Germany has one of Europe's strongest labour markets for electrical engineers, with an ongoing shortage of qualified Bachelor-level talent and starting salaries that routinely exceed 45,000 € per year. Two private distance-learning universities of applied sciences offer a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical and Information Technology that you can complete entirely online: Wilhelm Büchner University (WBH) in Darmstadt and AKAD University in Stuttgart. If you are considering a German engineering degree from abroad or as an expat already living in Germany, these two are the most serious options – but they come with fundamentally different profiles.

• WBH: 14,193 € total, 237 € per month, 7 semesters. Includes a mandatory 18-week practical phase and on-site exams in Darmstadt.
• AKAD University: 14,238 € total, 229 € per month, 7 semesters. Fully digital, including online exams – you never have to travel to Germany.
• Both programmes lead to the same degree, a Bachelor of Engineering recognised throughout the European Higher Education Area and translatable via WES or UK ENIC.
• Critical caveat: both programmes are taught exclusively in German. A solid B2 or better in German is mandatory before you enrol.
• Starting salary for Bachelor-level electrical engineers in Germany: 41,000 to 47,700 €, with top-paying sectors (aerospace, medical, mechanical engineering) above 60,000 €.

Can international students really study electrical engineering at a distance in Germany?

Yes – with two important qualifications. First, both programmes are taught entirely in German. This is not a formality. Lectures, study materials, lab exercises, exams and Bachelor's theses all expect you to work at an academic level in German. If your German is below B2 (CEFR), you will struggle with the technical vocabulary in the first semester and fail the early maths modules. Neither WBH nor AKAD offers these Bachelor's programmes in English.

Second, a pure distance-learning enrolment usually does not qualify you for a German student visa. German student residence permits are tied to on-campus attendance at a recognised higher-education institution. If you live outside the EU and want to come to Germany while studying, you will need a different visa route – typically a work visa based on existing employment or the EU Blue Card once you have a qualifying offer. Distance learning works best from abroad for students who stay in their home country during the studies or who already live in Germany on another residence title.

If your German is not yet strong enough, you have two reasonable alternatives: take an intensive German course to B2 level first, or consider English-taught Bachelor's programmes at institutions like IU International University of Applied Sciences, which offer some engineering-adjacent degrees entirely in English. WBH and AKAD remain the classical, specialised route for German-speaking learners.

WBH and AKAD at a glance

Both universities are state-recognised private universities of applied sciences (Fachhochschulen) and offer an accredited Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical and Information Technology. What sets them apart is their institutional character.

Wilhelm Büchner University: the technical specialist

Wilhelm Büchner University is based in Darmstadt and belongs to the Klett Group. It is an engineering-first institution with a portfolio tightly focused on engineering, computer science, technology management and energy topics. For an engineering-minded student who wants depth in mathematics and laboratory work, WBH is a natural fit. The downside for international learners: the university relies on on-site exams in Darmstadt, which means at least semi-regular travel to Germany.

AKAD University: the digital generalist

AKAD University is based in Stuttgart and covers a broader portfolio, including business, health and social sciences alongside engineering. Its defining feature for international students is full digital delivery: lectures, seminars, labs and exams all run through the online campus. You can complete the entire degree without ever setting foot in Germany – assuming your German is up to the task.

How much do the two Bachelor's programmes cost?

Tuition for the B.Eng. at WBH is 14,193 € in total, paid in monthly instalments of 237 € across the 7-semester standard duration. At AKAD, total tuition is nearly identical at 14,238 €, but the monthly rate is slightly lower at 229 €. Both universities allow you to extend the study duration at no extra cost – helpful if you combine study with a full-time job or a demanding private schedule.

Both institutions offer flexible payment models under different labels. The logic is identical: if you finish faster you pay less overall; if you want lower monthly payments you extend the timeline and pay slightly more in total.

Both universities occasionally run promotional discounts – for new students, for members of certain professions, or via employer partnerships. Always check current offers before enrolling; these can cut several hundred euros off the total.

For a deeper look at WBH's fee structure and financing options, see our dedicated overview: Wilhelm Büchner University: Costs in Distance Learning & Financing Options.

What do you learn? Curriculum comparison

Electrical engineering is a hands-on discipline – both distance-learning programmes include laboratory modules and practical projects.

Both Bachelor's programmes cover the core curriculum of electrical and information technology: mathematics, physics, electrical engineering fundamentals, measurement technology, control engineering, digital technology, communication systems and programming. The differences show up in emphasis and structure. WBH places more weight on mathematical and scientific foundations and runs three consecutive mathematics modules. AKAD integrates more business and English-language content and tends to move faster through the fundamentals.

WBH curriculum highlights

• Semesters 1–2: Mathematics I–II, natural science foundations, computer science basics with lab, introduction to electrical engineering and electronics, communication and management
• Semesters 3–4: Mathematics III with lab, digital and microcomputer technology, system theory, measurement technology, electronic circuits, digital signal processing, control engineering with lab
• Semesters 5–6: Control technology with lab, embedded systems, telecommunications, electrical machines, power electronics, specialisation modules
• Semester 7: Engineering project, specialisation modules, Bachelor's thesis and colloquium

AKAD curriculum highlights

• Semesters 1–2: Mathematics I–II, electrical engineering basics, electronics, programming in C/C++, physics for engineers, English for technology, electronics lab
• Semesters 3–4: Business basics, integral transformations, materials and components, control engineering, measurement technology with lab, digital technology, communication technology, hardware design
• Semesters 5–6: Project and quality management, communication systems, real-time systems, microcomputers with lab, electrical power supply, first specialisation module
• Semester 7: Project workshop, second specialisation, Bachelor's thesis

The specialisation options also differ noticeably. WBH stays close to classical engineering tracks, while AKAD opens up into medical and IT-adjacent fields:

• WBH specialisations: general electrical engineering, automation technology, e-mobility, information and telecommunication technology, energy information networks, signalling and safety technology
• AKAD specialisations: energy technology, robotics, microsystems technology, technical sales, project management, medical technology, IT security, automation technology

Our own YouTube channel runs a direct video comparison of the two programmes. The audio is in German, but the visuals walk you through the online campus, sample study briefs and exam formats – useful even if you want to verify your German comprehension before enrolling:

How much on-site presence is required?

This is the single most important question for international students – and the answer is very different between the two universities. The WBH requires physical presence in Darmstadt for most exams, plus an 18-week practical phase. The AKAD University runs entirely online, including all exams. You can complete the entire AKAD degree from outside Germany without ever boarding a plane.

• WBH: On-site exams in Darmstadt at regular intervals, mandatory 18-week practical phase, regular laboratory modules
• WBH advantage: If you are already employed in a relevant engineering role, you can apply to have the practical phase waived based on professional experience
• AKAD: Online exams, fully digital online campus, no mandatory travel to Germany
• AKAD reality check: Practical modules still exist, but they run through virtual labs and remote project work rather than on-site attendance

For students living outside Germany, this is often the deciding factor. If you cannot regularly travel to Darmstadt for exams, the WBH becomes impractical. AKAD, on the other hand, is explicitly built for distance-first learners and works well for students in almost any time zone.

Career outlook: electrical engineers in Germany

Germany is in the middle of a sustained engineering skills shortage, and electrical engineering is one of the most affected disciplines. For graduates of either the WBH or the AKAD programme, this translates into strong hiring demand and competitive starting salaries. Bachelor-level entry salaries currently range from 41,000 to 47,700 € per year, with an average of around 44,700 €.

Starting salaries climb significantly in the technology-intensive top-paying sectors, where Bachelor graduates earn well above the national average:

• Aerospace industry: around 64,100 € starting salary
• Medical and pharmaceutical industry: around 63,600 €
• Mechanical and plant engineering: around 63,000 €
• Information and communication technology: around 63,000 €
• Energy sector: consistently in the upper third, with rising demand driven by the energy transition

For international candidates, the career picture is strengthened by the EU Blue Card framework. A German Bachelor of Engineering qualifies graduates for the Blue Card if they secure a job offer meeting the salary threshold – currently around 45,300 € for regulated professions including engineering. The Blue Card is one of the fastest routes to long-term residence and eventual permanent settlement in Germany. Combined with the Skilled Immigration Act (Fachkräfteeinwanderungsgesetz), non-EU engineers have multiple legal pathways to relocate – all anchored to a recognised qualification like the B.Eng. from WBH or AKAD.

How is a German B.Eng. recognised internationally?

A German Bachelor of Engineering is a fully Bologna-compliant degree. It uses the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS), maps to Level 6 of the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) and is automatically comparable across the European Higher Education Area. For international students, that translates into straightforward recognition in several key scenarios:

• Within the EU: direct recognition under the Bologna framework for further study or regulated professional access in most member states
• United Kingdom: assessed as comparable to a UK Bachelor's with Honours via UK ENIC
• United States: translated into US GPA and credit hours through WES (World Education Services) for admissions or employer verification
• Canada and Australia: recognised by the respective national assessment bodies for further study and skilled migration streams

Beyond formal recognition, German engineering degrees carry strong reputational weight internationally. Germany's engineering tradition is widely respected in the global labour market, and graduates of accredited programmes like those at WBH and AKAD benefit from this halo – especially in markets with strong German industrial ties such as Switzerland, Austria, the Czech Republic and the UAE.

Which programme fits which international profile?

Both universities award the same degree and both prepare you for the same engineering labour market. The decision comes down to where you live, how flexible your schedule is, and what kind of learning environment you thrive in.

Choose the WBH if …

• you live in Germany or within reasonable travel distance and can attend regular on-site exams in Darmstadt;
• you already work in an engineering-adjacent role and want to waive the practical phase based on professional experience;
• you value depth in mathematics and classical engineering foundations;
• you plan a specialisation in e-mobility, signalling technology or energy information networks;
• the slightly lower total cost (roughly 45 € cheaper overall) matters to you.

Choose AKAD if …

• you live outside Germany and need a programme you can complete without travelling;
• you want the lowest monthly rate (229 € instead of 237 €);
• you are interested in medical technology, IT security or robotics as a specialisation;
• your schedule is irregular (shift work, family, travel) and you need asynchronous, 100 % online delivery;
• you want the option of online exams – this is a hard requirement if you cannot reliably visit Germany.

If you are unsure, both universities provide sample study materials and demo access to their online campuses. Compare those directly before enrolling – it is the most honest test of which environment fits your learning style.

Frequently asked questions