Graduate School of Economic and Social Sciences

The Graduate School of Economic and Social Sciences (GESS) at the University of Mannheim provides graduate training in empirical and quantitative methods as well as their application to business, economics, and the social sciences.

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Doctoral programs

Credit: Stefanie Eichler

The Center for Doctoral Studies in Business (CDSB) administers the PhD program at the Business School of the University of Mannheim, which is triple accredited by AACSB, EFDM (EQUIS) and AMBA.

Credit: Anna Logue

The Center for Doctoral Studies in Economics (CDSE) administers the PhD program at the Department of Economics of the University of Mannheim.

Credit: Anna Logue

The Center for Doctoral Studies in Social and Behavioral Sciences (CDSS) administers PhD programs in Political Science, Psychology and Sociology in close collaboration with the School of Social Sciences at the University of Mannheim.

Apply

How to apply at the GESS

Student Financing

Financial support for our students

Placements

Where our alumni work

Getting help

Gender and Diversity Committee, childcare, mental health support and more

Anti-Discrimination Statement

Our commitment to creating an inclusive research and teaching environment

Credit: Oana Szekely

Launch your research career in Fall 2026! Apply to our fully funded doctoral programs!

At the Graduate School of Economic and Social Sciences of the University of Mannheim we are now accepting applications for our fully funded doctoral programs starting in Fall 2026! Programs Available: Business (Accounting, Finance, Information Systems, Management, Marketing, Operations Management, ...

You can see an information sheet of the Graduate School on which various people are depicted and in the lower section there is information on the courses offered.

Credit: Oana Szekely

CDSB Online Information Session

The Center for Doctoral Studies in Business (CDSB) of the Graduate School of Economic and Social Sciences (GESS) at the University of Mannheim is hosting an online information event for prospective students from other universities interested in pursuing a doctoral degree in one of the following ...

Header image with blue background and visualization of data streams

Credit: Mannheim Center for Data Science

GESS expands doctoral programme: New track in social data science to start in 2026

The Graduate School of Economic and Social Sciences (GESS) is launching its 12th doctoral program: Social Data Science at the Center for Doctoral Studies in Social and Behavioral Sciences (CDSS). The program builds on the cooperation between the School of Social Sciences and the Faculty of Business ...

Bennet Janssen wearing a blue shirt and receiving the Impact Award

Credit: Universität Liechtenstein

CDSB students Bennet Janssen and Youpeng Zhang receive the Impact Award

CDSB students Bennet Janssen and Youpeng Zhang received the Impact Award for their paper “Beyond Consensus: ESG Ratings Divergence and Sustainable Investments” at the Liechtenstein Workshop of Sustainable Finance 2025. The Impact Award is presented by the LIFE Climate Foundation Liechtenstein to ...

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Five Students conversing on the Ehrenhof.

Credit: Anna Logue

Job market candidates

Check out our job market candidates from the Center for Doctoral Studies of Business, Economics und Social Sciences.

Rankings

Our 12 full-time doctoral programs provide access to world-class teaching and a vibrant and international faculty at the forefront of cutting-edge research.

#1 in Germany

in Accounting & Finance, #2 in Business & Management and #3 in Economics & Econometrics – QS University Rankings 2025 (ranking by subject)

#2 in Germany

in Political Science and #3 in Business Administration, Finance, and Management – Shanghai Ranking 2025 (ranking by subject)

#3 in Germany

in Business & Economics and Social Sciences – Times Higher Education Ranking 2025 (ranking by subject)