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Distance learningEnrolment & admission to distance learning
Starting your distance learning course is easy: from the application and requirements to admission.
Start your studies. Get your discount. Shape your future.
Apply with LERNEN26 until June 30th & secure €1,444 discount + iPad.
Your online application
Choose between Comfort Start and Classic Start
When applying online, you can pick between two starting options: Comfort Start and Classic Start. Simply open our online application form, select your study programme, and choose your preferred starting date:
Comfort Start
If you want to get started right away, choose Comfort Start: This allows you to begin today—or on your preferred date—as an Auditor (Gasthörer:in), while submitting your documents in parallel, making the process easy and flexible for you.
After submitting your online application, you will receive your Auditor (Gasthörer:in) contract by email. You can easily complete the contract online with just a few clicks, or upload it digitally signed or hand-signed in the application portal.
As soon as your Auditor (Gasthörer:in) contract is completed, you’ll receive your login details by email. You can then log in to the IU Online Campus and enjoy full access to your learning materials and your free iPad.
You have the chance to try out our offer as an Auditor (Gasthörer:in) for one month, completely free of charge*—no need to take care of any documents beforehand.
*Fees for your trial month only apply if you decide to continue with us.
As an Auditor (Gasthörer:in), you can submit your documents easily alongside your learning experience. We’re happy to support you and will review your documents as quickly as possible to make sure you enrol successfully.
Once your documents have been successfully reviewed, you’ll be fully enrolled and your status will change from Auditor (Gasthörer:in) to student. You’ll receive your enrolment certificate and gain the opportunity to take exams.
Classic Start
If you want to start later—as a fully enrolled student, and no sooner than in 10 days—choose Classic Start. You’ll begin as soon as your documents have been submitted and successfully reviewed.
After submitting your online application, you’ll receive your student contract by email. You can easily complete the contract online with just a few clicks, or upload it—digitally signed or hand-signed—via the application portal.
Submit all the required documents so you can start your studies as soon as possible. Once your documents have been successfully reviewed, you’ll be fully enrolled, receive student status, and get your enrolment certificate.
As soon as you’re successfully enrolled, your full student experience can begin. You’ll receive your login details by email, enabling you to log in to the IU Online Campus, access all your learning materials, and receive your free iPad. You can also register for your exams straight away.
You have the chance to try out our offer for one month, completely free of charge.*
*Fees for your trial month only apply if you decide to continue with us.
Your admission to the Bachelor's programme
At IU, you can start your Bachelor's study programme with or without a university entrance qualification.
For applicants with qualifications from Germany*
If you have one of the following general or subject-related higher education entrance qualification ("Abitur" / "fachgebundenes Abitur" / "Fachhochschulreife": school and practical part), you can enter our Bachelor's degree programme immediately and without an examination.
For graduates of Waldorf schools and Berufskolleg II (with "Fachhochschulreife": school and practical part ) from Baden-Württemberg, it may be necessary to provide evidence of additional achievements as well as confirmation that they can also study in other federal states, i.e. outside Baden-Württemberg. Please contact your school or a competent authority for the confirmation of the nationwide validity of the "Fachhochschulreife".
*For applicants with international secondary school-leaving qualifications (e.g. IB-Diploma) or secondary school-leaving qualifications from abroad, an equivalency assessment is carried out by IU International University of Applied Sciences (according to Anabin).
You can also study at IU International University of Applied Sciences (IU) without a secondary school leaving certificate. To do so, you simply need:
Advanced vocational training (equivalent to a German vocational qualification at level GQF 6)* or
At least two years of recognized vocational training (equivalent to a German vocational qualification at level GQF 4*), followed by at least 3 years of professional experience (full-time): Depending on the focus of your training and professional activity and what you want to study, you can start directly with a trial period of study or prove your aptitude for studying in other ways.
*If you have completed your vocational training and professional experience abroad, an equivalency assessment will be carried out by IU International University of Applied Sciences. Qualifications can be accepted as equivalent if your vocational qualification is comparable to a German vocational qualification at level GQF 4 or GQF 6.
Your checklist for starting your bachelor’s studies
To complete enrolment for your distance learning, we need the following documents:
Copy of your university entrance qualification: Simply upload a copy of your university entrance qualification to our IU document portal (e.g., (subject-specific) Abitur, advanced training certificate, vocational diploma, bachelor's certificate/transcript or diploma certificate). A simple scan is perfectly sufficient. For foreign certificates that are not issued in English or German, we additionally require a German translation (by an official institution or sworn translators). In most cases, a simple copy is sufficient here as well. In individual cases, for example in cases of doubt or as part of random checks, the university reserves the right to request originals or certified copies.
Registration of your studies with your health insurance company: Inform your health insurance provider about the start of your studies as soon as possible so they can register you with us. You can, for example, use your provider’s customer app for this.
Copy of your official photo ID
Important: For data protection reasons, please blacken all information and the photograph, except your given name, surname, date of birth, expiry date, and nationality.
If applicable, employment references for admission based on vocational training and work experience.
if applicable, a tabular CV including details of your education, studies, and work experience: this may be required depending on your university entrance qualification (a CV is not mandatory for applicants with A-levels and no prior university studies in Germany) and your desired recognition of prior achievements.
If applicable, a certificate of de-enrolment from all German universities previously attended: each certificate must include the degree programme, period of study, and reason for de-enrolment.
If applicable, proof of your language proficiency (not older than five years) for non-native speakers.
Tips for choosing a course of study
Do you need help choosing the right study programme? Here you will find decision-making tools that will really help you.
Your admission to the Master's and MBA programme
To start your Master's study programme with us, you need to have completed an undergraduate degree – for example, a Bachelor's degree or "Diplom". For foreign documents, we also require a translation into German or English. Special admission requirements also apply to some Master's programmes.
Please note that some study programmes have separate admission requirements (e.g. first degree with a degree-specific focus, required work experience, proof of English, previous knowledge in certain subject areas). You can find the latest information on our website under the tab "Admission" for the degree programme of your choice.
Master's study programmes
Your checklist to get started on your Master’s programme
To complete enrolment for your distance learning, we need the following documents:
Copy of your certificate of your first degree: Simply upload a copy of your certificate of your first degree with proof of the number of ECTS credits to our IU document portal (e.g., bachelor’s certificate or diploma certificate). A simple scan is completely sufficient. For foreign certificates that are not issued in English or German, we additionally require a German translation (provided by an official authority or sworn translators). In most cases, a simple copy is also sufficient here. In individual cases, such as in cases of doubt or as part of spot checks, the university reserves the right to request originals or certified copies.
Certificate of de-enrolment: Only required if you have previously studied in Germany. If you are currently enrolled at another university, please submit your current enrolment certificate.
Registration of your studies with your health insurance company: Inform your health insurance provider about the start of your studies as soon as possible so they can register you with us. You can, for example, use your provider’s customer app for this.
Copy of your official photo ID
Important: For data protection reasons, please blacken all information and the photograph, except your given name, surname, date of birth, expiry date, and nationality.
if applicable, a tabular CV including details of your education, studies, and work experience: this may be required depending on your university entrance qualification (a CV is not mandatory for applicants with A-levels and no prior university studies in Germany) and your desired recognition of prior achievements.
If applicable, proof of your language proficiency (not older than five years) for non-native speakers.
Master's programmes with entrance examination
For a number of 120 ECTS Master's programmes*, you need a Bachelor's degree with a specific focus. If you do not have this qualification, you still have the possibility of gaining admission via a Master's entrance examination.
*You can find out which Master's programmes this regulation applies to on the page of your degree programme under "Admission".
Your Master’s entrance examination: a 3-step guide
1. Enrol online
To enter a study programme that requires a Master’s entrance examination, start by applying via our online form.
2. Complete application
During your online application, you will receive your study contract. You can complete it directly within your online application, or upload it either digitally signed or signed by hand—in the IU document portal. In this section, you also submi all the documents needed to start your studies. Once your documents have been reviewed, you will be enrolled by us and receive an email with your login details for the Online Campus, where you will find all the information about your master's entrance examination.
3. Take the Master's entrance examination
You can take your master's entrance exam by successfully completing two specific modules from your curriculum within a maximum of 12 months from the start date. The completed modules will be fully credited to you. Let's get started!
You can take a Master's entrance examination in these subject areas.
Immobilienmanagement
Management von Immobilien und Immobilienunternehmen
Immobilienökonomie
Gesundheitsmanagement
Gesundheitsmanagement und Bedingungen des Gesundheitsmarktes
Personalmanagement in Gesundheits- und Sozialeinrichtungen
International Healthcare Management
Managing in a Global Economy
Strategic Management
Public Health
Public Health
Gesundheitspsychologie und -soziologie
Soziale Arbeit
Soziale Ungleichheit, Inklusion und Exklusion
Seminar: Partizipation, Selbstbestimmung, Intersektionalität
Sozialmanagement
Leadership
Markt und Staat
Digital Transformation Management - Gesundheitswesen
Digitalisierung in Medizin und Pflege
Hybrides Projektmanagement in der digitalen Transformation
Computer Science
Programming with Python
Data Science
Cyber Security EN
Corporate Governance of IT, Compliance, and Law
Cyber Security and Data Protection
Cyber Security DE
IT-Governance, -Compliance und -Recht
IT-Sicherheit und Datenschutz
DevOps and Cloud Computing
Agile Software Development Techniques and Methods
Introduction to Cloud Computing and Serverless Computing
Wirtschaftsinformatik
Informations- und Wissensmanagement
Innovation und Entrepreneurship
Business Intelligence
Business Intelligence I
Corporate Governance of IT, Compliance, and Law
Data Management
Data Engineering
Big Data Technologies
Engineering Management
Internet of Things
Manufacturing Methods Industry 4.0
Information Technology Management
IT Governance and Compliance
IT Service Management
Informatik
Programmieren mit Python
Sichere Software-Entwicklung
Wirtschaftsingenieurwesen
Strategisches Management
Change Management und Organisationsentwicklung
Digital Transformation Management - alle 4 Spezialisierungen
Digitale Business-Modelle
Hybrides Projektmanagement in der digitalen Transformation
Data Science EN
Advanced Research Methods
Data Science
Data Science DE
Forschungsmethodik
Data Science
Digital Marketing
Online and Social Media Marketing
Applied Research
Growth Hacking
Online and Social Media Marketing
International Consumer Behavior
Marketingmanagement
Internationales Marketing
Konsumentenverhalten
Online Marketing
Internationales Marketing
Online- und Social Media-Marketing
Angewandte Psychologie und Beratung
Gesprächsführung und Kommunikationstechniken
Klinisch-psychologische Diagnostik: Informationsgewinnung und Differentialdiagnostik
Gesundheits- und Pflegepädagogik
Leadership
Lern- und Entwicklungstheorien
Heilpädagogik/Inklusionspädagogik
Leadership
Gesprächsführung, Beratung, Mediation
Industrial and Organizational Psychology
Concepts in Psychology
Industrial and Organizational Psychology
Pädagogik, Bildungsberatung und Leitung
Leadership
Gesprächsführung, Beratung, Mediation
Wirtschaftspsychologie (für Absolventen eines wirtschaftswissenschaftlichen Erststudiums)
Konzepte der Psychologie
Arbeits- und Organisationspsychologie
Personalentwicklung
Talentmanagement und Personalentwicklung
Agilität und kreative Arbeitsmethoden
Personalmanagement
Human Resource Management I
Human Resource Management II
Human Resource Management
Strategic Management
Leadership
Betriebswirtschaftslehre (BWL)
Strategisches Management
Wirtschaftsethik und Corporate Governance
Controlling
Unternehmenscontrolling
Rechnungslegung und Bilanzpolitik
Digital Business Management
Digitale Business-Modelle
Data Science
Finance, Accounting und Taxation
Leadership
Wirtschaftsethik und Corporate Governance
General Management
Leadership
Strategisches Management
Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Strategic Management
Product Development
International Management
Performance Measurement
Wirtschaftsethik und Corporate Governance
Projektmanagement
Leadership
Strategisches Management
Project Management
Leadership
Strategic Management
Public Management
Leadership
New Work
Supply Chain Management
Leadership
Operations and Information Management
Product Management
International Marketing
Business Model Design
You have questions about the admission?
Get your studies off to a good start: Our student advisors will be happy to provide you with answers and all the information you need for your application.
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