Distance learning program Psychology (B.Sc.) – AKAD University

👉 You study core psychology topics—Developmental, Social and Biological Psychology, plus Diagnostics and multi-stage Statistics—while completing a PC-based empirical practicum, project and Bachelor thesis. The programme is a 100% online distance B.Sc. (180 ECTS) with flexible pace (36, 48 or 72 months). Teaching language: German; state-recognised, accredited and ZFU-approved.

Psychology (B.Sc.) at a Glance

📜 Degree Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)
⏳ Duration 6 Semesters, Study effort 22 hours weekly
💶 Fees
from 203 € monthly
from 13284 € total
🏫 Provider AKAD University, UAS based in Stuttgart (Germany)
Over 72,000 graduates in the past 65 years! The AKAD University offers more than 65 part-time distance learning courses with degrees in Bachelor, Master, MBA, and university certificate in the fields of Business & Management, Engineering & Computer Science, Communication & Culture, and Health & Social Sciences. All courses are accredited by ACQUIN or ZeVA and have been reviewed and approved by the Central Office for Distance Learning (ZFU).
📋 Study Format Distance learning program
🎓 Field of Study Health & SocialPsychology
🎯 ECTS 180 Credit Points
🌍 Language of Instruction German
📖 Course contents Key Qualifications for Study and Career, Study Community, AKAD Toolbox (Health & Social Sciences), Mathematics Bridging Course, Introduction to Psychology, Information Retrieval and Management in Psychology, Introduction to Empirical Scientific Work, Statistics I - Foundations of Psychological Literature, Lifespan Developmental Psychology, Biological Psychology, Social Psychology, General Psychology I - Perception, Memory, Language and Thinking, General Psychology II - Learning, Motivation and Emotion, Basics of Diagnostics, Statistics II - Understanding Test Statistical Basics, Differential and Personality Psychology, Diagnostic Methods, Statistics III - Understanding and Interpreting Statistical Results, Neuropsychology, Project, Psychology of Identity, Diversity and Heterogeneity, Psychology of Conflict, Aggression and Violence, Clinical Psychology - Symptomatology, Clinical Psychology - Schools of Therapy, Work and Organizational Psychology - Overview, Work and Organizational Psychology - Consumer Psychology, Educational Psychology - Basic Overview, Educational Psychology - When is Teaching Good?, Empirical Experimental Practicum on PC, Specialisation, Bachelor Thesis
📚 Electives Clinical Psychology, Work and Organizational Psychology, Educational Psychology, Supplementary subject Social Work, Supplementary subject Health Management, Supplementary subject Pedagogy, Supplementary subject Human Sciences, Supplementary subject Healthcare, Supplementary subject Sociology, Supplementary subject Economic Policy
👥 In-person sessions optional, Stuttgart, 6 hours total
📍 Location Stuttgart
✅ ZFU Approval The Central State Office for Distance Learning (ZFU) has approved the course Psychology under the number 1149622c.
📅 Enrollment Anytime
🔗 More Info View Vendor Profile

Who this Psychology B.Sc. fits – and what you need to get in

This online Psychology degree suits you if you want a recognised German Bachelor while studying remotely. It is taught in German and designed for flexible, part-time learning alongside work.

Typical profiles include:

  • HR or talent acquisition coordinator working full time who wants a solid psychological and statistical foundation for people and organisational roles.
  • Teaching assistant or learning support professional at an international school aiming to deepen knowledge in educational psychology and progress into advisory roles.
  • UX/market research or wellbeing project lead who needs evidence-based methods, diagnostics and data literacy to formalise practice and open pathways to a Master’s.

Admission requirements

You can apply with a standard university entrance qualification or via professional routes. International applicants are welcome if you meet the academic and language criteria.

  • With school/university entrance qualification: Allgemeine Hochschulreife (Abitur), fachgebundene Hochschulreife, Fachhochschulreife, or an equivalent foreign university entrance qualification.
  • Without Abitur (professional entry): recognised advanced vocational qualifications (e.g. Meister/in, Techniker/in, Betriebswirt/in, Fachwirt/in, Erzieher/in) qualify you for admission.
  • Vocational training + work experience: admission via a university aptitude assessment for a related field, or by starting with a supervised trial study (Probestudium).
  • Language of instruction: German. You must prove German at C1 level. Accepted proofs include:
    • DSH-2 (Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang)
    • TestDaF level 4 in all sections
    • GER C1 certificate (e.g. Goethe C1)
    • Alternatively, entry via Probestudium with subsequent proof as required
  • Recognition of prior learning: credit transfer from completed university modules or recognised advanced vocational programmes is possible and can shorten your study time.

Personal requirements

Remote study from abroad demands consistent planning and strong self-management. You should be comfortable reading academic texts in German, handling statistics and empirical methods, and studying independently online.

  • Self-organisation and perseverance: schedule weekly learning blocks and protect them.
  • Language readiness: solid academic German (C1) for study materials; English at B2 (some literature may require C1) is recommended.
  • Time planning: as a guide for 180 ECTS (4,500–5,400 hours total):
    • 36 months: about 29–35 hours/week (very demanding next to a full-time job)
    • 48 months: about 22–26 hours/week (realistic alongside work)
    • 72 months: about 14–17 hours/week (maximum flexibility)
  • Technical setup: reliable internet, webcam and a quiet space for online exams.

If you bring curiosity, discipline and a plan that matches your weekly bandwidth, you can complete this accredited degree fully online and build a rigorous psychological skill set.

What will you study in the Psychology (B.Sc.) at AKAD University?

This programme is taught in German. You need advanced German skills at university level, typically proven by DSH-2, TestDaF TDN 4 or GER C1. You study as a Fernstudium (distance learning) at a German Fachhochschule (university of applied sciences) and earn 180 ECTS over six semesters in the standard track.

You build a rigorous scientific foundation: empirical methods and statistics run through the degree, from an introduction to scientific work to Statistics I–III and literature skills for psychology. Core fields cover General Psychology (perception, memory, thinking; learning, motivation, emotion), Social Psychology, Developmental Psychology across the lifespan, and Biological and Neuropsychology.

Psychological assessment is another pillar. You learn how to select, apply and interpret tests responsibly, supported by modules such as Grundlagen der Diagnostik and Diagnostische Verfahren, and by Differential and Personality Psychology.

Applied psychology widens your profile: Clinical Psychology (symptomatology and therapy schools), Work and Organisational Psychology (overview and consumer psychology), Pedagogical Psychology, plus cross-cutting topics like identity, diversity, conflict, aggression and violence. An empirical PC-based practical trains data collection and analysis; a project module prepares you for your bachelor’s thesis.

Electives and profile subjects: you choose one major in Clinical Psychology, Work and Organisational Psychology, or Pedagogical Psychology. Additional profile subjects allow further focus, e.g. Social Work, Health Management, Pedagogy, Human Sciences, Health Care System, Sociology, Economic Policy, Ethics, Change Management, and Digitalisation & New Work.

AKAD University is a state-recognised private university of applied sciences. As a ZFU-approved distance programme (ZFU: 1149622c; the ZFU is Germany’s state authority supervising distance-learning courses), its study concept and materials are formally approved for remote delivery. Note: the degree is not approbationskonform (does not follow Germany’s psychotherapy licensure track).

How does the Psychology (B.Sc.) distance programme work?

You study fully online via AKAD’s digital campus. Learning is asynchronous with optional live elements; exams are conducted online. The programme carries the ZFU approval no. 1149622c. As a remote degree with no on-campus enrolment, you do not need a visa to study from abroad.

Teaching language and language certificates

The language of instruction is German. You should be able to read academic literature and take exams in German, commonly evidenced by DSH-2, TestDaF level 4 or GER C1. Good English helps with sources and, depending on your specialisation, may be recommended at B2–C1, but the degree itself is taught in German.

Learning format and study materials

The Fernstudium (distance learning) format combines digital scripts, videos, interactive exercises and self-checks on the AKAD campus. Orientation modules and a maths refresher lower the barrier to entry. You study at your pace, organise deadlines via the platform and collaborate in the online community.

Exams and taking them from outside Germany

Examinations and other assessments are integrated into the online campus, so you can complete them from abroad via online proctoring or equivalent digital formats. No test centre visits are required for exams.

Mandatory on-site sessions in Germany

The ZFU approval specifies a short on-site seminar of around 6 hours in Stuttgart. Apart from this compact session, teaching and exams run online; additional seminars may be offered on an optional basis. Plan one short trip to Germany if that seminar is scheduled for your cohort.

Weekly workload, time models and live sessions

The programme offers three time models: 36, 48 or 72 months. Using the ECTS rule of thumb (25–30 hours per ECTS), typical weekly study time is about 29–35 hours (36 months), 22–26 hours (48 months), or 14–17 hours (72 months). Any live online sessions follow German time (CET/CEST); most content is asynchronous to fit different time zones.

What does the Psychology (B.Sc.) cost?

Fees are charged in monthly instalments in euros. Over the standard durations, regular tuition adds up to €14,244 in total for 36 months (36 × €369 + €960 exam fee), €15,792 in total for 48 months (48 × €309 + €960), or €16,728 in total for 72 months (72 × €219 + €960). Tuition includes free extensions tied to your model (12/9/3 months respectively). Prices refer to the regular, undiscounted tariff.

There are usually no travel costs because teaching and exams are online; budget for optional literature or software. Fees are billed monthly; if you pay from outside the euro area, consider exchange rates and possible bank charges from your payment provider.

What careers and recognition does the Psychology (B.Sc.) offer?

You graduate with 180 ECTS under the Bologna framework. AKAD University is state-recognised in Germany, and the programme is accredited (2023–2030). Within Europe, ECTS support academic recognition and admission to suitable master’s programmes; internationally, recognition depends on local rules but a Bologna-compliant B.Sc. is widely understood. The content aligns with the German Society for Psychology (DGPs) recommendations, which is relevant for many fachpsychologische master’s degrees.

This degree does not qualify you for regulated psychotherapeutic practice in Germany (non-approbationskonform). For regulated roles abroad, local licensing laws apply. Typical career paths after the B.Sc. include:

  • Human Resources and Talent Acquisition, People & Culture, or HR analytics
  • Learning and Development, training design, or educational programme coordination
  • User and market research, consumer psychology, UX research in tech and design
  • Health promotion and workplace health management in companies or clinics
  • Project roles in social services, NGOs or public institutions with a behavioural focus

Who is the Psychology (B.Sc.) right for – and who not?

This programme suits working professionals who want a research-driven psychology degree delivered online, with clear methods training and room to specialise. It is set up for remote study from anywhere and can be paced over 36, 48 or 72 months.

  • You are comfortable studying and taking exams in German at an advanced level.
  • You want a flexible distance-learning degree with online exams and structured self-study.
  • You value a strong methods backbone (statistics, diagnostics) for roles in HR, research or UX.
  • You plan a master’s in a psychology subfield and seek a Bologna-compliant, DGPs-aligned B.Sc.
  • You like the option to major in Clinical, Work & Organisational, or Pedagogical Psychology and add profile subjects.

There are also clear cases where this course is not the right choice. Read the points below carefully before you apply from abroad.

  • You need an English-taught programme. This degree is taught in German (C1/DSH-2/TestDaF 4).
  • Your goal is to become a licensed psychotherapist in Germany. The programme is not approbationskonform and does not lead to psychotherapy licensure.
  • You cannot travel to Germany at all. A short on-site seminar (~6 hours) in Stuttgart is part of the approved study design.
  • You expect laboratory teaching, campus life or regular in-person classes. Teaching is organised for online self-study.

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