Global Lessons at One of Germany’s Leading Business Schools
The Frankfurt School of Finance and Management, known simply as Frankfurt School, offers a diverse and dynamic master’s portfolio. These programs encompass a wide range of disciplines, including management, finance, applied data science, real estate, and fintech.
Frankfurt School’s flexible and personalized approach to postgraduate education attracts students from around the globe. The school’s dynamic master’s programs are aimed at undergraduate students looking to launch their careers and professionals seeking specialization or a career pivot.
Aruna Abraham, from India, was working as a research assistant at the Oslo University Hospital in Norway. She decided to move away from research toward a more dynamic work environment. However, with no prior business experience, she needed to find an accessible master’s program that would give her the business grounding and modern leadership skills to take her career to the next level.
Welcoming Non-Traditional Applicants
Aruna had straightforward criteria when searching for business programs. She wanted a master’s program that welcomed applicants from a non-business background. And she found that many business schools in Germany wouldn’t accept her due to her background in STEM and lack of experience in a business environment.
“That is where Frankfurt School really stood out to me,” she says. “They encourage people of different professional backgrounds to apply, because it is a place of learning and an opportunity for you to expand your understanding, your learning, and [discover] how you can contribute in a work setting.” (05:34)
She was also seeking a school with a large alumni network. Frankfurt School was ideal, boasting a global network of alumni working throughout Europe and the U.S. Many are employed by leading global firms such as McKinsey, Amazon, and Deutsche Bank. In contrast, others have gone on to found their own successful companies. Aruna found that the Frankfurt School enabled her and her fellow students to build meaningful connections with alumni and receive valuable insights.
A Flexible 3-Day Model For Work & Study
Frankfurt School’s master’s programs are centered around an innovative three-day study model. It is structured in a way that enables students to combine part-time work with full-time study. For Aruna, this was a key factor when choosing Frankfurt School.
“As someone who comes from a STEM background and with prior business background and with no prior business background, when I was looking into options for my master’s… Frankfurt School stood out to me,” she says. “Mostly because of the three-day study model that the school offered.” (01:03)
“The program’s structure perfectly fitted into what I was looking for, as I had the opportunity to work as well as study, right from my first semester,” explains Aruna. “So, as an international student… the three-day study model… helped me start working from the first semester itself and be able to utilize my learnings from school [for my] work.” (02:10)
Each week has three days dedicated to intensive learning. These take place over two weekdays and on Saturdays. This leaves four days free during the week and Sundays, offering a suitable balance of work, study, and free time.
Choosing a Specialization Track at Frankfurt School
When it came to choosing her specialization, Aruna was guided by the admissions team at Frankfurt School. This gave her a better understanding of precisely how the specialization track fit with her career interests.
There was one specialization track that caught Aruna’s attention. This was the Master’s in Management (MiM), which is ranked fourth out of all MiM programs in Germany by the QS World University Rankings 2026.
“[The] Master’s in Management at Frankfurt School really stood out. Mainly because of the different specialization tracks offered,” says Aruna. (06:38) These concentrations include: global strategy; strategic communication and leadership; digital business, tech, and operations; and data and business analytics.
For Aruna, the data and business analytics concentration was particularly appealing. “The courses that they offered were in business simulation,” she explains. “There was AI (Artificial Intelligence) and ML (Machine Learning), which was quite a trending topic, and I wanted to know more as a beginner, with the opportunity to, in a way, learn risk-free.” (07:14)
Looking back, Aruna says she would definitely pick the same specialization again. It may be one of the most challenging tracks offered in the main program, but it also provides the biggest ROI, with many graduates receiving above-average salaries across industries.
Essential Skills For a Successful Career
Frankfurt School’s Master’s in Management program offers an exceptionally well-rounded learning experience. For Aruna, a particular highlight was being able to transfer management skills directly to her career.
There was a course in particular, which was organizational behavior and leadership, that really stood out to me,” she says. “As a working student in the transformation office of a leading science and technology company, it was fascinating to me how certain case studies… [resonated with me] in terms of how it was actually happening in my company.” (08:28)
With the challenging nature of the Master’s in Management program comes a deep learning experience. Aruna says that pushing herself out of her comfort zone, with case studies that were very different from what she was used to, expanded her business knowledge and her creative problem-solving skills.
Accessible Financing For Your MiM
At the Frankfurt School, you will find financing options from merit-based and need-based scholarships, study loans, and payment plans for all students. Frankfurt School also offers scholarships to top applicants of any of the following pre-experience master’s programs:
- Master of Finance (MSc)
- Master in Management (MSc)
- Master of Artificial Intelligence & Data Science (MSc)
- Master in Financial Technology (MSc)
- Master in Real Estate (MSc)
Selection criteria for these scholarships include candidates’ academic results (grade of first degree), admission test scores (such as GMAT), performance in the Frankfurt School selection procedure, and candidates’ personal achievements.
In addition, the school has a partnership with Lincoln International, where they also offer an exclusive scholarship for applicants aiming for a career in M&A, focusing on the Global Strategy and Data & Business Analytics specializations.
Adventures in China
Aruna says that one of the true standout experiences during her time at Frankfurt School was the opportunity to travel to Zhejiang University International Business School in China. There, she acted as a team lead for a cross-cultural and institutional consulting project.
“It was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We dealt with case studies with a leading private energy company in China, and we took on the role of consultants,” she explains. (10:50)
Frankfurt School has a network of over 100 international partner universities. With a semester abroad, students gain international experience, broaden their network, and grow personally and professionally. Aruna says that her time in China was a wonderful opportunity to understand a completely different culture.
Effective Networking with Professors and Peers
One of Frankfurt School’s key strengths is its learning environment. On campus, you’ll absorb knowledge from professors and share insights with your fellow students. The school’s goal is to instill the idea that learning is a lifelong pursuit and an enriching experience.
Aruna thrived in this setting and urges future students to go with an open mind, ask questions, and actively seek out knowledge and information.
“Make sure that you network with, not just with your faculty, but also current students,” she says, adding, “Experiment as much as you can and learn as much as you can. Not just from a classroom setting, but… from your interactions with your peers [and] your professors.” (09:57)
It’s this fertile learning environment, together with a global outlook and close industry ties, that enables students at Frankfurt School to graduate with the technical knowledge, practical skills, and international mindset needed for a successful career.
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