Business Research Excellence

The study option is open to outstanding students in the three business master’s programs: 

• Mannheim Master in Management
• Mannheim Master in Finance, Accounting and Taxation
• Mannheim Master in Operations and Supply Chain Management  

It is designed for students who combine excellent academic performance with a strong interest in academic research. Applications take place during the master’s program. The specific admission requirements and program-specific rules are set out in the relevant study regulation.

Applications must be submitted electronically to the Center for Doctoral Studies in Business (CDSB). The application deadline is 15 May each year.

Interested students submit their application documents in accordance with the applicable study regulation. These include, in particular, proof of previous academic performance, a letter of motivation in English, documents on the applicant’s academic background, and further evidence demonstrating academic aptitude and motivation. As part of the application, students also indicate the track of the study option they wish to apply for.

Selection is based on the applicant’s particular aptitude for academic research, the academic fit with the chosen track, and the applicant’s personal motivation.

Criteria include, in particular, previous academic performance, the quality and persuasiveness of the letter of motivation, research potential, the ability to engage in independent academic work, and the assessment provided by a university professor. In addition to the evaluation of the written application documents, the selection process may include a personal selection interview.

The study option is highly selective. Admission is only possible within the available places and supervisory capacities.

The study option is designed as a pre-doctoral research pathway within the respective master’s program and connects it with selected research-oriented courses offered by the CDSB/GESS. Depending on the master’s program and academic profile, different research areas or tracks may be available.

The CDSB courses completed as part of the study option are part of the master’s program. They are therefore not completed in addition to the regular curriculum or on a purely extracurricular basis, but count toward the master’s degree in accordance with the applicable study regulations.

The study option does not replace the master’s program. Instead, it adds a clearly research-oriented pathway. The specific integration into the study structure, available courses, and credit recognition are governed by the relevant study regulations.

No. The fast-track element of the study option refers to the opportunity to complete selected CDSB courses during the master’s program and have these credits recognized in accordance with the applicable regulations if admitted to a doctoral program at a later stage. It does not replace the separate admission procedure for a doctoral program.

After successfully completing your master’s program, you will receive the academic degree of your respective program, i.e. the Master of Science (M.Sc.) in the Mannheim Master in Management, Mannheim Master in Finance, Accounting and Taxation, or Mannheim Master in Operations and Supply Chain Management. 

The Business Research Study Option is not a separate degree program and does not lead to an additional academic degree. However, upon successful completion, it will be listed separately in your master’s degree documents. The modules completed at the level of the Center for Doctoral Studies in Business (CDSB) as part of the study option will also be documented in your Transcript of Records. 

If you are later successfully admitted to a doctoral program, these credits may be recognized in accordance with the applicable regulations. This can shorten the time required for the doctoral study phase. Participation in the study option does not, however, replace the separate admission procedure for a doctoral program. 

The Business Research Study Option provides early access to structured doctoral training at CDSB. In a typical constellation, students use their second year of master’s studies to complete the CDSB course year.

The selected CDSB courses are integrated into the master’s program. They are therefore not completed in addition to the regular master’s curriculum or on a purely extracurricular basis, but count toward the master’s degree in accordance with the applicable study regulations.

If students are later successfully admitted to a doctoral program, these CDSB courses may be recognized in accordance with the applicable regulations. As a result, the first coursework year of the doctoral program may be waived, allowing students to enter the dissertation phase more directly. This is the key fast-track benefit of the study option.

With the Center for Doctoral Studies in Business (CDSB) at the Graduate School of Economic and Social Sciences (GESS), the University of Mannheim offers a structured and internationally oriented doctoral environment in business.

CDSB offers seven fields of specialization: Accounting, Finance, Information Systems, Management, Marketing, Operations Management, and Taxation. Doctoral students benefit from a research-intensive faculty, a rigorous course program, and close supervision by internationally visible scholars.

The placements of CDSB graduates demonstrate the excellent career opportunities after completing a doctoral degree. Alumni have obtained academic positions at renowned universities and business schools, including LSE, HEC Paris, Bocconi University, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Wharton School, National University of Singapore, Copenhagen Business School, and Warwick Business School. At the same time, doctoral studies in Mannheim open up attractive career paths outside academia, for example in consulting, finance, industry, the public sector, and startups.