Rankings
International School of Management (ISM)
For years, the ISM has been featured at the top of various university 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 -
Excellent results
in the global Multirank
Learn more about the rankings

CHE-Ranking
Since many years, the ISM continues to receive excellent marks in the CHE University Ranking. Recently, the ISM was ranked highest in the following categories:
- Support at the beginning of the studies
- Graduation in due course
- Work experience
In the most recent CHE university ranking, ISM achieved excellent results for all our seven campuses. The ISM thus shows that it has succeeded in expanding high standards throughout all locations in Germany. The result for the category "Support at the beginning of studies" is particularly positive. Here, all business administration programs and the programs with a focus on business psychology, which were evaluated for the first time, made it into the top. ISM also performed well in the categories "completion of degree in a reasonable time" and "work experience". Our lecturers bring relevant professional experience to the table and all of our degree programs include excursions and practical workshops with companies. According to the survey, the students also feel very well looked after by the lecturers and rate the organization of their studies as particularly good. In addition, upcoming graduates have the opportunity to participate in various recruiting events with high-profile companies from our network.

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 for prospective students. For the current CHE ranking, information on studying, teaching and research at German universities was examined and around 120,000 students were surveyed.

U-Multirank
The ISM shines in the current investigation of the U-Multirank (2022) and scored particularly well in the following areas:
- International Academic Staff
- Student Mobility
- Professional Publications
- Foreign Language Bachelor Programmes
- Foreign Language Master Programs
The ranking thus confirms above all ISM’s strong practical relevance, internationality and 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. The U-Multirank ranking is thus particularly informative for international students to help guide their university choice.
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.
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 presence study programs
bear the FIBAA seal of quality. -
All ISM dictance learning programs
bear the ZFU 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
- 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 2021, valid until end of spring term 2029 |
B.Sc. Finance & Management | First accreditation 2006 last reaccreditation 2021, valid until end of spring term 2029 |
B.Sc. Information Systems | First accreditation 2020, valid until end of spring term 2028 |
B.Sc. Applied Data Science & Business Analytics | Currently in accreditation process (program starts in fall 2023) |
M.Sc. International Management | First accreditation 2007 last reaccreditation 2021, valid until end of spring term 2026 |
M.A. Strategic Marketing Management | First accreditation 2006 last reaccreditation 2018, valid until end of spring term 2025 |
M.Sc. Finance | First accreditation 2006 last reaccreditation 2018, valid until end of spring term 2025 |
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 2021, valid until enf of spring term 2030 |
M.A. Luxury, Fashion & Sales Management | First accreditation 2015 last reaccreditation 2021, valid until end of spring term 2029 |
M.Sc. International Business | First accreditation 2016 last reaccreditation 2021, valid until end of spring term 2029 |
M.A. Strategic Sports Management | Currently in accreditation process (program starts in fall 2023) |
MBA General Management (full-time) | First accreditation 2019, valid until end of spring term 2026 |
MBA General Management (part-time) | First accreditation 2003 last reaccreditation 2019, valid until end of spring term 2026 |
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