Requirements for enrollment

For admission to the distance learning program in business administration, a university entrance qualification such as the general university entrance qualification (Abitur), the subject-specific higher education entrance qualification, or the university of applied sciences entrance qualification (Fachabitur) is required.

A master craftsman's examination or a successfully completed advanced training qualification such as the State-certified Technician or the State-certified Business Economist also qualify as a university entrance qualification.

In addition, you can also be admitted to the Bachelor's program at Schmalkalden University even without a university entrance qualification:

• You have completed a vocational training.
• Following your vocational training, you have been employed for at least 3 years.
• Your vocational training and employment should be relevant to the field of business administration. If your vocational training is not relevant, you can be admitted through an entrance examination.

The standard period of study for the degree program is 8 semesters. If you have relevant vocational training and corresponding work experience, these can be recognized. Then you can complete your distance learning program while working in just 6 semesters!

Study Contents, Modules, and Specializations

With this part-time distance learning course at the state university in Schmalkalden, you prepare specifically for taking on specialist and management tasks in companies. You will intensively deal with topics such as market research, marketing, financing, and human resources. Within 8 semesters of standard study time, you will acquire 180 ECTS.

• 1st Semester: Basics of Economics, Accounting, Cost Accounting, Information Technology, English
• 2nd Semester: Microeconomics, Mathematics, Macroeconomics, Financing and Investment
• 3rd Semester: Marketing, Production, Economic Theory, Business Management, Tax Law
• 4th Semester: Economic Policy, Civil Law and Labor Law, Commercial, Company, and Competition Law, Key Qualifications
• 5th Semester: Personnel Management, Statistics, Health and Environmental Economics, Intercultural Management, Intercultural Communication
• 6th Semester: Financial Management, Taxes and Balances, Brand Management, Business Start-ups and Security
• 7th Semester: Practical Project
• 8th Semester: Practical Project, Bachelor's Thesis and Colloquium

Presence and Practice

What sets the distance learning programme at the University of Schmalkalden apart are the intensive presences and block seminars on site in Schmalkalden (Thuringia) or at the campus of the Dual University Gera-Eisenach in Eisenach. During the presence phases, you can exchange ideas on the learning content with your fellow students and teachers.

Over the first 6 subject semesters, you will complete 4-5 presence phases per semester. The presences are organized so that they can be easily completed alongside work - the events usually take place over 3-day weekends.

Practical Project in the 7th and 8th Semester

For the 7th and parts of the 8th semester of the distance learning programme, a practical project is planned, which you can complete in the form of an internship. The practical project consists of a total of 30 credits and a time commitment of 15 hours per week in the company.

If you are already employed in a relevant field during your studies, you can have the practical project recognized, thereby shortening the standard study period by one semester.

Tuition Fees

At the University of Schmalkalden, you pay tuition fees for the part-time study programme on a semester basis, always before the start of the semester. The tuition fees for the Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration are 1980,- Euros per semester.

In addition, there are semester fees amounting to approximately 54,- Euros (without semester ticket) or approximately 100,- Euros (with semester ticket).

In total, you will pay around 15840,- Euros for the programme plus semester fees. By recognizing your relevant vocational training and your work-related studies, you can complete the programme in 6 subject semesters, resulting in a total payment of around 11880,- Euros plus semester fees.

You may be able to deduct the tuition fees for tax purposes. The study coordinators at the Centre for Continuing Education at the University of Schmalkalden can provide information on funding opportunities.