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The Central State Office for Distance Learning (ZFU) has approved the course Digital Engineering and Applied Computer Science under the number 144811. Who this online B.Eng. in Digital Engineering fits – and what you need to get in
This German-taught distance programme suits you if you want an internationally recognised Bachelor of Engineering while studying fully online from abroad. Typical profiles include: full-time tech staff aiming to formalise skills with an engineering degree; vocationally trained electronics or mechatronics professionals planning a move into embedded systems or automation; career changers from adjacent fields (e.g. IT support, data ops) who are ready to build solid foundations in maths, programming and digital technology alongside work.
Admission requirements
Formal entry routes are defined by §58 of the Baden-Württemberg Higher Education Act. In brief, you can qualify with school-leaving certificates, recognised professional advancement, or a vocational route.
- With university entrance qualification: Allgemeine Hochschulreife (general), fachgebundene Hochschulreife (subject-specific) or Fachhochschulreife; or an equivalent foreign university entrance qualification (international diplomas are recognised case by case).
- Without Abitur: admission possible via recognised professional advancement (e.g. Techniker/in, Meister/in, Betriebswirt/in, Fachwirt/in, Erzieher/in).
- Vocational route: completed vocational training plus relevant work experience, followed by a university aptitude test; alternatively, admission to a probationary study period (Probestudium) in the corresponding field.
- Required language for this programme: German. You must document advanced German with one of these proofs:
- DSH-2 (Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang)
- TestDaF with level 4 in all sections
- German at C1 (CEFR)
- or entry via Probestudium as specified
- Recommended for success: English at B2 (CEFR), mathematics at university entrance level, and confident PC user skills.
Personal requirements
Remote study rewards consistency. Plan for about 24 hours per week of focused learning across reading, coding exercises, quizzes and assignments. You need solid self-organisation, the discipline to work through mathematical and technical content, and a realistic weekly plan that survives busy periods at work. Comfortable German for academic texts and technical vocabulary is essential; English helps with specialist literature and the “English for Computer Science” modules. A stable internet connection, a quiet study space, and the habit of breaking larger tasks into small daily sessions will make the difference. Expect some independent lab or project work with toolchains for C/C++, Java, databases and networks; be ready to seek feedback early in forums and tutorials and to iterate on your code and reports. If you study from a different time zone, align your schedule with any optional live sessions and set fixed slots for exams and submissions well in advance to stay on track.
What will you study in Digital Engineering at AKAD University?
This Bachelor’s programme is taught in German. If you apply from abroad, you typically need proof of advanced German such as DSH-2, TestDaF level 4 or GER C1. As a Fernstudium (distance learning degree), it blends applied computer science, engineering foundations and management topics and leads to a Bachelor of Engineering.
You build a solid engineering and computing toolkit first. Typical foundation modules include Basic Mathematics for Engineers and Analysis, plus Digital Technology and Basic Electrical Engineering/Electronics. In parallel, you cover Fundamentals of Computer Science with Formal Methods to train precise, engineering-grade thinking.
Software and systems are a second core block: you learn Programming in C/C++ and Java, dive into Operating Systems and Computer Architecture, and practise Software Development with Design Patterns. Labs and exercises reinforce hands-on skills so you can design and debug real systems.
Data and connectivity form the third pillar. You work with Database Systems (including non-standard databases), Networks and Distributed Systems, plus Graphical Data Processing and 2D/Image Processing for visual computing use cases.
Digital business and projects are the fourth strand. You acquire Fundamentals of Business Administration, Business Processes and Application Systems, Enterprise Technologies, and Project and Quality Management to bridge tech with organisational reality and compliance.
Security and embedded practice round things off: modules in Computer Security address threats and defences, while Microcomputer Systems with laboratory connects code to hardware. Two “English for Computer Science” modules strengthen your technical English for documentation and teamwork.
Electives let you specialise. Options listed for this programme include: Embedded Systems, Computer Security I/II, Modern Data Processing, Virtual Reality, Mobile Computing, Sensors and Actuators, Automation Technology, Robotics, Physical Simulation and Machine Learning. You typically pick two tracks and apply them in project work.
Practice components are built in: laboratory work (for example in microcontrollers or digital technology), team projects and a Bachelor’s thesis demonstrate your ability to solve applied problems. AKAD is a private German Hochschule (a university of applied sciences, practice-oriented by design). The course is approved for distance delivery by the German regulator ZFU (Zulassungsnummer/ZFU admission no. stated below), which sets quality and transparency standards for Fernstudium providers.
How does the Digital Engineering distance programme work?
You study fully remotely on AKAD’s digital campus, with rolling start dates and self-paced progress. Teaching, support and exams are organised for working professionals and international students who need flexibility.
Teaching language and certificates
The programme is delivered in German. International applicants generally need recognised proof of proficiency such as DSH-2, TestDaF TDN 4 or GER C1. Technical English is part of the curriculum, but it does not replace German as the teaching language.
Learning format and study materials
This is a Fernstudium (distance learning) with asynchronous study as the default. You work with digital study texts, on-demand videos, interactive exercises and forums on the online campus. Optional live webinars and consultations may be offered; if they occur, they typically follow German time zones (CET/CEST) and are recorded for later viewing.
Exams and assessment from outside Germany
Written exams and many assessments can be taken online with remote proctoring, so you can complete them from abroad. Besides classic written tests, there are assignments, oral exams and project work. The programme is approved by Germany’s distance-learning authority ZFU (admission no. 144811), which covers the distance format and exam modes.
On-site sessions and labs in Germany
Most of the programme is remote. However, compact laboratory blocks are part of the engineering curriculum. Plan for about six on-site lab days in total; depending on your chosen specialisations, up to three additional lab days may be required. Some lab formats run online; others are held in Germany. If you live outside Germany, budget time and travel for any mandatory in-person labs.
Workload, time models and scheduling
Expect around 24 hours per week of study in the standard track. AKAD offers three pacing models so you can align studies with work: a faster track of roughly 42 months, a standard track of about 54 months, and a stretch option of around 72 months. Because teaching is asynchronous, there is no weekly attendance obligation; when live sessions occur, they are scheduled in CET/CEST with recordings provided.
As a purely distance-learning degree with online exams, you do not need a student visa as long as you remain outside Germany. Visa regulations only apply if you relocate for on-site components or for other reasons.
What does the Digital Engineering cost?
Tuition is charged in monthly instalments that depend on your chosen duration model. As guidance, the regular list prices published for similar AKAD pacing options are about €359 per month for ~42 months, €299 per month for ~54 months, or €229 per month for ~72 months. That translates into indicative tuition totals of roughly €15,078 (fast track), €16,146 (standard) or €16,488 (stretch). In addition, AKAD lists a one-time exam fee of €960. Exact figures for your cohort and model are confirmed in your study contract.
Extensions are possible without pressure: AKAD typically includes a free buffer on top of each model (e.g. additional months at no extra cost) so you can finish assignments and the thesis without financial stress. All fees are payable in euros; monthly payment keeps the budget predictable from abroad.
Beyond tuition and the exam fee, plan for incidental costs such as travel and accommodation for any mandatory in-person lab days in Germany (see above). If you bring prior learning that AKAD recognises for credit, you may shorten your study time and reduce the overall cost proportionally.
What careers and recognition does the Digital Engineering offer?
You graduate with a Bachelor of Engineering from AKAD University, a state-recognised German university of applied sciences (Hochschule). The degree is accredited within the German system through AKAD’s internal, council-supervised process and is currently listed as accredited. It follows the Bologna framework with ECTS credits, which facilitates recognition in Europe and is widely understood by employers and universities internationally.
What this means abroad: ECTS makes the workload transparent for admissions teams; a German, accredited Bachelor of Engineering from a state-recognised institution is generally accepted for relevant Master’s programmes in Europe and many countries worldwide, and is legible to employers as an applied, practice-oriented engineering/computing degree. Always check country-specific rules for regulated professions—software and digital engineering roles are typically non-regulated.
Typical roles you can target include:
- Software Engineer for applications, industrial software or embedded systems
- Cybersecurity Specialist focusing on network security, threat mitigation and secure architectures
- Data Engineer or Analyst working on databases, modern data processing and distributed systems
- IoT/Embedded Developer integrating sensors, microcontrollers and connectivity
- Digital Transformation or IT Project Manager in engineering-heavy environments (manufacturing, energy, mobility)
Salaries vary strongly by country and sector. Entry-level software or data roles in major EU markets often start in the mid-five figures (euros) and scale quickly with experience in security, embedded or cloud/distributed systems.
Who is the Digital Engineering right for – and who not?
This programme suits motivated, self-directed learners who want an applied engineering and computer science degree they can complete largely online alongside work. Strong German skills are essential, and the curriculum rewards those who enjoy both low-level systems and higher-level software and data topics.
- You need a flexible, remote distance-learning path you can follow from anywhere and mostly outside office hours.
- You want a German, accredited Bachelor of Engineering based on the Bologna/ECTS system for transparent international recognition.
- You’re interested in programming, operating systems, networks and databases, not just one of these areas.
- You value practical elements like microcomputer labs, projects and a thesis tied to real-world problems.
- You plan to move into software, embedded, data or security roles in tech-driven industries.
It is not the best fit for everyone. The following points are frequent deal-breakers for international applicants and working professionals abroad:
- The teaching language is German. Without DSH-2, TestDaF 4 or GER C1, you will struggle; there is no English-taught track.
- There are mandatory lab days, with some sessions held in Germany. If you cannot travel for compact on-site labs, this programme will be difficult to complete.
- It is an applied engineering degree, not a pure computer science theory track; if you seek heavy mathematics or research-oriented CS, consider a different programme.
- If you require a study visa for full-time on-campus learning, note that this is a distance programme with limited physical attendance, not a campus-based degree.
ZFU approval for distance delivery: 144811. Weekly workload: about 24 hours in the standard model. Most teaching and exams run online; plan travel for any in-person labs in Germany.
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