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The Central State Office for Distance Learning (ZFU) has approved the course Business Informatics and IT Management under the number 138009c. Who this online M.Sc. fits, and what you need to get in
This Master in Business Informatics and IT Management suits you if you want to move into leadership at the intersection of IT and business while studying fully online. Typical profiles include: an IT or data analyst aiming for a strategic role in IT architecture or process management; a business graduate working in SaaS, e-commerce or consulting who needs solid technical depth for product or project leadership; a software engineer stepping towards IT consulting, digital transformation or technology venture building.
Admission requirements
To enrol, you need a completed first degree and, if applicable, proof of German language ability. In detail:
- First university degree (Bachelor or equivalent) in one of these fields: Business Informatics, Computer Science, Business Administration with a focus on Business Informatics; or Business Administration/Industrial Engineering plus successful completion of the programme’s preparatory module “Propädeutikum B”.
- Teaching language: German. If you earned your prior education outside the German-speaking system, you must prove German at advanced level. Accepted proofs include DSH-2, TestDaF level 4, or German GER C1 (Common European Framework). A school-leaving certificate equivalent to a German higher-education entrance qualification can also serve as proof of German.
- English skills are expected at around C1 GER for literature and assignments (recommended).
- Admission with foreign qualifications: International Bachelor’s degrees are recognised if comparable to a German first degree. Submit full transcripts and degree certificates; certified translations are required where documents are not in German or English.
- No Abitur required. However, admission without a first academic degree is not offered for this Master; professional experience alone does not replace a Bachelor’s.
Personal requirements
Remote study from abroad works if you bring consistent self-management, reliable tech and strong language skills for German study materials. Plan with an average workload of about 28 hours per week for reading, projects and assessments. If you work full-time, choose a longer track and reserve protected study slots on several weekdays plus one longer session at weekends. You should be comfortable with independent research, academic writing, basic statistics, and collaboration in virtual teams across time zones. Steady internet access, a quiet workspace and perseverance are key to keeping pace through project phases and thesis work. Clear goals, a weekly learning plan and early exam scheduling make the online format predictable and sustainable alongside your job.
What will you study in the Business informatics and IT management (M.Sc.) at AKAD University?
This programme is taught in German. For admission as an international student you need certified German at C1 level, typically DSH-2, TestDaF level 4 or C1 GER, or an equivalent school-leaving certificate proving German at that level. You study in a German Fernstudium (distance learning) at a state-recognised private Fachhochschule (university of applied sciences). The course is approved by the German distance-learning authority ZFU.
The curriculum connects business, IT and management across four semesters (120 ECTS). Rather than isolated modules, you work through coherent blocks and apply your knowledge in three integrated master projects and a final thesis.
Digital business and process design: You start with innovative concepts in business informatics, then analyse and optimise processes in “Process analysis and IT-supported process management”. Customer and supplier relationships are addressed in “IT-supported customer and service management”.
IT strategy, architecture and security: You develop KPI-driven IT strategies, design enterprise architectures and cover “IT architecture and IT security management”. Usability for mobile and desktop systems ensures you translate strategy into user-centred solutions.
Leadership and international collaboration: You build collaboration skills in “Teamwork, collaboration and change management” and work in global contexts through “International management and intercultural communication”. Ethics and the societal impact of digitalisation round off this strand.
Innovation and entrepreneurship: You learn to evaluate and position technology ventures in “Founding and market positioning of technology companies”, linking product-market fit with technical feasibility and go-to-market planning.
Integrated master projects and thesis: Across three project modules you progress from requirements engineering to solution design and “empirical investigations and analytical statistics”. The programme concludes with a Master’s thesis and colloquium. Practical phases are embedded in these projects; there is no long on-site internship.
Electives (two specialisations): You choose two depth areas such as Mobile computing and embedded systems, Process and IT consulting, Management of agile and traditional IT projects, Complex web application design, Electronic entrepreneurship, or Digital B2B marketing and technical sales. This lets you position yourself either on the technology or the transformation/consulting side.
How does the Business informatics and IT management distance programme work?
The degree runs fully online with structured self-study, webinars and digital exams. It is ZFU-approved (No. 138009c) and designed for working professionals. You can complete the course from abroad; a visa is not required for a purely remote programme.
Teaching language and language certificates
The teaching language is German. You need proven German at C1 level (e.g. DSH-2, TestDaF 4, or C1 GER). Some readings may be in English, but teaching, assessments and support are conducted in German.
Learning format and study materials
This is a 100% distance-learning format (Fernstudium) via AKAD’s online campus. You work with digital study notes and scripts, video lectures, podcasts, exercises and discussion boards. Three integrated project modules connect the content to practice. Support includes tutor guidance and scheduled online seminars.
Exams and taking them from outside Germany
Assessments include online exams with proctoring, written assignments, project work and oral assessments conducted digitally. You can schedule most exams flexibly and sit them from outside Germany, provided you have a stable internet connection and meet proctoring requirements.
Mandatory on-site sessions in Germany
Short in-person sessions are part of the programme. The ZFU approval outlines around 18 hours of on-site seminars during the degree, plus online seminars. Depending on your specialisation, additional online seminars of up to 12 hours may apply. Plan for a short trip to Germany for the on-site block; there are no long laboratory residencies.
Weekly workload, time models and time zones
The indicative study load is about 28 hours per week. You choose one of three time models: Sprint (24 months), Standard (36 months) or Stretch (48 months). Live online sessions and support run on German time (CET/CEST), relevant if you join from other time zones. Each model includes a built-in free extension window (12/9/3 months respectively) if you need more time.
What does the Business informatics and IT management (M.Sc.) cost?
Your monthly fee depends on the time model. The undiscounted tuition is €529 per month (24 months), €399 per month (36 months) or €319 per month (48 months). Over the standard duration this equals €12,696 (Sprint), €14,364 (Standard) or €15,312 (Stretch) in tuition.
In addition, a one-off €960 examination fee applies. If you add this to the tuition totals, you should budget around €13,656 (Sprint), €15,324 (Standard) or €16,272 (Stretch) for the full degree. Study materials and use of the online campus are included in the monthly fees.
You pay in monthly instalments in euros. From abroad, payment typically works via SEPA or card payments arranged after enrolment; currency conversion or bank charges depend on your provider. The time models include a free extension (12/9/3 months), so you can absorb delays without extra tuition payments during that buffer.
What careers and recognition does the Business informatics and IT management (M.Sc.) offer?
You earn a 120 ECTS Master of Science under the Bologna framework (second cycle). The programme is accredited by ACQUIN through the German Accreditation Council until 30 September 2027. ACQUIN is an agency listed in EQAR, which supports international comparability. AKAD University is a state-recognised German university of applied sciences and the course has ZFU approval for distance learning. For employers and universities abroad, this signals a formal, quality-assured Master’s degree eligible for further study, including PhD access where your profile and local rules permit.
Typical roles after graduation include:
- IT process manager or business process owner in enterprise IT and shared services
- Business intelligence or data product manager in data-driven units
- IT consultant in process, ERP/CRM, cloud or security projects
- Project manager or product owner (agile or hybrid) for digital initiatives
- Technology manager or digital transformation lead in industry and services
Salaries vary widely by country, sector and experience. In most OECD markets, master’s-level roles in consulting, product and IT management pay a premium over bachelor’s-level positions; certification and domain expertise (e.g. ERP, cloud, security) further influence ranges.
Who is the Business informatics and IT management (M.Sc.) right for – and who not?
This programme fits experienced or aspiring professionals at the interface of business and IT who want a German-language master’s degree with maximum flexibility. If you work full-time and need to schedule learning and exams around your job, the time models and online assessment options are a strong match.
- You want a recognised 120 ECTS Master’s with ACQUIN accreditation and ZFU-approved distance delivery.
- You prefer a fully online study format with flexible, proctored exams from anywhere.
- You aim to lead digital projects, design IT strategies or consult on process and systems change.
- You value applied learning via integrated master projects rather than purely theoretical study.
- You need predictable monthly costs with options to study in 24, 36 or 48 months.
There are also clear cases where this programme is not a good fit. Read these carefully before you decide from abroad.
- You need the programme to be taught in English. Teaching, materials and exams are in German and require C1 proficiency.
- You cannot travel to Germany at all. A short on-site seminar of around 18 hours is part of the curriculum.
- You seek a pathway into a regulated profession with licensure requirements; this master’s does not grant access to regulated clinical or teaching professions.
- You want a campus-based student experience with daily in-person classes; this is a distance-learning degree designed for self-paced study.
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