CEMS-wide selection criteria
Intellectual potential and knowledge
- Intellectual potential
- Academic excellence
- Prior knowledge in the Business Field
Attitude and soft skills
- Desire to achieve
- Interpersonal competencies
- Integrity
- Critical thinking
- Motivation for the MIM Programme
International orientation
- Language skills
- International openness and cross-cultural aptitudes
Stage 1: Online application
Criteria for application/selection:
- Previous academic record (min. 50 ECTS and min. HSG grade average of 4.50 at Bachelor level or Bachelor or Master degree with 4.50 min. grade average).
- If applying with a non-HSG Bachelor degree, a minimum of 60 ECTS credits in business-related subjects must have been passed on Bachelor level.
- English language test results (see section "English language requirements for the CEMS MIM application").
Stage 2: Pre-Selection
All complete application files will be evaluated and scored according to the abovementioned CEMS-wide selection criteria (focusing on: desire to achieve, social engagement, international orientation and motivation) based on the CEMS Background Information Form. Please be aware that you will need proof/confirmation of all background information. For additional clarifications, you may be contacted by phone for a short interview on the 7 or 8 November 2023. The score of the evaluation together with your Bachelor degree grade average (50% each) will determine whether you will be invited to stage three of the selection process. You will be informed by e-mail by 13 November 2023.
Stage 3: Assessment Centre with CEMS Corporate Partners
Applicants meeting the above requirements and having passed the pre-selection, must then participate in the assessment centre (AC) organised by CEMS Corporate Partners and the local CEMS Programme Manager. The assessment centre is held in English.
The assessment center will be conducted physically and will consists of three parts:
1. Presentation (be creative!!!)
2. Group discussion
3. Interview
The Corporate Partners will give their professional advice on each student's performance, taking into consideration the CEMS criteria, but do not decide to which school students may go on their term abroad. The University of St.Gallen will make the final decision on whether students will be accepted to the programme considering the results of the pre-selection and the AC as well as the criteria mentioned above.
The assessment centre will take place on 21-22 November 2023. There is no possibility to advance or postpone the AC. Due to a very tight schedule and limited availability of the CEMS Corporate Partners, we are not in a position to accommodate personal time schedules for the assessment centre. Since the time and date of the AC are given on very short notice, students are strongly requested to keep the 2 days of the AC free. The AC will last approx. 3 hours per applicant and is mandatory to attend!
If – for a particular reason – you would like to take the AC on a specific one of the two days, you may send a written request by e-mail to cems@unisg.ch by the end of the application deadline.
You will be informed by e-mail at the latest one week after the assessment centre whether or not you passed.
Stage 4: CEMS profile achieved
Students who by successfully passing stages 1 to 3, prove to have a potential CEMS profile will be admitted to the CEMS Master's in International Management programme.
Stage 5: Schools for the term abroad
The allocation of term abroad places in the different CEMS Partner Universities will take place after the student's final acceptance to the CEMS MIM. Term abroad places will be allocated based on the following: acceptance to the CEMS MIM, prioritised list of universities in the application form, Bachelor grade average, as well as results of the pre-selection and the AC (one third each).
Accepted candidates
After the application process is completed, the CEMS MIM admission documents, including the information of the university for the term abroad, will be published in the Mobility-Online portal. Details regarding the CEMS MIM curriculum as well as maintaining enrolment status at the HSG while abroad will also be available. The host university will forward detailed information on the studies abroad (visa requirements, housing opportunities, courses, etc.) to the students concerned in due time before the semester starts.
Timing
HSG students may participate in the CEMS MIM in the first or second year of their Master level studies. Application is possible during the last year of the Bachelor level (for HSG Bachelor students only) or at Master level. Students not accepted to CEMS may apply again the following year.
Application link
The application must be submitted online through the Mobility-Online portal. More information and link on StudentWeb
Deadline
Thursday, 26 October 2023 –16.00 (St. Gallen time) The online application opens on 1 October 2023 and closes on 26 October 2023 at 16.00 (St. Gallen time). The CEMS MIM online application including an original signature and all required documents must be uploaded to the Mobility-Online portal by 26 October 2023, 16.00 (St. Gallen time).
Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
Prerequisites for the CEMS MIM application
- Students must be enrolled at the HSG at the time of application.
- Minimum 4.50 grade average in the studies (Bachelor or Master) relevant for admission to the HSG Master degree studies. The average will be rounded to
two decimal points.
- HSG students applying from the Bachelor level must have achieved 50 ECTS at Bachelor level up to and including spring semester 2023 (not including Assessment Year) and a minimum HSG grade average of 4.50; the average will be rounded to two decimal points.
- Applicants with a non-HSG Bachelor's degree must show a minimum of 60 ECTS in business-related subjects completed at the Bachelor level, whereof at least 50 ECTS must be fulfilled by the end of the fall term 2023.
- Proof of a valid English test as mentioned in the section “English language requirements for the CEMS MIM application”.
- Students with admission conditions may take their term abroad in the 4th semester of their Master's degree studies only. However, if all admission conditions are successfully met in the 1st semester of the Master's degree studies, then a term abroad in the 3rd semester is possible. (Exception: MIA fundamentals Master courses, bookkeeping examination and forgein language requirements)
English language requirements
In order to be admitted to the selection process students must demonstrate a good knowledge of English. Therefore, one of the following certificates or tests must be provided:
- TOEFL and TOEFL iBT Home Edition (min. 100 pts internet-based). TOEFL "MyBestScore" is not accepted.
- Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (grade B or higher)
- Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (grade C or higher)
- IELTS (Academic Test and Indicator –band score 7 or higher)
- BEC Higher (grade B or higher)
- Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic - min. 68 points/score)
- Bachelor degree fully completed in English if obtained in an English speaking country or if from a CEMS or EQUIS/AACSB accredited institution. Language of instruction must be declared on the diploma or confirmed by the university.
Note: HSG Bachelor degree not valid because not "fully" in English.
- CEMS Mother Tongue declaration (if English is your mother tongue)
The results (internet download) must be uploaded to the Mobility-Online portal no later than 26 October 2023, 16.00 (St. Gallen time). Be sure to plan your test early enough, as no exceptions can be made.
The test may not be more than two years old by the date of the CEMS MIM programme application deadline i.e. the test must have been taken on or after 26 October 2021. Test results from test dates on or prior to 25 October 2021 cannot be accepted. Fulfilment of the HSG Foreign Language Requirements in English is NOT sufficient for the CEMS MIM application.
Required application documents:
- Recent portrait photograph
- CEMS Background Information Form* incl. previous internship / work evaluations
- CV (max. one page) in English
- Motivation letter (max. 1000 words) in English (will be relevant for the AC) stating your motivation and interest in the CEMS MIM programme AND answering the following three questions with a practical example
- International orientation: describe an experience/situation abroad that challenged or impressed you (e.g. during an internship, a project, travels, or the like).
- Integrity: what was the greatest set-back in your life so far and how did it affect you?
- Desire to achieve: describe an outstanding achievement and why you are proud of it.
- University transcripts and/or degrees
Students with HSG Bachelor:
University transcripts from Bachelor level (up to and including spring semester 2023) or HSG Bachelor diploma supplement with detailed grade information.
Students with non-HSG degree:
Original or certified copies of grade transcripts, overall grade average from degree studies relevant for admission to the HSG Master degree studies and the grading scale must be uploaded no later than the application deadline. Documents must be in one of the Swiss national languages or in English. Additionally, all original transcripts must be submitted to the CEMS Office no later than 26 October 2023 – 16.00 (St. Gallen time). The originals will be returned to you at the assessment day or can be picked up at the CEMS Office.
- CEMS Mother Tongue Declaration (one form per declared mother tongue)* Important: mother thongue(s) cannot be changed after the application deadline.
- Valid English language test (see English language requirements)
- Signed confiration of the CEMS online application from the Mobility-Online portal*
All documents must be uploaded to the Mobility-Online portal.
Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
* Forms can be downloaded during the online application process from the Mobility-Online portal.
Guidelines for planning the term abroad
Students are responsible for deciding which semester of their Master level studies would be best to spend abroad. The timing of the term abroad may impose certain curricular requirements.![]()
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Selecting universities for the term abroad
In the application, you must select seven CEMS Partner Universities of your choice and in the order of your preference. You may also choose both semesters of one university. An overview of CEMS Partner Universities can be found at www.cems.org.
When making your selections, please also consider criteria such as local language, language of instruction, semester dates, course offer, cost of living, travel advisories, etc.
For further information please see the following pages:
Allocation of host universities for the term abroad
Applicants who have successfully passed the CEMS selection process are ranked according to their university grade average, their pre-selection and assessment centre results. Term abroad places are then allocated according to ranking: students with the highest ranking will be awarded their highest prioritised place first. Once a place has been allocated, it is binding. There is no guarantee that you will be allocated to one of the schools out of your prioritised list. Students not allocated a slot will be asked to login to the Mobility-Online portal again and may select additional priorities for a second allocation round. There are enough places available to allocate all selected students. A rejection of the proposed place will not entitle you to any further proposals and furthermore will be considered as a cancellation of your participation in the CEMS MIM programme and subject to a cancellation fee. The amount of the cancellation is determined by the HSG fee regulations - further info here.