CHE Ranking: Top marks for international perspective, professional experience and the student satisfaction at ESB Business School
In all the categories assessed, the Bachelor’s degree programmes rank among the top performers. The results are thus well above the national average for all universities.
Professional experience
In terms of professional experience, the CHE Fact Check consistently places ESB degree programmes in the top tier, a strong indication of the close integration between academic study and professional practice. Particular emphasis is placed upon the hands-on delivery of course content and the involvement of lecturers with practical experience. For students this means real-world insights into companies and a degree programme that specifically prepares them for the international job market. Students confirm this in the survey, with career and practical orientation rated at 4.6 out of 5 stars.
Internationality
The international focus of teaching and learning also demonstrates what sets ESB Business School’s range of study programmes apart: a commitment to internationality at the highest level. All bachelor’s degree programmes are ranked in the top tier in the categories of ‘study abroad’, ‘internationalisation at home’ and ‘student mobility’. Particularly noteworthy: the International Management Double Degree programme achieved the maximum score of 10 points in the CHE’s assessment of the international focus of curriculum and teaching.
Academic experience
Students are also very satisfied with the study environment at ESB Business School. They rate the ‘academic organisation‘ at 4.7 out of 5 stars, followed by ‘academic support’ (4.6) and ‘overall academic experience’ (4.6). Behind these strong ratings lies a daily academic life in which students experience reliable structures, dedicated faculty, and genuine support, from their first semester through to starting their careers.
The results of the CHE ranking clearly show that students at ESB Business School are very satisfied with their studies. ‘The excellent ratings in the areas of international focus and links to the professional world corroborate ESB Business School’s commitment to preparing students specifically for international careers in a globally interconnected economy’, says Prof. Dr Markus Conrads, Dean of ESB Business School, expressing his delight at the results.
‘For prospective students, the ranking shows that at ESB they will not only receive a high-quality academic education, but will also be able to gain practical experience and international perspectives at an early stage.’
ESB students' comments in the CHE survey reflect this perfectly:
‘Very practice-based courses. The courses taught by lecturers from industry with hands-on experience are particularly great.’
‘The small class sizes allow encourage lively discussion, which significantly enhances the learning experience, as students’ own interests can be incorporated into the lessons, making the course more personally relevant.’
‘The support was brilliant. The teachers were always on hand to answer any questions.’
On Saturday 9 May 2026, prospective students will have the chance to see for themselves what Reutlingen University has to offer at its Open Day.
About the CHE University Ranking:
The entire CHE University Ranking, based on the opinions of around 120,000 students surveyed, is available online at HeyStudium. The CHE University Ranking, which has been published exclusively in the ZEIT Study Guide and on HeyStudium for more than twenty years, is the most comprehensive university comparison in the German-speaking world. It provides ratings for more than 10,000 degree programmes at German universities.
