ICN Business School, Berlin Campus: Admissions, Tuition & French Degree Recognition Guide for International Students

ICN Business School is a French grande école of management founded in 1905 and based in Nancy, with campuses in Paris La Défense, Nancy, and Berlin. It holds the three major international business accreditations, EQUIS, AMBA, and AACSB, sometimes called the triple crown, which is held by about one percent of business schools worldwide, and it is a member of the Conférence des Grandes Écoles. Its Berlin campus offers English-taught master's programs, and, importantly for international students, the degrees are French degrees delivered in Germany rather than degrees awarded by a German university. This guide covers exactly what ICN Business School Berlin international students need to know: the programs, the published fees, admission, what the French degree means for recognition and post-study rights, living costs in Berlin, and how to compare it with German alternatives.

Quick facts snapshot

• Institution: ICN Business School, a French grande école of management founded in 1905, with a campus in Berlin
• Campuses: Paris La Défense, Nancy, and Berlin
• Accreditation: EQUIS, AMBA, and AACSB, plus membership of the Conférence des Grandes Écoles
• Berlin programs listed: MSc Finance, Risk and Markets; MSc Brand and Marketing Management; and MSc Innovative Business Models and Greentech Start-ups
• Degree: a French Master of Science degree, with English as the language of instruction
• Duration: four semesters
• Tuition: about €7,000 per semester on one listing, or about €28,000 across four semesters
• Admission: described as admission-free in the sense of having no numerus clausus grade restriction
• Students: more than 1,000 international students from over 80 countries across the school's campuses

Rankings and reputation

ICN's strongest signal is its triple accreditation, which applies to the school as a whole and, according to the school, to all programs offered at the Berlin campus. Business school rankings and accreditation can be program-specific and change over time, so ask ICN for the current accreditation status and the specific rankings for the Berlin programs. The school's identity is French, and its Berlin campus extends its network into Germany, so it is worth asking how much of your teaching is delivered by Berlin-based faculty and how much by faculty from Nancy or Paris.

Academics and signature programs

ICN's approach combines art, technology, and management, sometimes summarised as ATM, and its Berlin programs focus on finance and risk, brand and marketing, and innovative business models with a green technology and start-up angle. The master's programs run for four semesters, which usually includes an internship, and teaching is in English. Ask how the internship semesters are structured and where they must take place.

Admissions and international eligibility

ICN describes its Berlin programs as admission-free, meaning there is no numerus clausus, but applicants still need a qualifying bachelor's degree and are assessed on their profile. After an offer, non-EU students apply for a German student visa.

English language requirements

• English requirements were not stated on the pages I could read
• French business school master's programs commonly expect around IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 90, but confirm ICN's figure
• Applicants whose previous degree was taught in English may be exempt
• Ask ICN which tests it accepts and whether a waiver applies

Application checklist

A typical application includes certified transcripts, English evidence, a CV, a motivation letter, and passport details, and non-EU students then apply for a German student visa. Ask what deposit or first payment is required before the visa and what is refundable if the visa is refused.

Tuition, living costs, and scholarships

One listing gives master's tuition at the Berlin campus of about €7,000 per semester, which over four semesters comes to about €28,000, and it does not list bachelor's fees because the Berlin campus lists only master's programs. Because the listing is third-party, ask ICN for a written schedule that states the fee per semester, any registration or examination fees, and any internship-related costs. The school says international scholarships help reduce tuition, but I could not confirm amounts or criteria.

Estimated living costs in Berlin

• 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
• Berlin is cheaper than Paris for housing, but student rooms are scarce and rents have risen
• 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

ICN's Berlin campus is a small, international site, so classes are small and staff are accessible. Students may have opportunities to spend time at other ICN campuses, which has cost and visa implications. Ask about student housing help, language courses, and the career service in Berlin.

Career outcomes and post-study work rights

Berlin has a large startup, technology, and creative economy, and ICN's programs aim at finance, marketing, and entrepreneurship roles across Europe. Ask for graduate employment statistics for the Berlin cohort and how the school helps non-EU students find internships and jobs.

What the French degree means for German visas and post-study options

The Berlin programs award a French degree, not a German one. Germany's 18-month job-seeker permit is designed for graduates of recognised German degrees, and a French degree delivered in Germany may be treated differently, so before you pay a deposit, ask ICN for written confirmation that your program supports a German student visa, and ask the German foreigners' authority in Berlin what post-study options apply. Also ask what the French degree means for recognition in France and elsewhere in the European Union, and whether you can work in France after studying in Berlin. Do not assume that a French degree studied in Berlin carries the same post-study rights as a degree from a German university.

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 start the housing search early because student rooms are scarce.

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, and case studies, and students who look for internships early tend to benefit most.

A realistic budget

At about €7,000 a semester, the four-semester master's costs about €28,000 in tuition, and Berlin living costs of €12,000 or more a year add about €24,000 over two years, so the total can exceed €50,000. Compare that with English-taught master's programs at public German universities, which often cost far less, and with ICN's Paris and Nancy campuses.

Questions to ask before you accept an offer

• What is the total tuition for my program, and how is it billed?
• Does the French degree support a German student visa, and can ICN confirm this in writing?
• Which post-study options apply to a French degree studied in Berlin?
• How are internships structured, and where must they take place?
• What is refundable if my visa is refused?
• How do the Berlin, Paris, and Nancy campuses differ in fees and living costs?

Who ICN Berlin suits best

ICN Berlin suits graduates who want an accredited French business master's in English in Berlin, with a cross-border network, and who have verified the degree's recognition and visa position. It may suit less well students who need a German-awarded degree, want the lowest cost, or want a large campus.

Berlin, Paris, or Nancy?

Paris offers a global business hub at high living costs, Nancy offers a small-city setting with lower costs and ICN's home base, and Berlin offers a startup-oriented capital with moderate costs. Compare fees, programs, and lifestyle across the three campuses before deciding.

Step-by-step application roadmap

1. Choose your program and confirm it is taught in English.
2. Ask ICN to confirm the visa and post-study position in writing.
3. Check the English requirement and book a test if needed.
4. Apply with transcripts, CV, motivation letter, and passport details.
5. Accept your offer, 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 ICN to confirm fees and billing in writing.

Signs of a well-run international campus

A well-run campus of a foreign school will give you written details of the degree awarded, the accreditation, the visa position, and the fee schedule, and will be open about graduate outcomes. It should connect you with current students or alumni and answer written questions promptly.

Frequently asked questions