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The Central State Office for Distance Learning (ZFU) has approved the course Digital Management and Leadership under the number 1102719c. Who this MBA suits and what you need to apply
This programme fits experienced professionals who want to lead digital change while studying fully online. Typical profiles include: marketing or product managers running cross-functional digital projects alongside a full-time job; engineers or operations specialists moving into Industry 4.0 roles; HR or business analysts aiming to formalise leadership skills with an MBA for international career steps. If you need a recognised master’s you can complete remotely, and you are comfortable studying in German, this course is for you.
Admission requirements
To enrol, you need a completed first degree and relevant work experience. The programme is taught in German.
- First degree: a completed bachelor’s or equivalent from a recognised university (in line with Baden-Württemberg higher education law).
- Professional experience: at least 1 year of qualified, post-graduate work experience.
- Language of instruction: German. Accepted proof of proficiency for international applicants includes: - DSH-2 (Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang), - TestDaF with level 4 in all parts (TDN 4), - or documented C1 (CEFR) German proficiency.
- Foreign qualifications: degrees and school-leaving certificates from outside Germany are considered if they are equivalent to German entry standards; expect an equivalence check and submission of certified copies/translations.
- Admission without Abitur: a school-leaving certificate (Abitur) is not required for a master’s. What counts is your first academic degree and professional experience; admission without a first degree is not offered.
- Recommended: strong academic writing skills and English at C1 level for specialist literature.
Personal requirements
Success in a remote MBA depends on your study habits more than your location. You should bring solid self-organisation, perseverance through complex projects and data-driven work, and the ability to communicate confidently in German in writing and discussions. Plan a realistic weekly workload of around 25 hours per week on average; faster tracks require more continuous time, while extended tracks ease the weekly load but prolong the overall duration. A reliable internet connection, a quiet study space, and clear routines for reading, note-taking and scheduling assessments are essential. If you coordinate across time zones with instructors or peers, set fixed windows for synchronous activities and protect deep-work blocks for exams and the master’s thesis.
What will you study in the Digital Management und Leadership (MBA) at AKAD University?
This MBA is taught in German. You need advanced German proficiency (typically DSH-2, TestDaF level 4 or C1 GER, or an equivalent school-leaving certificate) because teaching materials, exams and your thesis are in German. Across 120 ECTS you combine leadership, strategy and digital transformation with hands-on projects and a Master’s thesis.
You study in a German Fernstudium – that means distance learning with flexible pacing and digital exams. AKAD University is a state-recognised German university; in international terms it aligns with the “university of applied sciences” model (Fachhochschule), with a strong practice focus. The programme holds ZFU approval, the German authority that audits and approves distance-learning courses.
Leading in digital transformation: strategy, organisation, change
You build management foundations and leadership skills for change. Typical modules include Strategic Management & Management Techniques, Organisation & Corporate Development, and Leadership plus Leading through Change. You learn to design target operating models and steer transformation with clear governance and KPIs.
Digital business, innovation and new ventures
You explore Digital Business and Digital Transformation end-to-end. Courses like Digital Innovation & Business Modelling and Digital Management focus on platform strategies, product-market fit in data-rich contexts, and agile scaling. Case-based work helps you translate ideas into validated concepts and roadmaps.
Data-driven and evidence-based management
You practise Evidence-based Management with Data Science & Big Data elements. Expect empirical work, analytical statistics and data-informed decision-making. You learn to interrogate data sources, design robust studies and argue recommendations with evidence.
Ethics, leadership and people in digital contexts
You examine Digital Leadership and the ethical responsibility of companies. You address collaboration, hybrid teamwork and culture, and how to lead values-based change while protecting privacy, inclusion and sustainability targets.
Practice integration and thesis
An integrated, three-part Master project runs through the programme: from current-state analysis and requirements engineering, through solution design and implementation planning, to empirical investigation with analytical statistics. You conclude with a Master’s thesis (plus colloquium) in which you solve a real managerial problem with academic rigour.
Electives
You specialise in one of several tracks, for example:
• Data Science & Big Data Analytics – analytics for management decisions
• Digital Human Resource Management & Virtual Organisations – people and culture at scale
• Digital Technologies, Production & Logistics – Industry 4.0 operations
• Digital Media, Marketing & Sales – growth and revenue in digital markets
• Digital Management & Leadership – advanced generalist leadership
How does the Digital Management und Leadership (MBA) distance programme work?
The MBA runs fully online via the AKAD Campus with digital materials, on-demand assessments and optional live elements. It is approved by the German ZFU for distance learning (ZFU no. 1102719c). As a purely remote course with online exams, no visa is required; you can study entirely from abroad.
Teaching language and language certificates
Teaching language: German. For admission you typically need German at C1 level (GER), e.g. DSH-2 or TestDaF 4, or a qualification equivalent to a German higher education entrance certificate. Solid academic writing skills in German are essential because exams, projects and the thesis are conducted in German. Good English skills (around C1) are recommended for literature and sources.
Learning format and study materials
This is a 100% online Fernstudium (distance learning). The AKAD Campus provides e-books, videos, interactive units, self-checks and discussion forums. You work asynchronously at your pace; virtual consultations and webinars support you when needed. The integrated Master project anchors theory in practice throughout.
Exams and taking them from outside Germany
Exams are designed for distance delivery, including online-proctored tests, open-book formats, case studies, project reports and the thesis colloquium via video. You can complete assessments fully online from your location, which makes the programme feasible across time zones.
Mandatory on-site sessions in Germany
There are no mandatory on-site attendance phases. Optional meet-ups or events may be offered, but they are not required for programme completion. This makes the degree accessible even if you cannot travel to Germany.
Weekly workload, time models and time zones
The typical workload is about 25 hours per week. You choose between three pacing models: Sprint (24 months), Standard (36 months) or Stretch (48 months). Live online sessions, where offered, run in German time (CET/CEST). Rolling start dates and self-paced modules help if you work shifts or live outside Europe.
What does the Digital Management und Leadership (MBA) cost?
Tuition follows three time models with monthly instalments. The regular, undiscounted rates shown here are the relevant baseline; a separate, one-time exam fee of €960 applies in addition to tuition.
- Stretch, 48 months: €319 per month. Over the standard duration that’s €15,312 in tuition, plus €960 in exam fees = €16,272 in total.
- Standard, 36 months: €399 per month. Over the standard duration that’s €14,364 in tuition, plus €960 in exam fees = €15,324 in total.
- Sprint, 24 months: €529 per month. Over the standard duration that’s €12,696 in tuition, plus €960 in exam fees = €13,656 in total.
Payment is in monthly instalments over your chosen duration. You study fully online, so you can pay from abroad and complete the degree without relocating. Extensions are possible within AKAD’s model; check whether additional months attract extra tuition in your chosen pace plan and budget time accordingly. Besides the exam fee, small administrative fees may apply for services such as programme changes or credit recognition.
What careers and recognition does the Digital Management und Leadership (MBA) offer?
You earn a Master of Business Administration (MBA), 120 ECTS. ECTS credits follow the Bologna framework used across Europe, which supports international comparability and recognition. AKAD University is a state-recognised German higher education institution. The MBA is accredited through AKAD’s system accreditation by the German Accreditation Council and is currently accredited until 23 June 2034. The programme also holds ZFU approval for distance delivery, a trust signal for quality assurance in Germany.
What this means abroad: an accredited German MBA with 120 ECTS is generally recognised as a postgraduate master’s within the European Higher Education Area. It can support applications for senior roles internationally and, depending on country and institutional policy, may provide access to further postgraduate study. Always confirm any country-specific professional or licensing requirements where relevant.
Typical career paths include:
- Head of Digital Transformation – steering enterprise-wide change, portfolio management and value delivery.
- Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) – leading digital growth with data-driven brand, performance and CRM.
- HR Specialist/People Lead for Digital Change – capability building, culture and workforce transformation.
- Consultant, Digital Management – advising on operating models, product strategy and analytics-enabled decisions.
- Leadership roles across IT, data, operations, logistics, sales and innovation in SMEs and global firms.
Salaries vary widely by country, sector and experience. In general, MBAs strengthen positioning for mid- to senior-management roles, particularly where transformation and digital P&L impact are central.
Who is the Digital Management und Leadership (MBA) right for – and who not?
This programme suits working professionals who want an accredited, genuinely online MBA in German, with strong emphasis on digital strategy, change and data-informed leadership. The flexible Fernstudium format lets you study alongside a full-time job and from outside Germany.
- You want a German-taught, state-recognised MBA you can complete fully online from abroad.
- You aim to lead digital transformation and value hands-on projects tied to your workplace.
- You prefer modular, self-paced learning with online exams instead of fixed campus terms.
- You are looking for 120 ECTS under the Bologna system to support international mobility.
- You want to specialise, e.g. in Data & Analytics, Digital HR, Marketing & Sales or Industry 4.0.
Some situations call for a different programme format or language. Read the following points carefully before you decide.
- You do not have, and cannot realistically attain, advanced German (C1) for studying, exams and a German-language thesis.
- You need a programme with mandatory in-person teaching or a campus experience in Germany; this MBA is designed as a remote Fernstudium.
- Your location or job makes it impossible to take online-proctored exams reliably (stable internet, quiet room, camera required).
- You require a degree tailored to a regulated profession with country-specific licensure; this MBA is a management degree, not a professional licence.
Lade… 
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