Distance learning program Social management (MSM) – Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences

👉 The Master's programme in Social Management at Ostfalia University is aimed at graduates of a relevant bachelor's degree programme with at least one year of professional experience in the social sector. This five-semester, part-time on-campus course imparts management skills, law, business administration, and ethics specifically tailored to social organisations. The focus areas include staff leadership, human resource management, digitalisation, AI, organisational development, innovation management, and sustainability. You will learn how to manage social institutions, plan strategically, and understand financing methods in the social economy. The programme prepares you for responsible leadership roles in social services, welfare associations, public institutions, and related fields. The semester fee is 1,700 euros, and admission is subject to a grade-based entry requirement for the winter semester.

At a Glance

🏫 Provider Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences, UAS based in Wolfenbüttel (Germany)
The Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences is a public university with its headquarters in Lower Saxony. Currently, more than 12,000 students are enrolled in one of the more than 90 degree programmes. The university also offers numerous distance learning programmes and online courses in the fields of business, engineering, and media.
📋 Study Format Distance learning program
🎓 Field of Study Health & SocialSocial Management
📜 Degree Master of Social Management (MSM)
⏳ Duration 5 Semesters
🎯 ECTS 120 Credit Points
🌍 Language of Instruction German
📖 Course contents Social management and social economy, management concepts and ethics, economics and social policy, corporate law, labour law, administrative law, business administration and strategic management, financial accounting and cost management, financing in the social economy, employee leadership, human resource management, processes and digitalisation, artificial intelligence and social work, social research, quality assurance and evaluation, organisational analysis and development, organisation and personnel, project management, planning and control in public administration, controlling, governance and networking, marketing of social enterprises, social policy in organisations, sustainability, change management, presentation techniques, preparation of the master's thesis, master's thesis / colloquium.
📅 Enrollment Winter semester
💶 Fees
from 379 € monthly
from 11370 € total
🔗 More Info View Vendor Profile

Who is the Master's in Social Management at Ostfalia University suitable for?

The degree programme is aimed at professionals from social work and related social economic fields who already have a first university degree and relevant professional experience. The programme is particularly suitable for individuals aspiring to leadership positions in social institutions, welfare organisations, authorities, or the health and education sectors. The offer is directed at specialists and managers who wish to systematically expand their professional and management-related skills in order to take on leadership tasks or make strategic decisions responsibly within social sector organisations.

What are the admission requirements?

To be admitted to the Master's degree programme in Social Management, you must provide evidence of the following:

  • Completed Bachelor’s degree (at a German university, a university of a Bologna signatory state, or an equivalent foreign qualification)
  • Professionally relevant practical experience in the social sector: at least 1 year of work (full-time or part-time with at least half of the regular hours) after obtaining the Bachelor’s degree
  • The completed recognition year after the Bachelor’s degree in Social Work is recognised as professional practical experience
  • Application takes place within a restricted admission procedure (Numerus Clausus, NC)

In addition, you should bring the following personal qualifications:

  • Confident handling of scientific and practice-oriented methods
  • Willingness to engage with management theories, business administration and legal frameworks
  • Team skills, communication strength and capacity for reflection for group work and coaching offers
  • Independent organisation of your part-time studies with approximately 5 semesters of standard study duration
  • Motivation to take on leadership responsibility, readiness for innovation and affinity for digitalisation topics

Course Content in Detail: Management Competence for the Social Sector

In the Master's degree programme Social Management at Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences, you engage with the central leadership and management tasks in the social economy. The course links knowledge from Social Work with modern management and organisational methods. The most important topics include:

  • Fundamentals of Social Management: Introduction to social economy, management concepts, ethics, economics and social policy
  • Legal Basics: Corporate law, labour law and administrative law – with a focus on specifics in the social sector
  • Business Administration: Strategic management, financial accounting, cost management and financing models of social enterprises
  • Personnel and Quality Management: Staff leadership, personnel development, digitalisation, application of artificial intelligence in social work, social research as well as evaluation and quality assurance
  • Organisation, Planning and Control: Organisational analysis, project management, personnel management, controlling and planning of public administrations
  • Innovation Management: Governance, network work, marketing in social enterprises, social policy in organisations, sustainable development and change management
  • Academic Qualification: Master's thesis and colloquium as a practice-oriented final achievement

Additional elective modules and supporting seminars – for example, on presentation techniques and preparation of the Master's thesis – strengthen your reflective and communicative competence. Throughout the entire programme, you will be accompanied by group coaching.

Course Structure: Part-time and Practice-oriented to the Master’s Degree

The course is designed to be part-time and extends over five semesters (120 ECTS). The exact structure is as follows:

  • Start each winter semester at the Wolfenbüttel campus
  • Combination of face-to-face events, self-study and e-learning elements
  • Mandatory modules in each semester, complemented by optional support seminars
  • Diverse examination formats: term papers, presentations, written exams, oral exams
  • In the fifth semester, you write your Master’s thesis and present it in the colloquium
  • Ongoing support through group coaching throughout the entire course

The practice-oriented study structure enables you to link theory and everyday experiences in the social professional field and to apply advanced management skills directly.

Career Prospects & Employment Opportunities: Leadership in Social and Health Services

With the successful completion of the Master of Social Management, you qualify for leadership roles in various fields:

  • Management positions in authorities, welfare associations and independent providers (e.g. department or division management)
  • Leadership of social institutions or organisations
  • Strategic planning positions in the public and non-profit sector
  • Independent founding and management of start-ups or companies in the social sector
  • Promotion to higher pay groups, e.g. from E11 to E13 in public service
  • Advisory, controlling or project-responsible roles in related fields such as health, education, culture or administration

The programme places emphasis on scientific, methodological and personality-oriented skills. These open up extended perspectives for promotion, specialisation or a change of sector within social and health services.

Costs and Financing: Your Investment in Leadership Competence

The fee structure for the part-time Master's degree in Social Management includes several components:

  • Enrolment Fee: €1,000 (one-off at the beginning)
  • Semester Fee: €1,700 per semester for the first four semesters (total €6,800)
  • Examination Fee: €900 (for the degree, usually payable in the last semester)
  • Semester Contribution: Currently €234 per semester (excluding Germany ticket, subject to change)

The total costs amount to around €9,900 plus semester contributions. The fees are generally payable per semester. Financing options include educational loans, funding programmes for professional development and, if applicable, grants from employers. Tuition fees within the scope of professional qualification are tax-deductible as income-related expenses.

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