Rankings
International School of Management (ISM)
For years ISM has been featured at the top of various rankings.
-
One of the best private
German universities -
Excellent results
in the fields of
lecturer quality & practical relevance -
Top marks for international
orientation & practical relevance -
ISM again among the best
private business schools -
Excellent results
in global Multirank
Learn more about the rankings

CHE-Ranking
The ISM has again received excellent marks in the CHE-Ranking from its students. The ISM is ranked highest in the following categories:
- Internationality
- Contact to professional practice
- Support at the beginning of your studies
About the CHE-Ranking
The CHE-University Ranking is one of the most detailed rankings in German-speaking countries and considered an excellent source of information.

U-Multirank
The ISM shines in the current investigation of the U-Multirank and scores particularly well in the following areas:
- Student Mobility
- International Orientation
- Regional Engagement
- Contact to Work Environment
The ranking thus confirms above all the ISM’s strong practical relevance and the diverse network.
About U-Multirank
U-Multirank is one of the largest worldwide university rankings and contains data on 1,600 universities from over 95 countries.
Trendence University ranking
The ISM achieves numerous good evaluations, in the categories
- Practical relevance,
- Internationality,
- Career opportunities and service
among the ten best universities in Germany.
In the following categories, ISM is ranked as the best private university of applied sciences with a focus on business administration:
- Lecturer quality,
- Jobs and digital learning,
- Career opportunities and
- Service and advice.
About the Trendence University ranking
13,600 students are surveyed for the Trendence University Ranking. In addition to the quality of teaching, the barometer also focuses on internationality, practical relevance and student advice.
Universum Student Study
In the student survey, the ISM received particularly good marks for:
- Varied career opportunities
- Close contacts to the economy
- Many opportunities to study abroad and complete internships
Our ISM students feel very well prepared for the job market and appreciate getting to know potential employers during their studies.
About the Universum Student Study
The Universum Student Study is one of the largest international surveys of students on their career ideas, career plans and satisfaction with the university.
WirtschaftsWoche ranking
The ISM has again succeeded in achieving outstanding results in the annual ranking of the WirtschaftsWoche:
- Fourth place among the best private universities of applied sciences with a focus on business administration
- 14th place overall in the overall ranking
About the WirtschaftsWoche ranking
For the WirtschaftsWoche ranking, more than 650 HR managers are surveyed once a year. The focus here is particularly on practical relevance and the quality of university graduates.
Accreditation
-
The ISM has been
state-approved indefinitely. -
The ISM is one of the first private
universities nationwide, which has twice
subsequently held an Institutional Accreditation
for over ten years. -
All ISM study programs
bear the seal of quality
of the Accreditation Council. -
All ISM study programs
bear the FIBAA seal of quality.
More information about accreditation
State recognition
- The ISM is recognized by the Ministry of Science of North Rhine-Westphalia for an unlimited period of time.
- State recognition of a university is always granted by the Ministry of Science of the federal state in which the university has its headquarters.
- Through state recognition, the degrees obtained at the ISM are equal to those obtained at state universities.
Accreditation through the German Council of Science and Humanities
- The German Council of Science and Humanities is an important science policy advisory body in Germany. Within the framework of institutional accreditation, it examines whether the university is in a position to provide teaching and research according to recognized scientific standards.
- In 2004, the ISM received an Institutional Accreditation for the maximum possible period of ten years. In 2015 it was accredited again for another ten years.
- ISM was one of the first private universities in Germany to achieve this.
Quality seal of the Accreditation Council
- The In order to ensure professional and content standards of higher education, the German federal states have established an accreditation system for study programs and placed it under the control of the Accreditation Council.
- A team of experts assesses, among other things
- the qualifications imparted in the study program,
- the study ability,
- the examination system,
- personnel capacities and
- the material and spatial equipment of the university.
- All study programs of the ISM have successfully passed the examination procedure of the Accreditation Council and bear its seal of quality.
Quality seal of the FIBAA
- The ISM study programs meet all the strict quality requirements of the FIBAA FIBAA (Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation).
- The FIBAA places particular emphasis on internationality, professional qualifications and economic proximity.
- The ISM's study programs receive particularly good evaluations regularly for
- advising prospective students,
- the supervision of students by lecturers and administrative staff and
- the practical knowledge of the lecturers.
Study programmes with FIBAA accreditation
Study program | Accreditation |
---|---|
B.Sc. International Management | First accreditation 2005 last reaccreditation 2014, valid until spring term 2021 |
B.A. Marketing & Communications Management | First accreditation 2004 last reaccreditation 2014, valid until spring term 2021 |
B.Sc. Finance & Management | First accreditation 2006 last reaccreditation 2014, valid until spring term 2021 |
B.Sc. Psychology & Management | First accreditation 2009 last reaccreditation 2014, valid until spring term 2021 |
B.A. Tourism & Event Management | First accreditation 2005 last reaccreditation 2014, valid until spring term 2021 |
B.A. Global Brand & Fashion Management |
First accreditation 2013 |
B.A. International Sports Management | First accreditation 2018, valid until spring term 2023 |
LL.B. Business Law | First accreditation 2016, valid until spring term 2021 |
M.Sc. International Management | First accreditation 2007 last reaccreditation 2019, valid until spring term 2026 |
M.A. Strategic Marketing Management | First accreditation 2006 last reaccreditation 2018, valid until spring term 2025 |
M.A. Digital Marketing | First accreditation 2018, valid until spring term 2023 |
M.Sc. Finance | First accreditation 2006 last reaccreditation 2018, valid until spring term 2025 |
M.Sc. Psychology & Management | First accreditation 2012 last reaccreditation 2017, valid until spring term 2024 |
M.Sc. Organizational Psychology & Human Resources Management | First accreditation 2017, valid until spring term 2022 |
M.A. Human Resources Management & Digital Transformation | First accreditation 2019, valid until spring term 2024 |
M.Sc. Business Intelligence & Data Science | First accreditation 2019, valid until spring term 2024 |
M.Sc. International Logistics & Supply Chain Management | First accreditation 2010 last reaccreditation 2015, valid until spring term 2022 |
M.A. Luxury, Fashion & Sales Management | First accreditation 2015, valid until spring term 2020 |
M.Sc. Real Estate Management | First accreditation 2016, valid until spring term 2022 |
M.A. Entrepreneurship | First accreditation 2017, valid until spring term 2022 |
M.A. International Business | First accreditation 2016, valid until spring term 2021 |
MBA General Management (full-time) | First accreditation 2019, valid until spring term 2026 |
B.A. Business Administration (part-time) | First accreditation 2011 last reaccreditation fall term 2015/16, valid until spring term 2022 |
M.A. Management (part-time) | First accreditation 2012 last reaccreditation 2017, valid until spring term 2024 |
MBA General Management (part-time) | First accreditation 2003 last reaccreditation 2019, valid until spring term 2026 |
B.Sc./B.A. Betriebswirtschaft (dual) | First accreditation 2016, valid until spring term 2021 |
B.A. Betriebswirtschaft (in cooperation with VWA Dortmund) | First accreditation 2016, valid until spring term 2021 |
MBA Energy Management | First accreditation 2009 last reaccreditation 2014, valid until spring term 2021 |
around 190
partner universities worldwide
75
nationalities across all ISM programs
1:7
faculty/student ratio
56
international lecturers and guest lecturers
100%
Open Door Policy
Corporate Mission
Vision
Vision
We will become one of Germany's top business schools in terms of internationalization and industry outreach.
Mission
Mission
Applied ISM education inspires our students to assume management responsibility in a global business environment.
Goals
Goals
- Cultivate outstanding young professionals
- Enhance applied research and promote young researchers
- Foster the regional integration and transregional reputation of ISM
- Foster the international reach of ISM as one of our core competencies
- Continuously develop our teaching, research and administration capacities to ensure quality