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Universität Duisburg - Essen (master)

Master double degree programme between SGH Warsaw School of Economics and University of Duisburg-Essen , Mercator School of Management – MSM (Duisburg, Germany)

This double degree programme is available to full-time master students of SGH and MSM within the following study programs at SGH:

  • Finanse i Rachunkowość (Finance and Accounting) [in Polish; please note: Finance and Accounting ACCA degree is not a major included in the program]
  • Zarządzanie (Management) [in Polish]
  • International Business [in English]
  • Glogalny biznes, finance i zarządzanie (Governance) [in Polish]
  • Global Business, Finance and Governance [in English]

as well as – at MSM:

  • Accounting and Finance
  • Management and Economics
University of Duisburg-Essen

Two-Campus University

Creative inspiration between the Rhine and Ruhr: the University of Duisburg-Essen is located in the European region with the highest density of institutions of higher learning. Created in 2003 by the merger of the universities of Duisburg and Essen, it is the youngest university in North Rhine-Westphalia and one of the ten largest universities in Germany.

The Mercator School of Management (MSM) refers to the faculty of business administration of the University of Duisburg-Essen in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The MSM is a classic business school located in Duisburg. It involves twelve chairs of different business administration disciplines. Each of the three pillars of the MSM combines four of those chairs in a research department.

Programme structure
  • The period of study for the double degree program is two years (4 semesters).
  • Both SGH and MSM double degree students spend their first year at MSM the second year at SGH.
  • Double degree students have access to courses and enjoy the same rights and privileges and – with the exception of the course requirements specific to the double degree programme – be subject to the same rules and regulations as the regular graduate students in the corresponding Masters study track of the host institution.
  • In addition, students admitted for the double degree programme shall complete the modules offered at SGH and MSM defined in the study plans.
Study plans
Master thesis
  • In addition to the mandatory coursework at both institutions, as set forth in the agreement, the double degree student is required to write a Master’s Thesis. The Master’s Thesis is worth 20 ECTS at SGH. The Master’s Thesis – combined with a colloquium – is worth 30 ECTS at MSM. The partner institutions assure the legal and organisational pre-conditions required for enabling the double degree students to start with the Master’s Thesis in their second study year.
  • The Master’s Thesis shall be supervised by one supervisor and marked (graded) by a reviewer. The double degree students shall choose one supervisor from either institution, the reviewer will be selected from the partner institution respectively. The language of the Master Thesis is English or German.
  • Part of the completion of the Master’s Thesis is a defence of the thesis (at the MSM called: Research Colloquium). Members of the host institution are invited to attend the defence. In preparation of the defence the double degree student has to write a thesis summary in English. The defence will be conducted in English or in German.
  • The management process of the preparation of the Master’s Thesis should meet all the legal and academic constraints of the institution at which a student writes and defends the Masters Thesis.
CONDITIONS FOR OBTAINING THE DOUBLE DEGREE
  • The double degree shall only be awarded after the student has completed the program by fulfilling the following requirements:
  • DD students from MSM and SGH:
    • 1st year at MSM: the award of at least 60 ECTS credit points equivalent to the regulations constituted in this agreement,
    • 2nd year at SGH: the award of at least 40 ECTS for the courses in the Finance and Accounting field of study or Management field of study, equivalent to the regulations constituted in this agreement and completion of Master Thesis and Colloquium (20 ECTS) at MSM or Master Thesis at SGH (20 ECTS).
Admission criteria
  • Candidates for the double degree program are to be selected by their home institution according to the selection criteria jointly defined and agreed upon by SGH and MSM.
  • Due to the higher workload compared to the ordinary Masters’ study tracks at the partner institutions, only highly qualified students shall be selected for the double degree program.
  • The double degree candidates must satisfy all admission requirements of the host institution, including language proficiency requirements and good knowledge on Bachelor level of Microeconomics, Macroeconomics and Statistics.
  • All double degree candidates must provide evidence of a satisfactory level of language proficiency according to the requirements of the Common European Framework (CEF):
    • students from SGH as their home institution – English B2 (or higher) and German minimum B2 (or higher; requirement from 2018/2019),
    • students from MSM as their home institution – English B2 (or higher).
  • Each institution reserves the right to require double degree candidates to complete the standard enrolment documents and to provide the results of any required entrance examinations.
  • The host institution has the right to not accept a double degree candidate from the home institution for academic rationales or any other substantial reasons.
  • According to the Rules and Regulations of selection for international programs and exchanges at SGH, all students accepted for double diploma programs are not allowed to apply for any other exchange or program that involves mobility abroad in the given academic year. It especially refers to Erasmus, PIM and bilateral exchanges and international programs like CEMS MIM.
Selection and Application

DEADLINE FOR DELIVERING APPLICATIONS – 3 March 2026

Documents required from the SGH candidates to double degree programme include (all documents should be prepared in English):

  • APPLICATION FORM 2026  
  • A motivation letter addressed to Selection Commission to double degree program between University of Duisburg-Essen and Warsaw School of Economics (in English, max. 1 page)
  • CV of the Applicant
  • Official course transcript (issued by the Dean’s Office, EN version) with grades received incl. the courses not yet finished
  • Document certifying fluency in English (information on certificates recognised during the selection)
  • Copy of the BA diploma (if possible)
  •  

Complete application documents should be delivered to Agnieszka Kühnl-Kinel PhD by e-mail: akinel@sgh.waw.pl

 

Contacts at SGH Warsaw School of Economics:

Contacts at University of Duisburg-Essen , Mercator School of Management: