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The Central State Office for Distance Learning (ZFU) has approved the course Real Estate Management for Real Estate Merchants under the number 1166624. Who this programme fits – and what you need to be admitted
This degree is a fast track for practising real estate professionals with a German vocational background. It suits you if you: work as a property manager or agent in Germany and want to turn your apprenticeship into an academic degree in just 3 semesters through a recognised credit transfer of 90 ECTS; have completed the German apprenticeship and now live abroad, but want to study 100% online while remaining eligible for roles in the DACH market; or hold the German apprenticeship plus a higher professional qualification (e.g. Geprüfte Immobilienfachwirtin/Geprüfter Immobilienfachwirt) and aim to formalise your expertise with a Bachelor’s.
Admission requirements
Admission is narrowly defined and tied to the German vocational route in real estate. You must meet all core criteria; where applicable, alternatives without Abitur are listed.
- Mandatory professional background: a completed German apprenticeship as Immobilienkauffrau/Immobilienkaufmann (DQR 4). Only this apprenticeship completed in Germany is accepted; foreign vocational qualifications are not recognised for this programme.
- With higher education entrance qualification: Allgemeine or Fachgebundene Hochschulreife (Abitur) or Fachhochschulreife, plus the completed German apprenticeship.
- Without Abitur (direct entry via trial study): one of the following in addition to the German apprenticeship:
- At least 3 years full-time professional experience in real estate, or
- Geprüfte Immobilienfachwirtin/Geprüfter Immobilienfachwirt (DQR 6), or
- Staatlich geprüfte Betriebswirtin/Staatlich geprüfter Betriebswirt, Fachrichtung Wohnungswirtschaft und Realkredit (DQR 6).
- Teaching language: German. If you obtained your prior education outside Germany or are not a native speaker, you must provide German at B2 level. Accepted proofs include:
- TestDaF (TND3) with at least 3 points in all parts
- DSH-1
- telc Deutsch B2
- ÖSD B2
- Start dates: rolling admission; online study and exams from anywhere. Ensure a stable internet connection and an undisturbed space for proctored assessments.
Personal requirements
Remote study rewards structure and persistence. Plan realistically for a weekly workload of about 25–30 hours in the 18-month full-time track, around 15–20 hours in the 24-month model, or 10–15 hours in the 36-month model. You will read German academic materials, write assignments, and sit online exams, so confident B2-level German comprehension and writing are essential. Strong self-organisation, reliable routines, and the discipline to study after work are key. You should be comfortable with digital tools (learning app, interactive e-books, video tutorials) and manage time zones if you live outside Central Europe. A quiet workspace, webcam, and ID for online proctoring are necessary. If you prefer step-by-step progress and can keep steady momentum over 18–36 months, you will thrive in this format.
What will you study in the Real estate management for real estate merchants at IU International University?
This programme is taught in German. If you did not complete school in German, you will need a recognised German certificate at around B2 level, such as TestDaF (min. 3 in all parts), DSH-1, telc Deutsch B2 or ÖSD B2. It is a Fernstudium – distance learning approved by Germany’s ZFU (distance-learning authority).
The curriculum builds on your prior vocational training as an Immobilienkaufmann/-frau. 90 ECTS are recognised from that background, so you start in the equivalent of semester 4 and complete a full 180 ECTS Bachelor’s degree. IU is a German Fachhochschule (a state-recognised university of applied sciences), so the focus is applied and career-oriented.
Finance, law and controlling in real estate: You deepen the financial mechanics of property deals and operations. Core modules include real estate finance, leasing and rental law, and real estate and portfolio controlling. You connect legal frameworks with cashflow, risk and performance management in property companies.
Investment, valuation and sustainability: You work on real estate investment and investment products, modern valuation approaches for different asset types, and sustainability across planning, construction and operation. This gives you the toolkit to judge opportunities, lifecycle costs and ESG requirements.
Project development and international outlook: You translate strategy into projects in real estate project development and explore markets and practices in the International Real Estate Management seminar. You also train cross-cultural and ethical decision-making to navigate multinational stakeholders and regulations.
Leadership and digital skills: With Leadership 4.0 and Digital Skills you develop people leadership, collaboration and data literacy for tech-enabled property management, from dashboards to BIM interfaces and AI-supported workflows.
Electives: You choose two elective blocks to specialise, for example in Digital Real Estate / Smart Building, Facility Management, Construction Management, Advanced Leadership & International Management, or Online/International Marketing. Options also reach into HR, business consulting, controlling or Building Information Modelling (BIM) – useful if you sit at the interface of operations and development.
Final phase: You conclude with your Bachelor’s thesis, applying academic methods to a practice-relevant real estate topic. There are no mandatory on-site practical phases; all required study elements are designed for distance learning.
How does the Real estate management for real estate merchants distance programme work?
You study 100% remotely with rolling start dates and online examinations. Teaching is in German; for non-native speakers the university accepts TestDaF (min. 3 in all parts), DSH-1, telc Deutsch B2 or ÖSD B2 as proof of German. ZFU (state distance-learning approval) number: 1166624. A purely remote programme requires no visa.
Teaching language and certificates
All modules, exams and live sessions are conducted in German. Accepted language proofs include TestDaF (3/3/3/3), DSH-1, telc Deutsch B2 and ÖSD B2. Provide the certificate before starting; typical validity is up to five years.
Learning format and study materials
This is a flexible Fernstudium (distance learning). You study on IU’s digital campus with interactive e-books, videos, quizzes and podcasts. Printed study booklets are available per module if you prefer. Numerous virtual live classes and tutor sessions support self-study; recordings help if you cannot join live.
Exams from outside Germany
Most written exams can be taken as 24/7 online proctored exams from anywhere in the world. If you happen to be in the region, IU also runs around 40 exam centres in Germany, Austria and Switzerland for on-site sittings. Coursework and oral assessments are conducted online.
On-site sessions in Germany
There are no mandatory on-site days for this distance programme. All required teaching, seminars and assessments are available online.
Time models, workload and time zones
You can choose 18, 24 or 36 months standard duration. Live sessions are scheduled in Central European Time (CET/CEST). Because you learn asynchronously, you set your weekly rhythm; live formats are optional support, typically offered at several times.
What does the Real estate management for real estate merchants cost?
Tuition is charged in euros and depends on your time model. Over the standard durations, typical totals are: €7,182 in 18 months (about €399 per month), €8,256 in 24 months (about €344 per month), or €9,324 in 36 months (about €259 per month). The academic content and degree are identical; a longer track lowers the monthly rate but raises the total.
You pay monthly instalments for the chosen duration. IU allows a free extension of up to 12 months if you need more time at the end of your model. There are no mandatory on-site phases, so you avoid travel costs. Exam sittings are included whether taken online or at IU exam centres.
All fees are billed in €. If you pay from outside the euro area, your bank or card provider may apply currency conversion and transfer fees.
What careers and recognition does the Real estate management for real estate merchants offer?
You earn a Bachelor of Arts, 180 ECTS, aligned with the Bologna framework. IU is a state-recognised German university of applied sciences; the degree follows German higher education law and is eligible for master’s entry in the EHEA. The distance format holds ZFU approval. The programme is accredited (internal accreditation) from 02/05/2024 to 01/05/2032.
What this means internationally: ECTS credits are the standard currency for credit transfer in Europe, and a state-recognised Bachelor’s degree from Germany is widely accepted for postgraduate entry and professional roles. Employers value the applied focus typical of a Fachhochschule, especially in finance, operations and development functions.
Typical roles after graduation include:
- Real estate asset or portfolio manager in residential or commercial portfolios
- Property/estate manager or facility manager with a sustainability focus
- Real estate valuer/analyst or investment analyst in banks and funds
- Project manager in real estate development or redevelopment
- Leasing, sales or advisory roles in brokerage and corporate real estate
Note: Access to regulated professional titles (for example, chartered surveyor status, licensed broker or certified valuer in specific countries) may require additional national licensing, supervised practice or membership exams beyond the degree.
Who is the Real estate management for real estate merchants right for – and who not?
This programme is designed for working professionals from the German real estate track who want to convert prior learning into a fast, fully online Bachelor’s degree. The teaching language is German and the study flow is optimised for remote learners worldwide.
- You want a German state-recognised Bachelor’s degree (180 ECTS) you can complete fully online.
- You have a background in real estate practice and want to deepen skills in investment, valuation, controlling and project development.
- You need flexible exams you can take online 24/7 from abroad, with no visa or on-site attendance required.
- You value electives to specialise, e.g. Digital Real Estate, Facility Management, BIM or leadership.
Equally important: there are clear exclusion points that will save you time if they apply to you.
- You need an English-taught programme. All teaching, materials and exams here are in German, with formal German language proof required.
- You are looking for admission without a German real estate vocational background. This fast-track degree is built around recognition of that specific prior training.
- You seek a degree that by itself grants regulated licensure (e.g. chartered surveyor/RICS, licensed broker or certified valuer in your country). Additional national steps are typically required.
- You prefer fixed weekly classroom hours on site. This is a self-paced distance programme with optional virtual sessions in CET/CEST.
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