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The Central State Office for Distance Learning (ZFU) has approved the course Health Economics & Management under the number 135607. Who this German-taught MBA suits – and what you need to get in
This programme fits experienced professionals in health and life sciences who want to step into strategic roles. Typical profiles include: hospital or clinic managers aiming for a cross-functional leadership credential; professionals from pharma, medtech or digital health moving into health economics, market access or product strategy; and consultants or analysts in insurance and public health who need a rigorous, practice-oriented MBA they can study alongside full-time work. If you plan to study from abroad, the fully remote format with limited on-site elements helps you keep your job while earning an accredited MBA.
Admission requirements
To enrol, you need a completed first degree and professional experience; this is a postgraduate programme designed for practitioners in the health sector.
- First university degree (e.g. Bachelor or equivalent) required.
- At least 2 years of relevant professional experience after your first degree.
- Language of instruction: German. You must provide proof of German sufficient for academic study. Accepted evidence is specified during application; in Germany, common proofs include TestDaF or DSH.
- Admission with foreign qualifications: international degrees are considered if equivalent to a German first degree. You submit diploma, transcripts, and certified translations; equivalence is checked in the admissions process.
- Admission without Abitur: not required if you already hold a first degree. Admission without a first degree is not offered for this MBA.
- On-site elements: plan for four on-site seminars in Germany during the programme; if you live outside the EU, factor in travel and any visa arrangements.
- Quality assurance: programme accreditation by FIBAA is valid from 01/04/2024 to 31/03/2032.
Personal requirements
Studying an MBA remotely from abroad demands structure and stamina. Allow around 20 hours per week for self-study, assignments and exam prep, and block extra time around assessment periods and on-site seminars. You need solid self-organisation, realistic time planning across time zones, and the perseverance to keep momentum over multiple terms. Because the programme is German-taught, you should be fully comfortable reading academic texts, writing assignments and discussing case studies in German; everyday fluency is not enough. A basic confidence with quantitative topics (economics, controlling, finance) helps, as does a reliable internet connection and a quiet study set-up. If you work full-time, agree a study rhythm with your employer and protect fixed study slots each week to stay on track.
What will you study in the Health Economics & Management MBA at APOLLON University of Health Sciences?
The programme is taught in German. You should be fully comfortable studying, writing and taking exams in German. Proof of advanced German is required; in Germany, common certificates include TestDaF, DSH or Goethe C1. The MBA covers managerial, economic and policy aspects of healthcare, concluded with a master’s thesis.
You build a management foundation for healthcare: modules in Business Management and Controlling & Finance develop budgeting, KPIs and investment skills; Law and Human Resource Management cover compliance and staff leadership in hospitals, insurers and service providers.
Health systems and policy: Public Health introduces population health and prevention, while Consulting in the healthcare sector and Health Economics connect reimbursement logic, cost–benefit thinking and decision-making across ambulatory and hospital care.
Operations and technology: Facility Management addresses infrastructure, safety and quality in clinical settings. Health Technology explores digital health, medical devices and technology assessment, linking innovation with procurement and patient pathways.
Strategy and marketing: you work on Marketing in regulated markets, stakeholder communication and patient/customer journeys. Personal and leadership skills sharpen negotiation, presentation and change management for healthcare organisations.
Electives allow you to specialise, for example in Health Marketing, Facility Management, Health Technology, Controlling, or consulting for ambulatory and hospital care systems. The programme is a Fernstudium (distance learning), offered by a German Fachhochschule (university of applied sciences). It finishes with an MBA thesis that applies your learning to a practical healthcare management question. The course is approved by the German distance-learning regulator ZFU (admission no. 135607).
How does the Health Economics & Management MBA distance programme work?
It is a ZFU-approved distance programme with four compulsory on-site seminars in Germany. You study largely online at your own pace, alongside your job, with around 20 hours per week. As a remote programme, it does not require a German study visa; the on-site seminars do require the ability to travel to Bremen.
Teaching language and language certificates
The teaching language is German. All study materials, assignments and exams are in German. You need advanced German proficiency suitable for academic work. Many German universities accept certificates such as TestDaF, DSH or Goethe C1 as proof; you should plan to document an equivalent level.
Learning format and study materials
The MBA is delivered as a Fernstudium: guided self-study with structured materials, online learning environments and tutor support designed for working professionals. Expect case studies, readings and practical tasks tailored to hospitals, insurers and health service providers.
Exams and taking them from outside Germany
Assessment combines coursework, case-based assignments and examinations aligned with the modules listed. Because this is a distance programme, most learning and assessment preparation can be completed from abroad. Where an exam format requires presence, this will be scheduled in advance.
Mandatory on-site sessions in Germany
There are four on-site seminars in Bremen. These are part of the curriculum and bring together applied workshops, presentations and networking. You must factor in travel time and costs for these short in-person blocks.
Weekly workload, time models and time zones
The typical workload is about 20 hours per week, designed for people working full-time. Live sessions, if scheduled, follow German time (CET/CEST). The degree offers flexibility typical of part-time distance study so you can pace modules around professional commitments.
ZFU admission number: 135607. A purely remote programme does not require a German study visa; for the seminar days, check your individual entry requirements for short stays in the Schengen Area.
What does the Health Economics & Management MBA cost?
The regular, undiscounted price points are a monthly instalment of €468 and a total of €14,328. You typically pay in monthly instalments while you study, which spreads the cost and suits working professionals. International students can pay from abroad via standard bank transfer methods accepted by the university.
To estimate your personal budget, add travel and accommodation for the four Bremen seminar days, plus incidental costs such as books or printing. Because this is a distance programme, you avoid relocation costs and long-term visas, which keeps the overall outlay predictable compared with on-campus MBAs.
What careers and recognition does the Health Economics & Management MBA offer?
This is a 120-ECTS MBA within the Bologna framework. ECTS credits are widely used across Europe and help international comparability. The programme is FIBAA-accredited and listed as accredited by the German Accreditation Council from 01/04/2024 to 31/03/2032. Accreditation signals quality assurance to employers and other universities worldwide.
As a degree from a German Fachhochschule (university of applied sciences), it emphasises applied management skills for the healthcare sector. Graduates can move into roles such as:
- Healthcare manager or business unit lead in hospitals and clinics
- Health insurance (payer) product and provider management
- Consultant for healthcare organisations, process and cost optimisation
- Market access, health economics or reimbursement roles in pharma/medtech
- Facility and operations management in care providers or networks
Salaries vary widely by country and employer type. In regulated healthcare markets, MBAs with health economics skills are used in service line management, DRG/reimbursement optimisation, digital health implementation and quality management. The 120 ECTS facilitate recognition for further study pathways in Europe and beyond, subject to local regulations.
Who is the Health Economics & Management MBA right for – and who not?
This MBA suits experienced professionals who want to progress into leadership across hospitals, insurers, care providers or healthcare suppliers – without pausing their career. It combines managerial breadth with healthcare-specific depth and a flexible distance-learning setup.
- You work in healthcare or a related industry and want to step into management roles.
- You need a flexible Fernstudium that fits around a full-time job (about 20 hours/week).
- You want a Bologna-compliant, accredited MBA (120 ECTS) with sector focus.
- You are comfortable studying and being assessed in German.
- You appreciate elective options like Health Marketing, Facility Management or Health Technology.
There are also clear reasons why this programme may not be the right choice for you. These are practical constraints that matter especially for applicants applying from outside Germany.
- You need an English-taught MBA – this programme is entirely in German.
- You cannot travel to Germany for four mandatory on-site seminars in Bremen.
- You are seeking entry into a regulated clinical profession (e.g. becoming a licensed physician or nurse) – this MBA targets management, not clinical licensure.
- You require confirmed, fully online proctored exams for all modules from abroad – select assessments may require presence.
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