Apply with LERNEN26 until June 30th & secure €1,444 discount + iPad.
Your sports career is happening today. And at the same time, you are focusing on your next goal: An exciting future after your last competition. An education that let’s you land on your feet. Our online study programmes are the perfect opportunity for professional athletes like yourself.
“Athletes retire early. I want to carve out my own career path outside of sports. To do that, I need a degree.”
Pauline Grabosch,
Track cycling world champion & IU online student in Health Psychology
For more than 20 years, we have been seeing students through to their degree: As a state-approved university of applied sciences with more than 130.000 students. Our secret? Online studies you can complete from anywhere at any time alongside your job – even as a professional athlete.
Study on your way to practice or sit your exams online during the competitive season.
Make use of or multimedia study tools that suit any type of learner.
Benefit from personal support and contact to fellow students.
We collaborate with excellent partners in the athletic field so you can combine studying, training and working.
How to achieve a study-life-balance? You get to choose from three time models – depending on your budget and the number of hours you want to invest each week. You can either study full time (30-35h / week), part-time I (20-25h / week) or part-time II (10-15h / week).
You can organise your study week completely freely – whenever, however, and wherever you like. Our innovative online campus combines everything you need for a flexible study routine: easy study organisation, motivating tools, and personalised support.
Use features such as scripts with read-aloud functions, learning videos, virtual events, and practice exams. Take your exams online 24/7 or on-site.
This is your will. This is your way.
How to stay motivated for sports and studying? Our sports psychologist and IU study coach knows.
Are our online study programmes worth it? Our students think so! These numbers speak of the impact their degree has had on their lives. Your life could change, too!
*These numbers are based on partial results. You can find further details in our study on trends in online studies 2022.
M.Sc. Property Management & volleyball player (German National Team)
"As an athlete, my life centres around regular practice and phases of intense preparation. IU online studies enable me to stay flexible while preparing for my degree. This freedom is essential to me!"
B.Sc. Psychology & tennis pro
"Athletics don’t only require physical fitness, you need mental strength as well. This inspired me to study psychology. I want to help other people someday."
B.A. Financial Management & football player (German National Team)
"Success for me can mean playing the world cup, but also just passing an exam. Both require a lot of repetition and practice. But I believe that if you are passionate about something, you want to succeed. And that makes anything possible."
3 steps to financing your studies
The knowledge you gain in your online studies will get you ahead: in personal and financial terms. We will show you how to finance your degree – in three steps.
Your free info session on financing your studies
Get our student counsellors’ advice and ask your questions – during our next online info session.
Through a cooperation between the German Olympic Sports Federation and the Olympic bases, professional athletes can get 20% off IU tuition fees. All other professional athletes can get a discount via a personal marketing cooperation with IU after we review them as a candidate.
As a professional athlete, you can apply for various scholarships:
Sports scholarship of the Deutsche Bank: Up to 300€ a month for Olympic and Paralympic athletes funded by German Sports Aid. Your study programme must be eligible for BAföG.
Deutschlandstipendium: For extraordinary achievements in general – athletes can also apply.
IU scholarship: Four 50% scholarships for Women in Tech, Single Parents, People with Disabilities and Career Changers.
Funding of up to 1.400€ for athletes of the federal squads for Olympic sports and selected athletes of non-Olympic sports. There is funding available for retired athletes.
Members of the German armed forces (Bundeswehr) get 1.555€ off their tuition fees. For members of the German Bundeswehr Association, it’s 2.000€.
Discover the study programme of your dreams: We offer you bachelor’s programmes, master’s programmes and further education programmes from eight areas of expertise – such as Health & Social Sciences, Business & Management or Education & Psychology.
These study programmes are particularly popular among our athlete students:
Information on study content & electives
Information on career prospects
Information on financing options
Get to know our online studies – no strings attached. You can try out your programme free of charge for four weeks from your starting date. Charges for this period only apply if you decide to continue with us.
Simply register online for your desired study programme!
Do you need help with your decision? Your personal study advisor is happy to help you!
