Englisch 
Deutsch 
The Central State Office for Distance Learning (ZFU) has approved the course Nutritional Sciences under the number 1119121. Who this German-taught B.Sc. fits — and what you need to qualify
This programme suits you if you want to earn an internationally recognised degree in Nutritional Sciences while studying remotely in German. Typical profiles include: working professionals in fitness, catering or healthcare who want formal academic grounding in nutrition; career changers from the food industry, quality assurance or health marketing aiming to move into prevention, counselling or public nutrition; recent graduates in biology, psychology or public health seeking an applied, flexible pathway into nutrition-related roles without relocating.
Admission requirements
Admission follows the Bremen Higher Education Act with two defined routes. The programme is taught in German.
- University entrance qualification: German Abitur, Fachhochschulreife, subject-specific higher education entrance qualification (where applicable), a completed Meister/advanced professional qualification, a relevant 3-year vocational training, an existing higher education degree, or an equivalent foreign higher education entrance qualification (individual recognition required).
- Admission without Abitur: with a completed, at least 2-year vocational training or equivalent competences you can take an assessment test (Einstufungsprüfung). After passing, you gain subject-restricted access and can enrol in the Bachelor.
- Applicants with foreign qualifications: international school-leaving certificates and prior studies can be recognised if they are deemed equivalent; recognition is checked case by case.
- Language of instruction: German. You need very good German comprehension and writing skills for study materials, seminars and exams. The university may request proof of German proficiency; accepted certificates are not specified publicly.
- Mandatory practical phase: a 600-hour internship is part of the degree. Relevant current employment in the health sector or in a commercial role can be credited towards this requirement.
- On-site components: seminars totalling 96 hours are offered in presence or online; you can generally attend online from abroad.
Personal requirements
Remote study demands self-management and persistence. Plan for a workload of around 32 hours per week in the 36-month model (proportionally less in the 48-month option). You should be comfortable with natural sciences (biology, chemistry), quantitative thinking and academic writing, as modules include biochemistry, anatomy/physiology and research methods.
- Strong time planning: schedule weekly study blocks, deadlines and group work across time zones.
- Digital discipline: reliable internet, ability to learn via PDFs, e-books, videos and web-based trainings.
- Language readiness: confident, precise German for exams, reports and the Bachelor thesis; everyday English can help with literature.
- Practical feasibility: arrange the 600-hour internship alongside your job; if you already work in a relevant field, aim for credit to reduce extra workload.
- Motivation and resilience: steady progress over several semesters matters more than speed; build routines to sustain momentum.
If you bring solid self-organisation, an interest in evidence-based nutrition and the required German skills, you can complete this degree fully online from abroad and qualify for roles across healthcare, prevention and the food sector.
What will you study in the Nutritional Sciences (B.Sc.) at APOLLON University of Health Sciences?
The programme is taught in German. You need confident academic German to follow lectures, complete assignments and take exams. This is a Fernstudium – German for distance learning – at a private Fachhochschule (a practice-oriented university of applied sciences) with 180 ECTS and a strong real-world focus.
You build a solid scientific foundation first. Core blocks include:
- Human biology and biochemistry: Anatomy and physiology; Chemistry and Biochemistry I–II (nutrients, membranes, absorption and metabolism); Nutritional physiology and evidence-based dietary recommendations.
- Nutrition and health: Public Health; Prevention fields (stress, addiction, diet, exercise); Nutrition-related diseases and the basics of clinical nutrition therapy and dietetics.
- Food systems and safety: Food production and food law; Food chemistry, analytics and food safety; Process and quality management in the food sector.
- People, behaviour and communication: Sociological and psychological drivers of food choices; Counselling and professional ethics; Communication skills incl. presentation and moderation.
- Management and methods: General Business Administration; Health marketing; Applied research methods; Project and group work to translate knowledge into practice.
Electives let you steer your profile. You choose two from areas such as Public Nutrition (catering in public and private institutions), Human Resource Management, Primary and Secondary Prevention (nutrition and exercise), Intestinal Function (bioavailability), Health Marketing, Food Quality, and Health Intervention Assessment. Selecting Food Quality plus one other elective can open access to industry certificates (see careers below).
Practice is built in: you complete a supervised internship of 600 hours (with potential recognition of relevant professional roles) and finish with an independent Bachelor’s thesis on a nutrition topic. As a German Fernstudium, the course is approved by the ZFU – the state authority that certifies distance-learning programmes – under number 1119121.
How does the Nutritional Sciences distance programme work?
You study fully online from wherever you live, with optional on-site elements. Study materials are digital-first, exams can be taken online, and seminars are offered online or in Bremen. The programme carries ZFU approval (1119121). As a remote degree, you do not need a visa for Germany.
Teaching language and language level
The teaching language is German. All study materials, seminars, exams and academic writing are in German. You should be comfortable at advanced level (typically C1) to succeed. If you do not have strong German yet, consider language preparation before applying.
Learning format and study materials
This is a flexible online programme. You learn via digital study booklets (PDF, e-book, audio), videos and web-based trainings with self-check quizzes. The online campus structures your modules and deadlines; materials are released in cycles depending on your study variant (every 3 or 4 months). Expect a mix of self-study, case tasks, projects and group work.
Exams from outside Germany
Most assessments are designed for remote completion: written assignments, case studies, project and group work, plus selected online exams. The university supports online participation in examinations, so you can complete assessments from abroad if your internet and equipment meet requirements.
On-site sessions in Germany
The curriculum includes around 96 hours of seminars. These are offered either online or on campus in Bremen with multiple dates to choose from. You can plan to attend fully online; travel to Germany is optional for seminars if you pick the online dates.
Internship and practical phase
The mandatory internship is 600 hours. You can complete it in your home country if a suitable host organisation is available. If you already work in health, nutrition, or a relevant business role, your job tasks may be credited towards the internship after academic review.
Workload, time models and time zones
Workload is about 32 hours per week in the standard track. Choose 36 months (full-time) or 48 months (part-time). Any live online sessions follow Central European (Summer) Time. Start dates are rolling year-round, and you can extend your studies free of charge by up to 50% of the chosen duration.
What does the Nutritional Sciences (B.Sc.) cost?
Over the standard duration of 36 months, the regular total tuition is approximately €11,448. Typical monthly instalments are around €268 per month in the standard plan. A part-time variant (48 months) spreads the same scope of study over a longer period; monthly instalments and total costs are broadly similar, with minor plan-based differences.
You can pay in monthly instalments in euros from abroad; tuition covers study materials, teaching, and regular assessments. You can extend your study time free of charge by up to 18 months (36-month track) or 24 months (48-month track), which protects you from extra fees if life gets busy. Budget additionally for personal study equipment and potential travel if you choose on-campus seminar dates; there are no separate external exam fees indicated for this programme.
What careers and recognition does the Nutritional Sciences (B.Sc.) offer?
You graduate with a Bachelor of Science, 180 ECTS, aligned with the Bologna Process. APOLLON University is state-recognised, and this degree is programme-accredited by AHPGS (an EQAR-listed agency) through 31 March 2029. For international readers, that means the qualification follows European higher education standards (ECTS workload, level descriptors) and can support admission to suitable master’s programmes in Europe and beyond, subject to each institution’s entry rules.
The distance format is also certified by the ZFU (German authority approving distance-learning courses), which signals regulatory quality for remote delivery. While degrees are generally portable, recognition for regulated professions varies by country; this programme does not lead to a protected “dietitian” licence outside Germany.
Typical roles after graduation include:
- Nutrition and consumer counselling in clinics, practices, insurers, corporate health, or community settings.
- Public Health and prevention: designing and evaluating interventions in municipalities, NGOs, schools, and senior care.
- Food sector quality and compliance: process and food quality management, food law and safety, supplier audits.
- Health and nutrition marketing: product and service communication, content, and behaviour change campaigns.
- Clinical and therapeutic nutrition support roles in multidisciplinary teams (non-licenced, depending on local regulation).
With a targeted elective choice, you can meet entry criteria for respected German industry certificates. In particular, completing the elective Food Quality plus one additional elective can provide access routes to certificates such as DGE Ernährungsberatung and VFED certification. If you align your internship accordingly, you can also meet the theoretical prerequisites for “E-Zert Ernährungstherapie”. These are valued in German-speaking markets; international acceptance depends on each employer or association.
Who is the Nutritional Sciences (B.Sc.) right for – and who not?
This flexible distance degree suits people who want an academically grounded, practice-oriented path into nutrition, health promotion or the food sector, and who prefer to study alongside work from anywhere in the world.
- You want a recognised European bachelor’s degree (180 ECTS) you can complete remotely without relocating or a visa.
- You value a science-based curriculum that connects biochemistry and physiology with counselling, prevention and management.
- You plan to work in nutrition counselling, public health, food quality/safety, or health marketing.
- You appreciate structured online learning with exams and seminars available fully online, plus a practical internship you can do locally.
- You need flexible pacing (36 or 48 months) and the option to extend at no extra tuition.
There are also clear limits. Read these carefully to avoid mismatched expectations from abroad.
- You do not speak German at an advanced level. The programme is taught entirely in German (materials, seminars, exams, thesis).
- You seek a degree that grants direct access to a regulated “dietitian” licence in your country. This programme does not automatically confer such licensure abroad.
- You cannot complete a 600-hour practical phase or arrange a suitable host organisation locally; the internship is mandatory.
- You want campus life in Germany. This is a distance-learning degree designed for online study; on-site participation is optional and limited to seminar alternatives.
Advisory Service
Have questions about Academic Programs Nutritional Sciences? Ask your question here, even anonymously. An employee of the institution APOLLON University of Health Sciences or the editorial team will answer you.