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The Central State Office for Distance Learning (ZFU) has approved the course Accounting and Taxation under the number 174818. Who this German-taught B.A. suits – and what you need to get in
This online Bachelor is a fit if you want to build solid expertise in accounting, controlling and taxation while studying remotely. Typical profiles include: working bookkeeping or accounting assistants aiming to formalise their skills with a recognised degree alongside a job; career changers from operations, admin or marketing who want to pivot into finance and tax; internationally mobile candidates with prior vocational training in finance who seek an academic upgrade and flexible pacing. The programme is German-taught and designed for remote learners who value a structured, modular path to an international degree.
Admission requirements
Formal entry routes are clearly defined. You qualify via one of the following:
- With higher education entrance: general or subject-specific higher education entrance qualification, university of applied sciences entrance qualification, or an equivalent foreign higher education entrance qualification.
- Without Abitur: recognised vocational advancement (e.g. master craftsperson, technician, business administrator, educator) grants access; or completed vocational training plus relevant work experience via a university aptitude test or a supervised trial study phase (Probestudium).
- German language proof (for non-native speakers): accepted certificates include DSH-2, TestDaF 4 in all parts, or C1 level per the CEFR. A Probestudium can be an interim pathway where applicable.
- Technical requirement: stable internet access for the digital campus and online exams.
- On-site component: a one-day on-site seminar in Stuttgart is scheduled; most teaching and assessments are delivered online.
International qualifications are admitted if they meet equivalence requirements; certified translations may be requested. Admission follows the rules of the Baden-Württemberg Higher Education Act.
Personal requirements
Remote study from abroad demands consistent time management and strong self-direction. Plan for an average of 30 hours per week of study time across modules; if you choose an extended time model (up to 72 months), you can spread the workload to reduce weekly pressure. You should be comfortable with numbers, basic algebra and statistics, and prepared to work with German legal and tax terminology across areas such as cost accounting, financial reporting and corporate taxes. Solid English is an advantage for literature and the “English for professional purposes” module, but day-to-day learning and exams are in German. What really helps you succeed: set fixed weekly study blocks, break modules into milestones, use the online tutoring and peer groups, and keep a realistic buffer for exam phases and project work. Perseverance and a steady routine matter more than prior knowledge—bridging units and the curriculum will bring you up to speed if you engage consistently.
What will you study in Finance and Accounting at AKAD University?
The programme is taught in German throughout. If you apply from abroad, you will need recognised proof of German at advanced level, typically DSH-2, TestDaF level 4 or a C1 certificate (GER). You study as a Fernstudium (distance learning) at a private, state-recognised Fachhochschule (university of applied sciences), and the course has ZFU approval for distance delivery.
You build your business and analytical foundation first. This includes modules such as BWL-Grundlagen (principles of business administration), Wirtschaftsmathematik and Statistik, plus introductions to Marketing, Personalmanagement and Produktions- und Materialmanagement. These give you the economic toolkit to read financial data in context.
From there you move into core accounting. You cover Buchführung, Kosten- und Leistungsrechnung and Bilanzierung nach nationalen Standards, then extend to Rechnungslegung nach internationalen Bilanzierungsstandards (IFRS) and Erfolgsanalyse. A dedicated module on operatives Controlling links reporting to managerial decisions.
Taxation is a major strand. You study Grundlagen der Steuerlehre, Umsatzsteuer, Einkommen- und Körperschaftsteuer, Gewerbesteuer, Spezielle Steuern und Abgabenordnung, and the Besteuerung von Kapital- und Personengesellschaften. This combination gives you a structured view of German tax law and its corporate implications.
Finance, law and digital skills complete the profile. Expect Investition und Finanzierung, Risiko- und Kontrollsysteme, Wirtschaftsinformatik, Vertragsrecht as well as Handels-, Gesellschafts- und Wettbewerbsrecht. You also train project skills in Projektmanagement and apply them in a larger Projekt and a Unternehmensplanspiel (business simulation). English for Professional Purposes (C1) prepares you to work across borders.
There are no fixed elective tracks; the curriculum is designed as a coherent pathway into Accounting and Taxation. Practice elements include the business simulation, a project module and a one-day in-person seminar. You finish with the Bachelor’s thesis (B.A., 180 ECTS). As a reminder: ZFU is Germany’s state authority (Zulassung für Fernunterricht) that approves distance-learning courses; the programme is ZFU-approved for distance delivery.
How does the Finance and Accounting distance programme work?
You study fully online with structured materials, flexible assessments and a small amount of mandatory on-site time. The programme carries ZFU admission number 174818. Because it is delivered as a distance programme, you do not need a visa to enrol; only brief travel to Germany is required for the on-site day.
Teaching language and certificates
The teaching language is German. For admission you must document advanced German, typically DSH-2, TestDaF 4 or C1 (GER). Subject literature may include English texts; a dedicated C1 Business English module is part of the curriculum.
Learning format and study materials
This is a Fernstudium (distance learning). All content sits on AKAD’s digital campus: interactive scripts, video lessons, web-based trainings, self-tests and recorded live sessions. You study at your own pace and combine asynchronous learning with optional webinars. The university is a state-recognised German Fachhochschule (university of applied sciences).
Exams from outside Germany
Most assessments can be taken online with remote proctoring from anywhere. You may also choose test centres in Germany if you prefer. Forms of assessment include written exams, open-book formats, assignments, projects, presentations and the Bachelor’s thesis.
On-site sessions in Germany
There is one mandatory 1-day seminar in Stuttgart. No other regular campus attendance is required. Plan travel accordingly if you live outside Germany.
Workload, time models and live sessions
The workload averages about 30 hours per week in the standard pace. You can choose 36, 48 or 72-month models and adjust up or down as your schedule changes. Optional live events are scheduled in Central European Time (CET/CEST); recordings are available if time zones make live participation difficult.
What does the Finance and Accounting cost?
Tuition is charged monthly and depends on your pace. Using the regular, undiscounted rates, you should budget roughly €14,964 in total for the fastest route (36 months). The standard and extended routes cost slightly more overall but reduce the monthly burden. In all models, a one-time €960 examination fee applies.
- Sprint (36 months): €389 per month → about €14,004 tuition plus €960 exam fee = €14,964 in total.
- Standard (48 months): €319 per month → about €15,312 tuition plus €960 = €16,272 in total.
- Stretch (72 months): €219 per month → about €15,768 tuition plus €960 = €16,728 in total.
AKAD allows free study extensions depending on your model (for example several additional months without extra tuition), which helps if work gets busy. Fees cover access to the online campus and study materials. Budget separately for the required one-day trip to Stuttgart (travel and accommodation). Tuition is payable in monthly instalments; international students commonly study from abroad without relocating.
What careers and recognition does the Finance and Accounting offer?
You earn a Bachelor of Arts with 180 ECTS under the Bologna framework. AKAD University is a state-recognised German university of applied sciences; the programme is accredited in Germany and ZFU-approved for distance delivery. Within Europe, ECTS facilitate academic recognition and admission to relevant Master’s degrees; outside Europe, recognition typically follows the standing of accredited, state-recognised German degrees, supported by the Bologna reforms and agencies listed in the European Quality Assurance Register (EQAR).
Career entry points include corporate finance departments, tax and audit firms, and roles that connect accounting data to management decisions. Typical paths are:
- Head of Accounting/Finance: closing processes, financial statements, liquidity and cash management.
- Controlling/FP&A specialist: budgeting, variance analysis, KPI steering and decision support.
- Tax analyst/assistant: VAT, corporate and income tax compliance, support in complex cases.
- Corporate finance analyst: investment analysis, valuation and financing projects.
- Audit associate (with a firm’s training track): participation in statutory and group audits.
The curriculum also provides a subject-matter basis for Germany’s Steuerberater and Wirtschaftsprüfer examinations. These are regulated professions with further legal requirements (e.g., post-degree practice and additional exams) beyond this Bachelor’s degree.
Who is the Finance and Accounting right for - and who not?
This programme fits you if you want a German bachelor’s degree in accounting and taxation with maximum flexibility, and you are comfortable studying and being assessed in German. It is also well-suited if you already work in finance and want to formalise your expertise with 180 ECTS for future master’s options.
- You seek a fully online German degree with recognised 180 ECTS and only minimal on-site time.
- You aim for roles in accounting, controlling, taxation or corporate finance.
- You value rolling admission and time models (36/48/72 months) you can align with a job.
- You want structured preparation for further German professional exams (tax adviser, auditor) later on.
There are also clear cases where this programme is not the right choice. Read the following points carefully before you apply from abroad.
- You do not have, and cannot obtain, the required advanced German (C1/DSH-2/TestDaF 4) for study and exams.
- You cannot travel to Germany for the mandatory 1-day on-site seminar in Stuttgart.
- You need a programme that directly licenses you for a regulated profession abroad; this Bachelor alone does not grant licensure (e.g., tax adviser/auditor require further steps).
- You prefer a programme with extensive electives in English or a fully English-taught curriculum.
Lade… 
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