Distance learning program Digital Games Business (B.A.) – DIPLOMA University

👉 You study concrete topics such as publishing, monetisation, game analytics and community & influencer management; the programme combines business, marketing and legal modules with practical projects. It is a 100% online, part-time distance Bachelor of Arts designed for 7 semesters (180 ECTS) with flexible pacing and online or on-site exams. Teaching language: German. The course is FIBAA-accredited and state-recognised, fees start at €167 per month.

Digital Games Business (B.A.) at a Glance

📜 Degree Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
⏳ Duration 7 Semesters
💶 Fees
from 167 € monthly
from 11489 € total
🏫 Provider DIPLOMA University, UAS based in Bad Sooden-Allendorf (Germany)
The DIPLOMA University is a state-recognized private university that offers flexible study models such as online distance learning, dual study programmes, and face-to-face study. With over 40 degree programmes in areas such as health, business, and technology, it enables part-time learning and practice-oriented research. Sustainability, social responsibility, and international cooperation shape the profile of the university.
📋 Study Format Distance learning program
🎓 Field of Study Design & Layout
🎯 ECTS 180 Credit Points
🌍 Language of Instruction German
📖 Course contents Business Models & Financing in the Games Industry, Games Publishing & License Management, Monetization & In-Game Commerce, Community & Influencer Management, Marketing, PR & Event Management in the Games Industry, Game Analytics & Data-driven Management, Legal Frameworks in the Games Business, Project Management & Team Leadership in Interdisciplinary Development Processes, Business Administration, Media Economics, Academic Research Methods, Bachelor Thesis
📚 Electives E-Sport and Data Science Management, Market and Advertising Psychology in the Games Industry, Transmedia and Games Practice
👥 In-person sessions mandatory: Live online seminars (12–14 per semester), mostly on Saturdays; optional locations: online (Zoom)
📍 Location Hamburg, Mannheim, München
📅 Enrollment Winter or summer semester
🔗 More Info View Vendor Profile

Who this B.A. in Digital Games Business suits – and what you need to get in

This programme is designed for you if you want to move into the business side of the games industry without focusing on coding or art. Typical profiles include: marketing or social media professionals aiming to specialise in games publishing and community management; junior project coordinators in tech or media who want a formal business degree to progress into product or brand roles; and freelance creators, streamers or e-sports organisers looking to professionalise with expertise in monetisation, analytics and partnerships.

Admission requirements

Teaching language: German. The degree is a state-recognised, FIBAA-accredited Bachelor of Arts (180 ECTS) delivered 100% online. You can qualify for admission via several routes:

  • General higher education entrance qualification (Allgemeine Hochschulreife) or university of applied sciences entrance qualification (Fachhochschulreife).
  • Master craftsperson certificate (Meisterprüfung).
  • Upper secondary leaving certificate (mittlerer Schulabschluss, at least Realschulabschluss) plus a completed recognised vocational training of at least 3 years with a final grade of 2.5 or better.
  • A completed advanced professional qualification (e.g. Fachschule) with at least 400 hours, or equivalent under the Hessian regulation for professionally qualified applicants.
  • A state-recognised vocational qualification plus a minimum of two years of relevant professional experience and a separate university entrance examination.
  • Admission without Abitur: possible under the professional routes above; participation as a non-degree student is possible pending the university entrance test.
  • Applicants with foreign school or vocational qualifications: equivalence must be proven for admission; recognition follows German and Hessian regulations.
  • Language proficiency for international applicants: because instruction, materials and examinations are in German, you must provide recognised proof that your German is adequate for academic study. As a rule, universities expect advanced proficiency (around C1 CEFR).

There is no numerus clausus. Intakes are in April and October; entry at other times may be possible following individual review.

Personal requirements

Remote study from abroad demands reliable self-management, persistence and realistic time planning. Expect a sustained part-time workload over 7 semesters: plan around 12–15 hours per week in regular phases and up to 15–20 hours near exams or project deadlines. You should be comfortable reading economic and legal texts in German, joining Saturday live online seminars, and completing assessments such as reports, presentations and project work. Strong digital skills, disciplined calendar management, and clear communication in German or English with peers and lecturers will help you stay on track. If your German is still developing, factor in extra time for terminology and academic writing.

What will you study in the Digital Games Business (B.A.) at DIPLOMA University?

The programme is taught in German. To enrol and succeed, you will need advanced German language skills; universities in Germany typically accept recognised certificates such as TestDaF, DSH or a Goethe-Zertifikat as proof. This is a Fernstudium – distance learning in the German system – designed for part-time study over 7 semesters (180 ECTS).

You build a management foundation for the games industry. Typical blocks include:

  • Publishing, licensing and financing: Games publishing and licence management, business models and financing for games, legal frameworks in the games business.
  • Marketing and communities: Marketing and PR in the games industry, event management, community and influencer management.
  • Monetisation and data: Monetisation and in-game commerce, game analytics and data-driven decision-making, KPI interpretation for live operations.
  • Organising production: Project management and team leadership in interdisciplinary game development, collaboration across developers, publishers and platforms.

Electives let you specialise your profile in one of three areas: E-Sport and Data Science Management; Market and Advertising Psychology in the Games Industry; or Transmedia and Games Practice. You complete the degree with a Bachelor’s thesis and colloquium. Terms you may see: a Fachhochschule is a German “university of applied sciences”, and ZFU is the German state authority that approves distance-learning courses (not all university degree programmes require a ZFU listing).

How does the Digital Games Business distance programme work?

This is a part-time, fully online Fernstudium with 180 ECTS over 7 semesters. You study via live online seminars and structured self-study, and you can take assessments online from abroad. A purely remote path requires no visa.

Teaching language and certificates

The teaching language is German. You should be comfortable studying, discussing and writing academic work in German. For international applicants, advanced proficiency is usually evidenced by established certificates such as TestDaF, DSH or a Goethe-Zertifikat. There is no English-track option for this programme.

Learning format and study materials

You learn 100% online with live online seminars and digital study materials hosted on the university’s online campus. Content blends business fundamentals with games-specific cases, projects and applied tasks. You also have access to an e-library and licensed software (e.g. MS Office; Adobe Creative Cloud access is listed as part of the study package).

Exams and taking them from outside Germany

Exams are offered in multiple formats, including written exams, coursework, presentations, project work, reports and the bachelor’s thesis with colloquium. You can sit online examinations from your location, or choose to use a DIPLOMA exam centre in Germany. This makes completion feasible entirely from abroad.

On-site sessions in Germany

There are no mandatory on-campus phases. Live teaching is delivered virtually; optional in-person exam centres are available if you prefer to sit exams on site.

Schedule, workload and time zones

The programme runs in part-time mode over 7 semesters. Expect regular live sessions mostly on Saturdays (typically 12–14 per semester). Sessions follow German time zones (CET/CEST). Between seminars you work through guided self-study and assignments at your own pace. Intakes start in April and October; entry into a running semester can be arranged after individual review.

What does the Digital Games Business (B.A.) cost?

Tuition is paid in euros via monthly instalments plus a one-time examination fee of €695. Over the standard duration, your total cost depends on the instalment model you choose. A fee-free extension of up to four semesters is possible, depending on the model.

  • Model I: €257 per month for 42 months = €10,794 plus €695 exam fee → €11,489 in total.
  • Model II: €207 per month for 54 months = €11,178 plus €695 exam fee → €11,873 in total.
  • Model III: €167 per month for 72 months = €12,024 plus €695 exam fee → €12,719 in total.

All essential study materials and digital resources are included. Fees are charged in euros and debited monthly; if you pay from outside the euro area, your bank may add foreign exchange or transfer fees. The university states a 4-week trial period and allows you to extend your study time without extra tuition for up to four additional semesters (model-dependent).

What careers and recognition does the Digital Games Business degree offer?

You graduate with 180 ECTS under the Bologna system, a first-cycle bachelor’s degree widely recognised across Europe and by many institutions worldwide. The programme is programme-accredited by FIBAA (an EQAR-listed European quality assurance agency) through 31 March 2030, accredited by the German Accreditation Council, without conditions. The degree is also stated as state-recognised.

Career paths reflect business roles in and around the games industry. Typical entry roles include:

  • Publishing Manager or Product/Brand Manager for games.
  • Community and Influencer Manager; Events and PR Manager for games.
  • Business Development Manager; Junior Producer or Project Manager in game production.
  • Game Analytics/KPI Analyst; roles at platforms, agencies, e-sport organisations and service providers.

With 180 ECTS, progression to master’s programmes in management, media or design/leadership is generally possible, subject to each university’s admission rules. Internationally, employers look for demonstrable skills: monetisation strategy, data-informed live ops, cross-functional coordination and community growth – all central to this curriculum.

Who is the Digital Games Business (B.A.) right for – and who not?

This programme suits people who want to enter the games industry from the business side rather than coding or art. It is built to fit around a job, with virtual teaching and assessments you can complete from anywhere.

  • You aim for publishing, marketing, community or business roles in games.
  • You value a fully online, part-time path with Saturday live sessions.
  • You want a 180-ECTS, accredited bachelor’s degree from Germany that is comparable internationally.
  • You appreciate electives to sharpen your profile (e-sport/data, market psychology, transmedia).

There are also clear reasons not to choose this programme. Read these carefully if you plan to study from abroad.

  • You need a programme taught in English. This degree is conducted entirely in German and expects advanced German proficiency.
  • You want to study game programming, 3D art or classic game design. This curriculum focuses on management, marketing, monetisation and analytics, not on development tools or art pipelines.
  • You cannot attend live sessions on German Saturdays (CET/CEST). Most seminars take place on Saturdays in the German time zone.
  • You require a pathway into a regulated profession (e.g. teaching, healthcare). This is a management-oriented media/business degree and does not grant access to regulated licences.

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