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Who this German-taught online Master suits — and what you need to get in
This programme fits experienced education professionals who want to step up into management and leadership. Typical profiles include: a training or programme coordinator at a college, NGO or adult education provider aiming for strategic responsibility; a teacher, lecturer or corporate L&D specialist moving into educational management and instructional design; a project lead in edtech or HR development who wants to ground practice with advanced pedagogical and leadership theory.
Admission requirements
The teaching language is German. You study fully online (no campus attendance expected). Formal entry routes:
- Standard route (consecutive Master): a completed first degree (Bachelor, Diplom or Magister) with at least 180 ECTS. Programme-specific prior knowledge may be required depending on your background.
- With degree plus work experience: a completed first degree (min. 180 ECTS) and typically at least 1 year of qualified, relevant professional experience in an education-related field.
- Without a first degree (professional track): with a recognised vocational qualification, at least 2 years of relevant full-time experience and a passed aptitude assessment (e.g. written assignment), admission to a Master’s programme can be possible. You submit evidence of training and work experience and a motivation statement; a short admission interview may be part of the process.
- Admission without Abitur: under the regulations of the State of Hesse, university access can be possible for professionally qualified applicants; for the Master this is relevant primarily via the professional track above.
- International qualifications: foreign university degrees and diplomas are accepted. The university checks equivalence for graduate study on a case-by-case basis.
- Language skills: as the programme is German-taught, you need sufficient German for academic study (reading, writing and seminars). Proof of German proficiency may be requested for non-native speakers.
The degree is state-recognised and accredited; study start is possible on the 1st of any month. No numerus clausus (NC-free).
Personal requirements
Success in a distance-learning Master hinges on consistent routines and realistic planning. Expect around 15–20 hours per week in the 4-semester pace; if you choose the 8-semester track, plan roughly 8–12 hours weekly. You should be comfortable studying in German, managing readings and writing academic texts, and switching between pedagogy, management and research methods. Self-organisation, perseverance and proactive communication with tutors are essential. Build a weekly study slot, minimise distractions, and align deadlines with your work cycles. Reliable internet, a quiet workspace and basic Office/online-learning skills will make your study life easier.
What will you study in the Education, Management and Leadership (M.A.) at Fresenius University of Applied Sciences?
The programme is taught in German. You need strong academic German to study successfully. It awards 120 ECTS credits and combines education sciences with leadership and quality-focused management in the education sector.
You start by grounding your profile in education as an academic field and how people learn across the lifespan. Typical topics here include pedagogy as a science, didactic models and principles, and media pedagogy and mediendidactics for digital learning settings. You explore education in society and in interdisciplinary contexts to understand systems, stakeholders and change.
The management core builds the bridge to leadership in educational organisations: sustainable human resource management in education, psychology for leaders, labour law for managers, and designing change processes. You also look at modern forms of work, including virtual and international collaboration, and how to lead teams in these environments.
Quality and evidence run through the programme. You cover quality management in education, education ethics and sustainability, and you train in qualitative and quantitative research methods. This enables you to plan, implement and evaluate programmes and innovations in a data-informed way, and prepare for the empirical part of your master’s thesis.
Electives let you sharpen your profile. You can choose from areas such as Instructional Design, Educational Management and Programme Planning, Internationalisation of Educational Offerings, and Digital and Personal Communication in Educational Contexts. Two of your three specialisations are chosen within the degree; one can optionally be taken from another Fresenius online Master to broaden your toolkit.
Fresenius is a Fachhochschule (university of applied sciences), meaning studies are application-oriented and closely tied to professional practice. The university is staatlich anerkannt (state-recognised); the degree is formally recognised in Germany. The Master’s programme is accredited through 2029 and follows the Bologna framework (ECTS, modular structure). You complete with an academic master’s thesis that links your chosen focus to a practical education context.
How does studying in the Education, Management and Leadership (M.A.) work?
Teaching language and what that means for you
The teaching language is German. All modules, learning materials and assessments are in German. You should be comfortable reading academic texts, writing term papers and presenting in German. If you do not speak German at an advanced level yet, this programme is not a fit.
Study model: 100% online, start any month
This is an online distance-learning Master (Fernstudium) with a flexible standard duration of 4 to 8 semesters (120 ECTS). You can start on the first of any month and choose a time model that matches your workload. There is no physical campus attendance required for teaching, so you can study from anywhere.
Learning format, group sizes and personal support
You learn via a modern e-learning platform with digital scripts, e-books, videos and “StudyMags”. Live online seminars and virtual classrooms add interaction. Expect small online cohorts per seminar and direct access to lecturers. Dedicated Study Coaches support you with time management, study organisation and milestones—useful if you are working alongside your studies.
How you are assessed
Assessments combine online examinations (offered flexibly) with alternative formats such as term papers, project work, presentations and research tasks. A small number of on-site written exams may be scheduled; travel and subsistence for such sessions are not included in tuition and should be budgeted separately. The programme ends with your Master’s thesis.
If you plan to study from outside Germany
Because teaching and exams are conducted online, you do not need to relocate to Germany. If you remain in your home country and study remotely, a German student visa and proof of financing for living in Germany are generally not required. If you choose to move to Germany for personal reasons, standard rules for residence and proof of funds would apply outside the programme.
What does the Education, Management and Leadership (M.A.) cost?
Tuition is charged monthly and depends on your time model. Over the accelerated 24-month route, the regular fee is €549 per month (€13,176 in total). Choosing more time lowers the monthly rate but increases the overall cost: 36 months cost €410 per month (€14,760 in total), and 48 months cost €329 per month (€15,792 in total). The academic scope is identical in all models (120 ECTS); only pacing and instalments change.
Included are access to the online learning platform, digital study materials and e-books, online library access, personal support by lecturers and Study Coaches, and examination fees for online assessments. If an occasional on-site exam is set, your own travel and subsistence are extra. There is no separate enrolment fee for the online format stated in the sources.
Paying from abroad is straightforward with monthly instalments. Many students reduce out-of-pocket costs through employer support (learning agreements, training budgets) or university-run scholarship options. As a distance programme, you also avoid relocation and campus housing costs. If you decide to live in Germany during your studies, add rent, health insurance and living expenses for your chosen city to your budget.
What careers and recognition does the Education, Management and Leadership (M.A.) offer?
Fresenius University of Applied Sciences is a state-recognised (staatlich anerkannt) private university of applied sciences. The Master’s programme is formally accredited (current accreditation runs until 2029) and awards 120 ECTS credits under the Bologna system. This signals internationally that the degree follows recognised European standards for workload, levels and quality assurance, easing academic recognition for further study and supporting employer understanding across the EU.
The curriculum positions you for leadership and specialist roles at the intersection of education and organisational development. Typical paths include:
- Head of training or Learning and Development (L&D) manager in companies, NGOs or public institutions
- Educational manager or programme director in adult education, continuing education and corporate academies
- Instructional designer or digital learning project manager
- Quality manager or evaluation specialist in education and training
- Change and innovation manager for digital learning and communication tools in educational settings
With 120 ECTS at Master’s level, you also build a solid foundation for further academic steps within the European Higher Education Area where appropriate. Note that access to regulated teaching professions in Germany (e.g. state school teaching) follows separate teacher training routes and legal requirements.
Who is the Education, Management and Leadership (M.A.) right for – and who not?
This programme is designed for professionals and career changers who want to lead learning and change in educational organisations—without pausing their careers. It suits those who value academic depth in education combined with applied leadership and quality management.
- You already work in education, training, HR development or adult education and want to step into leadership.
- You need a flexible, fully online Master that you can complete from anywhere while working.
- You want specialisations such as Instructional Design or Internationalisation to tailor your profile.
- You value a state-recognised, accredited Master that follows the ECTS/Bologna standards.
- You prefer practical, applicable study at a Fachhochschule (university of applied sciences).
There are also clear cases where another option will fit better. Read these carefully before you apply.
- You need an English-taught programme. This Master is delivered in German throughout.
- You are looking for an on-campus student experience in Germany; teaching here is online-first.
- Your goal is a regulated teaching profession at German state schools; this programme does not replace teacher training (Lehramt).
- You prefer lab-based, face-to-face formats over independent online study and flexible assessments.
- Your current German level is not sufficient for academic reading and writing; the course requires advanced German.
Lade… 
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