Englisch 
Deutsch Who this German-taught B.Sc. fits – and what you need to get in
This programme suits you if you want an internationally accredited health degree via remote learning and can study in German. Typical profiles include: health workers aiming to formalise their knowledge for roles in prevention, research assistance or education; career changers from wellness, fitness or pharmacy seeking evidence-based training in complementary methods; and internationally mobile learners planning, after the separate Heilpraktikerprüfung in Germany, to work in naturopathic practice.
Admission requirements
Teaching language: German. You study in German and complete assessments in German; plan adequate time to reach the required level before starting.
- Standard entry: Allgemeine Hochschulreife (general higher education entrance) or Fachhochschulreife.
- Admission without Abitur (Hesse regulations): one of the following is sufficient:
- Passed Meisterprüfung, or
- Mittlerer Schulabschluss (at least Realschulabschluss) and a completed, recognised vocational training of at least 3 years with a final grade of 2.5 or better, or
- A completed advanced professional qualification (at least 400 hours) from a Fachschule or a professional/administrative academy, or
- Final exam in a state-recognised occupation plus at least 2 years of related work experience and a university entrance examination.
- Admission with foreign qualifications: foreign school-leaving certificates and degrees are accepted if their equivalence to a German university entrance qualification can be proven. You will need certified translations and formal recognition.
- No prior healthcare training is required; the programme is designed as a first degree. Relevant prior learning may be credited case by case.
- Language proof for non-native speakers: evidence of sufficient German to follow lectures, literature and exams (commonly B2–C1). Accepted proofs are determined by the university in individual review.
Note on study format from abroad: mandatory in-person blocks take place in Germany in later semesters (e.g. 6–7) and within electives; plan for travel and any visa needs. Examinations are conducted online or at examination centres.
Personal requirements
Expect a full-time workload of about 35–40 hours per week. Remote study success depends on strong self-organisation, steady weekly routines, and realistic planning around job and time zones. You should be comfortable reading academic texts, applying basic statistics, and writing in clear German for assignments. Because presence seminars are compulsory in advanced stages, you need the flexibility and budget to travel to Germany. Empathy and resilience help in patient-centred topics, but what matters most is consistency: setting weekly goals, safeguarding deep-work time, and keeping up with seminars and assessment deadlines. Solid German skills at the outset—or a concrete plan to reach them—are essential for working with study materials, live sessions and examinations.
What will you study in the Naturopathy and Complementary Healing Methods B.Sc. at DIPLOMA University?
This programme is taught entirely in German. You should plan for advanced German (typically C1) and proof of proficiency as an international applicant. It is a Fernstudium – German for distance learning – at a state-recognised private Fachhochschule (university of applied sciences) and carries 210 ECTS over 7 semesters.
You build a medical foundation first. Typical modules cover anatomy, physiology and pathology; systems-based disease patterns and differential diagnostics; as well as medical psychology and social medicine. This gives you the clinical language and reasoning you need to understand both conventional and complementary approaches.
From there, you examine complementary and naturopathic methods. You learn diagnostic approaches used in naturopathy and practise therapeutic handling. Content introduces homoeopathy, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and European naturopathic procedures, with practical exercises during designated in-person blocks.
Scientific literacy is a core strand. You train in academic writing and statistics, critically appraise clinical studies, and explore research ethics. This competence enables you to evaluate therapy concepts and contribute to trials or evidence reviews in complementary medicine.
Professional practice and law frame your later work. You study legal basics of health practice in Germany, prevention and health promotion, hygiene and first aid, plus counselling skills for roles in practice, education or advisory services. The degree culminates in a Bachelor’s thesis with colloquium.
Electives: you choose one focus area to deepen your profile – Homoeopathy, TCM (including acupuncture and herbal therapy), or European naturopathic methods. The curriculum also includes targeted preparation for Germany’s external Heilpraktiker examination; this exam itself is taken separately at local health authorities.
Quality and state oversight: the distance-learning format is approved by the German regulator ZFU (Zentralstelle für Fernunterricht). The programme is re-accredited through 30 September 2031.
How does the Naturopathy and Complementary Healing Methods distance programme work?
You study full time over 7 semesters (210 ECTS) in a flexible distance-learning setup. Teaching combines self-study with digital materials and live sessions, plus mandatory on-site practical blocks in Germany later in the programme. No student visa is needed if you study purely remotely.
Teaching language and certificates
Teaching, materials and exams are in German. Expect advanced proficiency (commonly C1) and formal proof for admission if you were educated outside German-language systems. Day-to-day learning and all live sessions run in German.
Learning format and study materials
You receive structured study guides and access to an online campus with scripts, videos and an e-library. Live lectures run online or on site, typically on Saturdays, and are recommended. You can follow the “online” path or opt for a local study centre format where available.
Exams and taking them from outside Germany
Exams are conducted either online or at a DIPLOMA examination centre in Germany, depending on module and study path. Many assessments can be completed remotely from abroad via the online campus. The degree concludes with a written thesis and a colloquium.
Mandatory on-site sessions in Germany
In-person block seminars are compulsory from the later semesters (practical sections and in the elective area). These take place at a DIPLOMA study centre in Germany. You should plan and budget for travel and accommodation for these blocks.
Workload, time models and time zones
The recommended workload is about 35–40 hours per week in the full-time model. Live sessions are scheduled in German time (CET/CEST), mostly on Saturdays, which is relevant if you connect from different time zones.
Regulatory note: the distance course is state-approved by the ZFU (German regulator for distance learning). The specific ZFU admission number is not listed in public course materials.
What does the Naturopathy and Complementary Healing Methods cost?
Tuition is paid in monthly instalments; you can choose between three plans. Over the standard duration, totals including the one-time final exam fee of €695 are approximately: €10,649 (42 × €237), €11,333 (54 × €197), or €12,719 (72 × €167). All figures are in euros.
Instalments cover study materials, online campus access and the e-library. The university allows a tuition-free extension of up to four additional semesters (model-dependent), which reduces time pressure if life gets busy.
Plan for extra costs not included in tuition: travel and accommodation for the mandatory on-site blocks in Germany, supplies, and any fees related to the external Heilpraktiker examination if you choose to take it later. If you pay from abroad, budget for potential bank or currency conversion charges on your side.
What careers and recognition does the Naturopathy and Complementary Healing Methods offer?
You graduate with a Bachelor of Science, 210 ECTS, aligned with the Bologna framework. The programme is accredited by AHPGS (an EQAR-listed agency) until 2031 and run by a state-recognised private Fachhochschule. ECTS credits and formal accreditation help with international academic recognition and admission to suitable master’s degrees.
Professional recognition differs by country. In Germany, independent practice of naturopathic therapies requires passing the external Heilpraktiker examination; the degree prepares you academically, but the exam is separate. Outside Germany, scope of practice and titles are regulated locally and may require additional licensing or may not be recognised for clinical practice—always check national rules.
Typical career paths include:
- Advisory roles in pharmacies, wellness centres or health product companies (e.g. phytotherapeutics, homoeopathics)
- Research support: study assistant or coordinator in clinical or market research on complementary therapies
- Health promotion and rehabilitation within hospitals, insurers or rehabilitation facilities
- Education and training: lecturer, seminar leader or instructional designer in complementary medicine
- Self-employment in Germany after Heilpraktiker approval; the precise methods you may use depend on your elected specialisation and legal permissions
Who is the Naturopathy and Complementary Healing Methods right for - and who not?
This degree suits people who want a structured, science-informed route into complementary medicine, with the flexibility of distance learning but clear practical components. It also fits those aiming at advisory, research or educational roles rather than immediate clinical licensure abroad.
- You are comfortable studying and being examined in German and can follow live teaching on Central European time
- You want an accredited, Bologna-aligned B.Sc. (210 ECTS) with elective depth in Homoeopathy, TCM or European naturopathy
- You value a Fernstudium setup with online materials and the option to attend live-online lectures most Saturdays
- You plan to prepare for Germany’s Heilpraktiker examination or seek roles in research, education, prevention and advisory services
- You can travel to Germany for mandatory hands-on blocks in the later semesters
Equally important: some situations make this programme a poor fit. Read the following carefully before you decide from abroad.
- You need a programme taught in English or cannot demonstrate advanced German; all teaching, materials and exams are in German
- You cannot attend mandatory on-site sessions in Germany required in later semesters
- You seek direct licensure to practise as a clinician outside Germany; this degree does not grant professional licensure and recognition abroad varies by country
- Your weekly availability is far below a full-time workload of 35–40 hours and you cannot extend your studies
Advisory Service
Have questions about Academic Programs Naturopathy and Complementary Healing Methods? Ask your question here, even anonymously. An employee of the institution DIPLOMA University or the editorial team will answer you.