Hello, I am a biotechnology engineer with +5 years experience in quality management (products & services firms) mostly in Dubai and previously Syria.
TOEFL ibt 110
GMAT 640
German A2 (Hopefully B2 by Sep-16)
I'm shortlisting English-taught MBA programs in Germany (for non-business graduates) in terms of affordability, strong local networks, and job prospects.
Any advise?

I'm leaving my job in Dubai Government to get this MBA and settle in Germany with my family!

I think it's pretty straightforward. Good education, alumni networks and employer services are expensive, so price is strong indicator of quality. If you want to maximise your chances of a successful transition, get to B2 (the level of DSH 1) and (rather than an MBA in English) take a programme which will put the most pressure on you to improve your German (so, for example, look for courses in German, locations where you will find less English spoken [both in terms of towns and schools], programmes where there might be project work in German or German-language classes). There are programmes aimed at students with the DSH 1, often bilingual, in the Fachhochschulen, either called MSc or MBA. The best choices will ask for C1 German - the MBA International Management at the Berlin School of Economics and Law is bilingual (but requires C1 German), the Hochschule Muenchen requires the DSH 2. However, with some research I imagine you can find one that accepts the DSH 1. The DAAD can help you.

If you really want to stay in Germany I cannot see any reason to only look at English-language courses.

Hi Duncan,
Thank you for your continuous activity and useful replies in this forum!

Actually, I would definitely choose a German program if I could, I'm aware that eventually I will need an advanced language level to get a good job, however:
Studying German is very expensive in Dubai (Goethe charges 2400€ for B1 and B2 each! )
http://www.goethe.de/ins/ae/en/abu/lrn/vae/dxb/ext.html
So if I keep studying in Dubai my budget for the MBA will decrease.

Also, being of Syrian nationality they don't give us a visa to Germany unless we are admitted into a University program, so I can't travel there to study the language!

This is why I had to look for English-language programs if I want to get admitted by winter 2016.
I would really appreciate it if you have an advise for my situation :)

[Edited by Nour Douba on Jan 18, 2016]

Surely you could save money taking a university's DSH programme? It's common (especially at the undergraduate level) to admit students conditionally on them passing a full-time DSH course either in the university's affiliated Studienkolleg or in its own DSH program. Since this would be at a university, perhaps a visa would be possible? Also Austria or German-speaking Switzerland might also be options for passing exams equal to the DSH.

Yes, typically Goethe programs everywhere are much more expensive than other alternatives. Perhaps look at offerings from Berlitz, or even private study.