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Exchange Programs –

A semester abroad at Germany’s top business school.

Exchange Programs

Spending a semester abroad –
An experience of a lifetime.

We aim to make your time abroad with us a unique experience, both academically and personally. WHU has two different campuses: Düsseldorf and Vallendar. Your study program will determine the campus you will study at during your exchange semester. As an exchange student, you will take courses in accordance with your academic background and the program studied at your home university. We welcome about 150 exchange students per semester from more than 220 partner universities worldwide.

Global Network

Global Partner Universities

Please note that only a selection of partner universities can be offered each semester. This depends on a variety of factors, including the number of students we receive from abroad. Due to the current situation, all partnerships with Russian universities are suspended.

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WHU is proud to welcome many international Bachelor and Master exchange students to Vallendar each year.

Vallendar is located in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, a 65km stretch of the 1,230km Rhine River. With its castles, historic towns, towering vineyards, and steep slopes, this section of the river has been awarded UNESCO world heritage site status. Major cities are dotted along the banks, and Koblenz marks the meeting of the rivers Rhine and Moselle. Perfectly placed, Vallendar and its surrounding area offer plenty to see and do.

Semester   January 09 to April 28, 2023 (*including exams)
Quarter III   January 09 to March 04, 2023*
Quarter IV   March 06 to April 28, 2023*
Mandatory orientation   January 05 and 06, 2023*
*Please note: Dates might still be subject to change.    
Semester   September 1 to December 21, 2023 (*including exams)
Quarter I   September 1 to October 28, 2023*
Quarter II   October 30 to December 21, 2023*
Mandatory orientation   August 24 and 25, 2023*
*Please note: Dates might still be subject to change.    
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Courses and workload at WHU

Each semester at WHU is divided into two quarters, with most courses spanning over just one.  Additionally, WHU offers compact courses with a duration of just two or three full days. There are different methods of assessment including exams, papers, and presentations, for example.

100% of courses in the undergraduate and graduate programs are taught in English, with 20% of the undergraduate courses also taught in German. We consider the regular workload for exchange students as 5 to 7 courses per semester. However, you should always discuss your choice of courses with your home university to make sure that your semester abroad will be validated!

Generally, an undergraduate course has a total of 24 contact hours, whilst a graduate course comprises 30 contact hours. WHU awards ECTS credits, with 1 ECTS credit equal to 25-30 hours of overall workload,  including lectures, group work, case studies, and exam preparation.

You can find some information regarding previoulsy offered courses in the online course guide.

Final course selection and course registration can only be made once the term has started at WHU. During the mandatory orientation days, there will be a separate information session dedicated to this topic. You will have access to a detailed schedule of classes and exams upon arrival at WHU, which will be available in our intranet. You will receive your login data during orientation.

WHU applies grading on a curve system whilst assessing the exams for each class. That means that grades are distributed based on the performance of the class as a whole. Grades at WHU are based on the following scale:

1.0 to 1.5 - VERY GOOD
1.6 to 2.5 - GOOD
2.6 to 3.5 - SATISFACTORY
3.6 to 4.0 - SUFFICIENT
5.0 - FAIL 

Apply for admission as an exchange student

If you are interested in studying for up to two semesters at WHU and your home university is a WHU partner university, you may apply for admission as an exchange student after being selected and officially nominated by your university. Please contact the international office at your home university for details on your exchange program with WHU.

Once we have received your official nomination, our exchange coordinators will provide you with further information about our online application system. After submitting a complete application, you will receive an information package and your letter of acceptance, allowing you to start making your travel plans.

The nomination deadline for the fall semester is June 1, and the nomination deadline for the spring semester is October 1.

You do not need to prove your English proficiency, but we strongly recommend having an internet-based TOEFL score of at least 95 points or equivalent.

Freemover

If you are interested in studying at WHU for 1-2 semesters, but your home university is not one of our partner universities, you could benefit from a slot as a fee-paying guest student (freemover).

To apply for admission as a freemover at WHU, please send your application including your CV, motivation letter, and transcripts to our exchange coordinators. Freemover students must pay full tuition fees at WHU.

Housing options in Vallendar

Our WHU Housing Office will assist you in finding accommodation during your stay. WHU offers several housing options in Vallendar, ranging from studios and one-bedroom apartments to bigger apartments and rooms in shared flats. The monthly rent will be between €425 and €650, depending on the housing option. You can apply for housing with your exchange application - just fill in the form "accommodation for exchange students" and send it to the Housing Office. Please visit the website of our WHU Housing Office for more information on housing for international students.

Housing will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis ­­– hence, applying early will pay off! The Housing Office will contact you shortly after you submit your application. Before arrival at WHU, you will receive a detailed map and description of the apartment. After having accepted the proposed accommodation, you will receive a preliminary rental contract. This is a binding document, and you will rent the apartment for the entirety of your stay. This contract cannot be revoked.

WHU is proud to welcome many international MBA exchange students to Düsseldorf each year.

Düsseldorf has about 600,000 inhabitants and is located in North Rhine-Westphalia. As a good-sized city, it benefits from very good infrastructure, including especially efficient public transport. Düsseldorf's cityscape is characterized by various cultures, with Düsseldorf even being home to the largest Japanese community in Germany. Internationality, its state capital status, and a strong economy are what make Düsseldorf unique. Moreover, there is a wide range of sports and cultural activities available, especially for our students.

Academic Calendar for Spring 2023

Flexible Semester Dates   January, 06 - August, 31, 2023*
Orientation   Will be arranged individually

Academic Calendar for Fall 2023

Flexible Semester Dates   September, 01 - December, 21, 2023*
Orientation   Will be arranged individually

*Please note: Dates might still be subject to change.

Courses and workload at WHU

The MBA Exchange Program offers a selection of courses from our WHU Full-Time and Part-Time MBA Programs, covering topics such as Marketing & Sales, Advanced Finance & Accounting, Operations, Innovation & Entrepreneurship, and Strategy & Organization. The classroom lectures are very interactive, often including guest speakers, company visits, and real-life case studies. Small class sizes allow the renowned professors to provide a high level of top-quality mentoring.

The course offer is normally available 2-3 months before the start of the semester and is sent to you via email. Registration takes place approximately 2 months before the start of the semester, also via email. Each Full-Time and Part-Time MBA course is worth 3 ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System). 1 ECTS credit equals 8 contact hours or generally 25-30 hours of overall workload, including lectures, group work, cases, lectures and exam preparation, for example.

A normal workload at WHU is 5-7 courses per semester. However, you should always talk to your home university advisers so that you can fulfill your home university requirements.

Career Services:

In addition to our regular course offers, exchange students are welcome to use the excellent services offered by our Career Center:

  • Networking events, including company presentations
  • Recruiting Days on our Vallendar Campus
  • Customized Career Center Newsletter, including a job and internship database

Visit the website of our outstanding Career Service Center to get more information, including active companies and placement statistics.

Apply for admission as an exchange student

After your home university has emailed your nomination to the MBA exchange coordinator at WHU, you will receive instructions for the online application procedure via email. Shortly after the application deadline, we will process the complete online applications and send the letter of acceptance electronically to the international office at your home university.

The nomination deadline for the fall semester is June 1, and the nomination deadline for the spring semester is October 1.

MSc and MBA exchange students may apply for our MBA Exchange Program if they fulfill the following admission requirements:

  • Minimum Age: 24 years
  • Fulfill one language requirement below:
    • English as mother tongue
    • Completed or currently studying in a university degree program taught and examined entirely in English
    • Minimum internet-based TOEFL score of 100 points
    • Minimum 7.0 in IELTS
  • Additionally, MSc students wishing to enroll in our MBA Exchange Program need to prove two years of full-time work experience (full-time job or full-time internships).

Freemover:

If your home university is not a WHU partner university, you may, under certain conditions, apply to WHU as a freemover. For more information about our freemover program and our current tuition fees, please contact our MBA exchange coordinator.

Free travel pass for the NRW state

Unfortunately, WHU cannot offer exchange students university-sponsored housing in Düsseldorf. After the application deadline, you will be provided with additional information and resources, which you can use to find housing. It is each student's responsibility to secure accommodation, but we are happy to help and give you advice during the process.

The Düsseldorf campus is located in Flingern Süd, close to the city center and "student" districts such as Pempelfort, Friedrichstadt, Unterbilk, Düsseltal, and the trendy district of Flingern Nord. Our exchange students will receive a free travel pass for the NRW state, allowing for free travel to cities within the state (e.g., Cologne) and within Düsseldorf. 

Private apartments vary in price and are between €400 and €600 depending on the equipment, size, and district. Electricity, heating, water, etc. are usually not included in the monthly rent and are paid separately. Please keep in mind that a deposit of up to three months rent may be required.

    Pre-departure & arrival

    Pre-departure and arrival –
    Confident from day one.

    We would like to share basic information about visa regulations and residence permit, health insurance, banking, living expenses, and scholarships to prepare you for your stay. Once you arrive, our welcome meetings, information sessions, and regional tours will provide you with further information about living in Germany and studying at WHU.

    Find out what you need to know for your stay at WHU

    Testimonials

    In their own words –
    Testimonials from our Study Abroad Ambassadors.

    Looking for the most relevant information from someone who has first-hand experience? Our Study Abroad Ambassadors spent a semester or year abroad at WHU and can answer all your questions and give you advice. Please find below statements from previous students who studied in Düsseldorf or Vallendar.

    To get in touch just send them an email.

    Video Testimonials

    Take a look at the video testimonials from our Study Abroad Ambassadors, and feel free to reach out to them to learn more about their experiences at WHU!

    BSc/MSc Study Abroad Ambassador
    Quynh Chau Nguyen, Foreign Trade University, Vietnam
    Contact Quynh

    BSc/MSc Study Abroad Ambassador
    Julianna Totoni, Schulich School of Business, York University, Canada
    Contact Julianna

    MBA Study Abroad Ambassador
    Brittney Wade, Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, USA
    Contact Brittney

    MBA Study Abroad Ambassador
    Ankit Ranjan, McMaster University, Canada
    Contact Ankit

    MBA Study Abroad Ambassador
    Jocephine Chai, National Taiwan University, Taiwan
    Contact Jocephine

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    Frequently Asked Questions

    Frequently Asked Questions –
    Quick facts about WHU's Exchange Programs.

    Please find below commonly asked questions about our WHU Exchange Programs, and the relevant answers. This set of Q&As covers various topics such as admissions, language requirements, course registration, and housing.

    No, all our courses are taught in English. Our undergraduate program offers 20% of classes also in German should you wish to take a German business class. However, if you wish to learn German, WHU offers free intensive German courses throughout the semester. Exchange students can participate in one of the four levels offered, from beginners to advanced.

    If you are interested in studying at WHU, please contact the international office at your home university as they must officially nominate you. We will then contact you directly with more information regarding the application process.

    The nomination deadline is June 1 (for the fall term and full year) and October 1 (for the spring term).

    As an exchange student from one of our partner universities, you do not have to pay tuition fees at WHU, but you usually continue paying tuition at your home university. Please check with your home university.

    Freemovers (i.e., students whose home university is not a partner university of WHU), however, do need to pay tuition at WHU. For more information, please check the section on our freemover program.

    BSc and MSc exchange students do not need to prove their proficiency in English as we trust the selection process of our partner universities. MBA students, however, do need to prove their English proficiency (please see the section about MBA requirements).

    Please contact your exchange coordinator at WHU to inform them about your late arrival. Remember to read all information on our website carefully, since you will miss the orientation days that take place two days before the semester start. More detailed information can be found here.

    Upon arrival, students will get access to WHU's intranet where they can register for courses. Registering for courses before arriving at WHU is not possible. At the beginning of the semester, there will be a detailed information session on how to register for courses using the intranet.

    Information about course content can be found in our online course guide.

    No, unfortunately this is not possible. All exams must be taken at the scheduled time at WHU. Only re-exams may be taken at the home university.

    WHU offers various furnished housing options in Vallendar, ranging from single rooms to apartments. Housing prices vary from €425 to €650 per month. The application for housing is done as part of the online application and will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. For housing options in Düsseldorf, please contact our MBA exchange coordinator Sophie Schulze.

    Please click here for detailed directions to Vallendar.

    Please click here for detailed directions to Düsseldorf.

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    Videos

    Also, check out our video "Why study abroad at WHU," where we give you some reasons why you should consider studying at WHU!

    Contact

    Get in touch –
    We're looking forward to hearing from you.

    We are happy to answer any questions you may have about the programs, the courses, and general organization. For first-hand information from former exchange students, please contact our Study Abroad Ambassadors.

    Fields marked with * are required!


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    Dipl.-Kulturwirtin Stefanie Schweins

    Director International Relations Office
    +49 (0)261 6509 160
    stefanie.schweins(at)whu.edu

    Andre Betz

    Exchange Coordinator – Africa, Asia (except China and Singapore)
    Scholarship Coordinator (Erasmus+)
    MBA European Summer Program
    +49 (0)261 6509 166
    andre.betz(at)whu.edu

    Punam Khokle

    Exchange Coordinator – USA
    +49 (0)261 6509 162
    punam.khokle(at)whu.edu

    Anna Schnittker

    Double Degree Coordinator
    Scholarship Coordinator
    International Marketing Coordinator
    +49 (0)261 6509 165
    anna.schnittker(at)whu.edu

    Sophie Schulze

    Exchange Coordinator – CHN, SGP, AUS and NZL
    Exchange MBA (inbound)
    +49 (0)261 6509 164
    sophie.schulze(at)whu.edu

    Kristina Schwanitz

    Exchange Coordinator – Europe
    Bachelor European Summer Program
    +49 (0)261 6509 163
    kristina.schwanitz(at)whu.edu

    Alex Wohlgemuth

    Exchange Coordinator – Canada, Latin America, UK and Switzerland 
    +49 (0)261 6509 161
    alex.wohlgemuth(at)whu.edu

    Dörthe Barlach

    Assistant International Relations
    +49 (0)261 6509 456
    doerthe.barlach(at)whu.edu