WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management

WHU Otto Besheim School of Management is a private university founded in 1984 by the Koblenz Chamber of Commerce with the idea of it being by the business community, for the business community. It is one of the leading business schools in Germany and ranks highly on an international scale as well.

Academic Highlights

There are around 1500 students at WHU Otto Besheim studying across six main fields – finance and accounting, economics, entrepreneurs and innovation, management, marketing and sales and supply chain management. The school is a leader in future-oriented research and teaching in the field of business economics.

Location

The main campus of the school is in the town of Vallendar that sits on the southern vineyard-stitched banks of the upper-middle Rhine Valley in the district of Meyen-Koblenz. The section of the Rhine is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Did you know?

Otto Besheim, the man whose name is entwined with the school’s, was one of the leading benefactors of the school, a billionaire who made his fortune as the founder of the Metro Cash and Carry Group.

Note

• The listed disciplines are not necessarily exhaustive and other fields of study might also be available at the institution.

Approval to study particular subjects at any institution is always at the discretion of the departmental/discipline and faculty advisers in your managing faculty(ies) and subject to available places at the host.

Accommodation

WHU provides limited student housing in Vallendar, but not in Düsseldorf. WHU offers specialised support for international students in communicating with local landlords. For housing options in Düsseldorf, exchange students are advised to contact the MBA exchange coordinator (see FAQs for details).

WHU offers further advice on housing in Vallendar.

Visas

As a general rule, Australian citizens do not need a visa to enter Germany but after entering will have to apply for a residence permit at the local ‘Auslaenderbehörde’ (Immigration Office) if staying for more than three months. Your host university will assist you with this. Students from other countries may be required to apply for a visa for study purposes at the German Consulate-General in Melbourne.

For more information on visas for a student exchange, please refer to the Consulate General of Germany here.

WHU also provides some guidance on obtaining a visa and residence permit.

Health and insurance

By law, all students must have sufficient health cover for their stay in Germany to become registered as a student at a German university and/or to apply for a student visa.  Thus, non-EU-students should be careful in selecting a health insurance plan as it has to satisfy the very strict requirements of the university and the immigration office.

WHU provides further information on obtaining health insurance.

When travelling on a Monash Abroad approved program, you are automatically covered under the Monash University Student Travel Insurance policy.  This will provide cover to and from your exchange.

Orientation and extra-curricular 

Orientation day is mandatory and takes place one or two days prior to the commencement of the semester.

WHU has a vibrant student life at both campuses, with many student clubs to enjoy, as well as programs specifically aimed at exchange students like the buddy program.

WHU offers intensive German courses throughout the semester. Exchange students have the opportunity to participate in one of the 4 levels offered, from beginners to advanced. The course is worth 5 ECTS credits and tuition-free for exchange students. Further information can be found under the Spaces & places heading, along with links to other student services.

Useful guides for exchange students can be found at the bottom of the page as dowloadable PDFs.

Cost of living

WHU provides guidance on estimated living expenses.

Funding

Water Mangold Trust Fund Scholarship

Students taking German language courses may be eligible for the Walter Mangold Study Abroad Scholarship.

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)

The DAAD offers various scholarships to Australian students, there may be scholarships available to exchange students and are subject to change. Find out more here.

For information about funding available to support study on exchange overseas, see the Financial Information page on the Monash Abroad website.