Requirements for enrollment

A higher education entrance qualification such as the general higher education entrance qualification (Abitur), the subject-specific higher education entrance qualification, or the university of applied sciences entrance qualification (Fachabitur) is required for admission to the distance learning course in Business Engineering and Digitalization.

An advanced technical college certificate, a master craftsman's certificate, or a successful advanced training course such as the State-certified Technician or the State-certified Business Administrator are also considered as higher education entrance qualifications.

In addition, you can also be admitted to the Bachelor's program at the Schmalkalden University even without a higher education entrance qualification:

• You have completed an apprenticeship.
• Following your apprenticeship, you have been employed for at least 3 years.
• Your apprenticeship and employment should match the field of business administration. If your apprenticeship is not relevant, you can be admitted through an entrance examination.

The standard period of study for the degree program is 8 semesters. If you have relevant vocational training and corresponding work experience, these can be recognized. Then you complete your distance learning course part-time in just 6 semesters!

Study content, modules and advanced study options

With this part-time distance learning course, you will acquire profound knowledge in engineering as well as IT skills and expertise in business administration. Within 6–8 semesters, you will study topics such as quality management and metrology, automation technology and cost accounting, for example. You will earn 180 ECTS within a regular study period of 8 semesters.

• 1st semester: Fundamentals of economics, commercial and labour law, basics of computer science, business English
• 2nd semester: Engineering mathematics, financing and investment, human-machine interaction, information technology, electrical engineering
• 3rd semester: Production, cost accounting and control, electronics, marketing, programming
• 4th semester: Quality management and metrology, digital control engineering, digital factory and value stream design, digital transformation and product data management
• 5th semester: Business management, IT security and data protection, digital manufacturing techniques, automation technology, additive processes
• 6th semester: Business process management, academic work and key qualifications, project management, digital networking
• 7th semester: Practical project
• 8th semester: Practical project, bachelor thesis and colloquium

Attendance and practical experience

What sets this distance learning course at the University of Schmalkalden apart are the intensive on-site sessions and block seminars in Schmalkalden (Thuringia). During these sessions, you can exchange ideas with your fellow students and instructors.

Over the course of the first 6 academic semesters, you will attend 4–5 on-site sessions per semester. The on-site sessions are organized in a way that allows them to be completed alongside your work commitments – typically taking place over 3–4 days on weekends.

Practical project in 7th and 8th semester

For the 7th and parts of the 8th semester of the distance learning course, a practical project is planned, which you can complete in the form of an internship. The practical project comprises a total of 30 credit points and a workload of 15 hours per week in the company.

If you are gainfully employed during your studies, you may receive credit for the practical project, shortening the regular study period by one semester.

Tuition fees

At the University of Schmalkalden, you pay tuition fees for the part-time study programme on a semester basis, always before the start of the semester. The tuition fees for the Bachelor of Engineering in Business Engineering and Digitalisation amount to €2180 per semester.

In addition, there are semester fees of approximately €54 (without a semester ticket) or approximately €100 (with a semester ticket).

In total, the cost of the programme is around €17,440 plus semester fees. By having your relevant professional training and accompanying work experience recognized, you can complete the programme in 6 academic semesters, paying a total of around €13,080 plus semester fees.

You may be able to claim tax relief on the tuition fees. For information on funding options, contact the study coordinators at the Centre for Continuing Education at the University of Schmalkalden.