An MBA from the University of St.Gallen opens new doors. The school’s reputation and corporate connections help you carve a path to a career in Germany, Switzerland, or Austria. Also known as the DACH region, a St.Gallen MBA opens doors to careers in the automotive industry, pharmaceuticals, financial services, tech, and consulting.
DACH refers to the German-speaking countries of Germany (D), Austria (A), and Switzerland CH). Together, they’re Europe’s economic powerhouse. An MBA from the University of St.Gallen (also known as HSG), located near Zurich, holds significant value here. Rooted in the DACH region, HSG secures its role as a leading Swiss business school with deep regional roots and global reach.
“If you want to stay in the German-speaking region: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein, people are going to know St.Gallen,” says MBA Class of 2017 alumnus Stephan Bögner. (00:01)
“St.Gallen is the number one business school in the German-speaking region,” concurs fellow MBA alumnus Jonathan M. Gregory (Class of 2015). He lives in Munich and is now a lecturer for Innovation in Sales, Growth, and Revenues at St.Gallen. (00:10)
“I’m local here in Berlin, Germany,” shares Henrik Zimmermann, an MBA student of the 2026 cohort. “When I thought about an MBA, there was really only one school that came to mind.” (00:25)
Germany is Europe’s largest economy. And all three DACH countries are among the top 20 richest countries in the world by GDP per capita. They’re known for industry and innovation, excellent education, and a high quality of life.
No matter what your area of career interest, the DACH region has something to offer. It’s known for big business, from automotive to pharmaceuticals to home appliances. Here you’ll also find well-known names in financial services, tech, and consulting.
But that’s not all. The start-up and scale-up scene is thriving, with funding coming through for innovation in energy, artificial intelligence, and fintech.
“There are so many segments that we are growing in that Germany should be known for,” says Hendrik Zimmermann (Class of 2026). “Also, the DACH region [is] still super strong in certain industries. There are a few good startups coming up now, like AI, that I really like to watch.” (00:58)
St.Gallen Full-time MBA graduates are finding great opportunities in the region. On average, over the past five years, 81% of students received offers of employment within three months of graduating. More than 85% found employment in Switzerland or Germany. For 2024 graduates, the median compensation (including signing bonuses) totaled more than US$119,000.
St.Gallen offers the full range of MBA options, including full-time, part-time, and executive MBA programs. It boasts a student and alumni community representing more than 90 nationalities who grow and imagine a new career through the MBA program.
That means students are successful in the DACH region regardless of their level of German. St.Gallen programs are taught in English. There are many national and international companies in the DACH region, with a multitude of cultures and languages, ensuring ample career opportunities for all graduates.
So how do St.Gallen MBA students connect with DACH companies? Easy. St.Gallen develops and offers its MBA program in connection with top institutions headquartered in the area, as part of their experiential learning and leadership development approach.
Google presents innovation workshops. Former McKinsey & Company and BCG consultants help students analyze cases and develop problem-solving skills.
Respected companies from across the region offer internship opportunities or come to campus to recruit. Executives from multinationals as well as high-growth unicorns share their expertise as mentors.
Students participate in more than 50 corporate interactions each year, including company visits, networking events, and hands-on consulting projects. Many of these opportunities with corporate partners are organized with the help of St.Gallen alumni.
Located in the picturesque town of St.Gallen, the university offers easy access to nearby Zurich and other bustling DACH cities.
Zurich, Geneva, Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, and Vienna all rank among the world’s best cities to live, work, and study in, according to Brand Finance research. Zurich and Geneva score high in lifestyle and sustainability.
Berlin, Munich, and Frankfurt are increasingly known for business, investment, and a skilled workforce. Vienna, the capital of Austria, is best known for its rich cultural offerings, but it is also rising in the business and investment rankings. Vienna and Zurich tied for the #2 most liveable city in the world in 2025.
Stephan chose Munich after graduation. “There is a lot of opportunity in Munich if you have the right qualifications,” he says. (00:38)
He credits much of his success in Germany to the St. Gallen MBA. Nonetheless, his advice to students is that ultimately, they should leverage their MBA experience and network to take their own steps forward.
“St.Gallen uncovers doors. There’s a door that’s suddenly available to you because you have a certain degree, and even better, from a certain school. But it’s still all up to you to make sure that you really get to open it.” (01:13)
This MBA, widely known for its leadership development and transformation, simultaneously expands opportunities for inner and outer growth. St.Gallen, in the thriving DACH region, offers an MBA program whose location and corporate partnerships connect students with myriad opportunities in the economic powerhouse of Europe.
Consider the St.Gallen MBA – a door to DACH MBA career success and an exciting future in the heart of Europe.
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