BWL (B.A.)
Hamburger Fern-Hochschule · Hamburg, Germany
QS World University Ranking: N/A
Quick Overview
Apply Now📘 Program Overview
The Bachelor BWL (B.A.) at Hamburger Fern-Hochschule is a distance-learning business administration degree that combines practical, career-relevant learning with scientific foundations. The program offers flexible study start dates and a structured study plan across the full program duration.
You earn 180 ECTS through a German-language study model and can develop a business specialization aligned with your professional interests. The HFH also publishes study and examination plan documents for the program so you can see how the degree is organized over time.
🎯 Course & Curriculum
Course structure
- Acquire business administration fundamentals and methods knowledge
- Study topics such as Marketing, Personnel, Organisation, Investment & Finance
- Cover sustainability, corporate social responsibility, business ethics, and corporate management
- Build skills in Business Statistics, plus an introduction to macroeconomic relationships
- Learn key perspectives such as Industry 4.0 and Digitalisation
- Deepen knowledge and specialise in your chosen area
- Take more applied and interdisciplinary modules starting from Semester 5
- Choose from modules in the Compulsory Elective Law pool (for example Labour Law, Competition Law, Logistics Law, European Business Law)
- Complete the Hauptpraktikum (main internship/practical project), where in many cases relevant employment can be recognised
- Select your specialisation profile aligned with your career goals
Curriculum
BWL (B.A.) at Hamburger Fern-Hochschule: study plan with credit points (180 ECTS total).
| Semester | No. of modules | Module / subject category | ECTS | Semester total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | 4 modules | Einführung in die Betriebswirtschaft | 6 | 18 |
| Wissenschaftliches Arbeiten | 0 | |||
| Wirtschaftsenglisch | 6 | |||
| Mathematik | 6 | |||
| Semester 2 | 6 modules | Investition und Finanzierung | 6 | 36 |
| Buchführung und Jahresabschluss | 6 | |||
| Grundlagen des Marketings | 6 | |||
| Kosten- und Leistungsrechnung | 6 | |||
| Grundlagen der Wirtschaftsinformatik | 6 | |||
| Wirtschaftsstatistik | 6 | |||
| Semester 3 | 5 modules | Material- und Produktionswirtschaft | 6 | 30 |
| Grundlagen des Wirtschaftsprivatrechts | 6 | |||
| Unternehmensführung | 6 | |||
| Grundlagen der Volkswirtschaft | 6 | |||
| Grundlagen des Steuerrechts | 6 | |||
| Semester 4 | 4 modules | Management komplexer Problemsituationen | 6 | 18 |
| Nachhaltigkeitsmanagement | 6 | |||
| Grundlagen des Wirtschaftsprivatrechts | 6 | |||
| Wissenschaftliches Arbeiten | 0 | |||
| Semester 5 | 5 modules | Wissenschaftliches Arbeiten | 6 | 30 |
| Wirtschaftspolitik | 6 | |||
| Projektmanagement | 6 | |||
| Arbeits- und Organisationspsychologie | 6 | |||
| Wahlpflichtkomplex Recht | 6 | |||
| Semester 6 | 3 modules | Arbeits- und Organisationspsychologie | 6 | 30 |
| Wahlpflichtkomplex Recht | 6 | |||
| Studienschwerpunkt | 18 | |||
| Semester 7 | 3 modules | Hauptpraktikum (studienbegleitend) | 24 | 42 |
| Bachelorarbeit | 12 | |||
| Studienschwerpunkt | 6 | |||
| Total | All study modules plus Hauptpraktikum and Bachelorarbeit as shown in the official study plan; credits sum to the programme total. | 180 ECTS | ||
Career outcomes
- You build job-ready business skills across functions like marketing, HR, finance and controlling, so you can step into administrative and management roles in many company types and industries.
- The programme is designed to strengthen both practical decision-making abilities and scientific foundations, supporting progression toward higher responsibility positions.
- You develop applied and interdisciplinary competence through modules that combine business with areas like psychology, project management and economic policy, helping you perform in broader business contexts.
- Your specialisation choice and the Hauptpraktikum help you align your degree with real workplace tasks, improving your readiness for specific roles after graduation.
- Because the study is structured as a flexible, long-term part-time bachelor pathway, you can continue building career experience while studying, which makes your transition to graduate roles smoother.
Employability rate
HFH Bachelor BWL graduates in Germany typically see an employability rate of around 80% and an unemployment rate of about 20%, reflecting steady demand for business administration skills across many sectors.
Overall, the outlook is generally stable, with better job prospects for graduates who can match their chosen specialisation to their target employer and role.
✅ Entry Requirements
Academic qualification
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Higher secondary / university entrance qualification (foreign qualification) | International applicants can be admitted via foreign higher-education entrance qualifications and recognised admission routes defined by HFH. HFH assesses foreign study qualifications according to the evaluations in the ZAB (Central Office for Foreign Education). If your original certificate is not in English, a German translation by a sworn translator may be required. |
| Prior degree (only where applicable for the selected admission route) | HFH may also admit applicants with recognised professional qualifications and subsequent work experience as defined in its access requirements for foreign qualifications. If your qualification requires recognition, HFH indicates that a confirmation/attestation of equivalence may be necessary. |
Module matching by study area
| Study area | Match possible? | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Business administration and economics | Direct match | HFH’s BWL (B.A.) includes fundamentals such as economics, business administration, finance and accounting; applicants should provide documents that clearly show an academic/professional background relevant to business/economics for the credential review. |
Language requirements
International applicants must prove sufficient German language skills before starting the programme. HFH indicates that applicants for its bachelor programmes must demonstrate at least German level B2.
MOI (Medium of Instruction)
MOI waiver details are not published for this programme. See the English test requirements above.
Other accepted proofs
💶 Fees & Funding
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | EUR 15120 / total program | HFH lists a study fee of 360 EUR per month and 15,120 EUR total for the bachelor programme; in addition, there is a separate examination fee for the bachelor thesis per attempt. |
| Bachelor thesis examination fee | EUR 620 / one time | HFH states an additional examination fee for the bachelor thesis of 620 EUR per attempt. |
Proof of financial resources
Before you can receive a German student residence permit, you typically need to show proof that you can cover living costs and tuition-related expenses while studying. Prepare the documents exactly as required by the German embassy/consulate or immigration guidance for students applying from abroad.
- Proof of sufficient funds for living costs (as required by German student visa/residence-permit guidance for students applying from abroad)
- Any additional financial documents requested during the visa/residence-permit process (submit only what the official guidance requires)
Important dates
Application window
| Milestone | January - Winter intake | April - Winter intake | July - Winter intake | October - Winter intake |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application portal opens | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Application deadline (final submit) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Application deadline (EU students) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Application deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Recommended apply-by | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Semester begins | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Pre-application & reviews
| Milestone | January - Winter intake | April - Winter intake | July - Winter intake | October - Winter intake |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VPD request - recommended | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| VPD result expected | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| APS - recommended | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Start eligibility check | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Document submission deadlines
| Milestone | January - Winter intake | April - Winter intake | July - Winter intake | October - Winter intake |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application submission deadline | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (EU students) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Language certificate deadline | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Official transcripts deadline | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Certified translations deadline | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Postal / hard-copy documents deadline | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Missing documents (if requested) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
📝 How to Apply
Prepare your foreign-qualification documents for review
International applicants should confirm that their foreign study eligibility documents can be assessed for admission to a bachelor programme. HFH indicates that it checks foreign documents based on the ZAB evaluation and that translations may be required when the original is not in English. Gather your education proof and language evidence before starting the application so you can upload complete documentation on time.
Submit your application to HFH
HFH indicates that you apply for your bachelor programme via the HFH study counselling and application process for the selected course. Make sure you submit all required materials for admission checks, including your language proof and the credential documents in the required format. If your documents require a sworn translator translation, arrange this early to avoid missing-document delays.
Complete any required practical component requirements
For this bachelor programme, HFH specifies an additional practical component (Grundpraktikum) that must be proven for admission to the degree structure. HFH states this is ideally done before starting, but at the latest within 18 months of the part-time study start. Plan how your existing work experience or training will be documented to satisfy this requirement.