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The Central State Office for Distance Learning (ZFU) has approved the course Sports Economics under the number 149112. Who this dual Bachelor suits — and what you need to apply
This programme fits if you want to study and work in the sports industry at the same time. Typical profiles: you already work as an instructor or assistant manager in a fitness or health club and want a formal degree; you coordinate programmes in a local sports club or association and aim for management; you come from business or marketing and plan a switch into sport while taking on a paid training role. Expect a dual format over 7 semesters with compact class days and ongoing employment in a training company.
Admission requirements
Entry is possible year-round. Admission is based on a recognised higher education entrance route plus a training contract with a company in the sports or health sector.
- University entrance: general higher education entrance qualification or university of applied sciences entrance qualification. Comparable vocational routes are accepted (e.g. master craftsperson, business administrator, advanced vocational school or professional advancement qualification).
- Admission with international qualifications: foreign school-leaving certificates and vocational qualifications are accepted if they are deemed equivalent to the above. You submit official transcripts; equivalency is checked during admission.
- Admission without Abitur: possible via the recognised vocational routes named above or as a professionally qualified applicant subject to individual assessment.
- Dual study requirement: a binding training contract with a company and a cooperation agreement with the university are mandatory before enrolment.
- On-site classes: 61 class days across 42 months at study centres in Germany, Austria or Switzerland; selected sessions may run as live online formats or on demand, otherwise travel is required.
- Language of instruction: German. You need advanced German for coursework, exams and workplace communication (C1-level skills recommended). Formal proof of proficiency is required during admission.
Personal requirements
Success in a dual distance format depends on reliable self-organisation and stamina. Plan with a realistic workload: intensive self-study phases can reach around 35 hours per week in addition to your working hours in the training company. You should be comfortable reading specialist texts, writing assignments and presenting in German; solid English helps with sources but is not a substitute for German in class and exams.
Because you study and work in parallel, you need to manage shifting priorities, meet assessment deadlines and coordinate with your employer for the 61 class days. A proactive approach to finding and securing a training company, steady time planning, and the confidence to communicate with stakeholders in clubs, associations or commercial providers will make the difference in this programme.
What will you study in the Sports Economics (B.A.) at the German University of Prevention and Health Management?
The programme is taught in German. You need advanced German proficiency to follow classes and pass exams (typically evidenced by certificates such as TestDaF, DSH or Goethe-Zertifikat at an upper level). This is a dual Fernstudium (distance learning) at a state-recognised Fachhochschule (university of applied sciences).
You combine sport-specific business with training science. Core economics and management cover modules such as Business Administration I–IV (accounting, controlling, finance, organisation, quality management), Sport Management and Sport and Association Law. You learn to plan and control budgets, people and processes tailored to sport organisations.
Marketing and commercialisation are a second pillar: you work on Operational Marketing, Sport Marketing, sponsorship, merchandising, ticketing and event concepts. You develop go-to-market plans for clubs, federations, fitness chains or venues, including the digitalisation of customer journeys.
Training science and health expand your profile: Training Theory I–III (strength, endurance, mobility/coordination), Medical Fundamentals and Health Management in Sport. You design health-oriented programmes and understand the physiological basics needed to lead teams and advise clients professionally.
Communication and service skills run throughout the curriculum: Communication and Presentation as well as Consulting and Service Management prepare you for stakeholder management and leadership. The degree awards 210 ECTS; you complete a project and a Bachelor’s thesis. The ZFU (German state authority approving distance-learning courses) has approved this course, signalling quality of the distance-learning design.
Electives in the classical sense are limited; however, selected modules can be recognised for additional trainer and management licences via the BSA Academy, adding practical qualifications alongside your studies.
How does the Sports Economics distance programme work?
This is a dual distance format: you study largely online while working in the sport sector, and you attend compact class days. Over seven semesters there are 61 class days distributed across the programme. The ZFU approval number is 149112.
Teaching language and certificates
Teaching is in German. To succeed, you need advanced academic German. Typical proofs include TestDaF, DSH or Goethe-Zertifikat at an upper level. Course materials, live sessions, exams and on-site phases are conducted in German.
Learning format and study materials
You study in a Fernstudium model: guided self-study via a digital platform and written materials, plus compact teaching blocks delivered at study centres or synchronously online. As a Fachhochschule, the approach is applied: theory is continuously transferred into your workplace in the sport industry.
Exams and where you can take them
Assessments are study-accompanying (written, practical and oral elements) and culminate in the Bachelor’s thesis. Examinations and teaching blocks typically take place at university study centres in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. For some elements, synchronous livestream or on-demand digital formats are available on request; fully remote assessment for the entire programme is not the rule.
On-site sessions in Germany (mandatory)
Across seven terms you attend 61 on-site days in total. These are compact blocks used for deepening content, practical workshops and examinations. While selected sessions may be offered via livestream/on demand by approval, you should plan for travel to a study centre for a significant share of the programme.
Weekly workload, time model and time zones
The standard duration is 7 semesters (42 months). Expect a substantial workload typical for full-time dual study. Self-study can reach around a full working day per week, in addition to your practical employment hours. Live online sessions run in the German time zone (CET/CEST). Start dates are possible year-round. A purely remote path that requires no travel or relocation is not offered; a study visa is not required only for fully online programmes, which this is not.
What does the Sports Economics (B.A.) cost?
Tuition is typically paid in monthly instalments over the standard 42 months. The current regular fee is €390 per month, which totals €16,380 across the standard duration. Many dual students have their fees fully or partly covered by their employing company, which is common practice in the sector.
Payments are spread evenly by month, supporting predictable budgeting from abroad. Plan additional costs for travel and accommodation on 61 in-person class days. If you extend beyond the standard duration, the university may apply continuation fees; check individual terms before you plan an extension.
What careers and recognition does the Sports Economics (B.A.) offer?
The degree carries 210 ECTS credits under the Bologna framework. The programme is accredited (AHPGS) through the German Accreditation Council until 30 September 2032 and the university is state-recognised. This signals quality and facilitates admission to relevant Master’s degrees across Europe; recognition outside Europe depends on local rules but benefits from the ECTS system and formal programme accreditation.
Career paths span both non-profit and commercial sport: club and federation management, operations and marketing in fitness and health centres, sports facility management (venues, stadiums, municipal facilities), product or brand roles with sporting goods manufacturers/retail, and roles in event, media and sponsorship agencies. The health-oriented content also opens roles in prevention and wellness markets. Salary levels vary widely by country, employer size and whether you work in non-profit or commercial sport; managerial roles in large commercial providers and brands tend to offer higher compensation than small associations.
Who is the Sports Economics (B.A.) right for – and who not?
This programme suits people who want to combine sport and business, learn in an applied way, and gain real work experience during their degree. It is designed for those who can study in German and who can be present for compact class days in the DACH region.
- You want a dual format: distance study plus ongoing work in the sport industry.
- You speak German well enough for academic study and professional communication.
- You prefer applied teaching at a Fachhochschule with immediate on-the-job transfer.
- You aim for roles in club/federation management, sport marketing or facility operations.
- You value a 210 ECTS, re-accredited, state-recognised degree with ZFU approval.
There are also clear limits. If you need a fully online, English-taught programme you can complete entirely from abroad, this is not the right fit.
- You need an English-taught programme or cannot provide proof of advanced German.
- You require a 100% online degree with no travel; this course includes 61 on-site days.
- You cannot work in the DACH region alongside your studies; the dual model expects ongoing practical employment in the sector.
- You are looking for a study path that requires no relocation permission or work authorisation; this format is not a purely remote programme.
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