The GMAT and GRE are not required for the M.Sc. Global Management and Digital Competencies — ESB's admission page lists no standardised-test requirement, so there is no minimum score and no admitted-student average to quote. What the programme does gate on is unusual for a management master: it asks for at least six months of relevant full-time work experience, alongside a first degree of 210 ECTS (3.5 years) or 180 ECTS (3 years) with a final grade of at least 2.5 on the German scale, and proof of English at roughly TOEFL iBT 88 (with 21 in speaking and writing) or IELTS 6.5 (minimum 6 per band). So this is less a test-optional MiM for fresh graduates than an early-career international-management master that expects you to arrive with some professional grounding. If you are mapping test-optional routes generally, see our guide to a MiM in Europe without the GMAT.
Not required, and no score or admitted average is published — but this is not a fresh-graduate route. ESB asks for at least six months of relevant full-time work experience alongside a 210 ECTS degree, or a 180 ECTS one at a German final grade of 2.5 or better, plus English at roughly TOEFL iBT 88 or IELTS 6.5
| Test policy | Not required, and no score or admitted average is published — but this is not a fresh-graduate route. ESB asks for at least six months of relevant full-time work experience alongside a 210 ECTS degree, or a 180 ECTS one at a German final grade of 2.5 or better, plus English at roughly TOEFL iBT 88 or IELTS 6.5 |
|---|---|
| GPA | Bachelor final grade of at least 2.5 (German scale) |
| Work experience | ≥6 months relevant full-time (required) |
| MiMs we track admitting without a required GMAT/GRE | 75 of 118 |
A GMAT or GRE is not required to apply to the ESB Business School MiM — it is one of the 75 of 118 Master's in Management we track (about 64%) that admit without a required test. See every European MiM you can apply to without a GMAT on our MiM without the GMAT shortlist, or read how GMAT waivers work.
Most European MiM programs, including this one, accept the GRE and often the GMAT Focus Edition or a school-specific test as alternatives, and weigh the whole application — academics, internships, essays, and interview — rather than the score alone.
Frequently asked questions
Does ESB require the GMAT or work experience?
Sources
- ESB Business School — M.Sc. Global Management and Digital Competencies (structure: 15 months / 90 ECTS, three study blocks, IPBS partner tracks; fees €50 registration + €199.30 semester; admission — 180/210-ECTS bachelor, grade ≥2.5, ≥6 months work experience, TOEFL 88 / IELTS 6.5, no GMAT/GRE; winter intake; per-track deadlines) ↗ — ESB Business School, Reutlingen University
- ESB Business School — Master's programmes overview (Global Management and Digital Competencies is ESB's only fully-English Master's) ↗ — ESB Business School, Reutlingen University
- ESB Business School — Rankings & Accreditations (AACSB accredited since 2019; system accreditation since 2013, re-accredited 2020; FIBAA programme seals; CHE / WirtschaftsWoche domestic rankings) ↗ — ESB Business School, Reutlingen University
- Reutlingen University — Financing your studies / study costs (public university; per-semester contribution; note on state tuition for international students) ↗ — Reutlingen University
- Reutlingen University — Student Finances (re-read 2026-09-01, the university's own fee page: semester fee EUR 199.30, itemised as Studierendenwerk contribution EUR 104.80 + administrative-costs contribution EUR 80.00 + STUPA student-representation contribution EUR 14.50, with no transport ticket among the components; second-degree tuition EUR 650 per semester; and, stated by the university rather than merely "commonly cited", EUR 1,500 per semester for non-EU/EEA international students, with exemptions for exchange students, holders of a German university entrance qualification, students with "solid domestic connections", refugees from specified countries and students with disabilities) ↗ — Reutlingen University
- ESB Business School — Wikipedia (founded 1971; business school of Reutlingen University, Baden-Württemberg) — corroborating context ↗ — Wikipedia