Englisch 
Deutsch 
The Central State Office for Distance Learning (ZFU) has approved the course Business Informatics under the number 1128721c. Who this B.Sc. in Business Informatics suits – and what you need to get in
This programme is designed for you if you want a recognised Bachelor’s degree while studying remotely. Typical profiles include: working professionals in IT support or QA who want to formalise skills with a management-oriented tech degree; business or finance juniors aiming to pivot into data, ERP or IT project roles; internationally mobile applicants who live outside Germany and need a fully remote path with limited on-site time.
Admission requirements
Entry routes are transparent and include options with and without a traditional school-leaving diploma. The programme is taught in German.
- University entrance qualification: German Abitur or a higher education entrance qualification (Hochschulreife). Equivalent foreign secondary school certificates can be accepted if they grant access to university in the issuing country; official translations and documentation may be required.
- Admission without Abitur: possible via a recognised subject-related professional advancement exam (fachspezifische Fortbildungsprüfung) or with completed vocational training plus suitable professional experience. Evidence of training content and work history is required for assessment.
- Language of instruction: German. You need German strong enough for academic texts, seminars and exams across informatics and business. Applicants who did not complete schooling in German should be prepared to submit a recognised language certificate. Accepted proofs are defined by the university; common formats in Germany include DSH, TestDaF or Goethe-Zertifikat.
- On-site components: plan for 8 days of on-site seminars (64 hours) in Germany across the entire programme, plus 14 online seminars (40 hours). If you live abroad, factor in travel time, costs and any visa requirements.
- Scope of study: 180 ECTS, with study plans of 36 or 48 months; rolling admission enables a start at any time.
Personal requirements
Remote study from abroad demands reliable routines and honest time budgeting. Expect around 23 hours per week for reading, assignments and exam prep in the standard track; peak weeks will be higher before exams or seminars. You should be comfortable learning independently, keeping multiple deadlines in parallel, and coordinating monthly online exams across time zones.
Because the programme is in German, you need advanced comprehension for academic materials and the ability to write structured answers in German under exam conditions. Solid numeracy and basic programming readiness help, but more important are perseverance, a realistic study schedule, and proactive communication with tutors if you fall behind. A stable internet connection and a quiet space for online exams are essential to stay on track.
What will you study in Business informatics at European Distance Learning University Hamburg?
The programme is taught in German. You should plan on advanced German skills; typical proofs are TestDaF, DSH or Goethe-Zertifikat (C1). You study Business Informatics (B.Sc., 180 ECTS) as a Fernstudium — distance learning at a private Fachhochschule (university of applied sciences). The course is state-approved by the ZFU, Germany’s distance-learning authority, and culminates in a Bachelor’s thesis.
Foundations in IT and informatics. You build core technical skills for the business context: modules such as Coding/Programming, Operating Systems and Databases, plus Software Engineering. Web Technologies and Cloud Computing round off your understanding of modern application stacks.
Business and management essentials. You cover General Business Administration, Accounting and Controlling & Finance. Project Management and Operations prepare you to manage processes and deliver IT-enabled change inside organisations.
Enterprise information systems and data competence. You work with ERP (e.g. SAP), Business Process Solutions and Enterprise/Business Engineering. Data competence develops through SQL-based work, Business Intelligence and knowledge management methods.
Digital transformation and architecture. Content spans Digital Business Models and Strategies, IT Strategy and Management, and frameworks such as TOGAF/enterprise architecture. You also encounter product lifecycle topics and organisational leadership fundamentals.
Electives. You choose one specialisation from: Business Intelligence; Big Data Management; Digital Transformation; IT Strategy & Management; IT Solution Engineering; Logistics & Supply Chain Management. Your choice lets you tailor the degree towards analytics, architecture, platforms or operations.
Learning format specifics. The curriculum includes 14 online seminars (around 40 hours) and 8 days of mandatory on-site seminars in Germany (around 64 hours). The programme finishes with a Bachelor’s thesis supervised by the university.
How does the Business informatics distance programme work?
You study fully remotely for most of the programme, with a small on-site component in Germany. The course carries ZFU approval no. 1128721c, signalling compliance with German standards for distance learning. No visa is required for a purely remote path, but note the mandatory on-site seminar days described below.
Teaching language and language certificates
The teaching language is German. Course materials, tutorials, exams and seminars are primarily in German. If you were educated outside Germany, you will typically need proof of advanced German proficiency; common certificates are TestDaF, DSH or Goethe-Zertifikat (C1).
Learning format and study materials
This is a Fernstudium (distance-learning format) with multimedia: digital study texts, webinars, audio study units, virtual labs and a KI-based study assistant. It follows the applied approach of a Fachhochschule (university of applied sciences) with practice-oriented tasks and projects embedded into modules.
Exams and taking them from outside Germany
Exams are offered monthly. You can take many assessments online with remote proctoring from abroad, or at exam centres in Germany (around ten nationwide). Identity checks and technical requirements apply for online proctoring.
Mandatory on-site sessions in Germany
Plan for 8 days of in-person compact seminars in Germany across the study period (totalling about 64 teaching hours). These are compulsory for graduation. In addition, there are about 14 online seminars (around 40 hours) that you attend remotely.
Workload, time models and time zones
The standard workload is roughly 21–23 hours per week. You can choose 36 or 48 months as your nominal duration, with generous free extensions (typically 18 or 24 months) if you need more time. Live online sessions follow the Central European Time (CET/CEST) zone; recordings are used where possible to support different time zones.
What does the Business informatics cost?
Over the regular 48-month model the stated total tuition is €13,872, commonly paid in €289 per month. That gives you a clear monthly cost baseline for planning. The university typically offers a 36-month track as well; shorter tracks consolidate tuition into higher monthly instalments while reducing the overall duration.
Extensions. You can extend beyond the nominal duration — usually up to 18–24 months — without extra tuition, which protects you if life or work gets busy. Budget separately for travel and accommodation during the mandatory 8 on-site seminar days in Germany.
Payments. Tuition is paid in monthly instalments. If you live outside the EU, arrange a payment method that works from your country; the study office can provide options for international payments. All figures refer to regular tuition and exclude any temporary promotions.
What careers and recognition does the Business informatics offer?
The degree awards 180 ECTS credits under the Bologna framework. ECTS are widely recognised across Europe and understood by many universities and employers worldwide. The programme holds programme accreditation by FIBAA (via the German Accreditation Council) until February 2030, and the university is state-recognised in Germany. For distance learning, ZFU approval confirms the course design and assessment standards.
What this means internationally. As a Bachelor of Science from a German university of applied sciences, the credential signals a practice-oriented curriculum with measurable learning outcomes. For graduate study, 180 ECTS typically qualify you for many European master’s degrees, subject to each university’s admission rules.
Typical roles after graduation include:
- Business/IT analyst, BI developer or data specialist (e.g. SQL, reporting, dashboards)
- ERP consultant or application specialist (e.g. SAP landscapes and process integration)
- IT project manager or product owner for digital transformation initiatives
- Enterprise or solution architect focusing on IT strategy and governance
- Software or solutions engineer in web, cloud or integration projects
Salaries vary by country and sector. Roles at the business–IT interface often command higher entry bands in tech-driven industries, especially with ERP, analytics or cloud skills, and grow with project responsibility and architecture exposure.
Who is the Business informatics right for - and who not?
This programme suits working professionals who want a recognised German B.Sc. at distance, with a strong mix of IT, data and business process expertise. If you can study in German and value monthly exams plus a clear specialisation choice, the format is a practical fit.
- You want a fully-fledged bachelor’s degree (180 ECTS) you can complete largely online alongside a job.
- You are comfortable studying in German and collaborating in German-language seminars.
- You prefer monthly online exams and the option to sit some assessments from abroad.
- You want to specialise in areas such as BI, Big Data, IT Strategy or Supply Chain.
- You appreciate a Fachhochschule approach: applied, practice-focused learning.
There are also clear situations where this course is not a good match. Language and on-site requirements matter if you plan to study entirely from outside Germany.
- You need a programme taught in English from start to finish.
- You cannot travel to Germany at all: 8 days of on-site seminars in Germany are mandatory.
- You require exams exclusively at international test centres with no online proctoring option.
- You seek direct access to a regulated profession; Business Informatics does not lead to a protected licensure track.
Advisory Service
Have questions about Academic Programs Business Informatics? Ask your question here, even anonymously. An employee of the institution European Distance Learning University Hamburg or the editorial team will answer you.