS suits students who want a practice-oriented, English-taught business degree in Germany with personal admissions and no GPA cut-off, and who can pay private fees. It may suit less well students on a tight budget who could qualify for a lower-cost public university, or those wanting a research-heavy academic path.

Private business school or public university?

Germany's public universities charge little or no tuition for most programs, so a private school like CBS is a choice to pay for something extra, such as smaller classes, English-taught options, corporate links, and flexible admissions. If cost is your priority, apply also to public universities and universities of applied sciences with English-taught programs, and compare their deadlines, since public applications follow fixed calendars.

Step-by-step application roadmap

1. Choose your program and campus, and confirm it is taught in English.
2. Check the English requirement and book a test if needed.
3. Apply with transcripts, CV, and passport details, then attend the interview.
4. Accept your offer and pay any required deposit.
5. Open a blocked account, arrange insurance, and apply for your student visa.
6. Find housing and attend orientation.

Preparing your documents early

Gather certified and, where needed, translated transcripts, your English test result, and proof of funds early. German visa appointments can be slow, so keep copies of everything and ask CBS to confirm fees and billing periods in writing.

Questions about internships and semester abroad

CBS highlights practical projects with companies and exchange and study-abroad opportunities with partner universities. For international students on a German student visa, ask how internships are arranged, whether they are compulsory, how they interact with visa work limits, and what a semester abroad adds to the cost. A well-organised internship year can be the strongest part of a private business degree, so ask for examples of companies where recent students have worked.

Frequently asked questions