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The Central State Office for Distance Learning (ZFU) has approved the course Tourism Management under the number 151313. Who this Tourism Management B.A. suits – and what you need to qualify
This programme fits you if you want an international bachelor’s degree in tourism while studying remotely. Typical profiles include: recent school leavers aiming for their first role with a recognised qualification; hospitality or travel professionals who now need a formal degree to progress; career changers from areas like events, retail or marketing looking to enter tourism with structured business knowledge.
Admission requirements
Teaching language is German. There is no numerus clausus (NC). To enrol, you generally need:
- General higher education entrance qualification (Abitur), entrance qualification for universities of applied sciences, or an equivalent secondary school-leaving certificate.
- Plus a three-month internship in tourism or at least three months of relevant industry work experience. You may submit this proof up to the start of the 3rd semester.
- Recognition of foreign qualifications: comparable international school diplomas are accepted if equivalent to the above levels. Official recognition/assessment may be required.
- German proficiency sufficient to follow courses, complete assignments and sit exams. The programme mandates study materials and seminars in German.
- Mandatory in-person components: 18 days of on-site seminars in Germany during the degree, with an additional 4–6 days depending on the elective module chosen.
Admission without the traditional school-leaving certificate is possible via regulated professional routes:
- Master craftsperson (Meister) or a recognised advanced professional qualification (e.g. IHK Fachwirt/in).
- Or a completed, at least two-year vocational training plus a minimum of three years of relevant professional experience; in some cases a trial study route applies, typically combined with the 3-month tourism internship.
Personal requirements
Remote study from abroad works if you bring strong self-management and realistic time planning. Expect around 29 hours per week in the full-time track (6 semesters); the part-time track (8 semesters) distributes the same content over more time and lowers the weekly load. You should be comfortable studying in German, writing academic texts, and communicating professionally; solid English helps for sources and the Business English module.
- High level of self-organisation and perseverance across multiple semesters.
- Ability to schedule regular study blocks alongside work and time zones.
- Reliable internet access for online lectures, tutorials and assessments.
- Budget and plan travel to Germany for compulsory seminar days (18 + 4–6 depending on electives).
- Willingness to complete the required industry internship if you do not yet have sector experience.
If you prefer structured milestones, this programme offers frequent online exam dates and defined seminar phases—use these as anchors for your personal study plan.
What will you study in the Tourism Management (B.A.) at IST University of Management?
This programme is taught in German. If you live outside German-speaking countries, you will need solid academic German for coursework, seminars and exams. Universities in Germany typically accept recognised certificates such as TestDaF, DSH or Goethe-Zertifikat as proof of language proficiency. You earn 180 ECTS over six to eight semesters in a Fernstudium (distance learning) at a German Fachhochschule (university of applied sciences).
You build a management foundation and then specialise in tourism. Typical general management modules include Marketing – Foundations and Strategies, Accounting, and Business Law. You then move into applied tourism topics from your first semester and complete with a Bachelor’s thesis and colloquium. The course has state approval by the ZFU, the German authority that approves distance-learning courses.
Business fundamentals for managers: You cover core business administration and decision-making with modules such as Foundations of Business Administration, Accounting, and Entrepreneurial Decision-Making. Leadership and HR Management develops your people and organisational skills for service-centric environments.
Tourism systems and operations: From the outset you study the industry’s value chain with Tour Operator and Travel Agency Management, Destination and Transport Management, and Hospitality Management. These build an integrated view of how destinations, carriers, and intermediaries interact.
Marketing and customer experience in tourism: You dive into Tourism Marketing, International Marketing, and Special Applications of Marketing. Communication and customer care are addressed in modules on Management Perspectives and Communication as well as Customer Care/Customer Integration themes embedded in the curriculum.
Data, law and sustainability: You learn to make responsible, compliant decisions with Statistics, Business Law and Quality Management in Tourism, Taxes and Financial Statements, and Sustainable Tourism. A dedicated module on Trends and Innovations in Tourism keeps you aligned with digital and societal shifts.
Electives and special tracks: You choose two 15-ECTS electives to shape your profile. Options include Cruise Management, Event Management (two complementary modules for an official Event Management track), Hotel Management or Hotel Marketing – Sales & Distribution (for an official Hotel Management track), Wellness & Spa Management (two-module track), E-Commerce, Human Resource Management, Revenue Management, Sustainability Management, Tourism Consulting, and more. Completing defined pairs of electives earns a named study focus in your final degree certificate.
Applied learning and thesis: The programme includes 18 days of mandatory face-to-face seminars across selected modules, with an additional 4–6 days depending on your elective choice. An optional internship or semester abroad can be integrated. You conclude with a Bachelor’s thesis and a final colloquium.
How does the Tourism Management distance programme work?
You study fully online for most of the year and attend compact seminar days in Germany. Teaching combines self-paced study materials with live and recorded sessions. ZFU approval no. 151313c confirms the programme meets German standards for distance learning. If you remain outside Germany and attend only remotely, no study visa is required.
Teaching language and language certificates
The teaching language is German. All materials, seminars and exams are delivered in German, with Business English as a subject. Applicants typically demonstrate German proficiency with established tests (e.g. TestDaF, DSH, Goethe-Zertifikat). Strong German academic writing is essential for assignments and the thesis.
Learning format and study materials
This is a Fernstudium: you learn primarily via professionally prepared study booklets, an online campus and app, plus multimedia formats such as online lectures, live tutorials and interactive exercises. Expect a mix of self-study and scheduled virtual sessions, guided by tutors with industry background. Materials remain accessible during any free extension period.
Exams and taking them from outside Germany
Most written exams can be taken online with remote proctoring. Alternatively, you can sit exams at regular in-person centres in major German cities (for example Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, Hannover, Jena, München, Nürtingen near Stuttgart, Essen, Donaueschingen, Weil am Rhein) and in Innsbruck (AT). Online options and frequent sittings make it realistic to complete assessments from abroad.
Mandatory on-site sessions in Germany
Plan for 18 face-to-face seminar days across the degree. Depending on your chosen elective, you will have an additional 4–6 on-site days. These compact blocks focus on practical application, networking and industry insights. Travel and accommodation are self-organised. If you cannot travel to Germany at least for these blocks, the programme will not fit your situation.
Weekly workload, time models and time zones
In the full-time track (6 semesters), the typical workload is about 29 hours per week. The part-time track spreads modules over 8 semesters with a lower weekly load, suitable alongside a job. Live sessions follow German time (CET/CEST). After the standard duration, you can add up to three extra semesters free of tuition to finish exams and your thesis.
What does the Tourism Management (B.A.) cost?
In the full-time model (6 semesters), fees are €379 per month, totalling €13,644 in total over 36 months. In the part-time model (8 semesters), fees are €319 per month, totalling €15,312 over 48 months. Fees are billed monthly in euros and include teaching materials, online campus access, regular exams and academic support.
There are no listed extra charges for standard services, and you benefit from up to three tuition-free extension semesters if you need more time. Elective choices that add seminar days may increase your personal travel costs for on-site blocks; the university does not bundle travel or accommodation into tuition. Graduates of this programme receive a small tuition reduction on selected master’s degrees at the same university.
What careers and recognition does the Tourism Management (B.A.) offer?
You graduate with 180 ECTS credits under the Bologna framework, enabling admission to relevant master’s programmes in Europe and beyond. IST University of Management is a state-recognised university of applied sciences in North Rhine-Westphalia. The degree is programme-accredited by FIBAA, a quality agency listed in EQAR, signalling international quality assurance, and the distance format is ZFU-approved for Germany.
For careers, the degree combines business management with deep tourism expertise. Typical roles include:
- Key Account Manager or Sales Manager for tour operators, cruise lines or hotel groups
- Destination or project manager in city/regional tourism organisations and DMCs
- Hotel contracting, product development or revenue management in hospitality
- Consultant roles in tourism strategy, sustainability, or digital distribution (E-commerce)
Entry salaries vary widely by country and segment (hospitality, aviation, destination management). Career growth is driven by specialisation (e.g. Revenue Management, E-Commerce, Event or Wellness), language skills and location. The practical seminars and industry-linked electives are designed to strengthen your portfolio for international employers.
Who is the Tourism Management (B.A.) right for – and who not?
This programme suits career starters and working professionals who want a German bachelor’s degree in tourism via distance learning, with optional specialisations and compact on-site seminars in Germany. It fits if you can study in German and value a clear industry focus alongside flexible scheduling.
- You want an internationally comparable bachelor’s degree (180 ECTS) from a state-recognised German university of applied sciences.
- You need a distance format with online exams and monthly starts aligned to German semesters, plus the safety net of free extension semesters.
- You plan a career in tour operating, destination management, hospitality, events, cruises or wellness, and want electives that appear on your certificate.
- You live abroad but can travel to Germany for compact seminar blocks and prefer to sit most exams online.
There are also clear cases where this programme will not fit. Read these carefully before you apply from outside Germany.
- You require a programme taught fully in English. Here, teaching, exams and seminars are in German.
- You cannot travel to Germany for mandatory on-site seminar days (18 days plus 4–6 extra days for some electives).
- You need a 100% online degree with zero in-person requirements. This programme includes compulsory face-to-face components.
- You seek access to a regulated profession with licensure (e.g. teacher, clinician). Tourism management is a non-regulated field.
Lade… 
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