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Contents
- These Universities Offer Online Programs in Business Informatics
- Requirements: Studying Business Informatics without Numerus Clausus
- What You Learn in a Business Informatics Degree Program
- The Cost of Studying Business Informatics via Distance Learning
- Career Perspectives: These are the tasks and job prospects for business informatics specialists
- Salary: What do business informatics specialists earn?
- How difficult is business informatics really?
By studying business informatics, you are training for one of the most sought-after professions of recent years. Studying via distance learning also offers you the necessary flexibility to continue your education alongside your job and constantly apply the acquired expertise into practice. Here, I present to you the entire range of distance learning courses in business informatics and compare all courses with regard to tuition fees, admission requirements, and study content. Additionally, I show you possible professional fields for business informaticians..
Alle Studiengänge im Fachbereich Wirtschaftsinformatik im Überblick
We have a total of 24 courses in the field of Business informatics.
Business informatics
- University of Hagen
- 6 Semester
- German
At the FernUniversität in Hagen, students have the opportunity to obtain a Bachelor's degree in Business Informatics. This degree programme combines computer science and business administration to prepare students for …
VAWi - Virtual Further Education Course Business Informatics
- University of Duisburg-Essen
- 3 Semester
- German
- Strategic management-oriented focus: Economic fundamentals, information and knowledge management, e-business, educational management and e-learning, k…
Business informatics
- IU International University
- 6 Semester
- German or English
The aim of the distance learning course in Business Informatics is to train you as a future specialist and leader at the increasingly important interface between business administration and information …
Business informatics
- University of Hagen
- 4 Semester
- German
The Master's programme in Business Informatics at the FernUniversität Hagen provides a thorough education in areas such as software development, database management, IT strategy, and management. Students acquire expertise to …
Business informatics
- Wilhelm Büchner University
- 6 Semester
- German
Deepen your knowledge at the interface of IT and business with the Bachelor's degree programme in Business Informatics at Wilhelm Büchner University. In just 6 semesters, you will be prepared …
Business informatics
- IU International University
- 2 Semester
- German
Abbreviated Master's program in just 2 semesters or regularly in 4 semesters: With the M.Sc. Business Informatics at IU, you prepare for your career as an IT project manager or …
Business Informatics
- University of Wismar
- 7 Semester
- German
The distance learning programme in Business Informatics offered by Wismar International Graduation Services GmbH (WINGS) prepares students for a career in the field of Business Informatics. The bachelor's programme consists …
Business informatics
- Institute for Collaborative Studies
- 9 Semester
- Dortmund und Gummersbach
- German
- Introduction Business Informatics, Algorithms + Programming I + II, Mathematics I + II, Business Administration I + II, Business Mathematics/Quantitat…
Business informatics
- AKAD University
- 6 Semester
- German
The Bachelor's degree programme in Business Informatics at AKAD University is ideal for anyone who wants to work at the interface between business and IT. With an interdisciplinary approach, you …
Business informatics
- Wilhelm Büchner University
- 3 Semester
- German
The master's programme in Business Informatics at Wilhelm Büchner University is designed as a distance learning course and lasts 3 semesters. This programme is aimed at working professionals with at …
Business informatics
- Institute for Collaborative Studies
- 5 Semester
- German
- IT controlling, information and communication technology, advanced business simulation game, IT security, usability engineering, scientific methods, I…
Business Informatics
- University of Wismar
- 5 Semester
- German
The master's distance learning programme "Business Informatics" leading to the degree Master of Science from Wismar International Graduation Services GmbH (WINGS) focuses on IT management, IT consulting, IT strategy, IT …
Business informatics and digital transformation.
- University of Applied Sciences Schmalkalden
- 8 Semester
- Schmalkalden (Thüringen)
- German
This part-time distance learning course combines expertise in computer science with the fundamentals of business administration and the current topic of digital transformation. Over 6-8 semesters, you will immerse yourself …
Business informatics
- oncampus GmbH
- 6 Semester
- German
- Introduction to Business Administration I, Introduction to Business Informatics, English for Computer Scientists, Fundamentals of Mathematics, Fundame…
Business informatics
- University of West Saxony Zwickau
- 5 Semester
- German
- Foundations of General Science and Business Administration, PC Technology and Introduction to Programming, English for Computer Scientists, Working on…
Business informatics
- oncampus GmbH
- 4 Semester
- German
- Business Process Management, Employee Leadership, Quantitative Decision Making, Business and IT Law, ERP and BI with SAP, IT Governance, Management Et…
Business informatics
- Berlin University of Technology
- 6 Semester
- German
- Introduction to Business Administration 1, Introduction to Business Informatics, English for Computer Scientists, Fundamentals of Mathematics, Fundame…
Business Informatics
- DIPLOMA University
- 7 Semester
- German
- Mathematics, Economics, Digital Business Communication, Computer Science, Fundamentals of Programming, Software Development, Information and Communica…
Business informatics
- University of Applied Sciences for Management
- 7 Semester
- German
- Introduction to Business Administration and Scientific Work, Introduction to Computer Science, Economics, Fundamentals of Business Informatics, Proces…
Business informatics
- European Higher Education Network
- 8 Semester
- German
- General Business Administration, Business English, Database Systems, Business Informatics, Business Mathematics, Fundamentals of Programming, Cost Acc…
Business informatics
- German University of Applied Sciences
- 6 Semester
- Potsdam
- German
- Fundamentals of scientific work, communication, presentation & moderation, fundamentals of organization & management, mathematics & statistics, introd…
Business informatics
- European Distance Learning University Hamburg
- 6 Semester
- German
The distance learning programme "Business Informatics" offered by the European Distance University Hamburg GmbH comprises 180 ECTS and leads to the degree of "Bachelor of Science". The course is designed …
Business informatics
- European Distance Learning University Hamburg
- 4 Semester
- German
The part-time Master's programme in Business Informatics at the European Distance Learning University of Hamburg offers a specialized qualification for graduates of IT management and Digital Business Management bachelor's programmes. …
Business informatics
- FOM University of Applied Sciences for Economics and Management
- 7 Semester
- German
- Business Informatics Basics, Mathematical Foundations of Computer Science, Concepts of Programming, Management Fundamentals, Time and Self-Management,…
These Universities Offer Online Programs in Business Informatics
In Germany, there is only one distance university, which is the University of Hagen. All other distance universities are universities of applied sciences, and many business informatics courses are also offered at public universities. University courses are usually more research-oriented, while courses at universities of applied sciences focus more on practical relevance.
Public Universities
If you want to study business informatics and also computer science through distance learning, you can choose from numerous universities of applied sciences under public law - with the University of Hagen even offering corresponding courses.
State university advantages over private universities:
- State university degrees are significantly cheaper, at least for bachelor's degrees.
- You can study at a university, such as the FernUni, thereby having more research focus.
Here is an overview of universities offering distance learning courses in business informatics:
University of Hagen: The University of Hagen is the only German state distance university, and at the same time, the largest German university. Various faculties offer courses in cultural sciences, educational sciences, as well as computer science and business informatics. The FernUni was founded in 1974, with a total of 67,958 students enrolled in the winter semester 2018/2019.
Oncampus GmbH: Oncampus GmbH is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Technical University of Lübeck and was founded in 2001. The company markets distance or online courses from various German universities of applied sciences under public law, such as Ostfalia University, Jade University, or HAWK University of applied sciences and arts. About 11 bachelor's and master's courses are offered from business informatics to business administration.
Berlin University of Technology: Berlin University of Technology is a university of applied sciences under public law. Courses are offered in engineering disciplines such as mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, business and civil engineering, as well as courses in media informatics, biotechnology, medical physics, food technology, screen-based media, geoinformation, or theatre and event technology. 11 of the courses are distance courses, such as business informatics and industrial engineering. The university has been in existence since 1971, with 12,957 students enrolled in the winter semester 2018/2019, including around 500 at the distance learning institute.
Institute for Collaborative Studies: The Institute for Collaborative Studies is a network of 13 state universities of applied sciences in North Rhine-Westphalia and organizes a range of distance courses from these universities of applied sciences. Bachelor's and master's courses are offered, particularly in technical areas, but also in business law or social work.
Private Universities
Due to the high demand for business informatics studies, there are many private universities offering corresponding courses. Private universities are state-recognized and offer bachelor's and master's degree programs.
Advantages of private universities:
- Private universities often offer better-prepared and more current study materials, as well as a mixed media of study booklets, online lectures, webinars, and podcasts.
- Studying at private universities can frequently be shortened by recognizing previous achievements.
- Most private universities allow starting studies at any time.
- The study and examination centres of private universities are often spread across Germany.
- At some private universities, there are fewer to no attendance phases.
Here are the private universities offering distance learning courses in business informatics in their study program:
Wilhelm Büchner University: The WBH - "Mobile University of Technology" - is a private university of applied sciences that primarily offers distance courses in computer science, engineering, and industrial engineering. The university is based in Pfungstadt, with possible exam locations spread across Germany. The university was founded in 1996, with 4,802 students enrolled in the winter semester 2023/2024.
IU International University: IU is a private university of applied sciences based in Erfurt. The university's program consists of on-campus study programs, part-time study programs, dual study programs, and more than 100 distance courses. In the IT sector, the university currently offers more than 10 bachelor's and master's courses, ranging from media informatics and business informatics to UX design and IT management. The university has been in existence since 1999, with 116,027 students enrolled in the winter semester 2023/24.
University of Wismar: Although Wismar University of Applied Sciences is a state university, distance courses are offered through WINGS - Wismar International Graduation Services GmbH, a subsidiary of the university. The university offers a total of 46 distance courses and further education programs, including bachelor’s and master’s programs in business informatics.
AKAD University: AKAD University is a private university of applied sciences and offers a wide range of distance courses in business, engineering, and IT, as well as languages. The company was founded in 1959 as part of the Swiss AKAD group. In the winter semester 2023/2024, 6,370 students were studying at AKAD.
Fresenius University of Applied Sciences: Fresenius University is a private university of applied sciences with locations in Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, Idstein, Cologne, and Munich. The university is the largest private on-campus university in Germany. With its Onlineplus department, the university now also offers on-campus study programs online. In the IT sector, the university offers the unique distance course Business and Industrial Informatics with the degree "Bachelor of Science".
DIPLOMA University: DIPLOMA University was founded in 1997 and operates a campus in Bad Sooden-Allendorf (Hesse) and a study center in Leipzig. Distance courses in various disciplines are offered, including business informatics courses with the goal of obtaining bachelor's and master's degrees. In the winter semester 2018/2019, a total of 6,648 students were enrolled at this private university of applied sciences.
Requirements: Studying Business Informatics without Numerus Clausus
None of the courses I present here are restricted by a Numerus Clausus. Furthermore, most bachelor's courses are quite easily accessible. You can enroll in almost all bachelor's courses if you have a high school diploma, a technical diploma, or specialized university entrance qualification. In some cases, you may need to demonstrate some work experience, such as in the business informatics cooperation program, which requires six months of work experience.
In addition, distance learning requires you to motivate and discipline yourself independently over an extended period of several years, possibly alongside your job and family life.
The requirements for master's programs are somewhat different. The following table provides a comparison of the admission requirements for various business informatics master's programs at a glance:
| Master's Program | University | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Business Informatics | Wilhelm Büchner University |
|
| Business Informatics | Institute for Collaborative Studies |
|
| Business Informatics | University of Wismar |
|
| Business Informatics | University of Hagen |
|
| Business Informatics | oncampus GmbH |
|
| Business Informatics | IU International University |
|
| VAWi - Virtual Further Education Course Business Informatics | University of Duisburg-Essen |
|
What You Learn in a Business Informatics Degree Program
Business informatics is an interdisciplinary course of study that combines informatics modules with modules from the field of business and economics. When choosing your course of study, pay attention to the specialization options offered.
For example, here are the study contents of a bachelor's distance learning program - the Business Informatics Bachelor at University of Hagen:
- 1st Semester: Introduction to Economic Science, Basic Features of Business Informatics, Business Mathematics
- 2nd Semester: External Accounting, Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming, Algorithmic Mathematics
- 3rd Semester: Financing and decision-theoretic basics of Business Administration, Introduction to Technical Informatics and Operating Systems and Computing Networks, Modeling of Information Systems
- 4th Semester: Internal Accounting and Functional Control, Introduction to Internet Technology and Information Systems, Business Information Systems
- 5th Semester: Information Management, Theory of the Market Economy or Macroeconomics
- 6th Semester: two elective modules, Bachelor thesis
The study contents of master's programs differ much more from each other. Here is an example of the Master Business Informatics at IU International University:
- 1st Semester: E-Commerce, IT Governance, Compliance, and Law, Research Methodology, Management
- 2nd Semester: 1 specialization of free choice, Seminar Societal Challenges of Digitalization, Requirements Management, Managing IT Projects and Change, IT Management Project
- 3rd Semester: Digital Business Models, Seminar: Current Topics in IT Management, 1 specialization in the field of computer science, 1 specialization in the field of business administration or computer science
- 4th Semester: Master thesis
The Cost of Studying Business Informatics via Distance Learning
Tuition fees for a business informatics degree vary tremendously - depending on whether you want to study at a state university or a private university.
At state universities, you typically only pay the semester fees (around 200€ per semester) and material fees for printed study booklets for bachelor's courses. At private universities, you do not pay semester fees; however, you pay for more intensive support, more and better-prepared study materials, the online campus, etc.
The following table compares the total costs of business informatics bachelor's distance courses in detail:
Master's programs are generally more expensive, even at state universities, with the exception being FernUni Hagen. The following table compares the total costs of Master's distance courses in business informatics:
| Course | University | Duration | Fees | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business informatics, Master of Science Distance learning program | University of Hagen | 4 Semester | from 1156 € total | |
| Business informatics, Master of Science Distance learning program | Institute for Collaborative Studies | 5 Semester | from 2250 € total | |
| Business informatics, Master of Science Distance learning program | Wilhelm Büchner University | 3 Semester | from 6642 € total from 369 € monthly | |
| Business informatics, Master of Science Distance learning program | oncampus GmbH | 4 Semester | from 7680 € total | |
| Business informatics, Master of Science Distance learning program | IU International University | 2 Semester | from 10099 € total from 475 € monthly | |
| Business Informatics, Master of Science Distance learning program | University of Wismar | 5 Semester | from 11750 € total from 392 € monthly | |
| VAWi - Virtual Further Education Course Business Informatics, Master of Science Distance learning program | University of Duisburg-Essen | 3 Semester | from 12420 € total |
Career Perspectives: These are the tasks and job prospects for business informatics specialists
Business informatics specialists are in demand professionals at the interface between IT and business administration. They have broad knowledge in both areas and are therefore able to analyse, optimise, and support complex business processes through IT solutions. These skills open up various career opportunities for them in different industries.
Typical tasks of a business informatics specialist:
- IT-supported process optimisation: Business informatics specialists analyse existing business processes and develop strategies to make them more efficient. They use modern technologies such as ERP systems, business intelligence tools, or cloud solutions for this purpose.
- Project management: In IT projects, they often take on leadership roles and coordinate interdisciplinary teams. They ensure that technical requirements are in line with corporate objectives.
- Data management and analysis: Business informatics specialists collect, structure, and analyse company data to support data-based decision-making. Activities in data analysis or in the field of big data are increasingly in demand.
- IT strategy development: They develop long-term IT strategies aimed at the digital transformation and competitiveness of companies. Here, they are often also active in advisory roles.
- Software development and adaptation: Many business informatics specialists programme themselves or customise existing software to meet the individual needs of companies.
Business informatics specialists find employment in almost all industries, as IT plays a key role in every company. They are particularly common in management consultancy, where they support companies in digitization projects or the introduction of new IT systems. In the IT departments of large companies, they develop and maintain corporate software or IT infrastructures. They are also in demand in logistics and supply chain management to optimize supply chains through digital solutions. Banks and insurance companies rely on business informatics specialists to develop IT solutions for financial products or risk management. In e-commerce and online marketing, they contribute to the analysis and further development of online platforms and shop systems.
Salary: What do business informatics specialists earn?
It is not possible to answer what business informatics specialists earn in general terms, as the salary depends on many different factors, such as professional experience, federal state, company size, and of course, negotiation skills.
Salary for permanent employees, according to gehalt.de, computer scientists earn an average of between €45,406 and €78,000 gross. App developers can expect a salary between €42,600 and €59,700. As a frontend developer, you will probably earn between €38,500 and €54,600, depending on the federal state, career level, and company.
On average, as a business informatics specialist, you are estimated to earn between €42,168 and €64,100, which translates to monthly gross earnings ranging from €3,514 to €5,341.
How difficult is business informatics really?
As a beginner in studies, you are certainly wondering how difficult business informatics really is. It is safe to say that this question cannot be answered in general terms. Depending on previous experience, the study may be easier for some and more challenging for others.
Generally speaking, with a distance learning programme, you will face certain difficulties that on-site students do not have to the same extent. For example, you will have to constantly motivate yourself over a long period – in part-time studies over 8-12 semesters, i.e., over 4 years!
Aside from that, every beginning of studies is quite challenging because you may feel overwhelmed by the amount of material and information hitting you. However, it is usually much easier from the second semester onwards, and you can better assess how many and which modules you should take per semester.
Difficulties could also arise from mathematics in business informatics studies. Don't drive yourself crazy about it! At most universities, including the University of Hagen, you can take a pre-course to refresh your math skills. Wilhelm Büchner University also offers a corresponding preparatory course.
About the Author Christian Wolf
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