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

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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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How to apply at the GESS

Financial support

Financial support for our students

Placements

Where our alumni work

Getting help

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

Coronavirus

Measures and recommendations

CDSE Alumna Pia Pinger receives an ERC Starting Grant

CDSE Alumna Prof. Dr. Pia Pinger, Professor of Economics at the Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences of the University of Cologne is awarded an ERC Starting Grant for her research project “OPPORTUNITY”. The project investigates whether and, if so, why people from different ...

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GESS Board of Directors – new term, new positions, and board members

Congratulations to Professor Thomas Gschwend who took over the position of GESS Dean of Graduate Studies in addition to his position as Academic Director of the Center for Doctoral Studies in Social and Behavioral Sciences (CDSS), which he holds since the 2019 spring term. Furthermore, the GESS ...

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CDSB Alumnus Jens Förderer promoted to Associate Professor of Innovation and Digitalization

CDSB alumnus Dr. Jens Förderer who holds his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees at the University of Mannheim, has been granted tenure and promoted to Associate Professor of Innovation and Digitalization at the School of Management at Technical University of Munich. Jens, who has won several ...

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CDSB Alumna Patricia Breuer takes on position as Assistant Professor at Erasmus University Rotterdam

Starting in September 2023 CDSB alumna Dr. Patricia Breuer will take a position as Assistant Professor for Accounting, Auditing and Control at the Erasmus School of Economics at Erasmus University Rotterdam. Patricia successfully defended her thesis in July 2023 at the Center for Doctoral Studies ...

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Job market candidates

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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 and Finance, Business and Management and #2 in Politics, Economics and Econometrics – QS University Rankings 2022 (ranking by subject)

#1 in Germany

in Social Sciences, Business and Economics – Times Higher Education Ranking 2022 (ranking by subject)

#1 in Germany

in Finance, Political Science, and Business Administration and #2 in Economics – Shanghai Ranking 2022