Englisch 
Deutsch Who is the part-time diploma distance learning course in Business Informatics suitable for?
The course is aimed at working professionals with a university degree in the field of engineering, business administration or a combination of both, who want to prepare for key roles at the interface of IT and business alongside their careers. It particularly addresses individuals who have already gained relevant professional experience and now wish to expand their expertise with business informatics, technical and conceptual skills. The goal is to approach tasks in the digital transformation of companies analytically and creatively and to lead projects in IT-related occupational fields.
Formal admission requirements at a glance
- Completed studies in an engineering, business administration or interdisciplinary degree programme (university, university of applied sciences or technical college, degree at least Bachelor or equivalent)
- At least one year of relevant practical experience following the first professional qualifying higher education degree
- For applicants without German as their native language: German language skills at level C1 (proof required)
- No admission restrictions (open admission), applications are possible each summer semester
You should be willing to engage with technical and economic content as well as to study independently and in a structured way alongside your job. Analytical thinking, an interest in process design, openness to digitalisation topics and communication skills are useful personal prerequisites. Practical experience in business processes, IT applications or project work facilitates entry into the course.
What content does the distance learning course in Business Informatics cover?
In the diploma course in Business Informatics at the West Saxon University of Zwickau, you will acquire application-oriented and interdisciplinary skills from computer science, business, and management. The main subject areas and skills you will learn are:
- General scientific and economic foundations: Insight into business administration (BWL), economics (VWL), accounting, and operational processes.
- Fundamentals of computer science and programming: Understanding of PC technology, introduction to programming, logic, algorithms, and computer architecture.
- Modern information technologies: Information systems and management, data analysis, database systems, networks, as well as mobile systems.
- Practical applications and project management: Development of digital business models, implementation of IoT applications, production management & quality management.
- Specialisation in current technologies: Data analysis, artificial intelligence, interoperability, and process-oriented operational information systems.
- Social and methodological skills: Project work, English communication skills (English for computer scientists, English in management), team leadership and coaching.
- Job-related practical knowledge: Two internships offer you the opportunity to apply what you have learned directly in a business context.
- Final project: In the diploma project, you independently carry out a comprehensive practical assignment.
How is the study programme structured in the distance learning course?
The course is designed to be completed alongside work and normally lasts five semesters (90 ECTS). It combines flexibility with targeted on-site phases:
- Each semester includes one block week and six weekends of on-site classes.
- The language of instruction is German, with some modules supplemented by English-language components.
- The start of studies is possible each summer semester.
- Practice- and project-oriented units (e.g., internships and the diploma project) are firmly integrated into the study programme.
- In the 1st and 2nd semesters, the focus is on fundamentals in business, computer science and programming.
- From the 3rd semester onwards, there is a subject specialisation focusing on digital business models, data analysis and innovative IT concepts.
- The 5th semester is reserved for the diploma project, in which you work on an independent research or practical project.
What career opportunities and professional prospects arise?
Graduates of the diploma distance learning course in Business Informatics are versatile – especially at the interface between IT and business processes. Typical fields of work are:
- IT project management: Managing complex projects in the field of digitisation and software development.
- System management and IT consulting: Controlling analysis, development and implementation of operational information systems.
- Knowledge and communication management: Designing internal communication and information structures.
- Digital transformation: Developing and implementing new business models based on current IT technologies.
- Industry and service sector: Working in companies using IT-supported application systems.
Thanks to the recognised university degree, further opportunities also open up in the field of research as well as positions with management responsibilities.
What costs can you expect in the diploma distance learning course in Business Informatics?
The course costs 200 euros per semester in addition to the regular semester fee of the university. For a total of five semesters, this results in tuition fees amounting to 1,000 euros plus the semester contribution fees charged each semester.
- Additional financial expenses may arise from travel and accommodation costs during the on-site phases.
- Financing is possible via education loans, possibly employer sponsorship and through tax deductibility as income-related expenses.
- Students can seek advice from the university on current scholarships and funding opportunities.
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Hi, I'm Christian, the founder of fernstudi.net & your personal, independent study advisor 👋 Do you have questions about a course of study or are unsure which course is right for you? I'm happy to help - in detail, competently, honestly, and individually.
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Have questions about Academic Programs Business informatics? Ask your question here, even anonymously. An employee of the institution University of West Saxony Zwickau or the editorial team will answer you.
“Recognised” can mean a few different things (legal recognition in Germany vs. how recruiters perceive it).
Recognition in Germany (the important baseline)
The University of West Saxony Zwickau (WHZ) is a state university of applied sciences in Germany. A diploma awarded by a German state university is generally a solid, formally recognised higher-education qualification in Germany.
For German employers, the bigger signal is usually: public university + relevant curriculum + your work experience. In IT (including IT support), practical skills and credible project experience often weigh at least as much as the exact degree label.
“Diplom” + 90 ECTS: how to interpret that
Your programme is a part-time diploma programme with 90 ECTS over 5 semesters and on-site phases. That strongly suggests it’s a postgraduate/continuing-education style diploma (i.e., built on a first degree + work experience), not a full first-cycle Bachelor.
On applications in Germany, I’d present it very explicitly to avoid misunderstandings: “Diploma (Business Informatics), 90 ECTS, part-time (continuing education), WHZ” and add your prior degree (Bachelor or equivalent) clearly above it.
Weight outside Germany
Internationally, “Diplom” can be understood differently depending on the country. Some recruiters may not immediately know what it maps to.
What helps in practice:
Always list: ECTS (90), duration/part-time format, entry requirement (requires a first degree + professional experience), and core modules.
If you apply outside Germany, consider adding a short equivalency note in brackets (without over-claiming), e.g. “postgraduate continuing education diploma (90 ECTS)”.
If a formal equivalency is required (e.g., immigration, regulated roles, some public-sector employers), you may need an official credential evaluation in the target country.
How “solid” it looks for IT support → broader IT roles
For moving from IT support into roles like business analyst, IT project coordination, application management, ERP/CRM, data/BI, or interface roles between IT and business, the curriculum you shared (processes, databases, networks, project management, data analysis/AI basics) is a good match.
To maximise employer value, pair the diploma with evidence: a small portfolio (process modelling, SQL/database project, scripting, reporting/BI, or a project-management case) and quantify what you do at work.
Two quick questions so I can tailor the advice:
Where do you want to work long-term: Germany/EU, UK, US/Canada, or “anywhere”? (Recognition works differently.) What’s your first degree (subject + level), and what job direction do you want next after IT support (e.g., sysadmin, data/BI, IT project management, business analysis)?
If you want, I can also help you phrase the degree correctly for your CV/LinkedIn for Germany vs. international applications.
Hi, could someone from the University of West Saxony Zwickau study advice tell me how the tuition fees for the part-time Business Informatics diploma are usually paid? I’m working full-time in IT support, so I’d especially like to know whether the 200 euros per semester can be split up or if it has to be paid in one go. Are there any different payment options depending on how you organise the study alongside work? And: Ar there are any discounts, scholarships, or special offers on tuition?
Hi, the part-time Business Informatics diploma at the University of Applied Sciences Zwickau (WHZ) costs 200 euros per semester, totalling 1,000 euros over 5 semesters. On top of that, a general semester contribution is due (covering student services, student council, etc.).
Regarding your specific questions about payment options, instalment plans, discounts, or scholarships: there is no publicly available information on the WHZ website about any of these. The official pages on tuition fees do not mention whether the 200 euros can be split into instalments, nor do they reference any special arrangements for full-time employees, employer subsidies, scholarships, or discounts. Usually you can't split such a semester fee.
For all of these questions, WHZ officially recommends contacting their student affairs office directly.
Could you tell me when the first semester fee is due for the Business Informatics distance learning program at Zwickau University of Applied Sciences - before the program starts, right at the beginning, or only after it begins? And when will I gain access to the digital course materials after payment or enrollment?
When exactly the first semester fee is due — whether before, at, or after the start of the programme — is not clearly specified in any publicly available document for the Business Informatics distance learning programme at WHZ Zwickau. You usually pay fees for upcoming semesters at the end of the current semester.
The only related information found is that re-enrolment windows (which typically trigger fee payments) run from 1 July to 15 August for the winter semester and from 1 January to 15 February for the summer semester. This suggests fees are likely due before the semester actually begins, but this is not confirmed explicitly for first-time enrolment.
Regarding access to digital course materials after payment or enrolment: there is no publicly available information on this either. No official WHZ source specifies when exactly students gain access to the learning platform or digital materials after signing up or paying. Usually you will gain access as soon as the semester starts.
Hi, a foreign school-leaving certificate on its own is not the key admission requirement for this programme.
For this part-time Diploma in Business Informatics at the University of West Saxony Zwickau, admission is primarily based on:
A completed first higher-education degree (at least Bachelor or equivalent) in engineering, business administration, or an interdisciplinary/related field.
At least 1 year of relevant professional experience after that first degree.
If German isn’t your native language: proof of German at C1 level (required). The programme language is German.
About your specific questions:
Foreign school-leaving certificate: by itself, it usually won’t be sufficient for this specific programme, because the formal requirement is a completed university degree (Bachelor or equivalent), not just school-leaving qualification.
Proof of English: the profile doesn’t list an extra English certificate as an admission requirement. There are English-related modules (e.g., “English for computer scientists”), but that’s not the same as requiring an external English test for entry.
Proof of work experience: yes—work experience is explicitly required (at least one year) and it needs to be after your first degree. So you should expect to submit documentation (e.g., employer references/work certificates) when applying.
Two quick questions so I can guide you more precisely:
Do you already have a completed Bachelor (or equivalent) degree, and if yes, in what field and from which country?
Is German your native language, or would you need to provide a C1 German certificate?