Gap Year Prepares Students for Career Success

• Through the Gap Year program, students participate in three four-month internships at companies from Mannheim Business School’s network of industry partners.
• Students can specialize by undertaking three internships in the same field or opt to gain wider knowledge by choosing three distinct experiences across different industries and functional areas.
• The school strengthens the internship experience by requiring students to attend related educational opportunities that include workshops, lectures, and training sessions.

 
If business schools are to stay relevant in a rapidly evolving job market, it is crucial for them to provide students with meaningful opportunities to connect their studies to real career paths. Mannheim Business School (MBS) in Germany addresses this need with the Gap Year program, during which students gain practical experience through a series of internships and deepen their knowledge through related educational content.

“In 2019, MBS and its network of partners launched the Gap Year as the bridge between undergraduates and graduates,” says Christoph Spengel, initiator and academic director of the Gap Year program. “Providing young excellent students such an opportunity turned out to be a success story, guiding young people to their next step.”

The impetus for the program came when school officials noted that many students were taking gap years after completing their bachelor’s degrees. These students had acquired solid analytical and theoretical foundations in business, but they were seeking ways to apply their knowledge in practice while gaining a better understanding of their interests and talents.

Spengel says, “I thought: We have very close ties to a wide range of companies, so why shouldn’t we organize such a program?”

Through the initiative, MBS aims to help students develop a clearer understanding of their personal strengths and interests so they can make more informed decisions about their future studies and careers.

“I experienced a certain uncertainty, and I felt I needed a pause to reflect on my future direction,” says Daniel Niessen, who is currently participating in Gap Year. “I didn’t want to take a traditional gap year, but rather use the time to develop myself personally and professionally.”

The Application and Implementation Process

The Gap Year is organized so that participants undertake three consecutive four-month internships at companies that are part of MBS’ network of industry and consulting partners. This setup allows students to develop a better understanding of business practices as they explore various roles, industries, and organizations.

Participants must hold bachelor’s degrees in business administration or a related economics-focused field to take part in the Gap Year. For that reason, students don’t officially enroll in the program until after they have successfully completed their undergraduate studies.

The Gap Year helps students develop a clearer understanding of their personal strengths and interests so they can make more informed decisions about their future studies and careers.

The application process is centrally managed by MBS. Students submit their applications to the program manager, including letters of motivation explaining their suitability and their reasons for applying. They also provide a ranking of seven preferred internships from the available options. Some choose to specialize and gain deeper insights into a particular field, while others opt for three distinct experiences across different industries and functional areas.

The program team conducts an internal selection and matching round, assigning each qualified candidate to three suitable internships. All candidates then attend a day of introductions, in which they participate in three 30-minute online interviews with representatives from the organizations with which they have been matched.

If both parties express interest, provisional acceptance is granted. In rare cases of mismatches, the team helps students find alternative internships.

Upon successfully completing the Gap Year, participants receive a certificate that formally recognizes their practical experience, which they can use to bolster their applications for master’s programs, particularly at MBS. In addition, all participants are compensated for their work.

Since its launch in 2019 with 25 students, the program has grown to the point where it draws about 40 to 50 students every year. The final number is based on how many internships are available, with the school giving priority to students who are truly motivated to complete the entire year.

From Specialized Pilot to Broad Industry Network

Because Spengel, who laid the conceptual groundwork and launched the program, is a professor of accounting and taxation, Gap Year internships initially focused on the accounting and taxation field. Once the pilot was successful, the program was expanded to the areas of marketing, corporate communication, operations and supply chain management, and finance and controlling. Starting in 2026, the initiative also began offering internships in information systems, with a focus on artificial intelligence.

The first seven partnerships were established through the MBS alumni network, which played an important role in launching the program. Additional partners were added through existing institutional collaborations or through professionals who, after having positive experiences with the Gap Year, initiated the program with their new employers.

Internships are available in fields such as accounting, marketing, corporate communication, operations and supply chain management, finance, and information systems.

Today, approximately 40 companies participate in the program, including BASF, SAP, and Volkswagen. Despite recent economic uncertainty, most industry partners have maintained or even increased the number of internships they are offering.

Most internships are with companies based in Germany. However, the school offers a handful of international placements when global partners are available and can agree on compensation regulations.

Combining Practice With Academic Learning

In addition to providing students with 12 months of practical work experience, the Gap Year program offers participants customized educational content designed to promote reflection, professional growth, and personal development, says Spengel.

To achieve this, the Gap Year team organizes four to five events—such as interactive workshops, master classes, online modules, and field trips—during each four-month internship period, totaling about 14 events per year. Previous cohorts have, for example, attended workshops on data analytics and large language models, as well as game theory in negotiations. Guest lecturers and industry experts supply much of the content.

Students also undergo targeted career preparation through practical training sessions, including assessment center simulations and interview workshops. It is mandatory for students to participate in at least two out of four contact modules and four out of six online modules. This requirement ensures that all students benefit from the academic parts of the program but gives them the flexibility they need to complete their internships.

The academic program also helps students understand and deepen their internship experiences. “Workshops, lectures, and training sessions guide students to reflect on their internships, apply academic concepts in real-world contexts, and develop analytical and professional skills,” says Tomke Zeeh, a Gap Year participant in 2021–22. According to Zeeh, the academic component helps students find their directions and build their confidence, both as they pursue master’s degrees and as they enter the job market.

Guidance Throughout the Program

A key aspect of the program is that it provides support for newly graduated bachelor’s students, who often have limited practical experience.

“This makes a reliable network of contact persons at the university all the more important to address difficulties at an early stage, ensuring that participants are not left on their own,” says Sarah Kempe, program manager of the Gap Year. The Gap Year team acts as the central point of contact between students, partner companies, and the university.

The Gap Year team connects participants with each other and with alumni of the program so they can share experiences and knowledge.

Kempe also offers general guidance throughout the year. This includes helping students with practical matters—such as internship contracts, insurance questions, or reference documents—as well as pointing participants toward suitable resources when they need help making study decisions or managing challenges in the workplace.

If necessary, the program manager facilitates communication between students and industry partners. In addition, the Gap Year team connects participants with each other and with alumni of the program so they can share experiences and knowledge.

Almost all participants make use of this guidance at some point. “The support was exceptional,” reflects Zeeh. “Program managers were always approachable and responsive, while internship supervisors encouraged me to take responsibility, ask questions, and fully engage in meaningful projects.”

Building Confidence and Clarifying Career Paths

The Gap Year has a tangible impact on participants: While some receive job offers after completing their internships, all gain insight into their talents and preferences. They also develop practical and social skills essential for future studies and careers.

“I developed technical expertise in merger and acquisition taxation, corporate finance, and international tax, as well as skills in project management and analytical thinking. I also gained the ability to work independently under real-world conditions,” says Zeeh. “But in the end, soft skills such as self-initiative, prioritization, and professional communication proved even more critical than technical knowledge.”

Adds Niessen, “By gaining firsthand insight into what professional life looks like in practice, I am now able to clearly identify the industry I would like to work in, as well as the academic areas I want to focus on during my master’s studies.”

The Gap Year program is a structured combination of practical experience and academic guidance that does more than simply prepare students for their master’s degree studies. It also helps them develop the skills and professional mindsets they will need to navigate career paths in a competitive and changing job market. It gives them the confidence they need to take the next step in their studies, their careers, and their lives.