Your questions. Our answers.

Unlike traditional distance learning universities: We focus on delivering flexibility, modern learning methods and intensive support. This means you can start your online study programme at any time, regardless of semester start dates. You can also sit your exams online – whenever it suits you best.

The first step is to enrol for your desired study programme. Within a few days, you will receive the access data for the online campus and a study coach who will give you tips on studying. You choose the modules you want to take and can access your study script online or order a printed copy, which we will send to you by post – free of charge within Germany.

We teach the subject matter using innovative, multimedia learning tools. Academic tutors are on hand to support you on each course. In addition to scripts or our e-book versions, the Interactive Books, our study material consists of e.g. learning videos, the IU Learn App and online forums. We emphasise practical relevance through case studies and reports from everyday professional life, as well as comprehensive exam preparation. This is because we want you to successfully complete your studies with us. By the way: If you use our innovative media tools and do without printed scripts, we convert the resources saved directly into green energy by planting trees adapted to the region.

Via Microsoft groups, online forums, etc. you can learn together with fellow students and take self-tests. If you successfully pass, your final exam will be activated, which you can take either completely online or on-site at one of our more than 45 exam centres. The monthly Saturday date and location for the final module examination can be chosen freely. At the end of your studies, you will write your final thesis with the help of our professors.

You can try out your study programme at IU International University of Applied Sciences (IU) for one month (“trial month”). During this time, you have access to all services of IU included in your study programme. Within one month, you can revoke your contract.  

If you decide within this period to discontinue your studies, you will not be charged for this trial month. The trial period starts on the day you are given access to the course material. You can revoke your contract without giving reasons. 

If you continue your studies and do not exercise your right to withdrawal, your first month counts as a regular study period and will be charged as such. We will debit the fees after the end of the trial period. 

Your contract’s terms and conditions specify the period of notice you have after your trial period. Within the first five months, you can terminate the contract within a period of one month to the end of the full month (calculating from the start of the contract). 

Afterwards, the period of notice is three months to the end of the full month ( with regard tothe start of the contract). You can submit your termination here. 

Yes. We have taken time constraints into account when designing the study programmes. You can, therefore, switch between three time models and organise your learning content individually.

The standard period of study for the Bachelor's degree is 36 months. If you already know at the beginning that you need more time, you have the option of choosing between the extended study periods of 48 or 72 months in advance. In the Bachelor's programme, you can also extend your standard period of study by 12 months free of charge.

The standard period of study for the Master's  degree is usually 24 months. Here, too, we offer part-time variants that run for 36 or 48 months. In addition, you can also extend your standard period of study in the Master's programme by 12 months free of charge.

Our time models at a glance

Full-time: Perfect for those who want to hit the ground running and shorten their study time by learning at a faster pace.

Part-time I: Great for all-rounders who want to go full throttle in their studies alongside their job and reduce monthly tuition costs at the same time.

Part-time II: Ideal for you if you want to complete your studies in peace and quiet alongside the hustle and bustle of everyday life and your job, and reduce your monthly tuition costs.

No. Since we know that many students have little time, you do not have to attend any events in person (except for the compulsory internship for some degree programmes such as the bachelor’s in Psychology). You can even take your exams online. If you feel the need for human interaction, you can take part in virtual live formats such as the interactive live sessions or learning sprints in selected courses and deepen your knowledge together with lecturers and fellow students. Attendance is completely optional. Your exam questions will be based on the contents of your script are still relevant for exams. 

We care about flexibility – in terms of time, personal needs and finances. And we care about innovation. Via our study app IU Learn and our online campus myCampus, digital study tools such as interactive study scripts or videos are available to you at any time. In addition, you can attend virtual live formats in selected courses and expand your knowledge together with lecturers and fellow students. We make sure you’re not left alone during and after your studies by offering personal support from our service staff, the faculty and the career centre.  

By the way: If you use our innovative study tools and do not request a printed script, we turn those saved resources into green energy by planting trees. 

We don’t have enrolment deadlines or rigid term structures: You can apply online for your distance learning at any time. 

After completing your online application, you will be able to start at your desired starting date. We will send you an e-mail with the login data for the online campus and you can start right away. We advise you to submit your documents together with your online application. If you don’t have all documents ready, simply submit them as soon as possible. Once we have received them, we can complete your enrolment. 

Please submit your documents as soon as possible before or after your contract starts. Once we have received them, we will review them and complete your enrolment: For some master’s programmes, you need to ...

• Officially certified copy(s) of the higher education entrance qualification (e.g. in Germany, the Abitur certificate, training certificate, master craftsman's certificate)
• A notification from your health insurance company. Inform your health insurance company as soon as possible about starting your studies. They will then register you with us.
  
• Curriculum vitae in table form
• Copy of official photo ID (you can black out the photo and data that are not required for identification)
• Employment references in the case of professional qualification (higher education entrance qualification)
• Ex-matriculation certificate (only necessary if you have previously studied in Germany. If you are currently enrolled at another university, please submit your certificate of enrolment)

For some Bachelor's study programmes, you have to fulfil special admission requirements: You can find these on the website of your chosen study programme. If you have any questions, please contact our Study Advisory Team (Studienberatung): +49 (0)30 311 988 00

It is possible to study at IU without a university entrance qualification ("Abitur" or "Matura") if you can prove that you have completed at least two years of vocational training followed by at least three years of full-time professional experience.

Alternatively, we also accept a master craftsman's certificate or advanced professional training. You can find further information on the individual programme pages under "Admission".

• Officially certified copy(s) of the certificate from your first degree programme
• Ex-matriculation certificate (only necessary if you have previously studied in Germany. If you are currently enrolled at another university, please submit your certificate of enrolment)
• Proof of health insurance (only necessary for applicants with their primary residence in Germany, only under 30 years of age, incl. return form of health insurance required, proof must not be older than three months)
• Curriculum vitae in table form
• Copy of official photo ID (you can black out the photo and data that are not required for identification)

For some Master's degree programmes, you have to fulfil special admission requirements: You can find these on the website of your chosen study programme. If you have any questions, please contact our Study Advisory Team (Studienberatung): +49 (0)30 311 988 00

Proof of qualification without a bachelor's degree:   

Even without a Bachelor’s degree, you may qualify for selected master’s programmes through many years of professional experience as a manager or expert. 

 Admission requirements are:   

• A-levels or vocational diploma or completed vocational training of at least two years (DQR level 4) with relevance to the desired study programme 
• Proof of at least 6 years of professional experience with relevance to the desired study programme, including at least 3 years in a management or expert position 
  Proof must be supplied using certificates of further training, employer references, letters of recommendation, written confirmations by the employer or similar certifications 
• Passing of preparatory module* at IU International University of Applied Sciences (IU) 

Further information about the Master’s for Professionals can be found here. 

* One-time fee for your preparatory module: 500€ (includes attendance of the course “Academic Work”). The preparatory module can only be attended at IU. If you start your master’s programme at IU based on this preparatory module, you cannot switch to another university within this master’s programme. 

You can complete your education with us by studying online (distance learning). If the admission requirements fit, simply select your desired study programme in the online application. Based on your prior education, we may be able to credit your previous achievements, which means you save time and money on your studies: 30 euros per recognised ECTS point! We would be happy to check your options individually.

You can use the option of the IU Bachelor in Business Law, for example, if you have not passed the state bar examination and are now looking for an alternative.

To use the IU Online Campus, you need a PC with an internet connection or other suitable web-enabled devices. Although technical equipment is not included in the tuition fees, you will receive a free iPad if you enrol during our promotional period. You can find more information about the free iPad here.

Our online campus is password protected. You will receive your access data at the start of your studies. In doing so, you guarantee not to pass on this data to third parties and not to allow unauthorised third parties to access the online campus or the learning materials. Via the online campus, you also have access to our comprehensive online library, where you can research literature and read some of it directly as an e-book.

The entire IU online study programme is highly computer-based. Therefore, good IT equipment is important. In order to be able to use all software applications of our online study programme to the full extent, we recommend the following minimum system equipment:

Operating system
Microsoft operating systems: All operating systems from Microsoft Windows 7
Macintosh operating systems: All operating systems from Mac OS X version 10.5
processor: Intel Core 2 Duo processor 2.0 GHz or better
Memory: 1 GB RAM memory (or more), 5 GB free hard disk space (or more)
Internet access: Download at least 3 Mbit/s (or more, test here)

Browser
Mozilla Firefox (latest version)
Current Adobe Acrobat Reader(latest version)
Sound card (with speakers/headphones and microphone)

Your career prospects after completing your distance learning at IU are very good. All our study programmes are state-approved and accredited. With a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, for example, you have qualifications that are in high demand. Thanks to our specialisations, you are also predestined for certain specialist areas, such as Marketing, Sales, Finance and Controlling or Human Resources.

Our industry-specific degrees are also highly sought after by companies. As a graduate of an online study programme, you are also considered to have a particularly high willingness to perform. Just be inspired by our IU success stories!

Yes. Our Master's for Professionals offers you the opportunity to qualify for selected master’s programmes without an undergraduate degree – through longstanding professional experience as a manager or expert. 

Admission requirements for your Master's for Professionals:  

1. University entrance qualification 

• A-levels/ vocational diploma or 
• Completed vocational training of at least two years (DQR level 4) with relevance to the desired study programme 

2. Professional experience  

• At least 6 years of professional experience relevant to your preferred study programme, of which at least 3 years in a leading or expert role: Proof must be supplied using certificates of further training, employer references, letters of recommendation, written confirmations by the employer or similar certifications 

 
3. Passing of preparatory module at IU 

The preparatory module* consists of two parts: 

• Seminar paper (approx. 40 pages), time for completion: 12 weeks (full-time) 
• Oral exam of 30 minutes 

Find out more about our Master's for Professionals here. 

*One-time fee for your preparatory module: 500€ (includes attendance of the course “Academic Work”). The preparatory module can only be attended at IU. If you start your master’s programme at IU based on this preparatory module, you cannot switch to another university within this master’s programme. 

ECTS is short for “European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System”. It is used in Europe to make study achievements comparable. They can be accumulated, credited and transferred. 

As an example: One year of your studies earns you 60 ECTS-points. If you switch to another institution within the EU, you will be credited these points. You will not have to take the corresponding courses again. 

You will receive a free IU iPad for use if you are newly enrolled at our university in one of the following programmes: 

• Bachelor's or Master's degree programme in distance learning or myStudium.
• advanced training programme

Additionally, you need a home address in the EU.

Participants of IU FlexLearning, company trainings, special programmes or cooperations as well as participants of the free first semester do not receive a free iPad.

So you can use our digital study tools as soon as possible, you will receive your iPad at the start of your studies. Simply enrol in an online bachelor’s or master’s programme or advanced training programme.

Our external provider will send it to you subject to availability. Supply shortages from Apple may delay delivery..

To make it easier for you to start your studies and with your iPad, we have pre-installed the IU Learn app for you. You will also find the Google Chrome browser, which facilitates the use of the web version of the app, as well as myCampus, on the device.

You will also find MS Outlook and MS Teams pre-installed so that you can get started with your new IU email address and communicate directly with your fellow students. All you have to do is log in with your access data, which you will receive the night of the start of your studies.

You can find more information here.

The iPad remains the property of IU International University for the duration of your studies. As soon as you have successfully completed your studies, we will give it to you as a gift - the iPad will become your property. You can find more information here.

No, this is not possible, as the iPad is an additional service of the IU International University.

You can find more information about the iPad here.

You can take all your exams 100% online with us – exactly when you feel optimally prepared. If you would prefer to sit your exam on site, you have the option of doing so monthly in person at one of over 45 examination centres. You can take up to two exams at the same time. Our students abroad have the opportunity to take final examinations at over 130 Goethe-Instituts worldwide

You have two options for taking an online exam: You can book a fixed date in advance or start the exam spontaneously/immediately. Appointments are offered 365 days a year, 24 hours a day.

When booking an appointment, you will be shown all free appointments that are at least 24 hours in the future. The advantage for you: You book and sit your exam on your preferred day at your preferred time.

However, you can also book an ad-hoc appointment. Here, you can choose the next available appointment on the half or full hour.

Please note: Our proctors check your identity and your workplace with equipment. They speak German or English, depending on the appointment you choose - but a basic knowledge of English is sufficient in any case.

If you want to complete your courses at a local examination centre, you can find the monthly examination dates on your learning platform. We post the dates in this system at the latest at the beginning of the calendar year. There you can register for your desired date under "Manage your exams & Registering for an exam" ("Prüfungen verwalten > Klausuranmeldung").

You can register for the exam as soon as you have received your exam admission. To complete a course, you must have completed at least 80% of the course's online learning assessments in the online campus correctly and submitted the evaluation at the end of the course.

You must register and deregister for an on-site examination at least 10 days and 12 hours before the examination. After that date, registrations are unfortunately no longer possible and cancellations are only possible if you can show appropriate reasons (e.g. illness) and can also prove them in due time.

After registering for the exam, you will receive an e-mail confirmation and further information about the exam procedure.

Regardless of whether you register for an online exam or take the exam at one of our exam centres, the duration of the exam is determined by the ECTS points you have earned: For example, with 5 ECTS in the module, the exam lasts 90 minutes.

You have a total of three attempts, i.e. you can repeat your exam twice.

Exams as part of the IU online study programme are taken either "on demand" (i.e. 24 hours a day, 365 days a year) as online exams or as in person, on-site exams, which take place up to twice a month at all examination centres.

We have published the dates for the on-site examinations and the information about external examination centres on the learning platform.

You can sit up to two exams a day during the monthly examination dates. There are two time blocks available on the examination date: in the morning (from 10 a.m.) and in the afternoon (from 2 p.m.). If you only want to sit one exam during the monthly exams, your time slot will be assigned automatically by the system.

We announce the results on the learning platform approx. 6 weeks after the examination date.

Yes. If you have already completed a study programme at a university, you can have comparable previous achievements at the same level credited to your chosen study programme. A completed vocational education/further education programme or qualified professional experience can also be recognised, subject to a review. If you have any further questions regarding recognition, please contact our Study Advisory Team (Studienberatung): +49 (0)30 311 988 00

With the recognition of prior learning achievements, you reduce both your study time and your tuition fees. Your prior efforts can really pay off! You save 30 euros for each ECTS point recognised. You do not have to re-take courses that have already been recognised.

Recognisable achievements in the Bachelor's online study programme include, for example:

• Prior academic achievements (e.g. Bachelor's, Master's, Diplom, Magister)
• Completed vocational training or further education (e.g. Office Administrator Chamber of Commerce [IHK], State-Certified Business Economist VWA)
• Professional experience (e.g. employee in a Human Resources Department)

The following are examples of achievements that can be recognised in the Master's online study programme:

• Previous achievements from a course of study (essential at Master's level)
• Professional qualifications in a managerial position (e.g. Managing Director, Director of Marketing)

Only achievements that you can prove with a record of achievement can be recognised (a CV does not count as a record of achievement). In
principle, theses from external colleges/universities are not recognised, as the thesis is an elementary part of the study programme.
You can apply for recognition of previous achievements at any time in order to shorten your study programme. Please note only the time constraints regarding a cost reduction.

On the page of your chosen study programme, you will find the button "Go to online recognition" in the tab "Recognition". In the next step, you select your study programme and the planned start date and enter your contact details. Now you can select your completed education or training that you would like to have credited to you. If you do not find your education or training in the list, you will automatically be forwarded to the individual application. Then simply upload your contract and your proofs in our upload form. As soon as we have checked your application, you will receive your notification of recognition.

We will also be happy to check in advance, without obligation, whether and to what extent we can take your previous achievements into account. You do not have to enrol directly! An examination is also possible without certified copies.

The crediting of non-university competencies may not exceed a maximum of 50 per cent of the ECTS credits to be achieved in the study programme.

Prior academic achievements can be recognised in full – with the exception of theses. In principle, final theses from external colleges/universities are not recognised, as the final thesis is an elementary part of the study programme.

When you start your studies, please do not enrol in any of the courses for which you have applied for recognition, in case the start of your studies overlaps with the examination of the recognition application. The recognised courses can only be entered in the online campus after completion of the recognition process and enrolment. When choosing courses, you are not bound to the semester schedule, but can choose flexibly from all available modules.