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The Central State Office for Distance Learning (ZFU) has approved the course Innovation and Entrepreneurship under the number 1134322. Who this online M.A. suits – and what you need to qualify
This programme fits you if you want an international, English-taught Master’s you can complete fully online from abroad. Typical profiles include: early-career marketers, product managers or UX professionals planning a first start-up; engineers or tech specialists moving toward product leadership and intrapreneurship inside a company; business graduates seeking to deepen innovation skills while keeping their full-time job and location flexibility.
Admission requirements
Formal entry routes are clearly defined for international applicants:
- First degree: a completed, business-related Bachelor’s (or equivalent) of at least 180 ECTS from a state or state-recognised university; minimum final grade “Satisfactory”.
- Lower Bachelor grade? Alternative evidence can qualify you: for example, 40 ECTS of relevant Master/MBA study, a completed relevant Master/MBA, or recognised postgraduate/professional qualifications comparable to EQF/DQR level 7 with at least 40 ECTS of learning volume.
- No business background? You can gain admission via a Master entrance route by successfully completing two specified modules from the curriculum within 12 months; these modules are fully credited.
- Language for this programme: English at B2 level. Accepted certificates include TOEFL iBT 80, IELTS 6.0, Duolingo English Test 95, or Cambridge (overall grade B). Certificates must be issued within the last five years. Exemptions apply if your prior degree was fully taught in English or if English is your native language.
- International qualifications: foreign Bachelor’s degrees are accepted when awarded by recognised institutions. You submit official transcripts; equivalence is checked during admission.
- Start dates: rolling admission with the option to begin any time; no numerus clausus.
Personal requirements
Success in a remote Master’s depends less on where you live and more on how you work. You need reliable self-organisation, steady motivation and the ability to plan across time zones for live online sessions. Expect a workload of about 20–40 hours per week depending on your study model (part-time to full-time). If you work full-time, a realistic target is 25–30 hours weekly during busier modules.
- Comfort reading academic literature and writing reports in English (B2+).
- Basic quantitative confidence for modules like Advanced Research Methods, Sales & Pricing, and Agile Project Management; spreadsheet skills help.
- Stable internet, a webcam and a quiet space for online exams held flexibly.
- Proactive communication in virtual teams; you will collaborate in projects (e.g. Design Thinking, Lean Start Up).
- Consistency over months: plan buffers for deadlines, and set weekly goals to sustain progress across 24–48 months.
If you recognise yourself in these points and can commit regular study time, the format lets you earn a recognised Master’s while you stay employed and location-independent.
What will you study in the Innovation and Entrepreneurship (M.A.) at IU International University?
The English-taught, 120-ECTS master’s spans four semesters and builds the skill set to design, test and scale new ventures and innovations. You combine entrepreneurship and innovation management with product development and agile methods, deepen your research skills, and finish with a master’s thesis. Electives let you specialise in tech or business tracks.
You start with core perspectives on how innovations emerge and scale: Innovation and Entrepreneurial Ecosystems, Entre- and Intrapreneurship, and Strategic Management. You learn to craft value propositions and revenue logic in Business Model Design, and translate strategy into marketable offerings in Product Development.
Method toolkits take centre stage: Design Thinking, Lean Start Up and Agile Project Management guide you from problem discovery to MVPs and iterative launches. Sales and Pricing sharpen your go-to-market moves, while Applied Marketing Research and Advanced Research Methods give you the evidence base for data-driven decisions.
Digital business is a dedicated track: you work with Digital Business Models and Internet of Things to understand platform economics, connected products and service ecosystems. A research-led seminar on Current Topics of Innovation and Entrepreneurship ties the curriculum to emerging trends and academic debates.
Electives let you shape your profile. You choose two from options such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Science and Analytics, Big Data, Corporate Finance and Investment, IT Project and Architecture Management, Digital Transformation, Consumer Behavior and Brand Management, Leadership and Change, Performance Management, or the practice-focused Project: Start Up Lab.
This is a German Fernstudium — distance learning with flexible pacing and virtual teaching. As a regulated distance course, it is approved by the German authority ZFU (Zulassungsnummer 1134322). You complete the programme fully online; the degree concludes with an independent master’s thesis supervised by IU faculty.
How does the Innovation and Entrepreneurship distance programme work?
It is a fully online master’s designed for study alongside work. Teaching, exams and support run via IU’s digital campus, with optional exam centres in the DACH region. No visa is required because a purely remote programme does not involve residence in Germany.
Teaching language and language certificates
The programme is taught in English. You typically document B2 English with one of these: TOEFL iBT 80, IELTS 6.0, Duolingo 95, or a Cambridge certificate (overall grade B). A previous degree taught in English or native proficiency can waive the test requirement. Provide proof before your start date.
Learning format and study materials
You study on IU’s online campus with interactive course books (IU Interactive Books), videos, shortcasts, quizzes and podcasts. Many modules offer live virtual classes for discussion and Q&A. You organise your sequence of modules flexibly and access materials both on desktop and via the IU Learn App.
Exams and taking them from outside Germany
Most module exams are available as 24/7 online proctored exams, which you can take from anywhere worldwide. IU also operates around 40 exam centres in Germany, Austria and Switzerland if you prefer an on-site exam. The distance course is ZFU-approved (1134322), signalling compliant formats for remote assessment.
On-site sessions in Germany
There are no mandatory on-site attendance phases in Germany. All teaching, support and assessments can be completed online. Any visit to an exam centre is optional.
Weekly workload, time models and time zones
You choose one of three time models: full-time (24 months, about 40 hours/week), part-time I (36 months, about 25 hours/week) or part-time II (48 months, about 20 hours/week). Live online sessions, where offered, follow Central European Time (CET/CEST); recordings and self-paced content support other time zones.
What does the Innovation and Entrepreneurship (M.A.) cost?
Your total cost depends on the time model you choose. In full-time (24 months) you pay about €499 per month, totalling roughly €11,976. In part-time I (36 months) it’s around €379 per month or €13,644 in total. In part-time II (48 months) it’s about €299 per month, around €14,352 overall. Prices are regular, undiscounted fees.
Payments are made in monthly instalments in euros for the duration of your chosen model. IU allows free extensions (typically up to 12 months), which reduces time pressure without increasing tuition for that extension period. Budget for standard study materials (included digitally) and any optional travel to exam centres; there are no mandatory on-site costs.
If you pay from outside the euro area, your bank or card provider may apply exchange rates and fees. All amounts above are in EUR and refer to tuition only.
What careers and recognition does the Innovation and Entrepreneurship (M.A.) offer?
The degree awards 120 ECTS credits under the Bologna framework, enabling international comparability and, in many systems, access to doctoral studies subject to local rules. The programme is accredited within Germany’s quality assurance system until 15 May 2030 and the university is state-recognised. As a distance programme, it also holds ZFU approval for remote delivery.
For employers abroad, this signals that the M.A. meets European Higher Education Area standards: defined learning outcomes, credit transparency (ECTS) and institutional oversight. These are useful when presenting your qualification to international companies, start-up ecosystems or for further study.
Typical career paths include:
- Innovation Manager or Head of Innovation in corporates and SMEs
- Venture Builder, Start-up Founder or Co-founder
- Product Manager or Product Owner for new digital/IoT products
- Business Development or Corporate Strategy Manager (intrapreneurship focus)
- Innovation Consultant or Business Model Coach
Salaries vary widely by country and sector. Roles like Product Manager or Innovation Manager in tech hubs typically command higher ranges; the entrepreneurial route adds upside potential through equity and exits rather than fixed pay.
Who is the Innovation and Entrepreneurship (M.A.) right for – and who not?
This master’s suits professionals who want a flexible, internationally readable degree to launch ventures or drive innovation inside organisations. It is designed for remote learners who value online exams, rolling starts and a clear specialisation choice between tech and business tracks.
- You need a fully online programme with no mandatory on-site attendance and worldwide exam options.
- You prefer studying in English and want an EU-recognised master’s with 120 ECTS.
- You aim to found a start-up or lead innovation projects using Design Thinking, Lean Start Up and agile methods.
- You want to specialise in areas like AI, Data Science, Finance, Branding or join a hands-on Start Up Lab.
- You work full-time and need a choice between 24, 36 or 48-month pacing, with free extension if life gets busy.
There are also clear cases where another option may fit better. Read these carefully before you decide.
- You require a campus-based experience in Germany or a programme that helps with a student visa. A purely remote Fernstudium involves no residence and does not grant visa grounds.
- You are unable to study or be examined in English at B2 level and cannot provide an accepted language certificate or equivalent evidence.
- You need access to a regulated profession with specific national licensure (e.g., clinical or legally regulated fields). This master’s is not a licensure pathway.
- You want fixed weekly classroom schedules in your local time zone. Live online sessions follow CET/CEST and may not align with every region; self-paced study is the norm.
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