German Business Student Interest in Home Country Grows Significantly

23 May, 2024

German Business Student Interest in Home Country Grows Significantly

The number of aspiring German business students favoring Germany as their preferred destination has risen from 19% to 27%, as revealed in a recent report by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC).

The survey indicates a substantial proportion, over three-quarters, of prospective students are contemplating studying abroad.

However, there's a noteworthy decline in German students interested in studying in the United Kingdom, plummeting from 19% last year to a mere 9% in the latest survey. These insights are derived from GMAC’s annual Prospective Student Survey, designed to gauge the aspirations and demands of students aspiring to pursue management and business education.

The Master of Finance remains the top choice among aspiring German applicants, with 29% expressing preference for it, followed closely by the Master of Management (19%) and Master of International Management (10%), reflecting the same order as last year.

Furthermore, 49% of German prospective students are considering a two-year MBA, up from 32% last year. Additionally, 40% are contemplating a one-year MBA, with 15% considering flexible and part-time MBA options.

Overall, the survey indicates increased interest in both Master’s and MBA programs, with over half open to both options this year, compared to a third last year. Conversely, fewer individuals are solely considering an MBA or a Master program this year than last year.

Nalisha Patel, GMAC's Regional Director for Europe, notes that in Germany, master programs continue to dominate preferences for management education, with the two-year MBA outranking its one-year counterpart.

While consulting remains the primary career ambition for prospective students, with 76% intending to pursue it, there's a notable shift in industry preferences, with more considering Finance/Accounting (51%), Consulting (49%), and Technology (35%) industries.

The GMAC survey, with responses from 4,105 participants across 132 countries, sheds light on evolving preferences among prospective students, especially with the increasing importance of Gen Z in the student pipeline for business schools.

Established in 1953, GMAC offers insights into the evolving trends and challenges shaping graduate management education globally.