School of Management

About the school

Established in 1984, the WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management is a top-class business school in Germany. As per the Financial Times, in the field of executive MBA, WHU stood at #1 in Germany and at #16 globally in 2022. In 2023, for the Global MBA rankings, it secured the #2 spot in Germany and the #68 spot worldwide.

The School has a strong focus on research and entrepreneurship. Notable alumni include Utz Schäffer (professor of management and controlling at WHU) and Verena Hubertz (Member of the German Bundestag), among many other successful names with illustrious careers.

Situated in Vallendar and Dusseldorf, Germany, the School provides a plethora of programmes, including Master’s, MBA, Executive MBA, and Doctoral programmes. The Vallendar campus is located in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley and is populated with historic towns, vineyards, and castles. The entire section of the city is considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Where is the school located?

Life at the School of Management

WHU is a modern, diverse, inclusive, and international business school that offers a holistic education that goes beyond the classroom. Students have access to a variety of co-curricular activities, including student clubs and societies, sports facilities, and cultural events.

Accommodations of all sorts, whether they be halls of residence, private apartments, or houses, are within walking distance of the campus. Students have 24/7 access to campus buildings and study rooms. Students can find other offers from private landowners in Vallendar on Wohnungsmarkt WHU and information regarding private residences on Campus Krautkrämer, Höhrer Straße, and Motion Haus. The School provides a meal plan for students that includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

There are a plethora of student clubs and societies, such as startup boot camps, female leadership clubs, debate societies, the wine initiative, and many more, that are well-supported by the School, allowing students to explore themselves and the world around them better.

Sports facilities and other benefits of the town are readily available to all students. The commuter facilities are very convenient. Roadways and railways are viable options. 3 trains, 4 buses, and a subway station all transit very close to the campus.

Additional benefits of studying at the School of Management

In addition to its top-notch academics, WHU offers several additional benefits to its students, such as:

A curriculum that is constantly updated to reflect the latest trends and developments in business. State-of-the-art programmes are put in place to cater to specific needs, including those of senior executives. Students can reap the benefits of the wide WHU network to gain exclusive insights into the most optimal strategies during company visits or from renowned guest speakers. Students can benefit from WHU’s cooperation with Bookbridge, IDG, CIMA, PWC, etc.

Admissions criteria

General requirements for admission to the WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management include:

Resume Undergraduate degree (bachelor's or equivalent) Minimum of 2 years of postgraduate work experience, depending on the programme Online application form 1-2 letters of recommendation from a professor or supervisor Completed excellent fit assessment External certifications (GMAT / GRE, WHU Admissions Test or CFA Level II) PhD / doctorate level academic degree (if applicable) A previous academic degree in business sciences from an accredited university and 3 years of professional experience, depending on the programme TOEFL (min. 100 IBT) or equivalent IELTS (7.0), if English is not the native language

Depending on the programmes, the requirements may vary considerably. For other programme-specific requirements, refer to the School’s website.

Job placements

In the 2021 Financial Times Global MBA Ranking, WHU's MBA Career Center was recognised as Germany's leading career centre. The centre offers a wide range of services to help students achieve their career goals, whether they aim to change industries, job functions, or locations, advance in their field, or start their own ventures.

On average, WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management students earn an average of EUR 65,500 in the first year after graduating. Within 6 months of graduating, 94% of WHU’s students get a job offer 79% of students go straight from university to their new workplace Students can make their first contacts with potential employers during internships or at one of the many regular WHU events, attended by over 60 multinational companies annually. These events are a great opportunity to network with recruiters and learn more about different career opportunities. After 3 years in employment, most Master’s graduates earn an average annual salary of over EUR 100,000.