These are both good schools. WHU is well located for telecoms, since its in Dusseldorf where there are firms like Vodafone and Huawei. It's better known by traditional MBA recruiters, partly because HHL is stronger for entrepreneurship. Both MBA are good, but since WHU is a one-year programme it's perhaps better for students who already have good German-language skills and want to stay in one of its concentration areas (Marketing, finance, strategy consulting and operations). For students who want to improve their German and change industry, I'd say HHL would be better.

Because WHU's MBA is on its own campus, the range of electives is rather limited (search at whu.edu/en for /Downloads/Concentrations_FT-MBA_Class_of_2015.pdf) but will work for most students. If you need more choice, then HHL would offer it.

What about Mannheim?

Just kidding. Exactly which programs are you considering? (full-time MBA, part-time MBA, Master in Management...)

part time MBA

So would you take the HHL programme in Cologne or Leipzig?

I will see that. But the program in both how is it.

Well, they are both very good programmes but of course you'll have a different experience if you study in Leipzig, since you could study on the main campus and get more networking opportunities and access to more resources.

The main difference is in the programme. HHL places more emphasis on the core courses; while WHU has three weeks abroad, rather than one, so I guess it's better for international exposure. My guess is HHL will have more international students, WHU will have more people with undergrad degrees in business or economics.

Both the programs are completely taught in English. WHU's MBA is accredited by AACSB, EQUIS and FIBAA is a 12 months program with a 3 months thesis. It is popular with recruiters. The program at HHL is more focused on consulting as it offers projects with companies like Allianz, Bosch & Veolia.It also certainly offers a wider variety of electives as compared to WHU.

I wonder if you have the numbers the wrong way around. The percentage is 40 for placement at Mannheim, and 100 at WHU, in The Economist ranking.

PS In terms of the rankings, the advantage of the FT rankings is that they show the percentage completion. That is a good guide to the accuracy of the data. The German schools are all around 90%, as are most schools in the top 100%. Indeed, only 5 schools have employment data for less than 87%.

Oh! Okay... well that sort of makes more sense. But if it's an ordinal ranking I wonder why they call that 'percentage'? But you're clearly right. I think scales makes more sense than reputation. the Mannheim MBA is great, but it's still better known as a state university. The WHU has 30 years of excellence.

Hi Duncan,
I have been accepted at both HHL and WHU. I have about 3 years of experience in Audit, Finance, Financial Reporting and Capital Markets, including work abroad. I am at B1 German and on my way to B2 - should finish before start of school.
I am not sure whether I should go for WHU or HHL. I am worried that by limiting my electives in WHU, I might shut some other career prospects in the long run. And by choosing WHU, I'm opening myself to perhaps lower salaries and a really long study period. Considering it's election year, I'd rather have the comfort of a work contract than the instability.. so, I'm confused on a lot of fronts.. can you help?
Thanks!


[quote]These are both good schools. WHU is well located for telecoms, since its in Dusseldorf where there are firms like Vodafone and Huawei. It's better known by traditional MBA recruiters, partly because HHL is stronger for entrepreneurship. Both MBA are good, but since WHU is a one-year programme it's perhaps better for students who already have good German-language skills and want to stay in one of its concentration areas (Marketing, finance, strategy consulting and operations). For students who want to improve their German and change industry, I'd say HHL would be better.[/quote]

WHU sounds better if you want to stay in similar role and industry.