Business Informatics, Bachelor of Science

Who is the Bachelor’s Distance Learning Programme in Business Informatics at HFH Suitable for?

The part-time distance learning programme in Business Informatics (Bachelor of Science) at the Hamburg Fern-Hochschule is ideal for you if you are interested in IT solutions for business management issues. It is aimed both at professionals who want to expand their knowledge at the interface between IT and business and secure new career prospects, as well as at career changers who want to prepare for demanding digitalisation tasks in a corporate context. Previous knowledge in computer science or business is helpful but not required – all necessary fundamentals are taught during the programme.

Admission Requirements at a Glance

• General university entrance qualification (Abitur) or advanced technical college entrance qualification or subject-specific university entrance qualification
  Additionally: practical professional experience
• Studying without (technical) university entrance qualification possible
  Requirement: recognised advanced training examination (e.g. master craftsman, state-certified technician, specialist) and participation in a fee-based counselling interview
• With completed vocational training (at least two years) plus at least 2 years of professional experience
  Additionally: successful participation in an entrance examination at HFH

Periods of child-rearing, caregiving activities or voluntary services can be credited with up to one year towards the required professional experience.

Personal Requirements and Recommendations

• Interest in digital processes and the interface between IT and business management
• Analytical thinking skills as well as willingness to engage with topics such as programming, data analysis and AI
• Self-motivation and organisational skills to balance self-study with work or private commitments
• No prior subject knowledge necessary; all fundamentals, for example in mathematics or computer science, are taught during the course
  An optional free mathematics refresher course is available
• Training in commercial or IT-related fields can facilitate entry but is not a formal requirement
• Competence for interdisciplinary, team-oriented work is advantageous within the framework of project labs and practical projects

Course Content: What Do You Learn in the Business Informatics Distance Learning Programme?

In the Bachelor’s degree programme in Business Informatics at the Hamburg Distance Learning University, you engage with the core issues at the interface between information technology and business administration. The programme is interdisciplinary and consists of modules in computer science, economics, and business informatics.

• Computer Science:
  • Programming (imperative, object-oriented and web-based programming)
  • Data Structures & Algorithms
  • Database Systems
  • Fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence
  • Fundamentals of Data Analysis
• Economics:
  • Introduction to Business Administration
  • Accounting and Financial Statements
  • Cost and Performance Accounting
  • Materials and Production Management
  • Marketing
  • Investment and Finance
  • Corporate Management
  • Business Private Law and Competition Law
  • Sustainability Management
  • Management of Complex Problem Situations
  • Work and Organisational Psychology
• Business Informatics:
  • Fundamentals of Business Informatics
  • Project Management
  • Operational Information and Communication Systems
  • Software Engineering
  • Business Intelligence & Data Warehousing
• Additional Basic Modules: Mathematics 1 and 2, Business Statistics, Business English, Academic Working
• Elective Modules:
  • Business Informatics: Business Process Management or Enterprise Resource Planning with SAP as well as e.g. Process Mining, Data Analytics, Data Visualisation and Machine Learning
  • Economics: Selection from several specialisation modules (details above)
• Project Labs: Application of your knowledge in interdisciplinary team projects with the development of your own solutions for practical issues
• Bachelor Thesis: Independent academic treatment of a topic in the area of Business Informatics

To support you, there are online seminars for all modules as well as selected face-to-face offerings at HFH study centres.

How the Programme Works

The Bachelor’s degree in Business Informatics at the HFH is designed as a part-time distance learning programme. You can start flexibly on four dates during the year: 1 January, 1 April, 1 July or 1 October. The programme is officially recognised and accredited (ACQUIN).

• Duration: Can be chosen between 6, 7, 8 or 9 semesters (depending on individual pace and graduation variant)
• Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Science (B.Sc., 180 ECTS, usually 6-8 semesters) or Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng., 210 ECTS, usually 7-9 semesters)
• Start Dates: 4 times per year, enrolment possible at any time
• Examinations & Learning Format: Distance learning with self-study phases, online seminars and optional face-to-face events. Examinations can be taken at selected study centres.
• Practice Transfer: Project Labs for teamwork and presentations, practice-oriented modules as well as the Bachelor thesis

The programme is particularly tailored to working professionals and can be flexibly combined with work and other obligations.

Your Entry Opportunities and Career Prospects

Business informaticians are in demand in modern companies across almost all industries. With your Bachelor’s degree you are qualified for the following fields of work:

• IT Consulting and IT Management
• Project Management and Process Management
• Business Analysis and Data Analytics
• Software Architecture and IT Systems Development
• Product Management
• Founding and Development of IT Start-ups
• Deployment and Implementation of Modern Information and Communication Systems
• Technical Interface between IT and Management

By your ability to link information technology solutions with economic benefits, you actively contribute to the digitalisation and success of companies. You can work interdisciplinarily and data-driven, thus are broadly positioned in the job market.

Where and How Can You Study?

The Bachelor’s degree in Business Informatics at the HFH is conducted as a fully online-based distance learning programme. Additionally, you have the option to attend selected face-to-face courses at HFH study centres or to take exams there. Study centres are available, among others, in:

• Berlin
• Hamburg
• Munich
• Stuttgart
• Essen
• Kassel
• Nuremberg
• Würzburg
• Graz
• Vienna
• Feldkirch, Linz, Judenburg (Austria)

This way you can flexibly decide whether you want to study purely digitally or with supplementary face-to-face phases. Support and exchange with lecturers and fellow students are possible online or at the centres.

Costs and Financing: What Should You Expect?

• Tuition Fees:
  • 6 semesters: €355 per month (total €12,780)
  • 7 semesters: €309 per month (total €12,978)
  • 8 semesters: €276 per month (total €13,248)
  • 9 semesters: €247 per month (total €13,338)
• Exam Fee for Bachelor Thesis: €563 per attempt (in addition to tuition fees)
• Flexibility: You can try the programme for one month without obligation.
• Funding Options: Funding through BAföG, education loans or tax recognition as further education costs is possible following individual advice.

You will receive comprehensive support from the HFH as well as access to online learning platforms and modern teaching materials. The university is officially recognised and specialised in distance learning programmes.