Vallendar, Germany (near Koblenz)
WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management was founded in 1984 at the initiative of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Koblenz with the idea of establishing a private university in order to balance the deficits in business education. In its first few years, the School was located in the rooms of an elementary school in Koblenz-Karthause. In August 1988, the School moved to the “Marienburg” in the centre of Vallendar. After only 25 years, it is counted among the best and most respected centers of business education in Germany, and enjoys an excellent reputation internationally.
The School
WHU aims to achieve 4 things with its students: Practical orientation, internationality, personality development and technological orientation. WHU is a well respected, high-quality business school. The school is small, the students are among the best in Europe and the faculty are open to helping students outside the classroom. Industry professionals are used to teach some courses. Because the school is located in a small town, the students are very social and active in school-sponsored functions. You will get to know many German students quite well here!
The City
WHU is located in the small and beautiful hilly town of Vallender. Koblenz is the closest large city, situated in the picturesque landscape of the Rhine and Moselle and surrounded by four low mountain ranges. Its abundance of cultural monuments, historic buildings, cozy lanes and narrow alleyways, and the relaxed and happy atmosphere of its squares and river promenades, make Koblenz a friendly town where guests feel right at home. Students typically go out to eat, drink, and shop in Koblenz.
Term Dates
Spring: early January to early May
Fall: early September to late December
Courses Available
The courses open to graduate business exchange students are from the MS in Finance and MS in Management programs. Refer to online course guide for more details. MBA courses are offered at the Dusseldorf campus (Dusseldorf fact sheet).
Languages
All graduate courses are taught in English. The WHU offers a free intensive german course running through the semester.
Grade Conversion
| WHU Grade | WHU Description | ECTS Grade | UF Assignment | Grad Business |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade > 4,0 | Fail | F/FX | D, E | U |
| 4,0 | Sufficient | E | C | S |
| 3,3/ 3,7 | Satisfactory | D | B | S |
| 2,7/ 3,0 | Good | C | B+ | S |
| 1,7/ 2/ 2,3 | Very Good | B | A | S |
| 1,0/ 1,3 | Excellent | A | A | S |
Credit Conversion
| SWS credits | ECTS | UF credits |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 3 | 2 |
Minimum Credit Requirements
There is no minimum credit requirement.
Estimated Costs
Approximately 3200€* (~$4,320) per semester for housing, food, transportation, books etc.
*Based on 2013 estimates.
Accommodation
The school will arrange housing for you. There is a dormitory in a converted monastery. This is the most social residence, but the rooms are tiny with a Christian motif. Another private dorm is across the street in the middle of the river (on island). Private apartments are also an option. More information on housing options can be found on WHU’s housing site.
Travel Opportunities
Getting to Koblenz by bicycle is not easy, especially in the winter. A taxi or bus ride will take 10-15 minutes, depending on traffic. Frankfurt is an hour and a half away by car. Traveling throughout Germany and Europe by train is easy and there is much to see and do in Germany alone. The towns of Karlsruhe, Heidelberg, Strasbourg and Stuttgart are all nearby, and each provides a unique cultural experience. Bruchsal is situated in the intersection of Germany’s two main railways, so other parts of Europe are easily accessible as well.