In the core and advanced category in International Management, the CEMS MIM students at the University of Cologne study compulsory courses in International Management, such as International Financial Management and Business Strategy, combined with electives.

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Please note that the presented changes originate from the change regulations (German: Änderungsordnung), which will only apply after the publication of the official communications (German: amtliche Mitteilungen).

¹ This module will be dropped at the end of spring term 2018. A new election of this module will not be possible as of fall term 2017/18. Students who already completed one of the examination elements successfully are allowed to complete this module by the end of spring term 2018.

The programme’s focus on Applied International Management includes a compulsory Business Project and Case Study Course.

The module availability indicated here is provided as a guide by WiSo Student Services. As the modules on offer may vary each term, we recommend that you check for current availability in the Master Course Catalogue.

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In the supplementary category, you can concentrate on one of the following six areas: Business or Economics: Accounting and Taxation, Corporate Development, Finance, Marketing, Supply Chain Management or Economics.

The module availability indicated here is provided as a guide by WiSo Student Services. As the modules on offer may vary each term, we recommend that you check for current availability in the Master Course Catalogue.

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The master’s thesis, which carries 15 ECTS credits, is written towards the end of the programme. It is intended to show that the student is capable of conducting academic work and reflecting on a specific problem related to the subject matter covered by the programme, using the necessary methods and within a specified period. Students must take no longer than three months to write their master’s thesis. Students have to oblige by the thesis rules and requirements of their supporting professor. Detailed information concerning the master’s thesis is included in the Examination Regulations.

Group master’s theses are also permitted provided a clear distinction between and assessment of each candidate’s contribution is possible. Objective criteria that make a clear distinction possible, such as sections, page numbers or topics, are used to indicate which student made which contribution. The total workload required of each group member must exceed the requirements for individual masters’ theses to an appropriate extent. The difficulty and content of a group thesis must meet the same requirements as for theses undertaken individually and independently. The contribution made by each individual must meet the requirements for masters’ theses.

The master’s thesis must be written in English. During the first six weeks after registration, students have to hand in an abstract and table of contents to the corresponding department. CEMS will credit partial ECTS from the master thesis toward its certification as a research project. Students will have to request a written confirmation by the faculty that they have fulfilled the requirements of the abstract and content overview within the given timeline. The students will then hand in this confirmation to receive accreditation for the CEMS certificate. These partial credits will only be granted if the research paper is verified within the CEMS year.

For further questions, feel free to contact the CEMS office.

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 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.

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.

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. 

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: 1 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.

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.

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.