The Gap Year in Business Studies (BWL)

The Gap Year Program at the University of Mannheim offers students a bridge between their Bachelor's and Master's degrees – a well-structures year of internships, accompanied by a high-quality academic program provided by the University of Mannheim. This program enables participants to gain valuable practical experience, build networks, and start planning their academic and professional careers at an early stage.

Program Structure

Three Internships – One Year Full of Insights

Studierende, die quer hintereinander stehen

The program consists of three consecutive internship placements, each lasting four months, which can be completed at our renowned corporate partners. Depending on individual interests and preferred areas of focus, the internships can be chosen from the following wide range of business administration fields:

Accounting & Taxation
Operations Management
Finance
Marketing
Management
Information Systems
Corporate Communications

Academic Program

Where Theory Meets Practice

The internship year is complemented by a varied academic program designed exclusively for the participants. It offers subject-specific input and inspiration for personal development while also preparing them for future master's studies. The program includes interactive workshops, expert lectures, advanced online courses, preparatory training sessions, and an excursion.

Application Process

One Application – Three Internships

With just one application submitted to the program coordination office, students can be considered for participation in the Gap Year Program. After a successful selection process, they are assigned three internships based on their individual priority list. Following the selection phase, a joint meet-and-interview day takes place, where participants have the opportunity to connect with representatives of the partner companies.

The application deadline for program participation starting in September is at the end of February each year – giving students enough time to successfully complete their bachelor’s degree, while allowing for early planning for the gap year.

More Information for Download

The academic regulations for the Gap Year program can be found under the examination regulations for the Bachelor's degree program of the Department of Business Administration.. Feel free to also take a look at our flyer (PDF) which contains all the key information about the Gap Year.

What I really appreciate about the Gap Year is the opportunity to gain practical experience in various key areas of Business Administration. Thanks to the close ties between the University of Mannheim and various renowned companies, I have gained valuable insights into exciting industries. The Gap Year has significantly broadened my career prospects and opened up new professional opportunities by giving me thorough insights into different corporate structures. It's still a bit early for a general evaluation, as my Gap Year continues until the end of August, but so far it has definitely been the right decision for me.

Oliver Kurz, participant of the 2024/25 Gap Year in Business Administration – Internships at EnBW, Boehringer Ingelheim und Bosch

I can highly recommend doing a Gap Year. This year has been an incredible experience for me! I was able to apply the knowledge I gained during my bachelor's program in real life and learned a lot of new things. The Gap Year gives you thorough and in-depth insights into various companies and industries, which not only helps you develop your personality and skills in many ways, but also helps you to better understand your own professional interests.

Emil Gaziev, participant of the 2024/25 Gap Year in Business Administration – internships at Covestro, hkp and ERGO

I would describe the Gap Year at VW in the sustainability track as ‘Champions League’. Working in procurement in particular gave me insights and hands-on experience at the highest level of procurement. My day-to-day work involved multinational negotiations, intensive work, and strong collaboration in an extremely friendly, young, and competent team. I have already done many internships and gained a lot of professional experience, but nowhere else have I been able to grow so much in a such short amount of time and play in the top league immediately after graduating.

Sebastian Demleitner, participant of the 2024/25 Gap Year in Business Administration – one-year internship at VW

The University of Mannheim's Gap Year is a great opportunity that offers first-class internships at renowned companies and provides support from dedicated advisors. In my opinion, one of the biggest advantages is that you can explore your professional interests and enhance important soft skills. I decided to do a Gap Year that is focused on accounting and taxation. The opportunity to meet potential employers in my field of interest and establish professional ties has significantly increased my career prospects. I would do the Gap Year again in a heartbeat and can only recommend it to everyone!

Jana Harlacher, participant of the 2023/24 Gap Year in Business Administration – internships at PwC, Falk and Deloitte

After finishing my bachelor's degree, I did not really know what to do. The Gap Year turned out to be exactly the right decision thanks to the fascinating partner companies and the great organization. I was able to gain various insights and discovered my enthusiasm for the purchasing department. The experience I gained during my Gap Year helped me a lot in later application processes. Many interviewers were curious about my Gap Year and impressed by how much practical experience one can gain in such a short amount of time. I wish you every success and enjoyment in choosing your position – it's worth it!

Maren Schopf, participant of the 2022/23 Gap Year in Business Administration – internships at Roche, Heidelberg Materials and Porsche

The internships were all very instructive, and each position was different, allowing me to fully achieve my goal of gaining broad insights into tax consulting.

Participant of the 2021/22 Gap Year in Accounting and Taxation

I can already say that I have learned an incredible amount, both professionally and personally. The teamwork and spirit within the company are truly amazing, and I can already see how much these practical experiences are helping me gain clarity about my future career path. The exchange with my colleagues is both exciting and enriching, and I am grateful for the opportunity provided to me through the Gap Year program!

Participant of the 2021/22 Gap Year in Accounting and Taxation

During the Gap Year, I learned a lot of new things and gained exciting experience in the working world. I can highly recommend the Gap Year to my friends!

Participant of the 2021/22 Gap Year in Accounting and Taxation

As an intern at some of the world’s leading auditing firms, I had the opportunity to closely observe the ongoing consulting of both national and international clients on all matters related to today’s business environment, which enabled me to develop significantly both professionally and personally.