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.

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.

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Financial support for our students

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Anti-Discrimination Statement

Our commitment to creating an inclusive research and teaching environment

Credit: Oana Szekely

CDSB Online Information Session and Q&A

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 interested in pursuing a doctoral degree in one of the following seven areas of ...

Credit: Oana Szekely

New Application Round for the 2025 GESS Cohort now open!

At the Graduate School of Economic and Social Sciences of the University of Mannheim we are excited to announce that applications are officially open for our fully funded doctoral degree programs starting in Fall 2025! Programs Available: Business (Accounting, Finance, Information Systems, ...

GESS award winners standing in the yard, holding their certificates. From left to right: Pablo Zarate Cisternas, Klara Müller, Clemens Lauer, Prof. Thomas Gschwend, Sven Vahlpahl and Johannes Gaul.

Credit: Marion Lehnert

Celebrating Excellence – Announcing the GESS 2024 Award Winners

We are proud to present this year’s recipients of the GESS Awards! The awards were presented during the annual GESS Welcome Reception for the new cohort of doctoral students and recognize outstanding achievements in both teaching and research by GESS doctoral candidates. We would like to extend our ...

Marc wears a dark suit, is holding an award certificate and is standing next to Professor Ruth V. Aguilera who is wearing a light grey dress.

Credit: Marc J. Mertens

Marc J. Mertens (CDSB) receives Best Paper Award

CDSB doctoral candidate Marc J. Mertens received the Best Paper Award at the 4th International Conference of the Global Research Foundation for Corporate Governance, held in partnership with Loughborough University London. In their paper titled “The Power of Visuals: How Visual Impression Management ...

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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 11 full-time three to five year 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 and #2 in Economics & Econometrics and Business & Management – QS University Rankings 2024 (ranking by subject)

#1 in Germany

in Economics & Econometrics and #2 in Social Sciences – Times Higher Education Ranking 2023 (ranking by subject)

#2 in Germany

in Psychology, Sociology and Political Science and #3 in Finance – Shanghai Ranking 2023 (ranking by subject)