Who is the Bachelor's Distance Learning Course in Business Administration (B.A.) at Ostfalia Suitable For?

The online Business Administration course at Ostfalia University is aimed at individuals who wish to acquire broad knowledge in the field of business administration in order to subsequently work in various professional fields in business, administration, or social organisations. Typical target groups are working professionals who want to enhance their qualifications alongside their job, people with family commitments who want to benefit from the flexibility of the online format, as well as school graduates who prefer not to pursue a traditional campus-based degree. Career changers and international applicants seeking a German higher education qualification are also addressed by this programme.

Admission requirements: Who can enrol?

The course is admission-free, meaning: there is no Numerus clausus (NC). The basic requirement for starting the online Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at Ostfalia University is the general higher education entrance qualification (Abitur) or the advanced technical college entrance qualification. A subject-specific higher education entrance qualification may also qualify for admission. Proof of university entrance qualification must be submitted with the application.

• General higher education entrance qualification (Abitur)
• Advanced technical college entrance qualification
• Subject-specific higher education entrance qualification
• Access for professionally qualified individuals possible (e.g. with master craftsman’s certificate or relevant vocational training and work experience, according to Lower Saxony Higher Education Act)
• No specific prior knowledge or internships required
• Semester start is always in the winter semester

A preliminary internship or an entrance exam are not required. Enrolment takes place directly provided the stated admission requirements are met.

Personal requirements for study success:

• Self-motivation and self-organisation are important, as the course largely takes place through self-study and online.
• Time management, especially for working professionals or people with family commitments.
• Affinity for economic issues as well as interest in numbers, analyses, and entrepreneurial contexts.
• Basic knowledge of using computers and the internet, as all learning materials are provided online and teaching sessions are held via videoconferences.
• Willingness to communicate, as interaction with lecturers and fellow students takes place via digital learning platforms.
• Willingness to occasionally attend on-site sessions in Suderburg, especially for examinations.

Course Content of the Bachelor’s Degree Programme in Business Administration

The online Business Administration degree programme at Ostfalia University leads to a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and comprises 180 ECTS credits. The curriculum covers central areas of business administration and combines fundamentals with practice-oriented focal points.

• Basic modules: General Business Administration, Business Mathematics, Accounting I and II, Economics I and II, Business Law I and II, Statistics, Academic Research, Business English
• Specialisations and applications: Cost and Revenue Accounting, Marketing, Empirical Social Research, Investment, Controlling, Project Management, E-Business Management, Strategic Management and Marketing, Human Resource Management, Finance, Taxation, Logistics
• Digital and practice-related content: Business Informatics I and II, Process Management, Business Simulation, Practical Project, E-Business Management
• Elective courses: Two freely selectable modules for individual specialisation
• Final degree: Corporate Policy Project and Bachelor Thesis
• Additional topics: Sustainable Economic Development

By combining theoretical content and practice-related projects, both business administration basics and key qualifications for various professional fields are conveyed.

Structure and Course Progression

The programme is designed as a six-semester online degree, with the flexible schedule allowing for both full-time and part-time or work-integrated study. The campus location is Suderburg.

• Learning platform: Teaching content is provided via Moodle. Each module corresponds to its own online course.
• Teaching sessions: Weekly live web lectures via a web conferencing system with recordings that can be watched flexibly.
• Self-study and support: Learning materials, regular exchange with lecturers as well as intensive supervision and direct contact.
• Onsite phases: Optional onsite sessions for modules, mostly scheduled in blocks at weekends (Friday afternoon and Saturday). Exams are generally held in person at the Suderburg campus.
• Examinations: Each module concludes with an examination. There are written exams, coursework, presentations, and oral exams, individually tailored per module.
• Flexibility: The number of modules taken per semester is freely selectable. The study programme can be individually adapted to professional or private requirements. The standard period of study is six semesters in the full-time model.

The programme starts each winter semester. Admission is open without restrictions.

Career Prospects and Opportunities

The bachelor’s degree prepares for a variety of roles in the field of business administration. Typical areas of employment are:

• Human Resource Management
• Marketing and Sales
• Controlling and Accounting
• Investment and Financial Management
• Logistics and Process Management
• Business Informatics and E-Business
• Project Management
• Administration and Social Institutions

Graduates can be employed both in industry and commerce as well as in public administration and social organisations. Furthermore, it is possible to pursue a master’s degree, for example in Business Administration, Strategic Management, or Business Informatics at Ostfalia University.

Study Costs and Financing Options

There are no tuition fees for the degree programme. Students only pay the reduced semester fee, which currently amounts to 234 euros per semester (as of 2024). Total costs over six semesters amount to approximately 1,164 euros.

• Additional costs: Computer, webcam, headset as well as internet access for using the online teaching sessions and learning platform
• Travel costs: For attending onsite sessions and exams at the Suderburg campus
• Funding opportunities: Entitlement to BAföG exists if the legal requirements are met. Employed students may be supported by their employer or benefit from tax advantages.

Financing the studies is particularly attractive for many interested parties due to the low costs and the compatibility of work and study.