If you have questions regarding the application, please consult the FAQ or contact us.
Please note the deadlines of July 1st & January 1st, respectively.
Checklist of Required Documents
Informal letter to the chairman of the examination board including a suggestion for the supervisor of the applicant's project study (generally the applicant's doctoral advisor, see §14 of the examination regulations).
Only if applicable, see §4 of the examination regulations.
Confirmation from one of the professors at the faculty that he or she is prepared to supervise the candidate's doctoral thesis (see template (DOCX, 22 KB)).
Including information on the applicant's previous studies, and previous and ongoing employment (if applicable). The curriculum vitae must be signed by the applicant!
Including the applicant's Bachelor's and Master's degrees.
All required documents must be submitted in hard copy to:
Prof. Dr. Tobias Kretschmer
Chairman of the MBR Examination Board
Institute for Strategy, Technology and Organization
Munich School of Management
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universtät München
Kaulbachstr. 45/II
80539 München
Deutschland
Application Process Stages
Stage 1: Find a doctoral supervisor
The first step in the application process is finding a supervisor with the Faculty members of LMU Munich's School of Management. Please, look at the chair holders and contact them directly.
It helps if you already have a research proposal that connects with the research topic of the chair. Applicants are entirely responsible for finding a supervisor on their own initiative.
Stage 2: Apply for the entrance test
Once you have agreed on the supervision with a BWL LMU professor, you should apply for the entrance test. In your application, you have to include the documents as in the checklist here below.
Important deadlines: Application for the entrance test must be submitted by July 1st for the winter semester, or by January 1st for the summer semester. After the application deadline, you will receive a confirmation of receipt with further information on the entrance test to the e-mail address provided in the application (beginning/mid-January or beginning/mid-July).
Stage 3: Pass the entrance test
In the entrance test, applicants demonstrate their aptitude for business research, as well as the technical and soft skills necessary to successfully participate in the program.
The test consists of an oral examination. It lasts about twenty minutes and is held by the MBR program coordinator and applicant's doctoral advisor.
Students must register for the entrance test, which is held once a semester. Please note the application deadlines in Stage 2! The invitation to the entrance test will be sent at least one week before the date of the test itself.
Stage 4: Enroll as a postgraduate student at LMU Munich
Enrollment is accomplished via the university's standard procedure at the beginning of the semester (exact dates are provided after the entrance test).
Stage 5: Study the MBR Program and work on your thesis
The MBR program lasts for four semesters (two years). During this time, you will attend the MBR courses and work on your dissertation. After the two years, you will be awarded a Master of Research and you will continue towards your doctoral degree (Ph.D.) and focus on your research.
Important Notes
- A confirmation from an LMU SOM professor that she or he is willing to supervise your dissertation is a prerequisite for registering in the MBR program.
- Applicants for doctoral studies with a citizenship other than German need to consider certain legal matters.
- Citizens of countries other than EU/EEA normally need a visa to enter Germany. Depending on your nationality and the length of your stay, visa facilitation may be available.
- Regardless of your country of origin, you need to officially register your address in Germany if you are staying in one place for more than 3 months.
- Citizens of foreign countries (with the exception of the EU/EEA) need a valid residence permit for the duration of their doctoral program at LMU SOM. The residence permit includes the purpose and length of the stay.
- Once you are admitted, all doctoral candidates (and any accompanying family members) must provide proof of health insurance for officially enrolling in the program with the Office of the University Registrar (i.e., Studienkanzlei).
- In addition to later enrollment, international students must register in advance at the LMU International Office.
- The application deadline at the International Office for the summer semester is January 15th and for the winter semester July 15th of each year. This step does not replace later enrollment, which must take place after passing the MBR-entrance test.
- The application deadline at the International Office for the summer semester is January 15th and for the winter semester July 15th of each year. This step does not replace later enrollment, which must take place after passing the MBR-entrance test.