The "Master for Professionals" at IU International University offers an attractive opportunity for professionals without a bachelor's degree to further their academic development. By combining educational qualifications, years of work experience, and a preparatory module, the university enables direct entry into a master's programme.

Here are some key facts about the "Master for Professionals" at IU:

• Whether with or without a high school diploma, a minimum of 6 years of work experience is required, including 3 years in a leadership role or as an expert.
• An MBA programme is also available.
• The costs vary between €329 and €775 per month, depending on the programme and study model.
• There is a wide range of courses in almost all subject areas, from Business & Management to Education and Computer Science.

Next, I will provide an overview of the admission requirements, costs, and possible courses for the Master without a Bachelor's degree at IU.

Here are the requirements for the Master without a Bachelor's degree at IU

The IU International University offers the "Master for Professionals," providing the opportunity to pursue a master's distance learning programme without a previous bachelor's degree (and even without a high school diploma). This admission option is designed for experienced professionals who have several years of relevant work experience and wish to further their academic qualifications. Here is a detailed overview of the admission requirements.

To be admitted to the "Master for Professionals," applicants must provide evidence of one of the following educational qualifications:

• (Vocational) Baccalaureate or
• A completed, at least two-year vocational training (DQR Level 4), which is thematically related to the desired master's programme.

Educational qualifications are a basic requirement but are not sufficient on their own. Another essential aspect is the demonstrable work experience. In addition to completing an education or having a (vocational) baccalaureate degree, extensive work experience is required to qualify for a master's programme without a bachelor's degree. This work experience must meet the following criteria:

• At least six years of work experience directly related to the desired master's programme.
• At least three years in a leadership position or as an expert in a relevant field.

The evidence of work experience is provided through various documents, including:

• Work certificates and reference letters
• Further training or certification documents
• Employer confirmations of leadership responsibilities or expert status

These documents must be submitted as part of the application and will be reviewed by IU. Another crucial requirement is passing a preparatory module, which consists of two examination parts:

• Research paper (approx. 40 pages) - Processing time: 12 weeks (full-time)
• 30-minute oral examination

This module specifically prepares students for academic work and ensures that they have the necessary academic skills for a master's programme.

The admission process for the "Master for Professionals" consists of 5 steps:

• Step 1: Complete the online application for the desired programme. After that, you will receive access to the online campus and the course "Scientific Working".
• Step 2: Submit all required documents (e.g. work experience, educational qualifications) for verification by IU.
• Step 3: After successful verification of the documents, the preparatory module with research paper and oral examination follows.
• Step 4: Upon successfully completing the preparatory module, you will be definitively admitted to the master's programme.
• Step 5: The master's programme will be activated in the online campus, and your studies can begin.

This is how much a Master's distance learning programme without a Bachelor's degree at IU costs

All the programmes for the "Master for Professionals" at IU are available as 60-ECTS variants with 2 semesters (i.e. 12 months in full-time distance learning), except for the M.Sc. Machine Learning with 120 ECTS and a duration of 4 semesters. (As of 03.02.2025)

For distance learning, IU International University offers different models at varying costs: Full-time, Part-time I, and Part-time II. In general, the faster the programme is completed, the lower the total cost, albeit with higher monthly rates. Thus, the study models also serve as financing models.

The 60-ECTS master's programmes at IU, such as M.Sc. Artificial Intelligence, cost from €475 per month in the Part-time II model - a 24-month duration with total costs of €12,199 (including a graduation fee of €799). In full-time mode, the monthly cost is €775, but the total costs are reduced to €10,099, including the graduation fees.

The 90-ECTS variants, such as the comprehensive MBA, cost €755 per month in full-time mode over 18 months, resulting in total costs of €14,389. The slowest option over 36 months costs €425 per month, but the total then climbs to €16,099.

On the other hand, 120-ECTS programmes, like the one in Machine Learning, cost only €556 per month in full-time mode. This translates to total costs ranging from €14,143 to €16,591 in Part-time II model (at €329 per month).

Additionally, in the "Master for Professionals," there is a fee of €500 for the preparatory module, which also covers participation in the course "Scientific Working".

Here is an overview of the costs for the examples mentioned above from the available master's programmes:

These Master's programmes are available at IU without a Bachelor's degree

Currently, around 30 programmes from the following subject areas are available for the "Master for Professionals" at IU:

• Health & Social Sciences
• Business & Management
• MBA
• IT & Technology
• Marketing & Communication
• HR & Law
• Education & Psychology
• Architecture & Construction

Here is a selection overview:

Conclusion

The "Master for Professionals" at IU offers a way to further academic development without a traditional bachelor's degree. This eliminates the detour via a bachelor's degree, especially for those who are already experienced in their careers and seeking further qualifications. From Business, IT, and Marketing to Health and Social Sciences, IU offers a variety of master's programmes that can be completed flexibly through distance learning in different variants.