Credit transfer and curriculum
Credit Transfer and Curriculum
- CEMS MIM-year
Brief Description:
The CEMS MIM year is equivalent to an academic year, i.e. winter semester (CEMS term 1) and summer semester (CEMS term 2). One term is completed at a CEMS university abroad, the other at the home university.
Flexibility:
During the CEMS programme, students can complete parts of their Cologne studies so long as this does not interfere with their CEMS work and its compulsory elements.
CEMS Programme Workload:
The structures of the MSc in Business Administration or Economics and the CEMS programme allow for several credit transfer options. Even so, students must reckon with a prolongation of their studies by one semester on account of the additional workload.
CEMS Block Seminar
Brief Description:
The week-long, intensive CEMS block seminar is held at the beginning of the CEMS year. Each of the participating universities offers this seminar to its CEMS students at the outset of the autumn semester (CEMS term 1). Depending on available capacities, CEMS students may apply for block seminars at other CEMS universities. The seminar precedes CEMS term 1; attendance is compulsory. This must be taken into account for summer planning.
CEMS Term Abroad
Brief Description:
During the CEMS year, participating students do a term abroad at a CEMS university in another country. The term’s successful completion is subject to the general requirements for semester workloads (as a rule, 30 ECTS credits). All full-member institutions of the CEMS alliance are available for the term abroad.
Credit Transfer Options:
Credit points gained for courses taken in the CEMS term abroad can be counted for Cologne studies. The minor “Studies Abroad in Management, Economics, Social Sciences” offers credit transfer options for 24 ECTS. In addition students may use credit transfer for individual courses. For more details please see examination regulations or contact the International Relations Center (ZIB-WiSo).
CEMS Courses
Brief Description:
Courses taken under the CEMS programme must earn a total of 45 ECTS credits. Compulsory courses are “International Strategy” in the winter semester (CEMS term 1) and “Cross-Cultural Management” in the summer semester (CEMS term 2). The remaining ECTS credits are gained through electives. For information on the individual course offers of the member universities, please visit the CEMS website www.cems.org.
CEMS Internship Abroad
Brief Description:
The CEMS internship abroad must have a minimum duration of 10 weeks. The training should include independent project work at “first-job level”. There are no requirements as to the country or company in which the internship is to be done. 
CEMS corporate partners offer placements to participating students on the CEMS Intranet.
Validation Options:
Internships which have been completed abroad after the Bachelor’s degree and fulfil the CEMS requirements may upon review be validated for the CEMS programme.
CEMS Business Project
Brief Description:
Business projects take the form of consultancy work conducted on behalf of enterprises by CEMS students in small groups (4-5 participants) during summer term. Each project is supervised by a company representative and an academic advisor.
It is essential that students arrive on time and participate throughout the entire semester.
CEMS Skill Seminars
Brief Description:
CEMS students are required to attend four days of CEMS skill seminars offered by the member universities. The seminars provide training in international management skills such as, for example:
- Communication and negotiation
- Team building and group work
- Conflict management
- Moderation and presentation techniques
- Time management
- Intercultural competencies
Small groups of about 10 to 15 students permit highly interactive work. In the course of the CEMS year, students take part in four skill seminar days.
Allocation to CEMS skill seminars does not occur automatically, nor is there any guarantee for participation in a specific seminar. Please note the pertinent registration dates and conditions.