CBS International Business School is a private, state-recognised business university with its main campus in Cologne and further sites in Mainz and Potsdam. Most international students take its English-taught master's in international business, marketing or finance, or the BA International Business, which includes a semester abroad. Class sizes are small, and many programmes build in internships with German companies.
Cologne, Germany
Official website: cbs.de
Private, state-recognised university of applied sciences
Cologne, Mainz and Potsdam
1993 in Cologne
€13,000 – €18,000
Non-EU students, bachelor's and master's programmes
€11,500 – €14,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on cbs.de before you apply.
MA International Business
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Sep, Mar
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 88
MA International Marketing
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 88
MBA
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 88
BA International Business
Bachelors DegreeDuration
42 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 80
English-taught business degrees with a semester abroad.
Internships with companies in the Rhineland.
Cologne's cathedral and riverside old town are a short tram ride away.
Graduates join German and international firms in marketing, consulting and finance.
Graduates can stay in Germany for up to 18 months to look for work.
Cologne's media and insurance sectors hire many business graduates.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Rolling
Undergrad
No UG intake
Postgrad
Limited programmes
The Cologne campus is in the Südstadt, an old neighbourhood of cafés and bars south of the centre.
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city, famous for its cathedral and Carnival. Rent is lower than Munich but rising.
Admission letter from CBS International Business School
Blocked account for living costs
German-recognised health insurance
APS certificate for applicants from India
English test at required level
Valid passport and national visa form
CBS accepts applications on a rolling basis. Non-EU applicants should apply by spring for September so there's time for the blocked account and visa appointment.
Most programmes start in September, and the MA International Business also has a March start.
You'll need a national visa for study. The blocked account is the part people forget to open in time, so start it as soon as the admission letter arrives. Indian applicants also need an APS certificate.
International business, international marketing, the MBA and the BA International Business are popular. Master's entry needs a bachelor's degree and IELTS 6.5.
CBS offers some scholarships and fee reductions. Ask the admissions team what's open for your intake.
