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The Central State Office for Distance Learning (ZFU) has approved the course International Management under the number 175218. Who this B.A. in International Management suits — and what you need to apply
This programme fits if you want an internationally oriented business degree fully online from anywhere. Typical profiles: you work in marketing, sales or operations and want to move into cross-border roles or team leadership; you have a vocational background (e.g. retail, logistics, office administration) and aim to formalise your experience with a bachelor’s degree; or you live outside Germany, already collaborate with European clients, and need a flexible German-taught programme to strengthen your management toolkit.
Admission requirements
You can qualify via school-leaver routes, professional routes, or recognised foreign credentials. Key points at a glance:
- With school-leaver certificate: general higher education entrance qualification, subject-specific higher education entrance qualification, or advanced technical college entrance qualification.
- With foreign qualifications: an equivalent higher education entrance qualification from abroad is recognised for admission (documentation in line with university requirements).
- Without Abitur (no German school-leaver certificate): admission is possible via recognised professional advancement (e.g. Meister/in, Techniker/in, Fachwirt/in, Betriebswirt/in, Erzieher/in) or with completed vocational training plus relevant work experience, followed by an aptitude route (university aptitude exam or trial study).
- German language for non-native speakers (programme taught in German): accepted proofs include DSH-2, TestDaF with level 4 in all parts, or C1 GER. Trial study can be used as an alternative route where applicable.
- Recommended (not mandatory): English at B2 level (some modules and literature are in English), solid school-level mathematics, and confident PC skills.
Start dates are flexible; prior learning from university modules or professional certificates may be credited to shorten your studies and reduce costs.
Personal requirements
Remote study rewards consistency more than intensity. Plan for an average workload of about 30 hours per week at full-time pace; extended study models spread the load across more months. You should be comfortable reading and writing in German at academic level, be willing to engage with English-language sources, and manage your time around work and life commitments. A stable internet connection, a quiet study space, and a weekly plan you can actually keep are essential.
- Strong self-organisation and reliable weekly routines.
- Perseverance for exam phases, projects and the bachelor’s thesis.
- Clear communication in German for forums, assignments and oral defences; English B2 helps with selected modules.
- Quantitative openness for basics in maths, statistics, finance and controlling.
- Proactive help-seeking: use tutoring, study groups and self-tests to stay on track.
What will you study in the International Management (B.A.) at AKAD University?
The programme is taught in German. If you are not a native speaker, you typically need a recognised German certificate at advanced level, such as DSH-2, TestDaF level 4 or GER C1. You build a 180-ECTS foundation in international business and management and finish with a Bachelor of Arts. AKAD is a German Fachhochschule (university of applied sciences) delivering practice-oriented higher education via Fernstudium (distance learning).
Business fundamentals and analytics: You cover Accounting and Bookkeeping, Cost and Performance Accounting, Economics and European Economy, plus core quantitative skills in Business Mathematics and Statistics. These modules give you the numerical and analytical basis for later management decisions.
Management and strategy with a global lens: You study Principles of Management and Organisation, Operations/Production & Materials Management, Strategic Management in International Context, and Foreign Trade. You learn how global value chains, market entry and governance work in practice.
People, culture and communication: Modules such as Fundamentals of Intercultural Management, Global Teambuilding and Diversity Management, and International HR Leadership & Development focus on leading multicultural teams. Business English is trained explicitly in The Language of Business and Global Communication content.
Finance, control and law: You develop decision support skills in Investment & Finance and Operational Controlling, and gain legal orientation through Contract Law basics. This mix supports risk-aware planning in internationally active companies.
Applied study elements and thesis: A substantial Project (20 ECTS) typically in semester 5 connects your job context with study methods. You conclude with the Bachelor’s thesis (10 ECTS). As a German distance programme, the course is approved by the ZFU (the state authority supervising distance-learning courses).
Electives (choose two specialisations) allow you to tailor your profile, for example: International Law; Global Communication; Balance/Financial Statement Management; Strategic Personnel Management; Digital Business; Digital Transformation; Entrepreneurship; Project Management; Coaching & Change Management; Digital Leadership & Communication.
How does the International Management (B.A.) distance programme work?
You study fully online with rolling admission and flexible pacing. Learning takes place on AKAD’s digital campus with multimedia materials, tutoring and a clear module structure from semester 1 to 6. The programme carries the ZFU admission number 175218c.
Teaching language and language certificates
The teaching language is German. For admission as an international applicant, you generally need a higher-level German certificate such as DSH-2, TestDaF 4 or GER C1. Several modules enhance your English for business, but English is not the main teaching language.
Learning format and study materials
This is 100% distance learning (Fernstudium). You use digital scripts, videos, podcasts, interactive exercises and self-tests. A study community and toolbox support planning and study skills. AKAD, as a Fachhochschule (university of applied sciences), emphasises applied assignments you can link to your current job.
Exams and where you can take them
Assessments include online exams, open-book tests, written assignments, projects and the Bachelor’s thesis. Written exams can be taken online with remote proctoring, so you can complete assessments from outside Germany.
On-site sessions in Germany
The programme is designed as a fully remote degree, including examinations. There are no mandatory on-site classroom days in Germany for the standard study path.
Workload, time models and time zones
Plan about 30 hours per week at full pace. You can choose between time models: 36 (Sprint), 48 (Standard) or 72 months (Stretch). Live webinars and tutor sessions, when offered, follow Central European Time (CET/CEST). As the programme is remote, you do not need a visa to study.
What does the International Management (B.A.) cost?
Fees depend on your chosen duration. As a rule of thumb, shorter models reduce total study time but raise the monthly fee. In the current structure, indicative regular monthly fees are €389 (36 months), €319 (48 months) or €219 (72 months). A one-time €960 examination fee applies.
Putting this into totals over the standard durations helps comparison: about €14,964 in the 36-month model (36 × €389 + €960), about €16,272 in the 48-month model (48 × €319 + €960), and about €16,728 in the 72-month model (72 × €219 + €960). All fees are paid in monthly instalments. If you study from abroad, your bank’s exchange rates and any transfer fees apply; the university charges in euros.
Most students keep costs predictable by matching the time model to their weekly availability. If you can consistently invest close to 30 hours per week, the 36-month path usually minimises the overall cost. If you need to spread learning due to full-time work, the 48- or 72-month options lower the monthly burden.
What careers and recognition does the International Management (B.A.) offer?
You earn a 180-ECTS Bachelor of Arts that follows the Bologna framework used across Europe. ECTS credits are designed for international comparability and facilitate admission to Master’s degrees worldwide where a three-year bachelor is recognised. AKAD University is a state-recognised German institution; the programme is accredited and the distance format is ZFU-approved, which signals quality assurance in Germany’s regulated higher-education system. Accreditation in Germany is carried out by agencies listed in the European Quality Assurance Register (EQAR), which supports international recognition.
Typical roles after graduation include:
- International Brand Manager or International Marketing Manager
- International Sales Manager or Business Development Manager
- Project Lead for cross-border initiatives in marketing, operations or HR
- Consultant for internationalisation, change or process optimisation
With its mix of strategy, finance, operations and intercultural leadership, the degree also prepares you for positions in supply chain coordination, controlling, entry-level product management, and HR development in global organisations. The Bachelor provides a solid base for a professionally oriented Master’s or an MBA.
Who is the International Management (B.A.) right for – and who not?
This programme suits working professionals who want a full bachelor’s degree in international business without relocating. The fully online format enables you to combine study with a job and family responsibilities across time zones.
- You want a state-recognised German bachelor aligned with the Bologna/ECTS system.
- You prefer 100% online learning and exams, with no mandatory trips to Germany.
- You plan to build a management career in international companies or projects.
- You value applied study at a Fachhochschule (university of applied sciences) with a large project and practical assessments.
- You need rolling start dates and time models (36/48/72 months) to fit full-time work.
There are also clear exclusion points. These help you avoid a mismatch before you apply.
- You need an English-taught programme. Teaching here is in German; recognised German certificates (e.g. DSH-2, TestDaF 4, GER C1) are typically required.
- You are looking for a campus experience in Germany with regular on-site classes. This course is designed as a remote degree.
- You aim for a study path that grants a student visa or residence permit. A purely online programme does not create a visa basis.
- You seek access to a regulated profession via this degree. International Management is not a regulated profession pathway.
Lade… 
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