Requirements for enrollment

A higher education entrance qualification is required for admission, 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).

A completed master craftsman's examination or a successfully completed advanced training such as the state-certified technician or the state-certified business administrator also qualify as higher education entrance qualifications.

In addition, you can also be admitted to the distance learning programme in Business Informatics at the Hochschule Schmalkalden even without a higher education entrance qualification:

• You have completed a vocational training.
• Following your vocational training, you have been professionally employed for at least 3 years.
• Your vocational training and professional activities should be related to commercial law. If your vocational training is not relevant, you can be admitted through an entrance examination.

The standard period of study for the degree programme is 8 semesters. If you have relevant vocational training and corresponding professional experience, these can be recognized. Then you can complete your distance learning programme while working in just 6 semesters!

Study Contents, Modules, and Specializations

The course combines expertise in computer science with basics of business administration and the current topic of digital transformation. In 6-8 semesters, you will intensively study web technologies, programming, and accounting. You will acquire 180 ECTS credits within the standard period of 8 semesters.

This is how the course is structured:

• 1st Semester: Introduction to business informatics, basics of economics, Mathematics I, project management
• 2nd Semester: Mathematics II, financing and investment, marketing and customer relationship management, academic work and key qualifications, programming I
• 3rd Semester: Application systems, accounting, web technologies, programming II, software engineering and agile software development
• 4th Semester: Information management, service management, computer networks, databases
• 5th Semester: IT law and IT compliance, business management and controlling, IT security and data protection, mobile application development, business process management
• 6th Semester: Digital transformation and digital conception, computer-based intelligence, blockchain, digital business models and entrepreneurship
• 7th Semester: Practical project
• 8th Semester: Practical project (continued), bachelor's thesis, colloquium

On-Site Attendance in Schmalkalden

What sets the distance learning program at the University of Schmalkalden apart are the intensive on-site presence and block seminars in Schmalkalden (Thuringia). During these on-site sessions, you can exchange ideas about the learning content 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. These sessions are organized to be easily manageable alongside your job - typically held over 3-4 days on weekends.

Practical Project in the 7th and 8th Semester

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

If you are employed in a relevant position during your studies, you can have the practical project credited, reducing the standard study period by one semester.

Tuition Fees

At the University of Schmalkalden, you pay the tuition fees for the part-time studies on a semester basis, always before the start of the semester. The tuition fees for the Bachelor of Science in Business Informatics and Digital Transformation amount to 2,100 Euro per semester.

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

In total, the study costs amount to approximately 16,800 Euro plus semester fees. By recognizing your relevant vocational training and your work-related studies, you can complete the program in 6 academic semesters, resulting in a total cost of approximately 12,600 Euro plus semester fees.

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