About the university
WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management is a private business school founded in 1984. It is small and selective, and it focuses only on business and economics: a bachelor's in international business administration, a set of pre-experience master's, MBA programmes and executive education.
WHU is best known for its Master in Management, which WHU reports as first in Germany and 19th in the world in the Financial Times Masters in Management Ranking 2026. It also has a strong entrepreneurship culture, with many alumni-founded start-ups, and was the first German school to hold EQUIS accreditation.
Indian students mostly look at the Master in Management, Master in International Business (open to graduates of any subject), Master in Finance and the Full-Time MBA. Unlike Germany's public universities, WHU charges full tuition, but it publishes a large set of 25% scholarships and early-application discounts.
The main campus is in Vallendar, a small town on the Rhine next to Koblenz in Rhineland-Palatinate. The MBA and the Master in Finance are taught at the Düsseldorf campus in the centre of one of Germany's biggest business cities.
- Founded
- 1984, on the initiative of the Koblenz Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- Type
- Private, state-recognised business school (EQUIS since 1998, AACSB since 2010)
- Students
- 1,496 registered students in Vallendar, plus 443 MBA and about 150 Master in Finance students in Düsseldorf (WHU campus pages)
- Campuses
- Vallendar (bachelor's and most master's) and Düsseldorf (MBA and Master in Finance)
- Intakes
- September for the bachelor's, MSc programmes and the Full-Time MBA
- Tuition
- Charged for all students: €9,300 per semester (BSc), €33,600 or €41,200 in total (MSc, 2027), €49,500 (Full-Time MBA)
Rankings
Financial Times Masters in Management Ranking (as published by WHU) 2026
19th in the world, 1st in Germany
QS International Trade Ranking: Master in International Business (as published by WHU) 2027
5th in the world, 1st in Germany
QS Global MBA Rankings (as published by WHU) 2027
58th in the world, 3rd in Germany
Financial Times Global MBA Ranking (as published by WHU) 2026
69th in the world, 2nd in Germany
Financial Times European Business School Ranking (as published by WHU) 2025
20th in Europe, 3rd in Germany
Popular courses with Indian students
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €20,600
- Duration
- 21 months (120 ECTS)
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS Academic 7.5 or TOEFL iBT 100; waived if your degree or schooling was fully in English
- Postgraduate
Master in International Business (MSc)
- Fee / year
- €20,600
- Duration
- 21 months (120 ECTS)
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS Academic 7.5 or TOEFL iBT 100; waived if your degree or schooling was fully in English
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €20,600
- Duration
- 17 months (90 ECTS) or 21 months (120 ECTS)
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS Academic 7.5 or TOEFL iBT 100; waived if your degree or schooling was fully in English
- Postgraduate
Master in Entrepreneurship (MSc)
- Fee / year
- €20,600
- Duration
- 17 months (90 ECTS) or 21 months (120 ECTS)
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS Academic 7.5 or TOEFL iBT 100; waived if your degree or schooling was fully in English
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €49,500
- Duration
- 12 months
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 7.0 (6.5 in each part) or TOEFL iBT 100
- Undergraduate
Bachelor in International Business Administration (BSc)
- Fee / year
- €18,600
- Duration
- 3 years (6 semesters)
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS Academic 7.0, TOEFL iBT 95 or Cambridge C1 Advanced (grade C)
Fees for international students
| Course | Duration | Fee / year (EUR) | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master in Management (MSc) | 21 months (120 ECTS) | €20,600 | ≈ ₹21.8 lakh |
| Master in International Business (MSc) | 21 months (120 ECTS) | €20,600 | ≈ ₹21.8 lakh |
| Master in Finance (MSc) | 17 months (90 ECTS) or 21 months (120 ECTS) | €20,600 | ≈ ₹21.8 lakh |
| Master in Entrepreneurship (MSc) | 17 months (90 ECTS) or 21 months (120 ECTS) | €20,600 | ≈ ₹21.8 lakh |
| Full-Time MBA | 12 months | €49,500 | ≈ ₹52.5 lakh |
| Bachelor in International Business Administration (BSc) | 3 years (6 semesters) | €18,600 | ≈ ₹19.7 lakh |
Fees are for international students for the entry year shown on each course page and can rise each year. Approximate exchange rates (based on ECB reference rates, March 2026). Actual rates on your payment date will differ.
Want a course shortlist with fees?Our counsellor will compare courses at WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management with similar universities in Germany.
Scholarships
- MSc programmes
WHU MSc scholarships (Excellence, Merit, Social Impact and others)
Value: 25% of tuition fees
Eligibility: Admitted candidates with strong academic and admissions results; the Merit Scholarship needs GMAT 655, GRE 164/164 or GTEBS 112 in one sitting. Complete programme application by 31 March 2027.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Master in Management
WHU Responsible Leader Scholarship
Value: 75% of tuition fees
Eligibility: Outstanding MiM candidates with academic excellence and community impact; complete applications by 31 January are considered automatically.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - MSc programmes
MSc early-bird tuition discount
Value: €3,000 (by 30 November 2026) or €1,500 (by 31 January 2027)
Eligibility: Complete MSc applications submitted by the deadline.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Bachelor
WHU Global Community Scholarship
Value: 20% of tuition fees
Eligibility: Top bachelor's applicants who do not hold German citizenship; apply together with the programme application.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Full-Time MBA
WHU MBA scholarships (including for participants from developing countries)
Value: Partial; amount set individually (e-fellows.net scholarship fixed at €10,000)
Eligibility: Admitted Full-Time MBA applicants; one scholarship application per person, before signing the study contract.
Official page (opens in a new tab)
Admission requirements
Undergraduate
- A secondary school diploma or equivalent university entrance qualification; WHU asks applicants to contact it if they are unsure whether their school certificate qualifies.
- You can apply with mid-term or predicted grades if your Class 12 results are not out yet.
- Three application rounds for 2027 entry (31 January, 31 March and 15 May 2027), each with an online analytical test, an assessment and one-on-one interviews.
- Proof of English and of the required internship(s) by 15 May 2027.
Postgraduate
- MiM and MiF: a bachelor's of at least 180 ECTS in business or economics (MiF also accepts quantitative STEM degrees with finance experience); MIB accepts any subject; MiE accepts business, STEM or other relevant degrees.
- Degrees from outside Germany must come from a university listed as 'H+' in the anabin database.
- At least 12 weeks (480 hours) of business-related practical experience; maximum post-graduate experience is 2 years (MiM, MIB), 4 years (MiF) or 6 years (MiE).
- GMAT 555, GRE 158/158 or GTEBS 102 for the MSc programmes (you may apply before you have the score).
- Selection by Kira Talent video interview and a live interview. Applicants with an Indian bachelor's must obtain an APS certificate before the visa.
- Full-Time MBA: a bachelor's degree, at least two years of post-graduate work experience, an 'Excellent Fit' proof such as GMAT/GRE, an interview and a team assessment.
Documents
- One-page CV in English
- Bachelor's transcript of records (latest transcript if you are still studying) and degree certificate
- IELTS or TOEFL score report, or proof that your education was fully in English
- GMAT, GRE or GTEBS score (MSc); GMAT/GRE or another 'Excellent Fit' proof (MBA)
- Employer letter proving practical experience (position, dates, duties, stamp and signature)
- Letter of recommendation (MBA)
- APS certificate (needed for the German student visa with an Indian degree)
- Valid passport
Check if you are eligibleShare your marks and test scores and our counsellor will tell you which courses you can apply for.
English language requirements
| Test or route | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 7.5 (MSc), 7.0 with 6.5 in each part (Full-Time MBA), 7.0 (BSc) |
| TOEFL iBT | 100 classic scale or 5.5 new scale (MSc and MBA); 95 or 5 (BSc) |
| Cambridge English | C1 Advanced, grade C or higher (BSc) |
| English-medium waiver | MSc: no test needed if your undergraduate or school education was entirely in English. BSc: possible for English-taught schools (English as a subject is not enough). |
| Duolingo | Not accepted for the MSc programmes |
Accommodation and living costs
Vallendar is a small town, so most students rent private furnished apartments close to campus. WHU's housing team rents a number of furnished apartments in Vallendar, priced per semester including bills and Wi-Fi; some houses are mainly for exchange students. MBA and Master in Finance students look for housing in Düsseldorf.
| Item | In EUR | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Campus Krautkrämer apartmentWHU's figure: about €330–€355 a month; ten of the 29 units are reserved for exchange students | €1,500–1,600per semester | ≈ ₹1.6 lakh – ₹1.7 lakh |
| Humboldthöhe apartment (1–3 rooms)Per person, including all costs and Wi-Fi | €2,030–2,150per semester | ≈ ₹2.2 lakh – ₹2.3 lakh |
| Room in a shared flat, Gilgenborn 31aIncluding utilities and Wi-Fi | €2,530per semester | ≈ ₹2.7 lakh |
| SmartFlats Goethestraße single unitMainly let to exchange students | €2,370–2,530per semester | ≈ ₹2.5 lakh – ₹2.7 lakh |
Campus and location
The Vallendar campus is compact and centred on the Marienburg building and the Burgplatz square, a short walk from the town centre and close to Koblenz. Düsseldorf hosts the MBA and Master in Finance in the city centre.
- Campus buildings and study rooms are open to students 24/7.
- About 30 student clubs across Vallendar and Düsseldorf, plus WHU's entrepreneurship centre.
- Over 200 partner schools worldwide for semesters abroad and double degrees.
- Language courses on campus in eight languages, including German.
- Mensa, bistro and student counselling on the Vallendar campus.
Careers and graduate outcomes
WHU graduates mainly go into consulting, finance, industry and start-ups, supported by the Career Center and a large alumni network. Salary figures are WHU's own averages, not a promise of a job.
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Average starting salary, Master of Science graduates | €67,149 | WHU Master in Management page |
| Master in Entrepreneurship graduates who started a company | 25% (2021–2025 graduates) | WHU Master in Entrepreneurship page |
Studying in Germany
Visa rules, work rights and living costs apply to every university in Germany. Our country guide covers them in detail:
Other universities in Germany
- Public
Often chosen for Engineering, Computer Science & IT, Data Science & AI
- Public
Often chosen for Engineering, Computer Science & IT
Photo: juhotski, CC BY-SA 3.0 PublicOften chosen for Engineering, Computer Science & IT, Life Sciences
Photo: TU Berlin/Pressestelle/Ulrich Dahl, Copyrighted free use PublicOften chosen for Engineering, Computer Science & IT, Business & Management
Photo: Seeott, CC BY-SA 4.0 PublicLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU Munich) (official website, opens in a new tab)
Munich, GermanyOften chosen for Life Sciences, Medicine & Health Sciences, Law
Photo: Hermann Luyken, CC0 PublicHeidelberg University (official website, opens in a new tab)
Heidelberg, GermanyOften chosen for Medicine & Health Sciences, Life Sciences
FAQs
How much does WHU cost for Indian students?
The same as for everyone: €41,200 in total for a 120-credit MSc (or €33,600 for 90 credits) for 2027 entry, €49,500 for the Full-Time MBA and €9,300 per semester for the bachelor's. Living costs come on top.
Can I get a scholarship at WHU?
Most WHU MSc scholarships cover 25% of tuition, and the Responsible Leader Scholarship covers 75% for the Master in Management. Apply early: there are early-bird discounts and a 31 March scholarship deadline.
Do I need GMAT for WHU's master's?
Yes, one of GMAT (555), GRE (158/158) or GTEBS (102). You can apply first and send the score by 31 May 2027.
Is my medium-of-instruction certificate enough instead of IELTS?
For the MSc programmes, yes, if your undergraduate or secondary education was entirely in English. WHU does not accept Duolingo or TOEIC.
Which WHU master's suits a non-business graduate, such as an engineer?
The Master in International Business accepts any subject. The Master in Finance accepts quantitative STEM graduates with finance experience, and the Master in Entrepreneurship accepts STEM degrees.
When is the intake?
September, for all the full-time programmes listed here.
Sources
- WHU: Master of Science fees and financing (opens in a new tab)
- WHU: Master in Management (opens in a new tab)
- WHU: Master in Management application and admissions (opens in a new tab)
- WHU: Master in International Business application and admissions (opens in a new tab)
- WHU: Full-Time MBA fees and financing (opens in a new tab)
- WHU: Full-Time MBA application and admissions (opens in a new tab)
- WHU: Bachelor fees and financing (opens in a new tab)
- WHU: Bachelor application and admissions (opens in a new tab)
- WHU: rankings and accreditations (opens in a new tab)
- WHU: housing in Vallendar (opens in a new tab)
- WHU: Campus Düsseldorf (opens in a new tab)
- WHU: about WHU (opens in a new tab)
Official website: www.whu.edu (opens in a new tab)
Check the latest details