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The Central State Office for Distance Learning (ZFU) has approved the course Sports Economics under the number 161015. Who is this Master for, and what do you need to get in?
This programme suits you if you already work in the sports business and want to step up to management. Typical profiles include: a club or federation administrator moving towards strategic roles in marketing and sponsorship; a fitness or health-centre manager aiming to lead multi-site operations; a brand, sales or events professional in the sports industry seeking deeper sport economics and leadership skills while studying alongside a job.
Admission requirements
To enrol in the M.A. in Sports Economics you need a completed first degree and the ability to study in German. Key points:
- Completed Bachelor’s or Diplom (first-cycle university degree) in a related field such as business administration, economics, sports economics/sports management or sports science.
- Study model: distance learning over 4 semesters/24 months with compact classes on a total of 32 days; these are offered on site or in digital form.
- Applicants with international degrees: foreign qualifications are recognised after an equivalence check against German higher education standards. You submit official transcripts/degree certificates and provide certified translations if documents are not issued in German.
- Language of instruction: German. You must demonstrate sufficient German for academic study. As a rule of thumb, you should meet an advanced level (typically C1 CEFR). In Germany, commonly accepted proofs include tests such as DSH, TestDaF or Goethe-Zertifikat; the exact forms of proof and score thresholds are set by the university.
- Technical requirement: reliable internet access for e-campus, livestreams and online examinations.
- Admission without a first university degree is not offered for this Master.
Personal requirements
Distance learning at Master level requires consistent routines and honest time budgeting. Plan with about 32 hours per week for self-study, assignments and exam prep, plus 32 seminar days over the full programme (scheduled on-site or online). You should be comfortable reading and writing academic texts in German, joining live discussions, and preparing presentations. What helps you succeed from abroad:
- Strong self-organisation: weekly study plan, fixed slots for reading, and early preparation for assessment weeks.
- Perseverance: you will balance work, study and (depending on your location) time-zone friendly participation in livestreams.
- Clear communication: proactive contact with lecturers and peers, timely submission of tasks, and readiness to collaborate in group work.
- Stable tech setup: quiet workspace, webcam/headset and dependable internet for virtual classes and exams.
If you can maintain a steady workload, keep deadlines, and bring solid German skills to follow the materials, you can complete this fully remotely—even from outside Germany—with occasional on-site participation only if you choose that format.
What will you study in the Sports Economics (M.A.) at the German University of Prevention and Health Management?
The programme is taught entirely in German. You need advanced German (C1 level recommended). Typical proofs for international applicants include TestDaF (TDN 4), DSH-2 or Goethe-Zertifikat C1. It is a Fernstudium, i.e. distance learning with scheduled teaching blocks. The course is state-approved for distance learning by the ZFU, Germany’s regulator for distance programmes.
You build a broad management foundation tailored to the sport industry. Expect content clusters rather than isolated modules:
- Strategy and leadership in sport organisations: Strategic corporate management I–II, leadership and the management process, plus communication and negotiation for stakeholder work in clubs, associations and companies.
- Sport economics and market analysis: Sportökonomik (macroeconomics and microeconomics of sport), research and development in sport markets, methods for understanding consumer behaviour and market mechanisms.
- Marketing, sales and commercialisation: Marketing and sales in sport markets, case studies in sport management and sport marketing, sponsorship and merchandising approaches, cross-media campaigns.
- Events and tourism in sport: Event management and sport tourism as economic and communication instruments, including planning, budgeting and evaluation.
- Research and entrepreneurship: Applied research methods for your projects, plus entrepreneurship with tools for business model innovation and Lean Start-up in the sport business.
There are no classical “electives” advertised; instead, you apply your focus through case studies, project work and your Master’s thesis. The programme culminates in a supervised Master’s thesis that demonstrates your ability to carry out independent, applied research in a sport-business context.
“Fernstudium” explained: You study primarily online and independently, with compact teaching blocks scheduled across the semesters. The programme is additionally approved by the ZFU (approval no. 161015), which is Germany’s state authority that checks distance-learning quality and transparency.
How does the Sports Economics distance programme work?
You study remotely with compact teaching blocks distributed over 24 months. There are teaching days on a total of 32 days, delivered either on site at study centres or digitally via live sessions. Rolling start dates mean you can begin anytime; no visa is needed for a purely remote path.
Teaching language and proof
Teaching and assessments are in German. You should be comfortable studying and writing at an academic level in German (about C1). Common language certificates in Germany include TestDaF, DSH or Goethe C1.
Learning format and study materials
This is a Fernstudium: self-paced online study with structured materials on the university’s e-campus, combined with 2–3 day teaching blocks. These blocks include expert lectures, discussions, group work and case studies. Between blocks you work through scripts, readings and research tasks to prepare assessments and your thesis.
Exams and taking them from outside Germany
Assessment types vary by module and typically include written exams, presentations, case studies and project reports. When teaching blocks are offered digitally, participation from abroad is possible. The programme is approved by the ZFU (no. 161015), signalling clearly defined formats and student information for distance delivery.
On-site sessions in Germany
The 32 teaching days are mandatory academic activity, but they can be attended either on site (study centres in the DACH region) or digitally. If you choose the digital route throughout, you can complete the programme without travelling to Germany.
Workload, study time models and time zones
The average workload is about 32 hours per week over the standard duration of 24 months (4 semesters). Live online sessions follow German time (CET/CEST). Plan accordingly if you join from another time zone, as some live components require real-time attendance.
What does the Sports Economics (M.A.) cost?
Tuition is €440 per month over the standard 24 months, which totals approximately €10,560. Payment is made in monthly instalments, which works well if you study while working. You can pay from abroad via common international payment routes used for tuition in Germany. If you study longer than the standard period, ask about potential extension terms and whether tuition continues at the monthly rate after month 24; policies can differ by cohort.
There are no separate “external exam centre” fees indicated for this programme. Budget for personal study costs such as travel and accommodation only if you opt to attend teaching blocks on site rather than digitally.
What careers and recognition does the Sports Economics (M.A.) offer?
You earn a 120 ECTS Master of Arts under the Bologna system. ECTS credits and the two-cycle (Bachelor/Master) structure are recognised across Europe and widely understood internationally for graduate admissions and employer screening. The programme is accredited through 30 September 2028 by AHPGS, an agency listed in EQAR (the European Quality Assurance Register), and the university is state-recognised in Germany. For work or further study abroad, your credential is typically evaluated as a second-cycle Master’s degree; local rules still apply for regulated professions.
Typical roles after graduation include:
- Sport club or association management (professional and community sport), including departmental leadership roles.
- Commercial sport provider management, e.g. fitness and health chains or municipal sport facilities.
- Sport marketing, sales and sponsorship management at brands, rights-holders or agencies.
- Event management and sport tourism project leadership, including cross-media campaigns.
- Market research, consumer insights and data-driven product management in sport markets.
The skills mix—strategy, sport economics, marketing/sales and research—also positions you for doctoral study or senior civil-service tracks where a Master’s is required. Salaries vary widely by country, sport segment and employer size; leadership and revenue-linked roles (sales, sponsorship, events) typically carry higher variable pay.
Who is the Sports Economics (M.A.) right for – and who not?
This programme suits professionals aiming to step into or advance within management roles across the sport ecosystem. It combines distance learning with short, intensive teaching blocks and a clear focus on marketing, sales and the economics of sport.
- You want a German Master’s with 120 ECTS that you can complete largely online from abroad.
- You work in sport, fitness, events or marketing and need strategic and commercial skills tailored to sport markets.
- You value case-based learning and a thesis that can align with your professional projects.
- You are comfortable studying in German and participating in live sessions scheduled in CET/CEST.
At the same time, there are clear situations where this distance programme is not a good fit. Read these carefully to avoid mismatches and costly false starts.
- You need an English-taught programme. Teaching and assessments are in German and require advanced proficiency.
- You cannot attend live sessions in German time (CET/CEST) and prefer fully asynchronous study with no fixed times.
- You are looking for an on-campus, full-time student experience in Germany, including a student visa—this course is designed for distance learning with short teaching blocks.
- You need a degree that grants direct access to a regulated profession outside sport (e.g. medicine, law, teacher training). This is a management degree for the sport sector.
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