Frankfurt School of Finance & Management is Germany’s premier private elite business school, located in Frankfurt, Europe’s financial hub. Founded in 1957 as the Bank School, it boasts over 60 years of financial education tradition. Today, it has evolved into a globally top-tier business school with AACSB, EQUIS, and AMBA “Triple Accreditation,” ranking among the top 1% of business schools worldwide. Guided by its motto “German Excellence, Global Relevance,” it is shaping the future of European business education in finance, management, and economics. Ways to Obtain a German Diploma
✦ History and Legacy: From Banking Institute to International Elite Business School
✧ 1957: Birth of the Banking Institute: Frankfurt School of Finance & Management’s predecessor, the “Banking Institute,” was established in Wiesbaden, Hesse, in 1957. Its initial purpose was to cultivate professionals for Germany’s banking sector.
✧ 1990: Launch of Higher Education: The Bank School established its affiliated “Higher School of Banking,” initiating advanced business education. In 1994, the first cohort graduated with Diplomas in Economics and Management.
✧ 2007 Milestone Merger: On January 17, 2007, the Bank School and its Higher School completed their integration and restructuring. The new institution was officially named “Frankfurt School of Finance and Management,” becoming a full university with accreditation to offer bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs.
✧ 2017 New Campus Inauguration: The main campus relocated to Frankfurt’s Nordend district. Designed by a renowned Danish architectural firm, the €110 million facility features state-of-the-art teaching and research infrastructure.
✧ Nearly 70 Years of Distinguished History: Today, the institution has evolved into a premier business school with thousands of students and faculty from nearly 100 countries. It maintains teaching and research centers in Hamburg, Munich, and Dubai, alongside overseas offices strategically located worldwide.
✦ Academic Prestige and Rankings: A Leading Force Among German Business Schools
✧ Triple-Accredited Among Global Top 1%: The school holds the prestigious “Triple Accreditation” for international business schools—AACSB, EQUIS, and AMBA—ranking among the top 1% globally.
✧ Germany’s #1 MBA Program: According to the QS World University Subject Rankings, the school’s MBA program ranks #1 in Germany and #40 globally. It also holds a leading position in Germany within the Financial Times Global MBA Rankings.
✧ Global #32 in Finance Master’s Programs: In the 2025 Financial Times Finance Master’s Rankings, the school ranks #32 globally and #2 in Germany. Its Master of Management program ranks #62 globally and #7 in Germany.
✧ Germany’s #1 in Graduate Employability: The Times Higher Education Global University Employability Rankings show the school leads German business schools in graduate employability. Graduates’ average starting salaries lead all German business schools, reflecting employers’ high regard for the school’s graduates.
✧ Germany’s Top Executive Education: The school’s executive education programs ranked first in Germany in the UTD Global Business School Research Rankings. In Stern magazine’s 2025 evaluation, the school’s continuing education programs also topped the German rankings.
✧ Germany’s Top Research Strength: The school became Germany’s highest-ranked institution in the UTD Top 100 Business School Research Ranking for the first time, boasting Europe’s most research-intensive faculty team among business schools.
✦ Employment & Career Development: Partnering with Global Fortune 500 Companies
✧ 500+ Corporate Partner Network: The school maintains close collaborations with over 500 renowned global enterprises, including investment banks, consulting firms, and multinational corporations.
Partners include Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank, Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Citibank, McKinsey, Boston Consulting Group, Bain & Company, Roland Berger, Commerzbank, Deutsche Börse Group, Moody’s, American Express, Deloitte, PwC, Daimler AG, Bosch, Merck, DHL, Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Lufthansa, and more.
✧ 100,000+ Strong Alumni Network: Over the past 70 years, the school has cultivated approximately 100,000 alumni. Numerous graduates hold senior management positions in financial institutions and corporations across Germany and internationally. Many current and former CEOs of major companies like Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank are graduates of this institution.
✧ Comprehensive Career Development Support: Through career development programs such as summer initiatives, the school provides students with certificates of study, internship documentation, and recommendation letters. Outstanding students may receive awards and be included in the school’s talent pool, with some also gaining part-time work opportunities.
✧ Germany’s Top Career Prospects: According to research by Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Frankfurt School of Finance & Management graduates achieve the highest average starting salaries among German business schools, reflecting the institution’s educational quality and industry reputation.
✧ Large-Scale Career Days: The school hosts annual Career Days attracting top global companies for recruitment, offering students valuable face-to-face interaction with employers.
✦ International Cooperation & Exchange: 130 Partner Universities in 47 Countries
✧ Global Partner Network: The school has established partnerships with 130 universities across 47 countries, encompassing student exchanges, dual degrees, and joint programs.
✧ Leading Partner Institutions: Collaborations include Harvard University, Stanford University, Emory University, University of Notre Dame, Rice University, and the University of California in the U.S.; London Business School, University of Oxford, University of Edinburgh, University of Manchester, University of Leeds, and University of Glasgow in the UK; University of Amsterdam, RSM Rotterdam School of Management, and Maastricht University in the Netherlands; France: Sciences Po Paris, ESSEC Business School, KEDGE Business School, SKEMA Business School, etc.
✧ Global Network of Overseas Offices: The school maintains overseas offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Nairobi, Pune, São Paulo, and other cities to support recruitment outreach, advisory training, and executive education programs. Since 2003, it has partnered with Shanghai International Finance College, becoming its major shareholder.
✧ Students and Faculty from 100 Countries: The School’s students and staff hail from nearly 100 countries across five continents, fostering a highly international campus atmosphere where learning and work thrive in a multicultural environment. All undergraduates spend at least one semester studying abroad at partner institutions, while international students comprise 30% to 50% of the graduate cohort.
✧ 2025: A New Chapter in International Collaboration: In May 2025, the School signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Taiwan Institute of Finance to jointly advance financial talent development, promote cross-border knowledge exchange, and deepen strategic cooperation in sustainable finance. Both parties will collaborate on designing short-term training programs, international forums, research initiatives, and overseas field studies.
