Master of Science
Programme structure - International Management (CEMS MIM)
The University of Cologne offers the CEMS Master’s in International Management (MIM) as part of the 2-year MSc in International Management. The CEMS MIM year takes place during the second year of the programme. The CEMS MIM comprises a carefully designed curriculum, geared to one of the main goals of the CEMS Alliance, i.e. to combine academic theory with business practice. Exposure to top-class teaching and the operational expertise of world-renowned companies gives CEMS students a great opportunity to consolidate previous knowledge and apply newly acquired skills as they go through the programme.
A multi-faceted curriculum ensures a good balance between theoretical and experiential learning. In addition to internationally aligned courses, Skill Seminars and Business Projects, the CEMS MIM programme requires students to do an internship abroad as well as a term abroad at one of the CEMS partner universities.
The University of Cologne's M.Sc. International Management and CEMS Master's is designed to provide you with excellent academic and practical training in international management, together with an international focus for your future careers in international business environment.
For more information on the curriculum please see this PDF file.
The CEMS year
The CEMS year, including the CEMS core elements, takes place during the second year of the Cologne master degree and is equivalent to an academic year (CEMS term 1 during the fall and CEMS term 2 during spring term). One of these terms is completed at the home school, the other term at a CEMS school abroad.
The total workload for the CEMS elements within the MIM programme is 66 ECTS with a minimum requirement of 24 ECTS successfully completed in CEMS term 1 and 24 ECTS in CEMS term 2. The CEMS programme also includes ongoing language training, Skill and Block Seminars as well as a compulsory internship abroad.
CEMS Courses
Within the CEMS requirements of the Programme, students have to fulfil Compulsory courses such as 'International Strategy' in the fall term and 'Global Management Practice' in the spring term.
While CEMS Core Courses are designed solely for the cohort of CEMS students (both international and Cologne students), electives provide access to specialised courses from various disciplines covered by the WiSo Faculty. Courses may be taken from the fields of Corporate Development, Finance, Supply Chain Management, Marketing, Accounting/Taxation, Economics or Social Sciences.
For a more in-depth overview of the leadership and Business Skill Course have a look at the following elements:
CEMS Block Seminar
As one of today’s major challenges, sustainability is the main subject of the CEMS Block Seminar offered by the Cologne WiSo Faculty, entitled “Sustainability in the 21st Century: Rethinking the Corporate Value Chain.” The focus on tourism fits in perfectly with the surroundings of this Block Seminar, which takes place in the medieval town of Oberwesel located in the lovely Upper Middle Rhine Valley, a UNESCO world heritage site and one of Germany's major tourist attractions.
The Cologne CEMS Block Seminar is taught by interdisciplinary, inter-university teacher teams from ESADE, Bocconi, the Warsaw School of Economics (SGH) or the Copenhagen Business School, supported by representatives from companies and social partners such as Care, Transparency International, A.T. Kearney, PwC, Barilla or Henkel. The seminar offers a well-balanced mix of theory and case studies and, although it concentrates on tourism in the Upper Middle Rhine valley, it also comprises case studies on tourism in Mexico and the Costa Brava. Students from up to 20 different nationalities take part in the Block Seminar, contributing to the international atmosphere. The Block Seminar is, of course, accompanied by a social programme that makes the tourist amenities of the region a true experience. The quality of the course format, the interactive teaching and learning atmosphere and the connection between business and university life are highly rated in student evaluations.
Depending on capacity, CEMS students may apply for Block Seminars at other CEMS universities. The week-long, intensive CEMS Block Seminar is held at the beginning of the CEMS year; attendance is compulsory. Students must take this into account when making plans for the summer.
CEMS Skill Seminars
CEMS students are required to attend four days of CEMS skill seminars offered by the member universities. Skill Seminars are training seminars in practical skills. They are essential to kick-starting an effective professional career and fundamental to adjusting easily to an international management environment. Topics include Time Management, Intercultural Skills, Moderation Techniques, Group Work Abilities, International Negotiation and Presentation Skills.
Small groups of 10-15 students ensure an interactive dimension. Skill Seminars are offered in cooperation with reputable companies such as A.T. Kearney, Henkel, L'Oréal, LVMH Perfumes & Cosmetics, McKinsey and Reckitt Benckiser.
Responsible Global Leadership Seminar (RGL)
This is a two-day seminar, which takes place at the beginning of the spring term. The Responsible Global Leadership programme (RGL) is a two-day programme offered by the University of Cologne which brings together representatives from corporate and social CEMS partners, professors and students to examine, discuss, and work with these issues in an interactive, experiential learning environment. Topics in the course include understanding in the global business environment, responsible leadership behavior, corporate global responsibility and sustainable global business practices.
CEMS Business Projects
The CEMS Business Projects are consultancy projects conducted by CEMS students in small groups (4-5 participants) on behalf of companies during the spring term. Each project is supervised by a company representative and an academic advisor. The Cologne WiSo Faculty's close links to the corporate and business world make for a broad and diverse range of Business Projects, with 10-12 different projects available each spring term with companies such as A.T. Kearney, Beiersdorf, Henkel, Kone, Mastercard, PwC, Reckitt-Benckiser or with social partners (CARE and Transparency International). CEMS students highly appreciate the substantial company involvement and the above-average academic support, as regularly shown in the Business Project evaluation by the CEMS Student Board.
CEMS Term Abroad
The following information on the CEMS term abroad is intended for current Cologne students only (not guest students). During the CEMS year, participating students spend a term abroad at one of the CEMS universities. To complete the term successfully, students must comply with the standard workload requirements (as a rule, 30 ECTS credits). Credit points gained for courses taken in the CEMS term abroad are transferred to Cologne MIM studies.
All full-member institutions of the CEMS alliance are available for the term abroad. CEMS Cologne students need to apply during their first term (application deadline: 31 December) for their term abroad and will be distributed among all partner institutions. Please note that students will therefore not all be assigned their first choice.
For more details about the term abroad application process, please click here.
CEMS Internship Abroad
An internship abroad completes the CEMS MIM programme.
The CEMS internship abroad must have a minimum duration of 8 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. Placement offers from CEMS Corporate Partners can be found on the CEMS Intranet.
Please note that internships that are completed abroad after a bachelor degree and that fulfil the CEMS requirements may be validated for the CEMS programme upon review.
CEMS Socials and Student Club
Enrich your CEMS experience by participating in a number of attractive and international social and academic events. You can get involved in activities organised by the PIM&CEMS Student Club and participate in activities such as rotation dinners with corporate partners, leadership skill seminars or case study competitions.
Enjoy a night out with your fellow students and meet with students from all over the world. International students are also welcome to participate in the international Welcome Days organised by the Incoming Students Team of the International Relations Center in collaboration with the PIM&CEMS Student Club.
Fees
Tuition
The University of Cologne does not charge any tuition fees for the CEMS MIM programme.
However, all students accepted to the CEMS MIM at the University of Cologne must pay a social contribution fee of approximately €240 each term.
Students selected for the programme must pay a student registration and handling fee of €100 to CEMS. This fee is due in January and payable directly to CEMS. Students will receive further instructions about the payment method once accepted to the programme.
Additional Expenses
Please note there will be other expenses related to the programme in addition to enrolment fees and general living costs. These additional expenses vary and the total amount of the extra costs for the CEMS programme elements can be up to €900. These expenses may include:
- study materials such as books and business cases;
- costs involved in compulsory programme elements such as the CEMS Block Seminar, the Global Responsible Leadership Seminar and language training; and
- insurance coverage.
Living costs
Please take a look at the information on living costs in Cologne.
