Health Education at Private Universities in Germany: From €219

How much do these programmes cost?

Monthly tuition ranges from €219 to around €500, depending on the university, format and degree level. Distance learning is the most affordable option:

At MSB and MSH, semester fees are charged instead of monthly tuition (€2,700–€2,970/semester).

Salary after graduation

• Teacher at vocational health school (Master, TVöD E 13): approx. €57,200 gross/year (entry level). Some nursing schools offer civil servant status (Verbeamtung) with higher net income.
• Clinical practice mentor: approx. €42,000–48,000 gross/year, depending on experience and employer.
• Health counselling / workplace health (TVöD E 9b–E 11): approx. €38,000–48,000 gross/year.

Financing

• Employer support: Many hospitals and care facilities cover tuition partially or fully – especially for nursing education programmes (nursing teacher shortage).
• BAföG: All listed universities are BAföG-eligible. Maximum grant: €992/month (2025). International students may qualify under certain conditions.
• Scholarships: Deutschlandstipendium (€300/month), university-specific programmes.

What study formats are available?

Most students in health, medical and nursing education already work in healthcare. Universities therefore offer formats designed for working professionals:

• Distance learning: Around 8 programmes, including at IU. Maximum flexibility with online exams, self-paced learning and no attendance requirements. From €219/month.
• Part-time/blended: Over 10 programmes with block seminars or evening/weekend modules. Providers include SRH, FOM, Carl Remigius, Fliedner.
• Full-time (campus): Around 7 programmes, mainly in medical education at MSB, MSH, Döpfer University and IB University.
• Dual: 3 programmes at Döpfer University. Theory and practice alternate, often with employer-paid tuition.

Master’s requirement from 2029: What does the Nursing Professions Act mean?

Germany’s Nursing Professions Act (Pflegeberufegesetz, PflBG) requires that teachers at nursing schools hold a Master’s degree in a nursing-education-related programme by 2029 at the latest. Key details:

• Who is affected? All teachers at nursing schools training Pflegefachfrauen/-männer (general care nurses) under the Nursing Professions Act.
• Which Master’s qualifies? Nursing education (Pflegepädagogik), medical education (Medizinpädagogik), professional health education, or comparable programmes. Recognition is regulated at the state (Bundesland) level.
• Transition period: Teachers already working at nursing schools can pursue a part-time Master’s to meet the requirement. Many employers support this financially.
• Not affected: Teachers at vocational schools for other health professions (physiotherapy, OT, MTA etc.) – these follow state-level regulations that recommend but do not yet mandate a Master’s.

Can I complete a Bachelor’s + Master’s by 2029?

If you do not yet hold a Bachelor’s degree, the timeline is tight: a part-time Bachelor’s takes 6–8 semesters, the Master’s another 4–5 semesters – around 5–6.5 years in total. Starting in 2026 means completing the Master’s by 2031 at the earliest. However:

• Consecutive programmes: Universities such as Carl Remigius, Fliedner and Döpfer University offer seamless B.A.-to-M.A. pathways without a separate application process.
• Shorter study time: In distance learning programmes, prior qualifications can be credited and self-paced learning allows faster completion – some students finish the Bachelor’s in 4–5 instead of 6 semesters.
• Transition provisions: The 2029 deadline applies to teachers already working at nursing schools. Those who are already teaching and studying in parallel can generally continue working while completing their degree.

Which universities offer these programmes?

10 private universities in Germany offer English-listed programmes in health, medical and nursing education. Key providers:

• IU International University: Health Education and Nursing Education (B.A., distance learning, from €259/month). Germany’s largest distance learning university with online exams.
• MSB Medical School Berlin and MSH Medical School Hamburg: Medical Education (B.A. + M.A./M.Sc., campus). Specialists in health profession education, located in Berlin and Hamburg.
• SRH University: Vocational Education for Health (B.A.) and Medical Education (M.A.), part-time. Campus in Heidelberg.
• Carl Remigius Medical School: Medical and Nursing Education (B.A. + M.A., part-time). Location: Frankfurt.
• Fliedner University Düsseldorf: Nursing Education (B.A.) and Professional Nursing and Health Education (M.A.), part-time. Location: Düsseldorf.
• Döpfer University: Medical Education (B.A., campus) and 3 Master’s programmes (dual).
• IB University: Health Care Education (B.A., campus) and Health Education (M.A., part-time). Location: Berlin.
• FOM University: Health Psychology & Medical Education (B.A., part-time).
• Akkon University: Health Care Pedagogy (B.A., campus). Location: Berlin.

No campus near you? On-campus providers are concentrated in Berlin, Hamburg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse, Heidelberg and Erfurt. If you live elsewhere in Germany, distance learning at IU offers a fully online alternative with no attendance requirements.

Frequently asked questions about health education programmes

Related fields of study

Depending on your interests and career goals, these fields may also be relevant:

• Nursing Science – research and management in nursing (without pedagogical focus)
• Health Management – business administration for the healthcare sector
• Pedagogy – general pedagogy without health focus
• All Health Sciences programmes