Englisch 
Deutsch Who this programme suits – and what you need to get in
This part-time B.Sc. in Applied Nursing Management is aimed at experienced practitioners who want to move into leadership while staying employed. Typical profiles include: nurses or geriatric nurses stepping up to ward or service coordination; allied health professionals (e.g. geriatric care, paediatric care, healthcare assistance) preparing for roles in quality management or staff development; internationally trained nurses already working in Germany who need a formally recognised management degree to progress.
Admission requirements
To enrol, you must meet both the academic entry route and the professional profile:
- University entrance qualification: German Abitur or Fachhochschulreife, or an equivalent recognised secondary school diploma from abroad.
- Admission without Abitur is possible via recognised advanced vocational qualifications (Aufstiegsqualifikation) or by passing the university’s entrance examination (Zugangsprüfung).
- Completed, state-recognised three-year vocational training in a health profession (e.g. nursing or a comparable healthcare profession) plus at least one year of post-qualification work experience in that profession.
- Language: teaching is in German. If you are not a native speaker, you must provide proof of German at C1 level. The university checks language evidence during admission.
- International qualifications: foreign school-leaving certificates and vocational diplomas can be recognised if they are equivalent in level and scope. You will need officially certified copies and translations; the university conducts the formal equivalency check as part of the application.
The programme is part-time and starts in the summer semester. It is not numerus clausus–restricted.
Personal requirements
Success in this part-time, on-campus degree depends on strong self-management. You should be able to plan study blocks alongside shifts, protect regular time for reading, assignments and exam preparation, and communicate proactively with your employer about peak phases (e.g. project work and the bachelor thesis). Expect recurring on-site attendance in Zwickau for teaching and examinations; factor in travel time and costs in your planning.
What helps you thrive:
- High level of self-organisation, reliability and perseverance over 8 semesters.
- Confident professional German: you will read policy and legal texts, write academic papers and discuss cases in seminars.
- Openness to evidence-based practice, basic quantitative literacy for interpreting studies, and motivation to improve care processes.
- Stable work situation and employer support for rota flexibility during attendance phases.
- Access to a quiet study space and the discipline to use evenings/weekends for self-study.
If you live outside Saxony or abroad, ensure visa/work-permit status and your schedule allow regular presence in Zwickau. Remote-only study is not an option for this programme.
What will you study in the Applied Nursing Management (B.Sc.) at the University of West Saxony Zwickau?
This programme is taught in German. Non-native speakers are expected to present a C1 German certificate (e.g. TestDaF, DSH or Goethe-Zertifikat C1). Over eight semesters and 180 ECTS you build management, analytic and nursing-science skills to lead teams and services across healthcare settings.
You start with foundations for management in healthcare: modules such as economic and business basics, financial management in healthcare organisations, and the German healthcare system. Legal frameworks for management decisions and ethics in healthcare round out this block.
A second strand focuses on nursing science and evidence: nursing science fundamentals, empirical research methods, evidence-based nursing (EBN), and the development, analysis and critique of empirical studies. You will learn how to read, implement and evaluate research to support decision-making.
Leadership and organisation form the third pillar: communication and managerial action, organisational behaviour in work contexts, personnel management and staff development, plus project management for nursing contexts. You will also cover quality management and risk-aware operations in care settings.
Digital and service topics complement the core: digital structures and processes in healthcare and service management in health services, alongside content on individuals, behaviour and health.
Electives allow you to specialise. Options include: health promotion/prevention/rehabilitation; designing ageing; occupational health promotion; programme planning; care in special contexts/special care needs; and care in intercultural and international contexts.
Practice and capstone: you complete a solution-oriented practice project in nursing/nursing science/nursing management and finish with a Bachelor’s thesis. The University of West Saxony Zwickau is a public Fachhochschule (university of applied sciences), which means strong application focus. Note: This is not a Fernstudium (distance learning). Fernstudiengänge in Germany are supervised by the ZFU, the German authority approving distance-learning courses; this on-campus, part-time programme does not require ZFU approval.
How does the Applied Nursing Management distance programme work?
This is a part-time, campus-based degree in Zwickau, not a remote Fernstudium. You study alongside your job over eight semesters with regular attendance during lecture periods. If you live outside Germany, plan for on-site teaching and examinations in Zwickau.
Teaching language and language certificates
The programme is delivered fully in German. Non-native speakers need C1-level German. Recognised certificates typically include TestDaF, DSH or a Goethe-Zertifikat C1. Academic and assessment language is German throughout.
Learning format and study materials
Study takes place in person on campus with seminars and lectures designed for working professionals, plus guided self-study and project work. As a Fachhochschule, the university emphasises applied learning and case-based tasks; you can expect syllabi, readings and project briefs via the university’s systems.
Examinations and where you take them
Exams and assessments are organised by the faculty in Zwickau. There is no indication of online proctoring or overseas test centres; you should plan to take graded work and sit exams in Germany.
Mandatory on-site sessions in Germany
Attendance in Zwickau is mandatory across the study plan, including courses, the practice project and examinations. Because this is not fully remote, students from outside the EU may need a residence permit or visa suitable for part-time study and regular stays in Germany.
Workload, time model and time zone
The degree spans 8 semesters (part-time) for 180 ECTS. Teaching follows the German academic calendar and Central European Time (CET/CEST). Exact weekly schedules and contact hours vary by semester; plan for regular on-campus sessions plus self-study alongside employment.
What does the Applied Nursing Management cost?
As a public university programme, there is no separate tuition fee; you pay the regular semester contribution. At €276 per semester over the standard 8 semesters, the indicative total is €2,208 in total. This contribution typically covers student services and administration. You pay the amount semester by semester; amounts can change over time with each re-enrolment.
There are no programme-specific extra fees listed beyond the semester contribution. Budget additionally for study materials, local travel and living costs during on-site phases in Zwickau. If you pay from abroad, standard international bank transfers are commonly used for semester contributions.
What careers and recognition does the Applied Nursing Management offer?
You graduate with 180 ECTS under the Bologna framework and a Bachelor of Science from a state university of applied sciences. The degree is programme-accredited by ACQUIN (2023–2031). ACQUIN is listed in the European Quality Assurance Register (EQAR); in practice this signals international comparability for further study and employer recognition. The university itself is publicly funded and state-recognised.
With management, research literacy and quality competencies, typical roles include:
- Deputy or unit lead in nursing services in hospitals and rehabilitation centres
- Leadership roles in elderly care and long-term care facilities
- Consulting in healthcare organisations (process, quality, organisational and staff development)
- Programme leads for occupational health promotion and staff well-being
- Continuing education roles in nursing and health-related training providers
The degree also qualifies you for postgraduate study (e.g. relevant Master’s programmes in health management or nursing science) in Germany and, given the ECTS/EQF framework and EQAR-listed accreditation, supports applications abroad where Bologna-compatible credentials are required. Note: This is a management degree; it does not grant or replace a nursing licence in countries where professional registration is regulated.
Who is the Applied Nursing Management right for - and who not?
This programme suits experienced nursing and healthcare professionals who want to step into team leadership, quality management or service development while staying employed. The part-time, practice-oriented format is designed for working schedules, with strong grounding in management, evidence and digital health processes.
- You work in nursing or a related health profession and aim to move into coordination or management.
- You want a public university degree with ACQUIN accreditation and 180 ECTS for future Master’s options.
- You prefer applied, case-driven learning at a Fachhochschule with a clear link to practice.
- You can attend on-site sessions in Zwickau during the semester while continuing your job.
- You plan to specialise in areas like prevention, ageing, occupational health or intercultural care.
There are also clear reasons to choose a different programme if your situation or goals don’t match the format and language.
- You need a fully online Fernstudium with remote exams and no travel to Germany. This programme requires regular attendance in Zwickau.
- You do not have C1-level German. All teaching, materials and assessments are in German.
- You are looking for a pathway to initial nursing licensure/registration in your country. This is a management degree, not a pre-licensure nursing programme.
- Your circumstances do not allow for visa/residence arrangements for regular on-site study in Germany.
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