Englisch 
Deutsch 
The Central State Office for Distance Learning (ZFU) has approved the course Business Psychology under the number 152813c. Who this German-taught M.A. suits – and what you need to bring
This programme fits professionals who want to link people and business decisions in a rigorous way. Typical profiles include: HR generalists who aim to deepen their expertise in personnel selection and development; marketing, UX or communications specialists who want a research-based view on motivation, behaviour and engagement; and health, sports or tourism managers planning to steer corporate health management or change initiatives across teams while staying employed.
Admission requirements
For admission you need a relevant academic background and the ability to study in German from abroad. In brief:
- First degree: a completed Bachelor’s programme in Business Psychology (Wirtschaftspsychologie) is required.
- Admission with foreign qualifications: international Bachelor’s degrees are admissible if they are formally recognised as equivalent to a German Bachelor’s in Business Psychology. You will typically submit degree certificate, full transcripts and module descriptions; certified translations are required if documents are not in German.
- Language of instruction: the programme is taught in German. If you are not a native speaker or your first degree was not taught in German, you must provide formal proof of German proficiency; universities usually expect an advanced level (CEFR C1).
- Technical access: reliable internet access for online learning and assessments.
- On-site requirements: two mandatory in-person phases take place in Germany during your studies; plan travel, time off work and, where applicable, visa arrangements in advance.
The degree is officially accredited (programme accreditation) and designed for part-time, distance learning over six semesters.
Personal requirements
Studying remotely from abroad demands consistent habits and realistic time planning. Expect around 23 hours per week of self-study on average, plus occasional synchronous sessions (total of 162 teaching units across the programme) and two compulsory on-site blocks. You should be comfortable with academic reading and writing in German, including statistics and research methods, and able to work through study materials independently.
What helps you succeed:
- Strong self-organisation to balance work, life and deadlines over six semesters.
- Perseverance for empirical work (e.g., multivariate statistics) and applied projects in HR, leadership or organisational development.
- Clear study schedule with protected weekly slots, and early coordination with your employer for the on-site phases.
- Good communication in German for group work, live sessions and exams; solid English reading can be useful for literature, but German is essential.
If you recognise yourself in this profile and can commit the weekly workload, distance learning in Business Psychology can be a feasible path to a recognised Master’s degree alongside your job.
What will you study in the Business Psychology (M.A.) at Private University Goettingen?
This programme is taught in German. You need advanced German skills to follow lectures, complete assignments and sit exams; universities in Germany typically accept certificates such as TestDaF, DSH or Goethe-Zertifikat C1 as proof. You study Business Psychology as a Fernstudium (distance learning) within the German system, culminating in a Master of Arts with 120 ECTS.
You build a solid analytic and business foundation. Typical modules include Advanced Statistics (multivariate methods), Corporate Management, and International Management. These give you the tools to interpret data, understand firm strategy and navigate global contexts.
Human behaviour in organisations is a core strand. You study Personnel Psychology, Personnel Selection and Appraisal, and Employee Engagement to design fair hiring processes and evidence-based performance systems that improve retention.
Organisational development and leadership form the third pillar. Modules such as Conflict Management, Leadership, and Instruments of Human Resource Development help you lead teams, resolve disputes productively and plan learning interventions that align with company goals.
You also apply psychology to markets and wellbeing at work. Courses like Strategic Marketing, Health Management/Corporate Health Promotion, and Recruitment connect psychological insights with customer behaviour and healthy, productive workplaces.
Electives let you specialise across business fields, for example Corporate Health Management, Human Resource Development Tools, Tourism and Sports Management, Education Management, or Strategic Marketing. A free-choice elective (Wahlpflicht) enables you to deepen areas such as Conflict and Cooperation, Moderation or Creativity.
As a university of applied sciences (Fachhochschule) programme, you work on a project module and complete a Master’s thesis. The distance course is approved by the ZFU (the German state authority that approves distance-learning courses) under admission number 152813c, which confirms the curriculum and distance-learning format.
How does the Business Psychology (M.A.) distance programme work?
You study largely online with structured materials and academic support, complemented by two mandatory on-site phases in Germany. The ZFU approval (No. 152813c) confirms the distance-learning setup and the required presence phases.
Teaching language and proof of language
The teaching language is German. You must be able to read academic texts, participate in seminars and submit coursework in German. Universities typically expect proof at an advanced level (C1), with widely recognised certificates including TestDaF, DSH or Goethe-Zertifikat C1.
Learning format and study materials
This is a Fernstudium (distance learning) designed for working professionals. You study with structured self-learning materials, guided online sessions and academic supervision. The format combines asynchronous study with some synchronous elements to support progress and discussion.
Exams and where you can take them
Assessments are set per module and can include written exams, oral examinations, projects and written assignments. The distance-learning approval ensures the programme is deliverable remotely; however, two on-site phases are compulsory and may include assessments or workshops. If you live outside Germany, plan for travel to Germany when the university schedules these requirements.
Mandatory on-site sessions in Germany
The programme includes two obligatory on-site phases in Germany, plus optional seminars. You should be able to travel for these short periods. This is not a purely remote course; visa needs for short stays depend on your citizenship and are separate from student residence permits.
Weekly workload, duration and time zones
The standard duration is 6 semesters (36 months)23 hours per week of self-study on average, with additional synchronous units across the programme. Any live sessions follow German time zones (CET/CEST), so plan accordingly if you join from abroad.
What does the Business Psychology (M.A.) cost?
Over the standard duration of 6 semesters, the total programme cost is €11,378. If you prefer to think monthly, the typical instalment is listed as €447 per month. These figures cover tuition for the regular study plan; optional seminars, repeat exams, or extended study time can incur extra costs, so factor in a small buffer when budgeting.
Payments are made in euros. Many distance students pay by monthly instalment to spread the cost over the full programme duration. If you pay from outside the euro area, your bank may charge currency conversion or international transfer fees—build these into your total cost estimate.
What careers and recognition does the Business Psychology (M.A.) offer?
You earn a Master of Arts with 120 ECTS under the Bologna framework. The programme is programme-accredited by ZEvA (an agency listed on EQAR) and accredited until 30 September 2027. Private University Goettingen is state-recognised in Germany. For you, this means an internationally readable degree profile with workload and level that employers and many universities abroad can interpret.
The 120-ECTS master opens up advanced professional roles at the business–psychology interface. Typical paths include:
- Human Resources: talent acquisition, personnel selection, assessment and employer branding
- Organisational Development: learning and development, leadership development, change management
- People Analytics and Market Insights: applying statistics and research methods to HR and marketing questions
- Corporate Health Management: workplace health promotion, return-to-work programmes and wellbeing strategy
- Consulting: HR consulting, leadership and team development, conflict mediation
This is a management- and application-oriented business psychology degree. It does not lead to a licence for clinical practice or psychotherapy; regulated health professions follow separate, country-specific pathways.
Who is the Business Psychology (M.A.) right for – and who not?
This programme suits working professionals who want to deepen psychological expertise in HR, leadership and organisational development while staying employed. The distance format offers structure and recognised quality, with short, scheduled on-site phases in Germany.
- You want a state-recognised, accredited master’s in business psychology (120 ECTS) that aligns with the Bologna system
- You plan a career in HR, L&D, organisational development, corporate health or people-focused consulting
- You prefer distance learning with structured materials and the option to study alongside a full-time job
- You can manage around 23 hours weekly of self-study and occasional live sessions in CET/CEST
- You are comfortable studying and submitting academic work in German
There are also clear limits that help you decide quickly if this programme will not work for you from abroad.
- You need an English-taught programme — this master is taught entirely in German and requires advanced German proficiency
- You cannot travel to Germany — two on-site phases are mandatory and form part of the approved study plan
- You are looking for a pathway into clinical psychology or psychotherapy licensing — this management-focused degree does not grant access to regulated health professions
- You require a 100% remote, no-travel option — this course includes compulsory in-person components in Germany
Advisory Service
Have questions about Academic Programs Business Psychology? Ask your question here, even anonymously. An employee of the institution Private University Goettingen or the editorial team will answer you.