ISM International School of Management is a private business university headquartered in Dortmund, with campuses in Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg, Cologne, Stuttgart and Berlin. It's known for international management degrees with a semester abroad, taught in English or German. It regularly ranks among Germany's top private business schools.
Dortmund, Germany
Official website: ism.de
1990 in Dortmund
State-recognised private university
Dortmund, Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg, Cologne, Stuttgart and Berlin
€14,000 – €20,000
All students, bachelor's and master's programmes
€11,000 – €13,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on ism.de before you apply.
MSc International Management
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Sep, Mar
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 90
MSc Finance
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 90
MA Marketing and Communications
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 90
BSc International Management
Bachelors DegreeDuration
42 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 80
Campuses in seven German cities.
A semester abroad in most programmes.
Strong ties with German employers.
Graduates join consulting, finance and consumer firms in Germany.
Graduates can stay in Germany for up to 18 months to look for work.
Dortmund and the Ruhr offer internships in logistics and industry.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Rolling
Undergrad
No UG intake
Postgrad
Limited programmes
The Dortmund campus is near the city centre, with students renting shared flats nearby.
Dortmund is a big Ruhr city famous for football, with low rent and good trains across the region.
Admission letter from ISM
Blocked account for living costs
German-recognised health insurance
APS certificate for applicants from India
English test at required level
Valid passport and national visa form
ISM accepts applications on a rolling basis. Non-EU students should apply by spring for September.
Most programmes start in September; international management also starts in March.
A German national student visa. Book the embassy appointment early (waits can be long), and bring your admission letter, a blocked account covering a year of living costs, health insurance and, if you studied in India, the APS certificate.
International management, finance, marketing and communications and the bachelor's in international management are popular. Master's entry needs a bachelor's degree and IELTS 6.5.
ISM offers some scholarships. Ask admissions about current awards.
