This website is currently being revised for the 2026 application process and is expected to be completed in December.
If you would like to find out about specific programme details of the Double Master's Programme in Business Administration, please click here.
Application deadline
From the second week in April until 15 May, you apply exclusively online via the campus management system KLIPS.
At the time of application, all subject and language requirements must be met.
At the time of application, all documents must be provided in either German or in English.
Documents submitted after the application deadline will not be accepted.
Subject-related requirements
To take part in the selection procedure, the subject-related admission requirements must be met:
Completed bachelor's degree
A completed Bachelor's degree programme that corresponds to the subject of the selected Master's degree programme.
If you have not completed your bachelor's degree, at least 80% of the credit points to be earned must be completed. The pending examinations must be completed by 30 September at the latest.
at least 60 ECTS in the field of Business Administration
at least 18 ECTS in the field of Economics
at least 15 ECTS in the fields of Statistics and/or Mathematics (only modules with mathematical and/or statistical methodological skills; pure (software) application skills are not accepted)
The Double Master's Programme in Business Administration is in English so it is essential that your English language skills meet the necessary requirements.
You can show your English language skills by submitting one of the following English language proofs:
Accepted in addition to the regular test: IELTS Indicator and IELTS Online
Cambridge2
C1 Advanced (previously called Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English, CAE) with grade A, B or C
C2 Proficiency (previously called Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English, CPE) with grade A, B, C or Level C1
Bachelor's degree2
Bachelor's degree totally taught in English (Please submit a proof that your Bachelor's degree programme was completed 100 % in English: e.g. Diploma Supplement or an official letter from the university clearly confirming this). With bachelor double degree: at least one year must have been completed in an English-speaking country.
Master's degree2
Master's degree totally taught in English
Native2
has to be verified by school certificates
International/ European Baccalaureate
accepted
1 validity for two years 2 unlimited validity
Please note that the English language requirements for the regular master’s programme may differ to those of the Double Master’s Programme. If you are interested in applying to both programmes, you should check the requirements for both programmes carefully.
Application documents
The following documents must be uploaded to KLIPS as originals or as authenticated documents in German or in English.
Bachelor's certificate or proof that 80 % have been succesfully completed
mandatory
If you have not finished your bachelor studies but have passed at least 80% of the examinations (at least 144 credits in a bachelor degree carrying 180 ECTS credits), you can apply by submitting a confirmation of all credits earned so far, along with a provisional average grade computed and certified by your examination office. Please note that the remaining credits must be earned by 30 September.
Transcript of records
mandatory
List of all taken modules and courses, including grades and credits, along with a provisional average grade computed and certified by your examination office.
mandatory for applicants with a bachelor's degree obtained outside Germany
Request a preliminary review documentation (VPD) issued for the University of Cologne from uni-assist. You can have your documents checked by uni-assist all year round, the VPD is not tied to an application semester.
Experience shows that the processing time is 8 weeks. Please make sure to request a VPD at uni-assist well in advance of the application deadline in KLIPS.
After you have received the VPD, create an online application in KLIPS.
Subject-related admission criteria
See PDF file in "subject-related requirements"
mandatory
Enter the courses you have successfully completed so far during your bachelor's degree programme in the PDF document. List only courses that you have completed at the time of application.
School leaving certificate
mandatory
A-levels, High school diploma etc.
Course catalogue
mandatory
Official description of the content of all taken bachelor courses. Course catalogue or PDF-file with link to course description at the website of the bachelor's university. If your university does not issue module descriptions or does not provide it in German or in English, please upload a PDF document explaining this informally. Please do not have your module descriptions translated! If we still need the module descriptions when reviewing your application, we will contact you.
Proof of English language skills
mandatory
Please note the accepted proofs of language under "Language requirements".
The letter of motivation must be submitted in English.
Please explain your reasons for applying to the Double Master's Programme (approximately 500 words). Please note that we only accept self-written texts (not generated with an AI such as ChatGPT).
Admission test
mandatory: Aalto University and Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad
optional: Louvain School of Management*
See details in the section "Admission test"
*Note: You will not be able to submit your application if you have not uploaded a document in the "Admission test" section in KLIPS. If you are applying exclusively for the option with the Louvain School of Management and you do not submit an admission test result, please upload your "Letter of motivation" instead.
Additional documents for Double Master's application
optional
Upload letters of reference for internships and employment (wherever possible), which you would like to have considered in the assessment of your application.
Transcript of semester abroad
optional
Only if examinations passed abroad should be considered for the admission criteria as well. The courses have to be recognised by the home university as part of the bachelor programme and recorded in the transcript of records.
Admission test
Depending on the partner and the programme you are applying for, an admission test is either mandatory or optional. In the programme with the Louvain School of Management, both the GTEBS (Former TM WISO) and the GMAT are accepted. For the programmes with Aalto University and the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad a GMAT is mandatory and a minimum of points required in order to have your application considered in the further selection process. The following tests are accepted, if the results are not older than five years:
GMAT™ Exam/Online Exam, GMAT™ Focus Edition If there is a minimum GMAT score required for your application to be considered for further consideration, this will be indicated.
We recommend that you take an admission test as this will increase your chances in the admission process.
GTEBS (former TM WISO):There is no transmission by the test provider. Please upload your test score in KLIPS.
GMAT:
Upload the Test Taker Copy or "My GMAT-Result"-form to KLIPS
All tests completed by 15 May will be accepted
Release result at GMAC for University of Cologne: We only guarantee that results submitted by 25 May will be taken into account. Without approval, the test result will be included in the score calculation with the value 0
Selection procedure
All applications fulfilling the entry requirements, will be assessed. Shortlisted applications will be invited for an online interview taking place in June.
Where an application for the Double Master's Programme is unsuccessful, it will automatically considered in the selection procedure for the standard M.Sc. in Business Administration at the University of Cologne, provided all entry requirements are fulfilled.
We can only include students to the Double Master's Programme who reach the minimum score and receive an admission to the regular programme in which the double degree option is integrated in. You can find details on how to calculate the score at the "Selection procedure & admission test" section on the application website of the M.Sc. Business Administration. In the "Admission results" section, you can also find out what the minimum score was in the last two admission rounds.
Fees & financing
Application
There are fees for the admission test. Please inquire with the test providers about the current prices. If you have obtained your bachelor's degree outside Germany, please note the handling fees for uni-assist.
Study
At the University of Cologne: You have to pay a social contribution (Semesterbeitrag) at the University of Cologne for the duration of their studies (approximately €320 per semester; including a public transport pass for the city and the surrounding area).
Students are exempted of paying tuition fees at the partner universities. The partner university might charge an administrative fee for handling the admission or to cover further administrative costs (up to €100).
Costs for rent, living expenses and learning materials must be paid by the student.
Financing and funding
You can find information on financing your studies here.
Students receive ERASMUS+ funding during their stay at Aalto University in Finland and at the Louvain School of Management in Belgium. Further information on funding possibilities when going abroad can be accessed at the website of the International Relations Center of the WiSo Faculty and the website of the Central International Office of the University of Cologne.
To apply for the Double Master's Programme in KLIPS, please select Business Administration with the desired specialisation and choose the option "I would like to apply for a Double Master's Programme".
You have further questions on the application and admission procedure? You find a detailed description on the process and how to file and application as well as FAQs here.