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The Central State Office for Distance Learning (ZFU) has approved the course Tourism and Sports Management under the number 1119421. Who this German-taught B.A. fits – and what you need to get in
This programme suits you if you want a solid business degree with a focus on tourism, sport and events while continuing to work from abroad. Typical profiles include: professionals in hospitality, travel or destination marketing who seek an international B.A. to move into management; coordinators in sports clubs, fitness or event operations aiming to step up to sports/event management; career changers with vocational training in tourism, retail or customer service who want to formalise experience with a 180 ECTS Bachelor.
Admission requirements
Formal entry follows German higher-education rules for Bachelor study. You need one of the following and must be able to study in German:
- General higher education entrance qualification (Abitur) or subject-restricted university entrance qualification (Fachabitur).
- International school-leaving certificate equivalent to the German Abitur. Foreign qualifications can be recognised if they meet equivalence standards; certified translations may be required.
- Admission without Abitur: completed vocational training plus at least three years of full-time work experience (under the Lower Saxony Higher Education Act pathways).
- Language: the programme is taught in German. You must demonstrate sufficient German for academic study and exams (ideally level C1). If you did not complete secondary school in German, you will typically need an accepted language certificate. In Germany, common proofs include DSH, TestDaF or a Goethe-Zertifikat at advanced level.
- No on-campus attendance is required; exams are possible online or at distance study centres. Ensure you have stable internet and an exam-suitable device.
Personal requirements
Remote study from abroad demands consistency and structure. Plan for about 35 hours per week during standard full-time pacing (6 semesters / 180 ECTS). If you extend the duration, the weekly load decreases, but you still need:
- Self-organisation: set weekly reading, assignment and revision blocks and protect them from work and family interruptions.
- Perseverance: business fundamentals plus tourism and sports modules build on each other; steady progress matters more than bursts.
- Language confidence: you should read, write and discuss complex topics in German, including legal, financial and marketing terminology.
- Digital readiness: reliable internet, a quiet space for proctored exams, and comfort with learning platforms and online collaboration.
- Realistic time planning: align module loads with peak periods at work; use lighter terms around major projects or travel seasons.
If you bring curiosity for how destinations, events and sports organisations create value, and you can commit to a regular study rhythm, you’ll be well prepared for this German-language distance Bachelor.
What will you study in the Tourism and Sports Management (B.A.) at Private University Goettingen?
This programme is taught in German. To enrol, you will need solid German for academic study, typically proven with recognised certificates (e.g. TestDaF, DSH or Goethe-Zertifikat). It runs as a German Fernstudium (distance learning) and awards 180 ECTS for the Bachelor of Arts.
You build a broad business foundation before diving into the tourism and sports sectors. Core business studies usually cover areas like micro- and macroeconomics, accounting and finance, and statistics, alongside law and management. This gives you the vocabulary and tools to analyse markets, read balance sheets and make data-informed decisions.
Tourism and destination management themes then focus on the tourism value chain, destinations and policy. Typical modules include tour operator and supplier management, revenue and pricing strategies, and brand building in tourism groups. You learn how providers, intermediaries and destinations interact and how to steer products profitably.
Sport, events and sponsorship modules explore the sports market as an economic sector. You examine sport marketing and sportsponsoring, sport tourism and the planning of events as a marketing tool. The programme trains you to design, budget and deliver events, including the specifics of managing large sport events.
Digitalisation and process orientation run through the business component: topics like project and process management, digital business and performance control help you implement strategies in real organisations. You consolidate knowledge through coursework and, at the end, a Bachelor’s thesis.
Electives/specialisations let you align the degree with your career goals. Options include Digital Business Management, Health Management, Business Psychology, Logistics / Supply Chain Management, Human Resource Management, Marketing / Sales, and Market and Advertising Psychology.
As a German distance-learning degree, the course is approved by the ZFU, the German state authority overseeing distance-learning provision, which reviews materials and delivery for quality and consumer protection.
How does the Tourism and Sports Management distance programme work?
You study fully online with structured self-study and digital campus support. Exams can be taken online; there are also examination options at distance learning centres. There are no mandatory classroom days in Germany, so no visa is required for this purely remote programme.
Teaching language and language certificates
The teaching language is German. You must be able to follow lectures, complete assignments and sit exams in German. Applicants typically need proof of German at an academic level (for example TestDaF, DSH or a Goethe certificate). If you are not yet fluent, plan time for language preparation before applying.
Learning format and study materials
This is a Fernstudium (distance learning) based on guided self-study. You work with structured study materials via an online campus and prepare for assessments independently. The curriculum is mapped to 180 ECTS; plan for reading, exercises and written coursework across business, tourism and sports topics.
Exams from outside Germany
Exams are possible online, so you can complete assessments from abroad with standard online proctoring arrangements. Alternatively, you can use the university’s distance learning centres for on-site exam appointments if that suits you better.
On-site sessions in Germany
No compulsory on-campus teaching is foreseen. You can complete the entire programme remotely. Optional events or exam-centre sittings do not change the fact that attendance in Germany is not required.
Workload, time models and time zones
The indicated workload is about 35 hours per week. The standard duration is six semesters (around three years). Any synchronous sessions follow German time zones (CET/CEST), but the degree is designed primarily for flexible self-study, which suits international schedules.
ZFU approval number: 1119421.
What does the Tourism and Sports Management (B.A.) cost?
The tuition is structured as monthly instalments of €199 per month, with a stated total of €12,590 in total for the degree. This gives you a clear monthly commitment and visibility on the overall investment for a 180-ECTS bachelor’s degree completed by distance learning.
Tuition is typically billed monthly throughout your studies. As an international student studying remotely, you do not have visa or relocation costs tied to attendance. Budget additionally for study materials, an adequate computer and internet connection, and any optional travel if you choose to sit exams at a centre rather than online.
What careers and recognition does the Tourism and Sports Management (B.A.) offer?
You graduate with a 180 ECTS Bachelor of Arts aligned to the European Bologna framework. ECTS credits are the common currency across Europe and signal workload and level to employers and universities. The programme is also approved as a distance course by the ZFU, which attests to quality and consumer protection in Germany for remote delivery.
Internationally, a Bachelor of Arts with 180 ECTS is commonly recognised for entry-level professional roles and, depending on country and institution, for admission to relevant master’s programmes. Always check specific master’s entry rules if you plan postgraduate study outside Germany.
Typical roles after graduation include:
- Tourism product or revenue manager at tour operators and online travel companies
- Destination or regional marketing manager in tourism boards and DMOs
- Sport and event manager for clubs, leagues, agencies or major events
- Brand, sponsorship or partnership manager in sport and entertainment
- Business development or operations roles in hospitality, travel tech or sports organisations
Salaries vary significantly by country and segment (tour operations, hospitality groups, leagues, agencies). Early-career roles are often in coordination or analysis, with progression into management of products, budgets and teams as experience grows.
Who is the Tourism and Sports Management (B.A.) right for - and who not?
This programme suits motivated, German-speaking applicants who want a flexible path into tourism, destinations, events and sports business. The distance format allows you to keep working, study from anywhere and take exams online.
- You want a remote, ZFU-approved bachelor’s degree you can complete from outside Germany
- You are comfortable studying and being examined in German
- You aim for careers in tourism, destinations, hospitality, sports or events management
- You value business fundamentals plus sector-specific modules with 180 ECTS
- You need flexible exam options, including online exams
There are also clear situations where this degree is not the right choice. The following points help you avoid a mismatch before you apply.
- You do not speak German at an academic level and need an English-taught programme
- You are looking for an on-campus experience in Germany or need a student visa tied to classroom attendance
- You require access to a regulated profession with licensure (this business degree does not qualify for regulated health, teaching or legal roles)
- You cannot commit to an estimated 35 hours per week of self-directed study
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