English 
Deutsch 
The Central State Office for Distance Learning (ZFU) has approved the course Coaching under the number 1120421c. Who this German-taught online Master fits – and what you need to qualify
This programme suits international professionals who want to study fully online from abroad and apply coaching in organisations. Typical profiles include HR or learning and development specialists aiming to formalise their coaching practice, line managers or agile practitioners who want to use coaching for change and team performance, and consultants or psychology graduates planning a professional coaching career. As the teaching language is German, you should already command B2-level German to work with academic materials and take exams. The degree awards 120 ECTS (4 semesters) and is accredited.
Admission requirements
To enrol in the German-taught distance-learning format, you need the following formal qualifications:
- First degree: a completed, relevant Bachelor’s (at least 180 ECTS) from a state or state-recognised institution with a minimum overall grade “satisfactory”.
- If your Bachelor’s grade is lower: admission is possible with one of these alternatives matching the programme field: at least 40 ECTS of completed Master/MBA coursework; or a completed, relevant Master/MBA; or recognised extra-university qualifications at DQR level 7 (including foreign Postgraduate Diplomas at an equivalent level) amounting to at least 40 ECTS.
- Professional experience: at least one year of relevant, qualified work experience gained after your first degree and in place by the start of the programme.
- German language proof (for non-native speakers): one of these certificates, usually not older than five years — TestDaF (TND3, at least 3 in all parts), DSH (DSH-1), telc Deutsch B2, or ÖSD B2. Comparable B2 (CEFR) proofs may be accepted.
- Recognition of international qualifications: degrees and vocational credentials from outside Germany are accepted if issued by state or state-recognised institutions. Prior learning can be recognised and reduces tuition by €30 per acknowledged ECTS.
- No Bachelor’s? “Master for Professionals” route (120 ECTS) is available exclusively for applicants without a first degree: (Fach-)Abitur or a completed ≥2-year vocational training (DQR 4) in a related field; at least 6 years of relevant work experience, including 3 years in leadership/expert roles; plus a passed IU preparatory module (seminar paper ~40 pages and a 30-minute oral exam).
Personal requirements
Success in this online Master depends on consistent self-management and realistic time planning. Expect a weekly workload of about 40 hours (full-time, 24 months), around 25 hours (part-time I, 36 months) or about 20 hours (part-time II, 48 months). Schedule fixed study blocks, keep a buffer for assignments and live assessments, and align with your time zone. You need solid German reading, writing and discussion skills (B2+) to engage with scholarly texts and coaching cases, a reliable internet connection with webcam/microphone, and the discipline to work steadily over several semesters. A reflective mindset, ethical awareness, and the ability to handle sensitive conversations will help you in practice units such as live coaching and team development projects.
What will you study in the Coaching (120 CP) at IU International University of Applied Sciences?
This master’s is taught in German. To enrol, you must document German at around B2 level with an accepted certificate such as TestDaF (min. 3 in all parts), DSH-1, telc Deutsch B2 or ÖSD B2. Over 120 ECTS you build a research-informed, practice-oriented coaching profile with a clear route from foundations to live coaching and your Master’s thesis.
You start with the foundations of coaching and ethical practice, then deepen communication and diagnostic skills. Typical modules include Introduction to Coaching and Ethics and Value Management, supported by Conversation and Communication Techniques and Research Methodology so you can evaluate and apply evidence in your practice.
A strong psychology component sharpens your understanding of clients and teams. You cover Personality Psychology and Learning and Development Theories and train structured self-reflection to build a professional stance. The programme tackles conflict and crisis, too: Conversational Skills and Conflict Management and Crisis Intervention prepare you for difficult dynamics.
Practice runs throughout. You work on projects such as Team Development and Concept Development and Live Coaching, where you design, conduct and reflect on real coaching processes. A dedicated seminar on Virtual Coaching and Self-coaching enables you to translate methods into online settings and hybrid organisations.
The methods strand guides you through the coaching process end to end: from contracting and goal-setting to intervention design, tool selection and evaluation. You learn to choose and adapt approaches to case, task and context—across individual, team and organisational levels.
Electives let you specialise. You combine one “Self-reflection: Case Study” module (classic, virtual or agile coaching) with a second focus such as Coaching Executives, Systemic Coaching and Supervision, Diversity Management, New Work and Agility, Digital Business and Agility, Human Performance, Performance and Talent Management, or KI and Prompt Mastery. If you opt in to the “Coaching Lobby” elective (additional cost), you can work toward an extra certificate for a coaching training recognised by the European Association for Supervision and Coaching (EASC).
IU is a private Fachhochschule—a “university of applied sciences” focused on applied teaching and professional practice. It is staatlich anerkannt (state-recognised). The Coaching (120 CP) programme is accredited through 2029 and approved for distance learning by the German authority ZFU (No. 1120421c). You finish with your Master of Arts and a thesis that evidences your ability to design, conduct and evaluate complex coaching engagements.
How does studying in the Coaching (120 CP) work?
The teaching language and proof of German
The programme is delivered entirely in German. International applicants need to present a recognised B2 German certificate before starting: TestDaF (minimum 3 in all components), DSH-1, telc Deutsch B2 or ÖSD B2. Certificates are typically accepted if issued within the last five years.
Study model: 100% online distance learning from Germany
You study as a fully online degree with flexible start dates and time models (24, 36 or 48 months). There is no mandatory campus attendance and no relocation required. Teaching, materials, support and examinations are organised from Germany by IU International University of Applied Sciences.
Learning format, support and digital campus
Learning takes place on IU’s digital campus with multimedia scripts, videos, exercises, and an extensive online library. You can use IU’s learning AI “Syntea” and take part in online sessions. Study and career coaching, peer exchange and optional (non-mandatory) on-site seminars provide additional support. Presence is not required; you choose how synchronously or asynchronously you study.
Assessment and exams
Assessments are designed to mirror academic and professional practice. Depending on the module, you complete online exams, written assignments and project reports, presentations, oral exams, or reflections from live-coaching work. Most exams are available 24/7 online; alternatively, you can use an IU exam centre.
What online study means for non-EU students
Because this is a distance-learning programme without mandatory on-campus phases, you do not need to apply for a German student visa or provide proof of financing for residence in Germany. You can study from your home country while earning a German master’s degree.
What does the Coaching (120 CP) cost?
Your total tuition depends on the time model you choose. As an orientation: in the full-time track (24 months) you pay about €499 per month, in part-time I (36 months) about €379 per month, and in part-time II (48 months) about €299 per month. In addition, there's a one-time graduation fee of €799. This results in total tuition in the low- to mid-five-figure range over the standard duration. Fees reflect the services of a private, state-recognised university with a high-flexibility online model, 24/7 exams and extensive digital resources.
Tuition is paid in monthly instalments from abroad; the university provides a digital billing process. If you have prior learning or professional qualifications that match module outcomes, IU’s recognition process can reduce your study time and tuition (a typical rule is a monetary deduction per recognised ECTS).
Optional extras can add cost: if you join the “Coaching Lobby” pathway for the EASC-recognised coaching certificate, supervision units with teaching supervisors are billed separately.
Because the programme is online, there are no campus-related housing or semester fees. You can remain where you live now. If you choose to move to Germany during your studies, plan for typical living expenses (rent, health insurance, food, transport), which vary significantly by city.
What careers and recognition does the Coaching (120 CP) offer?
The degree awards 120 ECTS credits under the Bologna framework and follows European higher education standards for master’s degrees. IU is a state-recognised private university of applied sciences (Fachhochschule) in Germany. The programme itself is accredited through 02/05/2029, and the distance-learning format is approved by Germany’s ZFU. These signals matter internationally: they indicate formal quality assurance, a credit system that is portable across Europe, and a credential that employers and universities can evaluate transparently.
Career paths are broad across organisations and markets that invest in people development and change. Common roles include:
- Business or Leadership Coach (freelance or in-house), working with managers and teams on performance and self-leadership
- Agile Coach in tech, product and transformation contexts (scrum, scaled agility, new work)
- HR Development or Talent Manager, designing coaching-based learning architectures
- Organisational Development Specialist, facilitating change, culture and team development
- People & Culture roles with a coaching focus, including internal coaching programmes
Earnings vary by country, sector and contract type. In Germany, employed roles in these fields often range from mid to upper five figures per year, rising with seniority and sector (consulting, tech, large enterprise). Freelance coaches set day rates based on positioning, experience and client base.
Academically, the master’s enables further study, including doctoral work in related fields. If you pursue the additional EASC-recognised training option during your degree, you also build a pathway toward later qualifications such as Supervisor EASC.
Who is the Coaching (120 CP) right for – and who not?
This programme suits professionals who want to apply coaching systematically in organisations or establish themselves as coaches with a strong academic foundation and real-case practice—without pausing their career or relocating.
- You want a German, state-recognised master’s that you can complete 100% online from anywhere.
- You already work in HR, learning and development, change or leadership and want to add rigorous coaching skills.
- You value practice: live-coaching projects, team development and virtual coaching are part of the curriculum.
- You plan to work across classic, virtual and agile settings and welcome specialisations (e.g. Coaching Executives, Systemic Coaching, Diversity, New Work).
- You appreciate flexible exams (including 24/7 online) and structured academic support on a digital campus.
It is not the best fit for every situation. The points below help you avoid a mismatch before you apply.
- The programme is taught in German; without at least B2 German (e.g. TestDaF, DSH-1, telc B2, ÖSD B2), you cannot follow courses or complete exams.
- You want a classic on-campus experience in Germany with regular face-to-face classes—this is a distance-learning degree with optional, not mandatory, attendance.
- You aim for a regulated health profession (e.g. licenced psychotherapy in Germany): this coaching degree does not grant access to such licences.
- Your top priority is the very lowest tuition: private universities typically charge higher fees than German public universities.
- You prefer tightly scheduled, cohort-based timetables; this programme expects a high degree of self-management and independent study.
Lade… 
Advisory Service
Have questions about Academic Programs Coaching? Ask your question here, even anonymously. An employee of the institution IU International University of Applied Sciences or the editorial team will answer you.