Frequently Asked Questions

ISM offers Bachelor's, Master's and MBA degree programs, on-campus or online. These are taught either 100% in English or in German with select modules in English language.

ISM has locations in seven German cities: Dortmund (main campus), Frankfurt/Main, Munich, Hamburg, Cologne, Stuttgart and Berlin. Not all study programs are offered at all locations. Check the program page of the study program to see which campus offers the desired study program.

ISM is present with campuses in seven large cities: Dortmund, Frankfurt/Main, Munich, Hamburg, Cologne, Stuttgart and Berlin. The first campus was opened in 1990 in Dortmund and the latest campus opening is Berlin, in 2020.

ISM is a private university of applied sciences. This means it is state-recognized (accredited by German education authorities), has the legal right to grant degrees (Bachelor, Master or MBA) and operates independently of public universities.

Established in 1990, ISM operates as a non-profit institution and is both state-accredited and internationally accredited.? As a private university of applied sciences, ISM has a strong practical and career-oriented focus.

ISM offers two main intakes per year for the Bachelor's and Master's programs:

The fall intake is the largest one and offers almost all programs (Bachelor¡¯s, Master¡¯s and full-time MBA) and starts typically in September. The recommended application deadline for students who need a visa is July 15^th.

The spring intake offers programs which start typically in March and if offered for the Bachelor¡¯s programs, Master in 足球即时比分 Business (non-consecutive program) and for the part-time MBA. The application deadline here is December 15th for international applicants requiring a visa for Germany.

The spring semester intake is equally valid as the fall intake, and is preferred by students who missed the fall deadlines, prefer a smaller cohort of students or have had other commitments, as it offers more flexibility.

You do not need to speak German in order to study at ISM. The university offers many study programs that are taught 100% in English. You can study in English and - if you wish - learn German during your studies at ISM, as German language classes are offered during your studies. Learning German can help with daily life and social integration in Germany.

ISM offers many study programs that are taught 100% in English for international students. Also, ISM has study programs taught in German only, or in a mix of German with English modules.

Compared to public state universities, you study in small learning groups at ISM. The relationship with the professors during lectures and exams is more intense. In addition, lectures at ISM are not only given by the university lecturers. Classes are interactive, questions can be asked and many practical projects are worked on in small student teams or workshops. In addition, almost all university lecturers come from a practical background and, besides technical knowledge, also directly convey the application in a company. ISM also has one of the largest international networks in the field of economics, with around 190 partner universities abroad. A semester abroad is usually included in the on-campus study programs.

ISM was founded in Dortmund in 1990. In July 2004, it became the first private university in North Rhine-Westphalia and the second nationwide to receive institutional accreditation from the German Wissenschaftsrat (Science and Humanities Council) for the maximum possible period of ten years. In June 2016, the Wissenschaftsrat decided to grant accreditation for another ten years. ISM became AACSB-accredited in 2024 which is one of the highest international accreditation that only 6% of business schools worldwide get.

Yes, ISM received the prestigious international AACSB-accreditation in 2024 and was the first private university of applied sciences in Germany holding this prestigious seal of quality. Only 6% of business schools worldwide receive this accreditation.

Yes, the study degrees from ISM are recognized on an international level. The university holds the international AACSB accreditation which stands for excellence in teaching and research. This is grandted to only 6% of business schools worldwide.

ISM is state-recognized by the German Ministry of Science and Culture of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia for an unlimited period of time. The state recognition of a university is always carried out by the Ministry of Science of the federal state in which the university has its headquarters. Due to the state recognition, the degrees obtained at ISM are equal to the degrees obtained at German public universities. Also, ISM was the first private business school nationwide to receive national accreditation for ten years twice in a row.

You are very welcome to get to know ISM better at our regular events online (Info Sessions or free Online Lectures) or even on campus, if you are already in Germany.

Of course, you can also make an individual appointment with our study advisors for a consultation. Those appointments can also take place via Zoom, if you are not in Germany yet.

The tuition fees at the 足球即时比分 School of Management (ISM) in Germany vary depending on the program and study model. The cost of a full-time Bachelor programs is of 5,970 Euro (per semester), of full-time Master's programs of 6,480 Euro and of an full-time MBA of 8,700 Euro for the full-time program.

Yes, you can apply without a certain GPA or GMAT. The study programs do not have a numerus clausus (NC).

If you're applying from a country that doesn't use GPA, your transcript or records will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Also, GMAT is not required for the Master¡¯s or MBA programs. ISM uses its own admission test if needed to assess academic readiness.

Depending on your nationality and duration of your stay in Germany, you may or not need a visa for your ISM studies. If you're from a country outside the EU/EEA countries, you will need a student visa to study in Germany on-campus. For online studies, a visa application is not necessary.

If you're from the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA), or Switzerland, you do not need a visa to study in Germany.

At ISM you generally need a German Student Visa, also known as National Visa (D visa), if your studies will last more than 90 days. This is granted at first for 3 months initially. You must convert it to a residence permit once you are in Germany.

If you only attend a short-term non-degree program that lasts less than 90 days, such as a summer school or certificate course, you will need another type of visa, called a Schengen Visa (Type C) for Short Stay.

There are a few cornerstones to have on your radar. These are:

• Health insurance
  Everyone who comes to Germany for work or studies needs to register for health insurance.
• Proof of graduation
  You'll need to provide your high school diploma or equivalent.
• Admission letter from the university
  You'll need to provide proof of acceptance onto your university course.
• Funding
  You'll need to prove you have the funds to cover living costs for one year or the duration of your stay.
• Language skills
  Depending on whether you are doing a German or English-taught course you'll need to prove you have a grasp of the language.
• Paperwork
  e.g. Passport, biometric photos, certificate of enrollment.

The German blocked account is a bank account required for international students (from non-EU countries) to demonstrate they have enough financial funds to cover their expenses while in Germany. This account must contain sufficient funds to cover the arising costs for the duration of the planned stay in Germany.

Currently (2025), the assumed annual standard requirement is €11,904 euros. Students must pay this amount into the blocked account when they apply for a visa. The money is paid back to the student on a monthly basis, but only a certain sum can be withdrawn from there monthly (student can withdraw up to €992 per month).

The external provider VisaFlow simplifies your transition to Germany by offering comprehensive step-by-step guidance through your relocation process and initial steps in Germany.

Their web app incorporates all essential information into an interactive and easy-to-use format.

As an ISM student, you can access VisaFlow free of charge using the code "ISM25". Start your journey with VisaFlow by visiting platform.visaflow.app

In Germany, the residence permit for studies entitles you to work for a total of 140 full working days or 280 half working days per calendar year. This applies to non-EU/EEA students studying at a state-recognized German university.

Upon graduating from a German university, you can apply for a visa that grants you 18 months to look for a job and work. This can later be converted into an employment visa.

After graduation from ISM, you can apply for a residence permit for 18 months at the foreigners¡¯ registration office responsible for you in order to look for a job corresponding to your qualifications.

During these 18 months you may take up any kind of employment.

Your most important addresses as a foreign student in Germany are:

• Residents' Registration Office ('Einwohnermeldeamt'),
• Foreigners' Registration Office ('Ausl?nderamt'),
• Tax Office ('Finanzamt').

1. Fast Check via Study Advisor

足球即时比分 students who do not have the German Abitur (baccalaureate), need to send in the first step their preliminary documents to a study advisor for a "fast check" of their general eligibility to study at ISM.

In case you hold an international degree (English-taught), to check whether your degree entitles you to study in Germany, please contact Ms Yue Liu from the 足球即时比分 Office.

2. Admission Test Registration

After clarifying your questions with the study advisor and if the fast check is successful, you can register online for an admission test.

Then you will receive an link to the Application Portal where the application documents can be submitted.

3. Fill out an Online Math and English assessment test

Since the majority of undergraduate programs at ISM are a Bachelor of Science and they are taught in English, a sufficient level of Math and English are required for studying. In order to assess your level of Math and English (especially for students who do not have an English certificate), the ISM conducts its own online math and English assessment, which is a brief online test that needs to be conducted at any time before the admission test day.

4. Attend an Online Interview with ISM faculty

The personal interview is online. Besides the classical interview, you¡¯ll briefly discuss the results of your Math & English tests and clarify any final questions. If everything fits, you will then receive a study place confirmation from the ISM.

The decision on the allocation of a study place is usually made no later than one-two weeks after the interview test date.

If you need a study visa for Germany, the recommended applications deadlines are:

• no later than July 15 for the Fall Term starting studies
• no later than December 15 for the Spring Term starting studies.

If you come from an EU country or EWR as well as Switzerland, no visa is necessary and you can apply flexibly until about end of August. Apply as early as possible in order to secure admission to your desired study program.?

The admission process ends as soon as all of the limited study places have been allocated. Early application is therefore recommended for all applicants.

You can apply as early as one year before you wish to start your studies because the ISM admission test result is valid for one year.

The online admission interviews are held very often at ISM. Documents that are not yet available (e.g. school-leaving certificate for future Bachelor students) can be submitted later on, up to the start of the study program.

You are welcome to submit your most recently received certificate with your application.

The following documents are required for your Bachelor admission process:

• Curriculum vitae (CV)
• Brief letter of motivation
• School-leaving certificate (certified copy) - qualifying you to study at a German higher education institution. If your certificate is not available yet, let your study advisor know and submit a transcript or records. The original must be submitted by the start of your studies.
• Copy of your national ID card or passport
• One digital passport photo?(colored, jpg format, high resolution

Alternatively, prospective students with a special educational background or a particular aptitude in their future field of study can also be recognized under the German Higher Education Act.?

Not sure if you have the necessary school entry qualification??Please ask your?study advisor?for more information and to perform a fast check.

If you have an international school-leaving certificate, we need to first check whether your qualification entitles you to study in Germany before taking our online admission test.

Please send a scanned copy of your Curriculum Vitae (CV) and Transcript of Records by e-mail to the student advisor at the campus of your choice. We call this process a fast check of your application documents.

To apply, you need to have passed your Abitur (Baccalaureat) or an equivalent diploma, but no specific grade point average is required at ISM.

We check your personal suitability in a multi-part admission process as explained above. You can register online for our admission test.

No specific grade point average (numerus clausus) is required for the ISM application.Also, no GMAT is required.

After clarifying your questions with a study advisor, you can?register online for an admission test.

We will check your personal suitability for an ISM degree program in a multi-part admission process that includes uploading certain documents, a Math and English online assessment and an online interview.

You can already apply up to one year in advance at ISM, even without having your final school leaving certfiicate.

ISM offers two discounts for Bachelor studies staring in fall:

• Early bird discount is of 1,500 Euro and the contract signing deadline is March 15 each year for the programs that start in Fall. Apply at least several weeks in advance in order to enjoy this discount.
• Last call discount is of 500 Euro and the contract signing deadline is June 15 each summer for fall starting programs. Try to apply a few weeks in advance in order not to miss this deadline.

You can register here online for an admission test.