The WiSo Faculty offers its students the exclusive opportunity to participate in exciting and challenging intensive programmes abroad, located in the hearts of iconic cities. Planned and organised by the WiSo Faculty’s International Relations Center (ZIB WiSo), the WiSo@ programmes have enabled students to earn credit points towards their degree, all while soaking up the spirit of exciting cities like NYC, London or Hong Kong.
In addition to developing academic expertise on current topics in the areas of management, business strategy, and innovation, WiSo@ programmes place special emphasis on students’ personal (communication and interpersonal skills) and professional development (time and task management, presentation, and networking skills) in an international setting. Professional visits offered by corporate partners in the respective target cities help to sharpen career perspectives by creating links between theory and practice.
WiSo@Lisbon 2026 (Bachelors)
Strategic Frontiers: Entrepreneurship, Innovation,and Responsible Leadership in Europe
Programme dates (tentative): 25 August - 11 September 2026 Workload: 12 ECTS (2 x 6 ECTS) Location: Lisbon (Arroios )
Additional Information: ILIAS, Online Info Sessions, Coffee Chats
Join one of our upcoming Online Info Sessions to find out more about the programme structure, application process, and what to expect during your time in Lisbon
Bachelors - WiSo@Lisbon 05 & 15 December, 11:30–12:00 (CET) Zoom Meeting: https://uni.koeln/EYJEG (need to sign in with UzK account)
Or join us for a WiSo@Lisbon Coffee Chat – we bring the coffee, you bring the questions: these Group Advising Sessions (in-person, at the WISSPO B) are limited to 6 students per session. 9 December, 15:15 (CET); please register via ILIAS.
Additional information on the programme alsoon ILIAS.
Estimated Costs
Contribution to Expenses €500 (programme fee, payable to UoC upon acceptance to the programme)
Individual Costs (vary depending on your planning, housing choices, lifestyle) €2.700-€3.000
Total Costs Plan around €3.200 - €3.500 approx. in total
Integration into UoC Study Programme (2025/26)
BWL: Studies Abroad I (BWL) Studies Abroad II (BWL)
VWL (track BWL): Studies Abroad in Management I Studies Abroad in Management II
VWL (track VWL): Studies Abroad I (VWL) Studies Abroad II (VWL)
VWL (track SoWi): Studies Abroad I (VWL Sozialwissenschaften) Studies Abroad II (VWL Sozialwissenschaften)
SoWi: Studies Abroad I (SoWi) Studies Abroad II (SoWi)
WINFO: Studies Abroad I (Winfo) Studies Abroad II (Winfo)
GESÖK: Studies Abroad in Health Care Management III Studies Abroad in Health Care Management IV
Application Process for WiSo@ Programmes
Please apply via the WEX International Outgoings Portal. Participation in the programme requires a minimum age of 18 years. We also expect all students to receive credits - as specified under tab “Integration into UoC Study Programme (2025/26)”.
For WiSo@ programmes, there will be two application rounds via WEX:
Main Selection Round: application opens on 15 November and closes on 15 December - it's for you, if you know, you want to join a WiSo@ programme
Secondary Selection Round: application opens on 15 December and 15 January - this round only opens, if there are remaining spots (Restplatzvergabe) - it's for you, if you are flexible or undecided and also applying for STAP
Please be advised that it is not possible to participate in both the WiSo@ Programme and the STAP Fall Term. However, you may wish to consider a STAP Spring Term.
WiSo@NYC 2026 (Master)
Urban Dynamics: Exploring Density, Business, and Capital in New York City
Programme dates (tentative): 03 August - 21 August 2026 Workload: 12 ECTS (2 x 6 ECTS) Location: New York City (Manhattan)
Additional Information: ILIAS, Online Info Sessions, Coffee Chats
Join one of our upcoming Online Info Sessions to find out more about the programme structure, application process, and what to expect during your time in New York City
Masters - WiSo@NYC 05 & 15 December, 11:00–11:30 (CET) Zoom Meeting: https://uni.koeln/EYJEG (need to sign in with UzK account)
Or join us for a WiSo@NYC Coffee Chat – we bring the coffee, you bring the questions: these Group Advising Sessions (in-person, at the WISSPO B) are limited to 6 students per session. 9 December, 14:30 (CET); please register via ILIAS.
Contribution to Expenses €500 (programme fee, payable to UoC upon acceptance to the programme)
Individual Costs (vary depending on your planning, housing choices, lifestyle and exchange rate fluctuations) €5.000-€6.000
Total Costs Plan around €5.500 - €6.500 approx. in total (sum depends on exchange rate, individual choices and lifestyle. These cost estimates are based on feedback from students who joined the six-week programme in 2025 and 2024, and have been adjusted to give you an idea of what to expect for a three-week stay.
Integration into UoC Study Programme (2025/26)
Under PO 2021, the credits and modules used for integration depend on your study programme and are structured as follows:
Credit total: 12 ECTS (across programmes)
MSc Business Administration within the 'Electives/Ergänzungsbereich' via the 'Studies Abroad I, II' modules (2x 6 ECTS).
MSc Information Systems within the 'Electives/Ergänzungsbereich' via the 'Studies Abroad I, II' modules (2x 6 ECTS).
MSc Sociology – Social & Economic Psychology or Social Research within the 'Electives/Ergänzungsbereich' via the 'Studies Abroad I, II' modules (2x 6 ECTS).
MA Political Science within the 'Electives/Ergänzungsbereich' via the 'Studies Abroad I, II' modules (2x 6 ECTS).
MSc Economics Research within the 'Electives/Ergänzungsbereich' via the 'Studies Abroad I, II' (2x 6 ECTS).
MSc Economics within the 'Electives/Ergänzungsbereich Management & Social Sciences' via the 'Studies Abroad I &II’ modules (2x 6 ECTS).
MSc Business Analytics & Econometrics within the 'Electives/Ergänzungsbereich Management & Social Sciences' via the 'Studies Abroad I &II’ modules (2x 6 ECTS).
MSC Health Economics students within the 'Specialisation/Schwerpunktbereich via the ‘Studies Abroad in Health Care Management IV’ module (6 ECTS) and within the 'Electives/Ergänzungsbereich' via the 'Studies Abroad in Health Care Management V (6 ECTS).
For Business Administration and Information Systems students, this means that it is not possible to complete the Supplementary Section/Ergänzungsbereich with the WiSo@NYC programme alone. In order to complete this section, you will need to select an additional study abroad option (STAP in spring; summer school or freemover). Please reference your Module Cataloge.
Application Process for WiSo@ Programmes
Please apply via the WEX International Outgoings Portal. Participation in the programme requires a minimum age of 18 years. We also expect all students to receive credits - as specified under tab “Integration into UoC Study Programme (2025/26)”.
For WiSo@ programmes, there will be two application rounds via WEX:
Main Selection Round: application opens on 15 November and closes on 15 December - it's for you, if you know, you want to join a WiSo@ programme
Secondary Selection Round: application opens on 15 December and 15 January - this round only opens, if there are remaining spots (Restplatzvergabe) - it's for you, if you are flexible or undecided and also applying for STAP
Please be advised that it is not possible to participate in both the WiSo@ Programme and the STAP Fall Term. However, you may wish to consider a STAP Spring Term.
Why participate in a WiSo@ programme?
Earn credit points towards your degree during lecture free time
Gain insights into relevant international companies / professional fields
Learn from international lecturers
Soak up the professional spirit of metropolitan cities
