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WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management

Exterior of a business school building during the springtime. A blossoming tree is in the foreground.
Drone shot of the city, featuring a body of water and a large sculpture of a solider on the land.

Germany, Vallendar

Limited Capacity Program: This program can accept a limited number of students each term, and in the past we have received more qualified applicants than available spots. Review of applicants is based on these criteria. You may only have one open application per term, but should have an alternate program in mind in the event that you are not accepted to this program.

Spend a semester studying in one of the highest ranked business programs in Europe with WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management. This privately financed business school emphasizes an international experience and coursework oriented to the business community, all in the heart of Germany. WHU is a small university, with a student body numbering approximately 800. Student groups organize visits to museums or theaters, athletic events, and social activities. WHU is consistently placed among the top schools in national and international rankings: first place in the current SPIEGEL, ZEIT/CHE, and karriere rankings; second place in FOCUS; and top ratings in the FAZ-Hochschulanzeiger journal of higher education and WirtschaftsWoche. Also, with its Kellogg-WHU EMBA program, WHU is the only German university to be included in the international Financial Times ranking.

WHU is not only world class in the eyes of its students; alumni and human resources departments also give WHU top grades. The rankings place WHU among the leaders in academics and—not a given for private universities—research. In fact, WHU wins out over some time-honored public institutions of higher education. Based on a sound core education in economics and business administration, studies at WHU concentrate on the strategic functions of the corporation, focusing particularly on the managerial and organizational problems, investment and use of technology, and the need to achieve competitive advantage.

Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to providing quality study abroad and domestic study away programs for every UW-Madison student. We work strategically to identify, address, and remove barriers that may prevent participation and to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment for students. Our staff actively engages with students, faculty, and staff from diverse backgrounds and prioritizes the continuous development of our knowledge and cultural competence. We also recognize the importance of increasing access to study abroad for historically underrepresented student populations. We are committed to diversity and inclusion so that every student can engage with and understand their identity through a new lens and continue to develop and make progress on their personal, professional, and academic goals.

Sustainability

We recognize that the future of study abroad, domestic study away, and international internship programming requires a Commitment to Sustainability. We are devoted to examining, developing, and improving sustainability in all our endeavors, aligning with campus priorities and following through with UW-Madison's climate action and Resilience Commitment. Join our efforts and learn more about how to study abroad sustainably.

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Eligibility

  • Preference is given to admitted Business students

  • 3.0 cumulative GPA
  • Sophomore, Junior, Senior
  • Open to UW-Madison degree-seeking students only
  • Good academic and disciplinary standing
  • At the time of application and the semester prior to participation, UW-Madison students must be currently enrolled. Transfer Students to UW-Madison need to be currently enrolled at their home institution

Advising Location

WSB icon

Program Structure

Exchange & Direct Enroll

Subjects

Business, Language

Classroom Language

German, English

Housing

Program Duration

Fall semester: late August to December
Spring semester: January to late April

Application Deadline(s)

Fall 2026-27 2/27/2026 Cost Details
Spring 2026-27 2/27/2026 Cost Details
Extended Deadline: 8/14/2026

Future durations will be posted at a later date.

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How will study abroad help you achieve your academic, professional, and personal goals?

WHU is exclusively a business school with 80% of the undergraduate courses taught in English and 20% taught in German. Typical class size is 30-40 students, and grades are based on a combination of exams, papers, presentations, and participation. Past students have enthusiastically endorsed the academic atmosphere, citing high quality professors and challenging coursework.

WHU has organized its academic year in four quarters. Single-quarter courses may not earn three University of Wisconsin-Madison credits, which are often needed for a course to satisfy degree and major requirements. Therefore, students should review the ECTS credit values carefully when looking to see if this program is right for them. More information and WHU’s course offerings can be found on the WHU Exchange Programs webpage.

Course Equivalency: Students should expect to receive mostly "Topics/365" courses, for example Finance 365. “Topics/365” courses typically satisfy a business breadth course or an elective in that major. You will not receive credit for any 300 course. Course equivalencies are not listed online for this program. 

Bundled Courses: Courses that have fewer contact hours (worth 1-4 ECTS) are bundled. Students will take two courses in the same department in order to create one UW-Madison course. See the bundling graphic to understand how bundling works.  Only a small number of courses are worth 5-6 ECTs (3 credits at UW-Madison) and do not need to be bundled.

International Business majors at the Wisconsin School of Business are required to study abroad for a semester in their Region of Emphasis. This semester program satisfies that requirement for Western Europe.

Affiliate Institution(s)

WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management

Program Web Pages

WHU Exchange Program WHU YouTube channel

Foreign Courses

WHU Course Guide Course Bundling