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Deutsch Who this German-taught IT Security B.Sc. fits — and what you need
This programme suits you if you already work in tech and want an international degree without pausing your career. Typical profiles include: a helpdesk or network administrator aiming to move into cybersecurity; a junior software developer who wants deeper knowledge in secure systems and forensics; or an engineering or maths graduate seeking a structured pathway into IT security while studying part-time and remotely.
Admission requirements
To enrol, you need a recognised right to study at university level in Germany and sufficient German for academic study:
- Higher education entrance qualification: German Abitur or an equivalent international school-leaving certificate that grants access to university studies (general higher education entrance).
- Applicants with foreign qualifications: International diplomas are accepted if they are comparable to a German Hochschulzugangsberechtigung. Official translations and certified copies may be required; equivalence is assessed during admission.
- Teaching language: German. You must be able to follow lectures, complete assignments and sit exams in German. Commonly recognised proofs at German universities include TestDaF, DSH, telc C1 Hochschule or a Goethe-Zertifikat at advanced level. Provide your current certificate during application.
- Degree status: The programme is accredited (re-accreditation) for the period 01/10/2022 to 30/09/2030.
Personal requirements
Remote study rewards consistency. Plan with a realistic weekly workload of about 15 hours for readings, programming tasks and exam preparation. You will do well if you can organise your week, break larger projects into milestones and keep momentum over several semesters. Robust fundamentals in mathematics and logical thinking help, but equally important are perseverance and the habit of testing and documenting your work thoroughly.
Studying from abroad also means setting up a focused workspace, managing deadlines across time zones and communicating proactively with tutors and peers online. Make sure your language skills match the course medium: for German-taught modules you should feel comfortable reading technical texts and writing reports in German; for English materials and research papers, solid academic English is expected. A reliable internet connection and a computer that can run development environments and security tools are essential. If you recognise yourself in this profile and can commit steady time each week, the part-time format lets you build a recognised IT security degree alongside your job.
What will you study in the Computer science - IT security at Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg?
The programme is taught in German. To enrol and succeed, you need advanced German skills, typically proven by DSH, TestDaF or Goethe-Zertifikat C1/C2 (the university specifies accepted certificates). It is a 180 ECTS Bachelor of Science delivered as a Fernstudium (distance learning), designed for study alongside work over nine semesters.
You build a solid computer science foundation, then specialise in IT security. In Germany, a Fernstudium is a distance-learning degree with structured self-study and online support. You will also see the term ZFU: this is the German authority approving distance-learning courses for consumer protection; academic degree programmes at public universities may be exempt from ZFU, but the concept signals formal quality control in German distance education.
Security engineering and cryptography: You cover the building blocks that secure systems and data. Typical modules include Cryptographic Protocols, Security of Mobile Systems and Data Privacy. You learn how to design, analyse and implement secure protocols and how to embed privacy-by-design into software and services.
Network and systems defence: You dive into how attacks propagate and how to protect infrastructure. Expect content from Network Forensics and Incident Management to Spam analysis. You practise monitoring, detection, response planning and hardening of networked environments.
Offensive security and anonymity: Understanding the attacker’s perspective is part of the curriculum. Modules such as Ethical Hacking and Anonymity on the Internet train you to assess vulnerabilities responsibly and to evaluate technologies like VPNs, Tor, and traffic analysis resistance.
Digital forensics and OSINT: You specialise in gathering, preserving and analysing digital evidence. Learning units include Advanced Topics in Computer Forensics, Mobile Forensics, and Open Source Intelligence and Espionage Prevention—bridging technical traces with investigative workflows.
Emerging tech and data-driven security: You examine how Machine Learning and Security intersect, plus Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies. This block explores both opportunities (automated detection) and risks (adversarial ML, crypto misuse), rounding out a future-proof security profile.
Electives: Within the security track you pick electives to deepen your focus—for example Mobile Forensics, Network Forensics or Blockchain topics—allowing you to tailor the degree towards incident response, privacy engineering or applied cryptography.
How does the Computer science - IT security distance programme work?
You study remotely with structured self-study, online components and part-time pacing. Teaching is in German; plan for academic communication, readings and exams in German. The standard workload is about 15 hours per week, spread flexibly alongside a job.
Teaching language and certificates
The teaching language is German throughout. Universities in Germany typically require proof such as DSH, TestDaF or Goethe-Zertifikat at C1/C2 level. If you do not already work or live in a German-speaking environment, factor in time for language preparation before starting.
Learning format and study materials
This is a Fernstudium (distance learning): you learn via digital scripts, recorded inputs and guided self-study; interactive elements are scheduled to fit working professionals. As a public university bachelor, content follows a fixed curriculum; you move from computer science fundamentals into security specialisms with applied case work.
Exams and taking them from abroad
Assessment in German university distance programmes typically combines written exams, assignments, projects and oral components aligned with the examination regulations. If you plan to study from outside Germany, clarify early how exams are held in your semester—some formats can run online, others may require attendance at a set location.
On-site sessions in Germany
Distance programmes at public universities can include occasional in-person elements (e.g. exams, labs or colloquia). If any on-site days apply, they will be scheduled in Germany, usually in Erlangen/Nuremberg. A purely remote study path does not require a visa; only relocation or extended stays for on-site phases would trigger visa questions.
Workload, time models and time zones
The standard track spans nine semesters part-time at roughly 15 hours per week. Any live online sessions and deadlines follow Central European Time (CET/CEST), which matters if you connect from other time zones.
What does the Computer science - IT security cost?
Tuition amounts to €2,490 per semester. Over the standard nine-semester duration, the total adds up to €22,410 for the full 180 ECTS bachelor. This gives you a transparent long-term cost baseline that is typically far below US tuition for a comparable degree, especially considering the part-time, distance format.
Fees are charged per semester, which helps you plan cashflow. If you study from abroad, you budget around the semester cadence rather than monthly instalments. Any additional costs (e.g. for optional travel to on-site sessions, if scheduled) would be extra to tuition and depend on your personal study setup.
What careers and recognition does the Computer science - IT security offer?
This is a 180 ECTS Bachelor of Science within the Bologna framework. That means a first-cycle degree aligned with European standards, which simplifies international recognition and further study, such as a security-focused master’s in Europe or abroad. The programme is accredited through FAU’s internal system in line with the German Accreditation Council, valid from 01/10/2022 to 30/09/2030, status: accredited without conditions.
In practice, graduates pursue roles such as:
- Security analyst or SOC analyst in enterprise or managed security service environments
- Incident responder or digital forensics specialist for consultancies, CERTs or law enforcement-adjacent teams
- Penetration tester, red team member, or vulnerability management engineer
- Network and cloud security engineer, identity and access management specialist, or privacy/security by design engineer
The degree’s European credit system (ECTS) and formal accreditation are strong signals for HR internationally. They document workload and level, support credential evaluation for visas or professional registration where needed, and enable straightforward progression to master’s programmes.
Who is the Computer science - IT security right for - and who not?
This distance bachelor suits professionals who want to pivot into cyber security or formalise hands-on experience with an academic degree—without pausing their career. It is structured for steady, part-time progress and a deep security focus.
- You can study in German and want a fully-fledged 180 ECTS bachelor in IT security.
- You prefer a part-time, distance format with about 15 hours per week alongside your job.
- You aim for security roles that value both fundamentals (crypto, networks) and practice (forensics, ethical hacking).
- You plan to continue to a master’s later and need a Bologna-compliant first-cycle degree.
There are also clear limits to consider. These help you avoid a mismatch before you apply.
- You need the programme to be taught in English—this course is conducted entirely in German.
- You require guaranteed 100% online, remotely proctored exams from outside Germany; public university distance programmes may schedule in-person assessments.
- You are looking for a shortcut to a regulated profession with licensing—cyber security roles are generally unregulated and rely on skills plus experience.
- You want a short certificate; this is a full bachelor over nine semesters with sustained weekly study time.
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