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The Central State Office for Distance Learning (ZFU) has approved the course Health Economics under the number 133305c. Who is the Bachelor's Distance Learning Course in Health Economics Suitable For?
The distance learning course in Health Economics is aimed at professionals and career changers who want to acquire management expertise specifically for the healthcare sector. It is particularly targeted at individuals from medical, nursing, or commercial professions who aspire to hold a responsible position in middle management of hospitals, health insurance companies, care facilities, or health administration. The course also offers school graduates seeking entry into the healthcare industry a solid, interdisciplinary approach to economic, organisational, and legal issues in the healthcare system.
What Formal Criteria Apply for Admission?
To be admitted to the Bachelor's degree programme in Health Economics at APOLLON University, you must meet one of the following formal requirements:
- General higher education entrance qualification (Abitur) or advanced technical college entrance qualification
- Subject-specific higher education entrance qualification, if it matches the degree programme
- Master craftsman certificate, state-certified business administrator, or comparable advanced training
- Completion of at least a three-year, professionally relevant vocational training
- Completed university degree (e.g. Bachelor, Diploma)
- Equivalent foreign higher education entrance qualification (after recognition examination)
Alternatively, you can be admitted without an Abitur if you have successfully completed a vocational training of at least two years and pass a placement test. After passing, you will receive the subject-specific higher education entrance qualification and be fully admitted to the course.
Previously completed relevant vocational or further training (e.g. certificate courses in healthcare) can be credited towards the course.
Personal Requirements: What Skills Should You Bring to the Course?
You should have an interest in economic contexts within the healthcare system and be willing to engage with business management, legal, and ethical issues. Experience or a basic understanding of structures in the healthcare market is helpful. For distance learning, you need self-organisation, motivation, and the ability to learn independently – especially if you are studying alongside your job. Communication skills, analytical thinking, and willingness to collaborate digitally (e.g. in group projects) are important during the course and in your future professional field. Openness to new digital tools and the willingness to engage in continuous professional development support your learning success and your entry into the diverse fields of action within health economics.
Which topics does the distance learning course in Health Economics cover?
In the Bachelor's degree in Health Economics at APOLLON University of Health Economics, you acquire comprehensive health economic expertise, specifically imparting management, communication and analytical skills for the healthcare sector. The curriculum includes the following core subject areas:
- Health Economic Fundamentals: Structures of the healthcare system, actors and legal framework conditions
- Business Administration Skills: General business administration, marketing, accounting, investment and financing
- Public Health & Economics: Basics and specialised aspects of public health as well as health-related economics
- Quality, Process and Project Management: Methods for controlling and optimising operational procedures and care processes
- Human Resource Management: Personnel management, team leadership, organisational development
- Communication & Presentation: Conducting discussions, visualisation, presentation and moderation
- Digital Health: Digital business models and healthcare provision, E-Health applications
- Ethics and Care Management: Ethical issues, care concepts, evaluation of measures
In the third year of study, you additionally select two elective modules (e.g. hospital management, pharmaceutical management, consulting, medical controlling, e-health) to set individual focuses. An integral part is also a practical project (internship), in which you apply theoretical knowledge practically.
The skills you acquire: You learn to analyse complex economic processes in healthcare, manage projects, make economic decisions, lead personnel and communicate effectively.
How is the distance learning course in Health Economics organised?
The programme is completed entirely via distance learning and is flexibly designed to meet the needs of working professionals. You can choose between two variants:
- 36 months (full-time): More intensive study load, recommended if you have high flexibility in terms of time
- 48 months (part-time): Lower monthly workload, ideal for working alongside your studies
The most important components of the study process are:
- Digital study materials: All materials are provided as PDFs, e-books, MP3 or other formats
- Online campus: Interactive platform for communication, learning organisation and exam management
- Online seminars and attendance options: Participation in virtual seminars or optionally on site
- Examinations: Open-book exams online or at nationwide examination centres, written assignments, case studies and project work
- Internship (20 ECTS): Practical application in a healthcare organisation; partial recognition of previous professional experience possible
- Bachelor thesis (12 ECTS): Final thesis on a current issue in health economics
The distance learning course can be started at any time and can be extended free of charge by up to 50% of the standard period of study. Support is provided by experienced lecturers and tutors from academia and practice.
Which career opportunities does a degree in Health Economics open up?
Graduates qualify for a variety of roles in middle and senior management within the health and social economy. Typical fields of work include:
- Controlling and project management in hospitals, care facilities, health insurers and other healthcare institutions
- Consulting at consulting firms specializing in healthcare and social economy
- Management tasks with social insurance carriers, associations and companies in the healthcare market
- Marketing and human resources in the healthcare sector
- Quality management and digitisation in healthcare and care projects
With the Bachelor’s degree, you acquire the necessary key qualifications for interface roles between economic control, communication and process design. Many graduates use the degree as a springboard for a subsequent Master’s degree (e.g. Health Economics, Public Health, Digital Health).
How does the distance learning course function locally and digitally?
The degree programme is fully location-independent as a distance learning course. All study materials are provided digitally. Seminars and exams take place mainly online. If you prefer, you can optionally attend selected events in person. APOLLON University is located in Bremen; however, exams are possible at numerous examination centres throughout Germany, Austria, Switzerland as well as worldwide at Goethe Institutes and consulates. The APOLLON Online Campus offers access to learning materials, lecturers and the student community – also via a mobile app.
What costs should you expect for the distance learning course in Health Economics?
The tuition fees for the Bachelor’s degree in Health Economics vary depending on the chosen study variant:
- Full-time (36 months): from €307 per month (total cost €11,844)
- Part-time (48 months): from €245 per month (total cost €11,760)
- Digital study variant (online only): reduced monthly rates possible
The price includes all study materials, support from the university, seminars, access to the online campus and examinations.
For financing, you have various options:
- BAföG if the corresponding funding requirements are met
- Education loan or student loans (e.g. KfW)
- Funding through employers as part of professional development
- Scholarship programmes for students in the healthcare sector
- Tax deductibility as income-related expenses or special expenses
A particular advantage: You can test the course free of charge for 4 weeks and cancel during this trial period without risk.
Advisory Service
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