How is the Executive MBA program at GSB Mainz organized?

This is an extra-occupational program; participants thus remain in contact with the operational processes of their organizations. The program has a duration of two years, requires 550 hours of course attendance in Mainz, and a total of 90 ECTS credits are awarded.

Programs commence annually in the winter semester and start with an induction week in September.  This is followed by the actual course program, which begins in October and extends over 18 months, ending in March of the second year. On completion of all required courses, participants are required to write a practice-oriented, academic Master’s thesis. Graduation ceremonies are held at the end of the second academic year in September.

The program is structured into five compulsory and four elective modules. The compulsory modules deal with the core aspects of management training. The elective modules offer opportunities for more in-depth study of individual fields such as digitalization. At least two of the four elective modules must be taken, but participation in all four elective modules is also possible. Each module consists of three thematically linked courses.

All courses are held during the period Friday 2:00 p.m. to Sunday 1:30 p.m. in the two buildings of the Faculty of Law, Management, and Economics on the JGU Mainz campus; each comprises 21 academic hours.

The three preparatory courses during the induction week in September give participants the opportunity of getting to know each other. This is also where the foundation is laid for the intensive interaction among each academic year’s intake; this interaction is intended as will significantly promote the successful completion of the program and extend the horizons of participants.

The first three compulsory modules are offered after the induction week and the elective module “Digitization" finishes the courses of the first study year.

In general, the modules of the first academic year take place from October to March. At the end of the first academic year is a week-long study visit to either Tongji University Shanghai (China) or the University of Adelaide (Australia).

The second academic year begins in August – after a three-month break from May to July – with the second elective module "Law" and the compulsory modules four and five. This is followed by the elective modules "Health Management" and “International Management” in the period January to March 2024.

On completion of the course program in Mainz, the Master’s thesis is to be written in a 20-week preparation period extending from March 13 to July 31.

The course program in Mainz will be followed by an optional study visit to the University of Austin at Texas (USA) in March 2024, where the theme will be “Understanding China!”.

Participation in the study visit to Shanghai/Adelaide is obligatory for all participants of the program – and the costs for the academic program are included in the tuition fee. The individual travel costs are not included. Participation in the second study visit is optional. The costs for the study program will be invoiced separately.

Both, the Opening Week and the study week at the partner universities are recognized as “Bildungsurlaub” according to the Rhineland-Palatinate ”Bildungsfreistellungsgesetz”.