Englisch 
Deutsch Who this Master’s fits – and what you need to get in
This programme suits professionals who want to connect business, media and psychology without pausing their career. Typical profiles include: marketing or communications specialists aiming to deepen consumer and media psychology; HR or organisational development staff who want evidence-based people and change skills; consultants or founders seeking a solid analytical lens on markets, media ecosystems and user behaviour.
Admission requirements
The degree is a Master of Arts (90 ECTS) at the University of Applied Sciences West Coast and is accredited (ZEvA; valid until 31 Aug 2030). Admission focuses on your previous academic qualifications and language skills:
- First academic degree: a recognised Bachelor’s degree or equivalent (undergraduate level). Your transcripts and degree certificate must be submitted as certified copies; non-German documents require sworn translations.
- Foreign qualifications: international degrees are admissible if comparable to a German first degree. Expect a formal check of equivalence; provide full academic records and a clear grading scale.
- No Abitur required: entry is based on your prior university degree, not on German school-leaving certificates.
- Language of instruction: German. You need advanced German proficiency (typically C1). Commonly accepted proofs in Germany include:
- TestDaF with TDN 4 in all parts
- DSH-2 or DSH-3
- Goethe-Zertifikat C1 (or higher)
- telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule
If you earned your first degree outside the EU, plan in time for document authentication and postal submission of certified copies.
Personal requirements
Remote study demands steady routines and realistic scheduling. You should be comfortable reading academic texts in German, writing structured assignments and discussing methods from business and psychology. Plan for around 12–18 hours per week for study, readings, projects and assessments alongside your job. Block out fixed study slots, use a calendar for deadlines and keep one buffer session each week for spillover tasks.
What helps you succeed from abroad:
- Strong self-organisation: break modules into weekly goals, track progress, review monthly.
- Perseverance: stick with complex theory and data until you can apply it to practical cases.
- Communication skills: clear written German for submissions and feedback cycles; confident English is a plus for literature.
- Set-up: reliable broadband, webcam/headset, and a quiet space for live sessions or oral exams (if scheduled).
If any on-campus days or synchronous events are scheduled, factor in travel time and costs early. A concise study plan and early reading of key texts reduce pressure during assessment periods.
What will you study in the Economy, Media & Psychology (M.A.) at University of Applied Sciences West Coast?
The teaching language is German. International applicants typically need advanced German (around C1); German universities often accept certificates such as TestDaF, DSH or Goethe-Zertifikat C1. The programme awards 90 ECTS over 3 semesters and concludes with a Master’s thesis at a German Fachhochschule (university of applied sciences).
You study how markets, media environments and human behaviour interact. Expect an interdisciplinary core that brings together business foundations, media systems and applied psychology so you can analyse audiences, design persuasive communication and make evidence-based decisions in organisations.
Economics and management foundations – You build advanced skills in managerial decision-making, strategic planning and data-informed analysis that underpin roles in market-facing or people-focused functions.
Media, communication and digital contexts – You examine media industries, platform economics and content strategies, including how messages travel across channels and influence consumer and stakeholder behaviour.
Applied psychology for business – You work with behavioural theories relevant to motivation, perception, judgement and decision-making, and translate them into marketing, HR and organisational contexts.
Research and methods – You strengthen quantitative and qualitative methods for business and media analysis, preparing you for evidence-based projects and your Master’s thesis.
Electives and tracks: You can focus your profile through the stated specialisations: Human Resources & Organization or Marketing & Sales. Your Master’s thesis (within the chosen focus or interdisciplinary) completes the programme. In Germany, “Fernstudium” means distance learning; this programme is offered with a distance-learning study form in addition to on-campus/part-time options.
How does the Economy, Media & Psychology distance programme work?
This Master is available in a Fernstudium (distance-learning) format at a German Fachhochschule. In Germany, distance programmes are reviewed by the ZFU (the state authority approving distance-learning courses). No ZFU admission number is published for this programme. The distance option is designed for working professionals and can be completed remotely without a visa if you do not relocate to Germany.
Teaching language and proof of language
Teaching is in German. To succeed, you need advanced academic German (commonly C1). German universities typically accept recognised certificates (e.g. TestDaF with TDN 4, DSH-2 or Goethe-Zertifikat C1). If you do not read, write and discuss complex texts in German, this programme will be challenging.
Learning format and study materials
The distance study form combines self-paced online study with guided instruction typical for a German Fachhochschule. You work through digital materials and readings and complete applied assignments aligned with the interdisciplinary curriculum in economics, media and psychology.
Exams and where you take them
Assessment follows university regulations for Master’s programmes at a Fachhochschule. Distance students complete coursework and exams set by the university. Whether specific exams are offered online or require attendance is defined per module; plan for both online submissions and scheduled assessments.
On-site sessions in Germany
The programme is accredited for a distance-learning study form. If a module requires on-site activities, these are scheduled by the university in Germany. Check your study plan early each semester to organise travel where needed. A purely remote pathway does not require a visa as long as you do not move to Germany.
Workload, time model and time zones
The standard duration is 3 semesters (90 ECTS). Part-time options are common in German distance formats; this supports a job alongside studies. Any live online sessions follow Central European Time (CET/CEST), so plan accordingly if you study from outside Europe.
What does the Economy, Media & Psychology cost?
The published tuition for the Master totals €6,480 over the standard duration of 3 semesters (90 ECTS). That equals an average academic investment of just over €2,000 per semester, which is significantly below typical US graduate tuition. Universities of applied sciences in Germany generally offer instalments; exact monthly plans and any administrative fees depend on the university’s current schedule.
Budget in addition for study materials and potential travel if a module requires on-site attendance in Germany. If you remain abroad, you will not have relocation or visa costs. Payments are made in euros; international students typically use standard bank transfers to a eurozone account.
What careers and recognition does the Economy, Media & Psychology offer?
You graduate with 90 ECTS under the Bologna framework. The degree is programme-accredited by ZEvA (an EQAR-listed agency) through 31 August 2030 and the university is state-recognised in Germany. For employers abroad, this signals formal quality assurance comparable to other European master’s degrees; it also enables admission to further study where a recognised Master of Arts is required.
Career paths reflect the two specialisations and the interdisciplinary core:
- Marketing and brand management, customer insights, product or campaign management
- Sales management, key account management and commercial strategy roles
- Human resources development, talent management and organisational development
- Media planning, content strategy and communications roles across industries
- Market and media research, consumer behaviour analysis, UX/behavioural insights
Note for further study: in some countries or doctoral tracks, a total of 300 ECTS is required for PhD entry. If your bachelor’s was 180 ECTS, this 90-ECTS master brings you to 270 ECTS; additional credits may be needed depending on local rules.
Who is the Economy, Media & Psychology right for - and who not?
This programme suits working professionals who want a recognised German master’s that blends business, media and applied psychology and offers a distance-learning path. You should be comfortable studying in German and applying behavioural insights to real organisational questions.
- You want an interdisciplinary Master’s linking markets, media and human behaviour.
- You need a distance-learning option you can complete alongside a job.
- You plan a career in Marketing & Sales or HR & Organization and value research-informed practice.
- You seek a state-recognised, accredited European degree at comparatively low tuition.
There are also clear cases where this programme is not a good fit for international applicants. The main reasons are language and professional regulation.
- You need an English-taught programme. Teaching is in German and requires advanced German (C1-level).
- You aim for a licence as a clinical psychologist or psychotherapist. This interdisciplinary M.A. does not lead to regulated practice credentials.
- You require a fully on-site, lab-based psychology master. The focus here is applied business/media psychology, not laboratory cognitive/clinical training.
- You need a 120-ECTS master or a total of 300 ECTS immediately for PhD admission in your country; with 90 ECTS, you may need additional credits depending on local rules.
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