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The Central State Office for Distance Learning (ZFU) has approved the course Innovation and Technology Management under the number 140309c. Who this Master’s fits and what you need to get admitted
This distance-learning M.Sc. suits professionals who want to drive technology-enabled innovation while studying flexibly alongside work. Typical profiles include: engineers in manufacturing, energy or mobility moving towards innovation or technology management; software or data professionals aiming to lead digital business and R&D projects; business graduates with strong technical exposure who want to specialise in technology, quality and foresight topics for product and process innovation.
Admission requirements
To enrol, you need a recognised first degree and, where applicable, to close any credit shortfall. Key points at a glance:
- First degree in an engineering, natural sciences, information technology or business/economics field (or a closely related discipline).
- At least 7 semesters and 210 ECTS. If you have fewer than 210 ECTS, you must acquire an additional 30 ECTS (e.g. via university certificate modules) before graduation.
- Direct entry is possible with a completed German Diplom or a Master’s degree.
- Language of instruction: German. You must be able to study and take exams in German.
- English skills are required for literature and project work; level B2 is expected.
- International degrees: admissible if comparable to a German Bachelor’s (individual assessment based on transcripts, diploma supplements and workload/ECTS).
- No numerus clausus (NC). You do not need a German Abitur if you already hold a qualifying first degree.
The programme is state-recognised and ACQUIN-accredited (re-accreditation in place), which supports the recognition of your Master’s in Germany and the EU.
Personal requirements
As a fully online degree with optional on-site elements, success depends on how you organise your studies. Plan for around 20 hours per week of self-study during the standard duration. You should be comfortable reading technical and management texts in German, communicating in online seminars, and producing written work to academic standards. Solid English helps with international sources and case studies.
- Strong self-organisation and perseverance over 18 months (with a free extension option).
- Realistic scheduling alongside a full-time job; break larger assignments into weekly milestones.
- Proactive use of the online campus, webinars and tutor feedback to keep momentum.
- Confidence with quantitative methods and project work; readiness to apply tools from innovation, technology and quality management.
- Reliable internet access and a quiet study setup; occasional attendance days or exam centre visits may occur—plan travel time and costs if needed.
If you are motivated to link technology with business impact, can manage a steady weekly workload, and bring the required subject background plus adequate German and English skills, you are well prepared for this Master’s.
What will you study in the Innovation and Technology Management (M.Sc.) at Wilhelm Büchner University of Applied Sciences?
The programme is taught in German. You need solid German skills for academic study; the university lists English competencies as supportive, but the teaching and exams are in German. The degree awards 90 ECTS over three semesters and follows the European Bologna framework.
You build a rigorous foundation in the core disciplines where innovation meets engineering-driven business. Typical modules include Innovationsmanagement (innovation processes and strategies), Technologiemanagement (technology roadmapping, IP perspectives) and Qualitätsmanagement (quality systems and process excellence). Together, these provide the methods to plan, steer and evaluate innovation and technology portfolios.
Digital value creation and sustainable transformation form a second strand. Here you work on Digitale Geschäftsmodelle & Data Science, and a project aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG-Projekt). You learn to turn data into business impact and to anchor innovation in sustainability targets and responsible governance.
Practice and transfer are a defining feature. Formats such as Zukunftswerkstatt@WBH and the Innovation Lab simulate real innovation contexts; you apply foresight, trend scouting and concept validation with professional software tools for innovation management. The programme culminates in a Master’s thesis with a strong application focus.
Electives let you sharpen your profile. You choose one specialisation, for example: - Technologievorausschau (corporate/technology foresight, trend management, technology assessment) - Innovationsmanagement (idea pipelines, cross-industry innovation, responsible innovation) - Technologiemanagement (R&D management, patent strategy, IP management, technology venturing) - Qualitätsmanagement (product and lifecycle management, process management, Lean Six Sigma)
Wilhelm Büchner University is a Fachhochschule (university of applied sciences) and is staatlich anerkannt (state-recognised) in Hesse. The Master’s programme is accredited by ACQUIN and carries full ECTS credit. As a distance-learning degree, it is designed for professionals and can be completed alongside work.
How does studying in the Innovation and Technology Management (M.Sc.) work?
Teaching language and certificates you will need
All regular teaching materials, support and examinations are in German. You should be comfortable reading, writing and presenting academic content in German. The university also highlights the importance of English for literature and sources, but the programme itself is German-taught.
Study model and where you will study from
This is a distance-learning Master designed for working professionals. The administrative campus is in Pfungstadt near Darmstadt (Rhine-Main region), with easy access to the Frankfurt metropolitan area. You study largely online from wherever you live; relocation is not required.
Learning format, group sizes and personal support
Your study path is modular and flexible. You learn with digital materials, e-books, webinars and a 24/7 online campus. A KI-based learning assistant supports you in closing knowledge gaps and preparing for exams efficiently. You can sequence modules to fit your prior knowledge and workload, and you receive individual feedback from tutors.
On-site phases and how assessments work
Expect mainly asynchronous online study with targeted interactive elements. Around 15 short on-site days (about 40 hours) are planned across the degree; additional in-person seminars are offered on a voluntary basis. Each module concludes with an assessment such as a term paper, written exam or oral exam. A significant share of assessments can be taken online from home; in-person exam centres are available in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Duration, start and workload alongside your job
The standard duration is 18 months (three semesters), with a free extension of up to nine months if you need more time. You can start any day of the year and pace your learning to your professional and personal schedule.
What does the Innovation and Technology Management (M.Sc.) cost?
Tuition is charged in monthly instalments; current price models for this Master start from €663.17 per month. Over the standard three semesters you should budget a low five-figure sum for tuition. The university offers a free extension of up to nine months, so taking a little longer does not automatically increase fees.
There is an established process to recognise prior learning. Recognised achievements can reduce your study volume and lead to a financial credit (the university grants a €40 credit per recognised ECTS on completion). This can materially lower your overall cost if you bring relevant prior studies or certified training.
Payment is typically arranged as monthly SEPA instalments. If you pay from abroad, plan for possible bank transfer fees and exchange-rate effects charged by your bank. The university operates a financing service and multiple price models; choose the one that best matches your desired pace.
Living costs only apply if you choose to reside in Germany. Pfungstadt/Darmstadt sits in the Rhine-Main region with costs generally below Frankfurt city centre but above smaller cities. As this is a distance programme, many students continue living and working where they are, avoiding relocation costs.
What careers and recognition does the Innovation and Technology Management (M.Sc.) offer?
The university is state-recognised in Hesse and the programme is ACQUIN-accredited through 30 September 2030. The Master awards 90 ECTS and follows Bologna standards, which facilitates recognition across the EU and supports international portability of credits and degrees. As a distance-learning degree, it also holds ZFU state approval in Germany.
For your career, the programme develops a combined innovation–technology–management profile valued in engineering-driven organisations. Typical roles in Germany, the EU and internationally include: - Innovation manager or head of innovation - Technology manager or R&D project manager - Product manager in high-tech industries - Corporate foresight or technology intelligence specialist - Quality manager or process excellence lead - Management consultant in technology-intensive sectors
Graduates work in automotive, machinery, aerospace, energy, healthcare, IT and advanced services, as well as in technology-focused start-ups and consulting. Salaries vary by country, industry and experience; leadership and project-responsible roles in Germany typically command higher ranges in large corporates, especially in Stuttgart, Munich, Hamburg and the Rhine-Main area.
The M.Sc. also meets common entry requirements for doctoral studies and, within the public sector in Germany, enables access to roles that require a Master’s level qualification.
Who is the Innovation and Technology Management (M.Sc.) right for - and who not?
This Master suits professionals who want to lead innovation with a solid technology and management toolkit, without pausing their career. It’s built for engineers, scientists and business graduates who aim to scale ideas from foresight to market introduction.
- You want a flexible, academically rigorous distance programme you can complete alongside full-time work.
- You have a background in engineering, natural sciences, IT or business and want to specialise at the interface of innovation and technology.
- You aim for roles in innovation, R&D, product, technology or quality management in Germany or the EU.
- You value applied learning: projects, an Innovation Lab, and a practice-oriented Master’s thesis.
- You seek an accredited, state-recognised European Master’s with ECTS that supports international mobility and, if desired, doctoral entry.
There are also clear cases where this programme is not a good match. Read the points below carefully before you commit.
- You do not speak German well enough for academic study. Teaching, materials and examinations are in German.
- You want a traditional on-campus experience in Germany with daily attendance, labs and campus life. This is a distance-learning degree with only brief on-site days.
- You are looking specifically for an English-taught Master to start immediately without prior German.
- You expect tuition comparable to heavily subsidised public universities in Germany. Private distance-learning tuition is higher, reflecting individual support and flexible formats.
Lade… 
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