Master of Business Administration (MBA) Renewables Berliner Hochschule für Technik

Renewables Academy (RENAC) AG

The programme is entirely taught in English. The Master's thesis has to be written in English.

MBA Renewables is the first and only distance-learning MBA programme focusing on renewable energy and energy efficiency. This international online study programme has been jointly offered by Berliner Hochschule für Technik (BHT) and the Renewables Academy since 2011.

This part-time programme includes online modules as well as the opportunity to complete a Master’s thesis over the course of two and a half years.

Join other professionals from all over the world in this programme and gain economic, technical, legal, political, and organisational expertise tailored to the specific needs of emerging renewable energy markets. This highly regarded and accredited MBA programme will help you to enhance your career prospects.

The curriculum covers the following subjects:

• RE technologies: photovoltaics, wind power, bioenergy, renewable hydrogen – systems and applications
• Energy management and energy efficiency
• Law and energy policy
• Management and leadership skills
• Marketing and project management
• Accounting and financing
• Business plan development and entrepreneurship

Our programme has been designed to meet the needs of students who are studying while they are working. It provides flexibility enabling students to decide when, where, and how to learn.

The MBA Renewables online study programme could be right for you. Download our guide to finding the right MBA, which covers important aspects to consider before enrolling in an MBA programme.

Career prospectives

The programme is designed to equip future leaders with modern and advanced interdisciplinary management skills necessary for executive positions in the highly globalised market of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. Possible career paths unfold both upstream and downstream of green energy value chains, including the following: project finance and consultancy, manufacturing, project development and implementation, or working with governmental entities, NGOs, utilities or grid operators.

On-campus time

The optional practical training module on "Advanced Practical RE and EE Implementation" gives students the chance to spend one week on campus in Berlin and deepen their knowledge by participating in hands-on training, theory lessons, field trips and group work. The elective is a good opportunity for networking and getting to know fellow students.

MBA Renewables starts in October each year and is designed for two and a half years of part-time study, including a Master's thesis. 

As the curriculum has been designed for online, self-paced study, there are only fixed dates for module exams. In the second and fourth semesters, we offer our students the opportunity to attend one week of classes on campus as part of an elective. This allows students to have a blended learning experience as part of their studies.

15 September for a start on 1 October of the same year

Your first university degree has to be assessed by uni-assist e.V. first – uni-assist is the University Application Service for international students, specialising in reviewing and documenting the formal criteria of Master’s degree applications. Only if uni-assist confirms that you are fulfilling the admission requirements, we can offer you a place of study in the programme.

You need to register online at uni-assist and then send certain application documents via mail. Only the online application must be completed by 15 September. The certified documents by mail can be sent later. If you miss the deadline, it may still be possible to attend. In this case, please contact us for individual advice.

Read more about the admission requirements and the application process on our website.

The tuition fee per semester is 3,960 EUR and has to be paid before the start of each semester. In total, the tuition fee for five semesters amounts to 19,800 EUR.

If a module has been failed and needs to be repeated, a repetition fee of 350 EUR per module is incurred.

Accommodation and travel costs for the optional on-campus time are not covered by tuition fees.

MBA Renewables Curriculum starting from October 2025:

First semester

• Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Systems and Concepts
• Energy Policy and Economic Framework
• Accounting

Second semester

• International Business Law
• Investment and Financing
• Elective 1

Third semester

• Project Management
• Marketing Analysis and Instruments
• Human Resources and People Management

Fourth semester

• International Management
• Integrated Business Plan Development
• Advanced Research Methods
• Elective 2

Fifth semester

• Master's Thesis (five months)
• Oral Master's Examination

Elective courses (two out of four)

• Advanced Practical Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Implementation (including one week on campus in Berlin)
• Entrepreneurship
• Renewable Hydrogen – Power-to-X
• Energy Management and Energy Efficiency

Total number of ECTS credits (including Master's thesis): 90 CP

Each module ends with a final examination that covers the topics and concepts included in that module. Examinations can be written exams, online quizzes, or group presentations.

MBA Renewables demo course

You can become familiar with the course organisation and the online learning platform Moodle by visiting the MBA Renewables demo course. Some examples of things you will find there include the following:

• The study and examination regulations of the programme
• Descriptions of the modules
• Recording of Q&A with students/alumni of the programme
• Excerpts from the first semester learning units
• Self-study quizzes
• Guest lectures
• FAQ

Visit the MBA Renewables demo course. Please enter as guest.

MBA Renewables Master's thesis

In their Master’s theses, the MBA Renewables students examine various aspects of renewable energy and energy efficiency and relate them to business and managements topics. An overview of previous Master’s theses can be found on the MBA Renewables website, including abstracts and more information about the graduates’ background.

The entire MBA Renewables programme has an international focus. The programme is designed for an international audience and is taught entirely in English.

All teaching materials are designed from an international perspective. Students benefit from international case studies, projects and references. Given the complex legal frameworks in different countries, support mechanisms and contract drafting are covered against the backdrop of EU and US legislation.

The majority of lecturers bring their own international practical experience to the programme. Students learn to take responsibility for the society in an intercultural context. The particular intercultural competencies are enhanced through virtual interactions, group work and international networking. Within their case-based project works, they are made aware of the international dimension of climate change as a global challenge and how to systematically tackle complex economic, framework and/or technological issues in this field.

3,960 EUR

The tuition fee per semester is 3,960 EUR and has to be paid before the start of each semester. In total, the tuition fee for five semesters amounts to 19,800 EUR.

If a module has been failed and needs to be repeated, a repetition fee of 350 EUR per module is incurred.

Accommodation and travel costs for the optional on-campus time are not covered by tuition fees.

Examination fees and enrolment fees are included in the tuition fee.

MBA Renewables is studied entirely online. It is not necessary to live in Germany in order to attend the programme. Accommodation and travel costs for the optional on-campus time are not covered by tuition fees.

University degree

One of the admission requirements is a first university degree that is equivalent to 210 credits according to the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) – 210 credits equate to a workload of 6,300 study hours. For applicants with less than 210 credits, the programme director will determine what additional coursework the student would need to complete once accepted into the programme. Another option can be the recognition of previous professional experience.

Professional experience

Applicants need at least one to two years of professional experience in any field, after completing their first academic degree and before starting the MBA programme.

Applicants will need to provide proof of English-language proficiency at the Independent User, B2, level based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). They can do so by submitting the results of recognised tests, such as the TOEFL or IELTS. These language test results should be included in the application.

Students who have completed their first degree in English must provide evidence of this. In addition to this, native language or official language in the home country are accepted. Students may hand in their application before completing the necessary language test. Certificates of successfully completed language tests should be submitted by the start of the programme at the latest.

For the online programme, you will need an internet connection and a headset. We are using a learning management system as well as an online conference system.

15 September for a start on 1 October of the same year

Your first university degree has to be assessed by uni-assist e.V. first – uni-assist is the University Application Service for international students, specialising in reviewing and documenting the formal criteria of Master’s degree applications. Only if uni-assist confirms that you are fulfilling the admission requirements, we can offer you a place of study in the programme.

You need to register online at uni-assist and then send certain application documents via mail. Only the online application must be completed by 15 September. The certified documents by mail can be sent later. If you miss the deadline, it may still be possible to attend. In this case, please contact us for individual advice.

Read more about the admission requirements and the application process on our website.

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Berliner Hochschule für Technik offers a career service for students including workshops, networking, assessment training, etc. Both the Berliner Hochschule für Technik and RENAC staff provide ongoing support and guidance throughout the study process.

In addition to that, the MBA Renewables Advisory Board, formed of highly experienced professionals active at different levels of the renewable energy value chain worldwide, functions as a platform of exchange between students, graduates and the green industry.

The motto of Berliner Hochschule für Technik (BHT) is "Study the Future!", which perfectly encapsulates our aims. The university follows a practical hands-on teaching and applied research approach. BHT’s roots date back to the 19th century, but its present form was established in 1971 when several engineering colleges, including Beuth Engineering School, were united to create the Berliner Hochschule für Technik.

BHT offers the widest range of courses in applied engineering, applied sciences and applied economics in the whole Berlin region. The high quality of the courses is reflected in the numerous prizes awarded for excellent degree results. There are over 70 accredited and innovative Bachelor and Master’s courses at BHT, some of which are available online or as blended courses.

More than 30% of the 12,370 students at Berliner Hochschule für Technik are female. The practical, top-quality courses, leading to professional qualifications, demonstrate the university’s cutting-edge profile. Prospective students join an outstanding university and our industrial partners worldwide gain the benefit of our practical expertise.

The Institute of Distance Learning at Berliner Hochschule für Technik has provided the highest quality and competency in further training and study programmes via distance learning for more than 30 years. The range of courses comprises six postgraduate Master’s programmes and several training courses.

For updates, follow the Institute of Distance Learning on LinkedIn.

The Renewables Academy (RENAC) AG, based in Berlin, Germany, is one of the world’s leading providers of training and capacity building on renewable energy and energy efficiency. Since our founding in 2008, more than 30,000 participants from over 165 countries have participated in our training programmes.

The implementation of renewable energy and the reduction of energy consumption are increasingly important for securing future energy supplies and climate protection. Qualified staff and suitable conditions are the major prerequisites for the further development of renewable energy. RENAC provides training and further education for technicians, engineers, decision-makers, investors and developers in the areas of renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Our goal is to disseminate both domestically and internationally the excellent expertise available in Germany on the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency technology. Our education programme contributes to a sustainable global energy supply system.

In addition to the important technical aspects, RENAC also provides instruction on topics that are critical for achieving market growth and for the broader application of renewable energy, such as calculations, legal matters, contracts and monitoring.

Learn more about RENAC.

Berlin's colleges and universities have long taken an international approach. The number of integrated international courses of study and courses taught in English that award internationally recognised degrees, such as Bachelor's and Master's degrees, is constantly on the rise. Sixty-five institutes address other cultures and economic areas, while more than 60 non-European languages are taught and researched here. Integrated international courses of study and courses of study offered in cooperation with partners abroad are a special option at several colleges and universities. Berlin's colleges and universities have nearly 500 cooperation agreements with partners abroad.