The extra-occupational online Executive MBA master’s degree program at GSB Mainz is aimed at subjects and managers in companies and public institutions as well as the self-employed and freelancers. Its objective is to enable participants to take on demanding management tasks in companies and public institutions. To this end, the degree program focuses on the targeted application of new technologies and provides a profound understanding of how these can be used for future-oriented, sustainable management.
In addition, it is also about the personal development of participants to become leaders who are able to take on leadership responsibilities on an international scale responsibly and successfully. The degree program is conducted online. To intensify interaction and personal exchange, three one-week attendance phases are planned in Mainz.
The Executive MBA is an online master’s degree program with three one-week attendance phases at the University of Mainz. The alternating sequence of a larger proportion of online modules, each divided into three two-day courses, and three attendance weeks ensures maximum professional and private compatibility. The teaching format is based on the teaching content of the individual modules. For example, the introduction week at the beginning of the program of study, the required module “Strategy” in the first academic year and the required module “Leadership” in the second academic year are taught as part of an entire week in attendance format at the University of Mainz.
The study program is divided into two academic years. The degree program starts each year in the winter semester with an introduction week at the University of Mainz. This takes place all day from Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and includes three propaedeutic courses in which participants have the opportunity to get to know each other. This lays the foundation for intensive interaction within a year group, which significantly supports learning success and expands the wealth of experience.
Regardless of whether a course is taught online or face-to-face, we attach great importance to interactive knowledge transfer.
Lecture units alternate with interactive group work and discussions. Case studies as well as planning and role-playing games are used didactically as a means of gaining knowledge and practicing communication and teamwork skills.
As a rule, scientific content and knowledge is taught in approximately one third of the teaching time; the second third deals with the practical application of the knowledge based on practical problems; in the last third, the participants themselves apply the knowledge to concrete tasks in their own environment or company. All courses are evaluated by the participants.
The Executive MBA is a German-language degree program with selected courses taught in English. Due to more differentiated possibilities of expression and a higher
linguistic precision in the native language of the majority of
participants, a large proportion of teaching takes place in German. Of course, a very good knowledge of English is an indispensable prerequisite for successful participation in an Executive MBA degree program. In addition, selected courses are taught in English. For example, the “Corporate Social and Environmental Responsibility” course is taught entirely in English, as are individual courses in the “Digitalization” and “International Management” modules.
The study abroad weeks are also held in English. The course certificates for all English-language courses must also be completed in English. In addition, it is generally possible to take all course certificates in English.
All required modules and at least two of the four required elective modules must be completed with an examination. A course certificate must be provided for two of the three courses in each module. All examinations take place during the course of study. They usually take the form of exams or term papers. As a rule, students have the option of choosing between the two. Other forms of examination are not excluded.
The exams are written online, so that an additional trip to Mainz is avoided. Term papers are usually submitted one week after the exam date for a module. The result of the program of study is based on the results of the examinations for the modules and the result of the master’s thesis.
As part of the Executive MBA program at GSB Mainz, participants have the opportunity to take part in two one-week programs of study at top foreign universities. GSB Mainz is currently cooperating in this area with Tongji University in Shanghai and the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas in Austin. Talks are currently underway to expand the range of study abroad programs to include other international partner universities.
A study visit is an integral part of the study program. The study visits abroad are offered in regular rotation so that Executive MBA participants have the opportunity to complete two different study visits during their program of study. They can also take part in the study trips offered after completing their program of study.
We are proud that we can only hire the best in their subject for GSB Mainz. We pay attention to excellent quality in our teaching and ensure this through sustainable quality management. In this way, we ensure that the Executive MBA always teaches the current state of science and research while consistently taking into account the practical transfer that is essential for an Executive MBA.
The lecturers in the Executive MBA are mostly university professors with practical professional experience and proven practitioners in university teaching.
Several times during their program of study, participants have the opportunity to meet with a high-ranking substitute from business or public life. The afternoon of the course is followed by a guest lecture by a representative from business, society or politics. The fireside chats offer participants the opportunity for direct dialog and discussion with the fireside guest.
The fireside chats round off the management training on a very personal level in addition to the professional one, in which the participants of the GSB have the unique opportunity to experience different leadership personalities and individual leadership styles during the fireside chats.
This format thus offers an important approach to self-reflection and inspiration. In addition, the cross-grade exchange with the fireside guest creates a network of beneficial relationships that works and grows.
A central aspect for the successful completion of a part-time MBA program is the intensive interaction between the participants.
In order to facilitate as broad a discussion as possible, the Executive MBA is attended by participants from a wide range of industries with the most diverse academic backgrounds possible.
To date, GSB has successfully graduated 563 students from 23 Executive MBA programs.
Examples of the participants’ fields of activity:
Bertelsmann, Boehringer, BorgWarner, Commerzbank, Degussa, Deutsche Bank, Deutsche Telekom, Ernst Young, Hewlett Packard, Hornbach, IBM, KfW, KPMG, Lufthansa, Bankhaus Metzler, Merck, PwC, Railion AG, R+V-Versicherungen, Sanofi-Aventis, SAP, Siemens, ZDF
The curriculum comprises an introduction week, five required modules on the core management subjects, four required elective modules with specialization options in the areas of “Law”, “International Management”, “Operations” and “Health Management”, two of which must be completed (participation in all four is possible) and a module abroad at one of GSB Mainz’s partner universities. Each module consists of three related courses.
During the introduction week, the personal and professional
foundations are laid for a successful program of study within the entire
cohort over the following two years. The participants
get to know each other, understand each other and work together
. The introduction week lays the foundation for successful team building within the individual cohorts as a necessary prerequisite for successful cooperation during the program of study. Three propaedeutic courses serve as professional preparation for the following modules.
Introduction to business management thinking – understanding and innovating business models
The Introduction to Business Thinking provides participants with a holistic understanding of companies and their various business models. In addition to familiarizing themselves and working with the business design method for business model innovation, the focus will be on experiencing and reflecting on teamwork.
Team: Development and communication
On the one hand, the course aims to teach communication techniques that enable participants to lead a team effectively and efficiently and, if necessary, to deal productively with conflicts.
These communication and conflict resolution skills also form the basis for joint learning within the Executive MBA cohort by providing participants with a
starting point for dealing with each other in a trusting manner as a basis for good cooperation, which also enables them to recognize and resolve potential conflicts at an early stage.
Introduction to economic thinking – labeling and explaining key economic figures
The course introduces students to pricing on markets and explains economic indicators that are important in the public debate and for business decisions. To this end, it highlights the relevant economic concepts and provides a basic understanding of the evaluation of the relevant key figures and their importance for entrepreneurial decisions, taking into account the overall economic environment.
The fourth module is based on GSB Mainz’s understanding of management: successful management is successful leadership and leadership is an attitude that is based on insight and judgment and is expressed in the assumption of responsibility. Leadership is directed both internally and externally and must harmonize economic objectives with ethical standards. Particular attention must also be paid to responsible teamwork.
Human Resources Management
The course deals with strategies, processes and measures that mobilize employees towards the company’s goals and ensure their situational satisfaction. After an overview of theories and concepts of personnel psychology, questions of personnel marketing, personnel selection, personnel assessment and employee motivation are dealt with.
Leading Teams
For many, teamwork is the essence of any modern economy. In a world where complementary skills are critical to business success and many companies are looking to become increasingly agile, the traditional workplace organization needs to be rethought. In particular, highly fragmented research units, where individuals feel less accountable for the bottom line of their unit and more accountable for their narrowly defined bundles of tasks, will prove outdated in most environments. Organizing workflow at the team level requires deep reflection on the sources of motivation and coordination in teams. The course provides: An introduction to current issues in team organization; Insights into the sources of motivation, conflict and collaboration in teams; Examples of leading companies that use teams as a rationale for their workplace organization.
Personality and Leadership
People are different – they differ in their skills but also in their motivation and interests. This applies both to managers and to the employees they lead. The course provides an insight into the theories and findings of personality psychology and applies the concepts to the area of personnel management. Leadership is seen as actively influencing the goals of an organization. Communication and model behavior are essential means of leadership.
Key elements of successful corporate management are controlling, sound financial planning and solid accounting. An understanding of accounting guidelines and the use of the right controlling and accounting tools are taught in the three courses of the second required module.
Controlling
- Managerial accounting for strategy implementation
- Trends in managerial accounting
- Assigning responsibilities and measuring performance
- Assessing the true profitability of products (cost accounting)
- Making investment decisions based on value-based management principles
To gain a deep understanding of theoretical concepts and apply them directly to practical scenarios, we will combine interactive input lectures with case-based group work.
Financial Statement Analysis
Knowledge of the economic success of a company is of great importance both for the decisions of capital market participants and for corporate planning and management. A company’s annual financial statements are a key information tool, particularly for external but also for internal decision-makers. The course first teaches the basics of accounting in accordance with the globally accepted IFRS standards. You will become familiar with the fundamentals and concepts of accounting, develop an understanding of the underlying problems and solutions and be able to relate these to your own business environment. You will also learn how to use accounting information to inform your appointments. After the course, you will be able to understand and analyze the financial statements of companies.
Corporate Finance
In the first part of the course, students are taught how to calculate the cost of capital of a company. Building on this, a comprehensive discussion of investment decisions is provided, taking into account the mechanisms of the capital markets. In the second part, the instruments and problems of company valuation are presented. The course consists of lectures, practice classes and group work.
Modern societies are highly legalized societies. Both internal company relationships and market relationships are determined by legal norms. For this reason, managers should be familiar with the main features of German and international private law, which are dealt with in the three courses of the third required elective module.
Contract law and drafting a contract
Contracts are of fundamental importance in legal and economic life for the realization of one’s own goals. The external relations of companies are mainly contractual relationships. The course deals with the legal bases, the possibilities and limits of drafting and the effects of contracts in domestic transactions on the one hand and in cross-border transactions on the other.
Supply and distribution law
The “Supply law” part of the course deals with legal principles and problems of practical drafting a contract for supply relationships at home and abroad. The second part, “Distribution law”, deals with the legal issues that arise with various options for organizing distribution: Which systems are conceivable? What are the legal consequences of the choice of distribution system? What do typical contracts look like?
Labor law
The course deals with individual legal relationships between employers and employees, taking into account the role of professional organizations on both sides from an international perspective. The first part clarifies basic concepts and introduces the sources of law. The second part deals with the establishment, handling of disruptions and termination of employment relationships. The third part deals with the collective legal framework.
Companies are increasingly dependent on operating in international competition. The three courses address different aspects of a global economic system by dealing with international financial markets and rules. The third course of the required elective module deals with the successful implementation of innovations in an international context.
Innovation and Technology Management
Technological progress is based on inventions and technical developments that become economically effective through innovation. This course deals with the conditions for the systematic generation, appropriation and cultivation of new technologies and their implementation in marketable innovations on an international scale.
International financial markets
This course focuses on financial markets and provides students with knowledge of the structures, instruments and methods of international financial markets. Relevant topics include financial derivatives such as options and futures as well as portfolio and bond management.
Corporate Governance
Corporate Governance is the epitome of the management, control and monitoring of companies. The course focuses on how corporate governance can create entrepreneurial added value. It provides an overview of the international and national rules and principles to which corporate governance is subject. In addition, the course focuses on the behavior of the actors involved and the question of how this can be influenced in the direction of “good governance”. This is illustrated using various case studies and current research findings on the behavior of supervisory boards.
The first academic year in Mainz concludes with the module abroad, which is a mandatory part of the study program. This is carried out alternately at our various international partner universities. We are currently working with Tongji University in Shanghai (China), the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas in Austin (USA), the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH) in Oslo (Norway) and the Vietnamese-German University (VGU) in Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam). The destination of the study visit will be announced in good time.
For participation in the modules abroad, educational leave can be applied for in accordance with the Educational Leave Act in Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse.
Digitalization presents companies with profound changes in all business processes. All three courses in the “Digitalization” module deal with the application of new technologies and the associated effects on companies. Some of the courses are held in both German and English.
Digital Transformation
Information technology (IT) is changing the business world in many ways. Every organization is affected and is under scrutiny as to whether it is sufficiently prepared as a ‘digital enterprise’. This course offers a case-based approach to explore how (information) managers should rethink about the (disruptive) impact of IT on products, processes and business models. The aim is to integrate technological and business aspects of IT.
Data Science and Artificial Intelligence
Technological change and the increase in computing power offer companies the opportunity to collect and analyze large amounts of consumer data. To take advantage of this, companies need to build data science capabilities. These ultimately serve to improve the effectiveness of business functions and processes by implementing methods from the field of research “Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning”. Participants will acquire the basics of the data science workflow and learn about various modeling methods and best practice examples for implementation. They will be able to introduce or improve data science methods in their companies.
Smart Production and Industry 4.0
Intelligent sensors and actuators that are connected to each other via a network and controlled by increasingly autonomous systems are currently changing the production industry dramatically. This “Industry 4.0” is leading to faster production processes, greater efficiency and more customized products, among other things. This practice-oriented course provides managers with insights into how these technologies can change production processes and how they can introduce them. It provides instructions on the potential that arises from their use, how processes can be designed with them and where the production work of the
future is heading.
Long-term business success depends on efficient organization and adept management of internal processes as well as effective marketing. The courses in the first module deal with these process and organizational structures and provide an insight into the overall economic integration of entrepreneurial activity.
Strategic Management
The course “Strategic Management” provides an overview of the essential concepts and instruments of strategic management at the business unit level. It presents the central components of successful competitive strategies and provides insights into concepts and instruments for strategic analysis, for ensuring the sustainability of competitive strategies, and for strategic innovation and aspects of strategy implementation. In addition, participants will learn about central issues in the management of diversified and international companies.
Marketing
The course starts with product and pricing policy as core tasks of successful marketing and from there turns to questions of communication and distribution policy of companies. Marketing measures are then examined from the consumer’s point of view and the impact mechanisms of sales management options are differentiated according to product groups and markets.
Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurial activity is the nucleus of all economic activity. The “Entrepreneurship” course familiarizes students with the opportunities and risks of starting a business. It traces the process from brainstorming to market establishment and provides important “tools” for implementing your own business ideas. It also deals with entrepreneurship in established organizations. It not only introduces the topic of corporate entrepreneurship, but also presents the special features of entrepreneurial activity in family businesses.
Necessary conditions for successful corporate management are entrepreneurship and leadership as an attitude and ability as well as responsible and social thinking and behavior. In addition, managers in companies must know and understand the interdependencies between entrepreneurial activity and its risks and market conditions. The courses in the first module deal with these process and organizational structures and provide an insight into the economic integration of entrepreneurial activity.
Coporate Social and Environmental Responsibility
Corporate social responsibility is concerned with the ethical and responsible treatment of all stakeholders of a company or institution. The overarching goal of social responsibility is to incorporate all influences that corporate actions have on society into optimal decision-making. Participants in this module learn what effects concrete actions have on stakeholders inside and outside the company and how this can be integrated into sustainable corporate management.
Risk Management
The course understands risk management as a systematic approach to maintaining a multidimensional balance in companies. This involves the balance of risk potential and risk cover, the balance of growth, financial structure and profitability, the balance of opportunities and risks and the balance of the use of risk capital and return. Students are familiarized with the concepts and procedures of risk minimization in the interest of general equilibrium.
Managerial Economics
The course provides the microeconomic and macroeconomic knowledge required to manage companies in markets. The main focus is on gaining an insight into the different structures and modes of operation of markets, understanding the role of the state in market economies and the interplay between companies, the market and the state in the economic process.
Good organization of the control and production processes within a company and adept management of the flow and transformation of goods are among the functions of a company that are essential to its existence and determine its success. The three courses of the third required module focus on the efficient organization of these corporate functions.
Work Management
The course deals with the essential purposes, tasks and methods of business process management from the perspective of corporate management and in relation to corporate goals. Students gain in-depth and differentiated insights into the possibilities and limitations of process analysis, process modeling and ongoing process optimization using modern information technologies.
Project management
Project management is booming. After all, successful projects are always based on good project management – be it classic or agile. The course aims to teach various project management methods in an application-oriented way and with the help of concrete examples. Together we will clarify which approaches are suitable for which projects, which tools within the approaches are helpful and which factors contribute to successful projects. The aim is that by the end of the course you will be familiar with project management tools and approaches that will help you to successfully implement your projects.
Sustainable Supply Chain Management
The course “Sustainable Supply Chain Management” provides an overview of concepts and instruments for the management of cross-company value creation networks. As supply chain management is geared towards satisfying customer needs, the course introduces and presents methods of forecasting and the subsequent planning process and performance measurement options. In addition, an introduction to relevant sustainability approaches such as CO2e accounting, which help to meet current social requirements.
Managers in the healthcare sector face particular challenges. The three courses on healthcare management address the areas in which the healthcare sector differs from other industries.
Hospital Financing
The course will show how the healthcare system and hospitals are financed, what incentives there are for the actors involved and how they are to be evaluated. As part of the course, different financing concepts will be presented and the history of hospital financing will be traced. The practical application of current financing via flat rates per case will then be critically discussed and the consequences of this financial framework for the concrete actions of managers in clinics and practices will be worked out.
quality management
Due to increased economic and competitive pressure in the healthcare sector, quality management is becoming increasingly important in medical care. The course teaches the basics and methods of quality management. Patient safety, risk management and certification in the healthcare sector will be further topics. The focus will be on practical examples and the implementation of specific tasks.
Medical law
The course “Legal Framework Conditions in the Healthcare System” provides an overview of the widely ramified regulations in this field of law. Specialization is given to private law relationships between doctors and patients, including contract and liability law as well as medical appointment and professional ethics law, also in connection with statutory health insurance law. The course also deals with the corporate law options available to healthcare professionals, Criminal Law issues and questions relating to corruption.
Following the courses in the second academic year, it is possible to take part in an optional study visit to one of our international partner universities. The study visits take place at different places of study each year.
After the regular course program, the master’s thesis must be written as a scientific final thesis. The scope of the master’s thesis is approx. 50 pages.
The theses are to be completed within a twenty-week period according to the teaching program in Mainz in the period from March 13 to July 31.
At the end of the fourth semester, certificates are awarded on the first Friday in September during a graduation ceremony.
- An undergraduate degree or equivalent*
- Seven years’ work experience
- An admissions interview, the result of which confirms the applicant’s suitability for the degree course
*Applicants without an undergraduate degree can instead take an aptitude test to demonstrate they possess the requisite intellectual and technical skills and corresponding professional expertise.
Applications for the degree program can be submitted at any time. We consider applications in the order in which they are received. After a positive examination of the fulfillment of the formal admission requirements, we will contact you shortly to arrange an appointment for the admissions interview. As a rule, you will receive re-registration regarding admission immediately after the admissions interview.
Please submit the following documents with your application for the Executive MBA:
- Application form(PDF-Download)
- an overview of the academic and professional career,
- a copy of the university certificate,
- proof of English language proficiency either through a five-year school education completed with a grade of at least “sufficient” or five points or certification of a “Test of English as a Foreign Language” (TOEFL IBT) passed with a score of at least 87 points, ) or certification of a passed Cambridge certificate “B2: First Certificate in English” and
- If applicable, a letter of recommendation from the employer with details of financial and time support from the employer
An application for admission to the Executive MBA degree program is possible with completed vocational training and a total of at least seven years of professional experience. An individual admissions process is used to determine your personal and professional suitability for the program of study. An aptitude test is used to check your qualifications and skills for management positions. Please submit your application documents (see below).
After a positive examination of the formal criteria, we will invite you to a personal admissions interview. The first part of the aptitude test takes place during this admissions interview. Questions relating to the applicant’s professional context are used to test the applicant’s thought patterns and problem-solving skills. It is also about the ability to self-reflect. The questions are usually generated from the applicant’s respective professional context. Once you have successfully completed the admissions interview and the first part of the aptitude test, you will be granted preliminary admission to the Executive MBA program of study. This will be converted into a final admission as soon as the second part of the aptitude test, which involves passing the course certificates for the introduction week and the first module, has also been successfully passed.
Please contact us for individual advising.
Please submit the following documents with your application for the Executive MBA:
- Application form(PDF-Download)
- an overview of the academic and professional career,
- proof of English language proficiency either through a five-year school education completed with a grade of at least “sufficient” or five points or certification of a “Test of English as a Foreign Language” (TOEFL IBT) passed with a score of at least 87 points, ) or certification of a passed Cambridge certificate “B2: First Certificate in English” and
- If applicable, a letter of recommendation from the employer with details of financial and time support from the employer
The application deadline for admission to the 27th Executive MBA degree program (Sept. 2026 – Sept. 2028) isJuly 31 , 2026 . Applications for the degree program can be submitted at any time. We consider applications in the order in which they are received. After a positive examination of the fulfillment of the formal admission requirements, we will contact you shortly to arrange an appointment for the admissions interview. As a rule, you will receive re-registration regarding admission immediately after the admissions interview.
After reviewing the application documents, applicants who meet the formal admission requirements will be invited to an admission or examination interview. In justified cases, this can be conducted online. During the interview, which lasts approximately 60 minutes, the main focus is on whether the applicant fulfills the professional, personal, integrative and mental requirements to successfully complete the Executive MBA. Minutes are taken of the interview. Following the selection interview, the applicant will receive a re-registration regarding admission to the program of study, stating the reasons.
The tuition fees for the Executive MBA program of study amount to 19,500 euros.
The tuition fees include all teaching and learning materials as well as the costs for the course program of the compulsory study trip abroad. Individual travel expenses are not included; participation in the academic program of the second optional study abroad period is invoiced separately.
Tuition fees can be paid in two annual installments or in four semi-annual installments. Upon admission to the degree program and the sending of the enrolment documents, € 2,000 is due, which will be offset against the instalments due later.
Tuition fees can be claimed in full as business expenses or tax-reducing further education costs. The semester fee is added to the tuition fees. This is set each semester by the Johannes Gutenberg University and currently amounts to EUR 349.10. The semester fee includes the Deutschlandticket, which allows Executive MBA students to use all local public transport. We offer reduced rates for members of JGU Mainz and members of the Gutenberg Network with the AlumniCard.
The next INFORMATION SESSIONS for the Executive MBA (Online Master) will take place on
29.01.2026,
19.03.2026,
07.05.2026
and on 09.07.2026 at 19.00 h on site and online via MS Teams.
Registrations to: gsb@uni-mainz.de
To give you an impression of our program, we are also happy to offer you the opportunity to take part in one of our courses on a trial basis.
Participation is non-binding and free of charge. Please register only briefly via: gsb@uni-mainz.de
Gutenberg School of Business Mainz –
Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
Visitor address
Johannes Gutenberg University
Jakob-Welder-Weg 4
Haus Recht und Wirtschaft II (Altes ReWi)
Postal address
Gutenberg School of Business Mainz
Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
Faculty 03: Law, Business and Economics (FB 03)
D-55099 Mainz
Phone: +49 6131 39-22136
E-mail: gsb@uni-mainz.de
