Germany: Bus. Env. in Europe, WHU-Otto Vallendar

The European Bachelor Summer Institute program at WHU-Otto Beisheim School of Management hosts 30 to 40 students each year from around the world.

You will take an intensive 3-week course at WHU, titled “Business, Political, and Cultural Environment in Europe,” and learn firsthand from top faculty members about economic developments in the European Union. You will visit one of Germany’s major international companies and either the European Central Bank or the German Central Bank. Your experience will encompass classroom instruction, two company visits and cultural activities.

The town of Vallendar, Germany, is a small, friendly community of 16,000 people. It is about a 10-minute bus ride from Koblenz, a larger city of just over 100,000 inhabitants with good shopping, restaurants and bars, and other attractions. Vallendar and Koblenz are located in the beautiful Rhine Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The region is known for its vineyards and tiny medieval castles that dot the hillsides.

Quick Facts & Links

GPA Requirement: 3.00
Program Options: Exchange, Direct Enroll
- You will participate on this program as either an exchange or direct enroll student. The limited number of available exchange spaces are reserved for in-state students. If you are a selected out-of-state student or a selected in-state student who did not receive an exchange place, you will be nominated as a direct enroll student. The primary difference between these two enrollment types is the cost. Please see the program cost information on this page for further details.
Language of Instruction: English
Class During Program (min): Rising Juniors
Program Dates: May 25 to June 14, 2025
Visit the WHU website for more information
View WHU’s European Short Term Programs video
Meet program alumni
Accessibility Resources

Application Information

Apply for a Kenan-Flagler Global Program and Global Programs scholarship through the same application system using your Kenan-Flagler credentials. Click the Apply Now button below to learn more about application deadlines, requirements, and to start your application!

Apply Now

Program Logistics

Academics

Please visit Global Academic Procedures for detailed credit and other academic information.

You will transfer three hours of business elective credit for the intensive three-week course on the Business, Political, and Cultural Environment in Europe.

The program includes a final exam and a group project. A typical day of class is composed of class sessions and study periods as well as group work in the afternoon. The program is complemented by several cultural events and company visits over the three-week period.

The nine academic modules of the program include:

Trade Integration in Europe and the European Union
Monetary Integration in Europe: The Euro as Europe’s Common Currency
Competing in European Markets
Operations Management in Europe: Embracing Sustainability
Business Environment and Strategies of Foreign Direct Investors in Central and Eastern Europe
European Aspects of Marketing
Aspects of Cultural Competence in Europe
German History
The Relevance of Family Businesses in Europe
Several visits to international companies and financial institutions

Courses taken on the WHU Business Environment in Europe Program will transfer back to UNC Pass (WHU grade of ‘C’ or higher)/Fail (WHU grade of ‘C-‘ or below). Pass grades do not affect your UNC GPA. Fail grades transfer back to UNC as Fs, which will affect your UNC GPA. Though transfer credit for this program is Pass/Fail, future employers and graduate schools will also look at the WHU transcript, so grades are important. Full-time enrollment on this program is defined as 3 credit hours. View the ‘Credit Hour Conversions’ accordion on the ‘Academics Procedures‘ page for detailed information on credit hour conversion from WHU to UNC.

This program also fulfills the Experiential Education/High-Impact Experience requirement.

Housing

Program Cost

We suggest you create your study abroad budget using our budget worksheet (xlsx) to help you think about your costs on this program:

Populate the figures from the tables below into the left side costs of attendance
Input your financial resources on the right

Your customized budget sheet can help determine your current financial status, and help you understand what additional funding you may need to help make this an affordable program option.

Cashier Billed Expenses*
Expense	Estimated Amount
UNC Summer Tuition and Fees	Rates are per credit hour for exchange- take the amount and multiply by 3
Global Programs Administrative Fee	$700
GeoBlue International Medical Insurance	$30

*Cashier Billed Expenses are those charges billed directly to your UNC ConnectCarolina account.

Out of Pocket Estimates**
Expense	Estimated Amount
WHU Tuition (direct enroll only)	$2322
WHU Registration Fee	$700
International Airfare	$1,400
Housing	$600
Meals	$300
Immigration Visa/Residence Permit	$0 (U.S. Citizens)
Passport Application Fee	$165
Course Materials	$200
International Cell Phone Plan	$70
Personal Expenses
Travel Insurance	$100


Other Personal Expenses*** (subject to exchange rate fluctuations)

Total Estimated Expenses (Exchange):	$5367
Total Estimated Expenses (Direct Enroll):	$6,587

Withdrawal Policy: Once a student accepts their offer/enrolls on a study abroad program, the spot will be considered filled and will not be offered to another student. Students who withdraw from UBP Global are responsible for non-recoverable costs including the Global Programs Administrative Fee. Your student account will be assessed charges to cover any/all amounts that Kenan-Flagler UBP Global programs has committed or paid on your behalf and are non-recoverable at the time of withdrawal. Such costs include, housing, meals, transportation and any expenses that may be associated with faculty and support participation on your program (if applicable).

*This direct enroll tuition is reflected in US dollars at the current pre-summer 2024 exchange rate.

**Out of Pocket Estimates are based on the cost of the program, which is determined by combining the average costs our previous students have spent in each of these categories, along with the costs our partner provides to us as their averages. These estimates are subject to change based on exchange rate fluctuations, bank fees, and individual variances in costs of living.

***Other Expenses: our budget worksheet (xlsx) also has a place for you to input other expenses outside of the out-of-pocket estimates that you may incur, such as attending concerts or sporting events.

Funding your global program

Scholarships & Financial Aid

Travel Documents

Do you have a valid passport? If yes, check your passport’s expiration date to ensure that your passport is valid at least 6 months after your program’s scheduled end date. If not, you’ll need to submit a passport renewal application.

Do you need to apply for a passport (first time or renew)? If yes, we recommend that you get started on your passport application right away as you’ll need time to collect documents like your birth certificate to include as part of your application. For complete instructions click here.

Will I need immigration documents? Germany is a party to the Schengen Agreement. This means that U.S. citizens may enter Germany for up to 90 days without a visa. If you are accepted into this program, you will not be required to acquire a visa as your program is approximately 25 days in length. Please set up an appointment with your Global Programs Advisor to discuss.

Meet with an Advisor

UBP students can schedule a meeting with Sherri Carmichael to learn more about this and other Summer programs by clicking on the “Schedule Appointment” link below.

Schedule Appointment

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