Bachelor Career Service –

Last year, nearly 60 companies in consulting, banking and financial services, large industry and services, German small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and start-ups participated in our events on Campus Vallendar. Most top-tier consultancies and investment banks recruit here every year, and several large industrials regularly participate in our fairs (see information above on fairs for current examples). Companies also support student events such as Campus for Finance and other “Campus for” conferences, forumWHU, IdeaLab!, and SensAbility.

Internships range across industries, companies, and locations depending on individual interests and needs. Banking and finance, marketing and sales, business development, strategy and consulting, and supply chain management are all common sectors. A large group of students also intern with start-ups.

You will have two mandatory internship periods as a Bachelor student, each a minimum of 4 weeks. One of the internships must be outside of the German-speaking region. Most students do 10-12 weeks in the summer between May and August, depending on their class schedule, exchange semester, and vacation plans.

Pre-internships range across business-related industries, companies, and functions, similar to internships completed during the study program. Very often, candidates find pre-internships in smaller or mid-sized companies in their hometown or region.

Unfortunately, we cannot help finding pre-internships due to limited capacity. Moreover, only enrolled students receive access to our resources on WHU’s intranet, including the job database. Our colleagues in the admissions office can provide written confirmation that a pre-internship is mandatory for admission to WHU – just send an email to bachelor(at)whu.edu. Sometimes this helps companies adhere to their internal guidelines and regulations.

Our job database regularly features international internships and jobs, and we inform all of our partner companies about this specific student interest and need. Companies visiting WHU usually represent the German branches and often recruit mainly for the German-speaking market. One main exception is that most international banks come with their European recruitment teams. Some companies that come to campus, especially large industrials with international operations and accelerators/venture groups with portfolio companies abroad, may recruit for international internships alongside their traditional offers.

After each internship, you will write a report that can then be read by fellow students. Students are often also available to answer individual inquiries about their internships. Very often, students can open doors for each other and provide valuable practical advice about the international internship experience.

When considering where to go, do not forget that you need permission to work legally in that country. We cannot assist with work visas – you should arrange that directly with your employer. Non-EU citizens may face additional challenges in Europe since the German student visa only allows you to work in Germany (and not other EU countries).

More and more Bachelor students are deciding to take a gap year after graduation rather than directly continuing their education or entering the workplace. The possibilities for a gap year are endless, but many graduates use this time to clarify their professional interests through several internships or gain additional practical experience, develop entrepreneurial projects, travel, or work for nonprofit organizations. A number of our partner companies also organize attractive and popular gap year programs.

WHU’s alumni organization In Praxi has more than 4,500 members corresponding to over 90% of graduates from all programs. Our alumni are active across all industries including consulting, banking and financial services, industry and services, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and family business, as well as some in non profit organizations, public service, and academia. WHU has a strong history of entrepreneurship and we count a number of founders among our alumni. While the majority of our alumni live in Germany, the network covers more than 65 countries across six continents. With nearly 30 regional chapters and increasing, In Praxi organizes events for local members around the world.

The student visa allows non-EU citizens to complete their mandatory internships in Germany, as well as work for an additional 120 days per calendar year while enrolled at WHU. Due to the program’s intensity, it is unrealistic to pursue part-time employment during the semester. EU citizens (plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland) have unrestricted access to the labor market in Germany and the rest of the EU.

In general, non-EU citizens can remain in Germany to look for employment for 18 months after graduation and are entitled to work in a business-related field. Check the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs for up-to-date information on work eligibility.

Without question, the more German you speak, the more opportunities you will have. Prospects differ by industry, company, and position. Regardless of German skills, companies here look for candidates with strong intercultural competence who will succeed in the local workplace.

All top-tier consultancies and most banks require business fluency; some specialized consultancies will consider candidates with solid but not fluent German. Select business areas, such as transaction advisory, or more specialized financial services firms may hire students with limited German skills. Large industrial companies and medium-sized “hidden champions” that compete globally may also be flexible, depending on the company, sector, and functional area. Start-ups, especially in Berlin, are often open to those with limited German.

It is possible to become business fluent in German during the three-year program, but requires a lot of discipline. WHU offers free German courses for students at various levels. Improving your German as much as possible is imperative if you plan to stay here after graduation, as every increase will open more employment opportunities. An additional option for international students is to take an intensive German course after graduation.