About FernUniversität in Hagen
FernUniversität in Hagen, founded in 1975, is Germany's only state-run distance-learning university and the country's largest university by student enrolment. It operates under the government of North Rhine-Westphalia and offers fully accredited bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programmes delivered primarily through distance learning, combining printed and multimedia study materials with optional in-person seminars at regional centres.
The university serves students who combine study with work, family, or other commitments — roughly 75% of its students are employed and the average student age is 38. As of winter semester 2024/25, it enrolled 72,458 students in total, of whom 62,442 were in degree programmes; approximately 7.9% live abroad. It has five faculties spanning law, economics, mathematics and computer science, humanities and social sciences, and psychology.
FernUniversität operates 13 regional and study centres, of which seven are located outside Germany, providing local support points for distance learners across Europe and beyond. All teaching and assessment is conducted almost exclusively in German; no full degree programmes in English are currently offered.
Key facts
- Founded
- 1975
- Students
- 72,458
- International
- 7.9% of students live abroad (winter semester 2024/25)
- Faculties
- 5
Germany's only state-run distance-learning university — in operation since 1975
Largest university in Germany by student numbers (72,458 enrolled, winter 2024/25)
75% of students study alongside full-time or part-time employment
13 regional and study centres including 7 international locations
ECTS-based fee model (no flat-rate tuition); total bachelor's cost approximately €2,000–€2,700
TestAS accepted as an alternative entry pathway for students without directly equivalent qualifications
Admissions & costs
Tuition & fees
FernUniversität charges fees based on the number of ECTS credits enrolled per semester, not flat tuition. A basic fee of €60 per semester applies, plus €11 per ECTS credit point, plus a €16 social contribution to Studentenwerk Dortmund. A 30-ECTS (full-time equivalent) semester costs approximately €406; 20 ECTS approximately €296; 15 ECTS approximately €241. Total programme costs are estimated at €2,000–€2,700 for a bachelor's degree and €700–€1,800 for a master's degree. No separate non-EU surcharge is mentioned. This fee model applies to all students regardless of nationality.
Admission requirements
FernUniversität follows the standard German distance-learning enrollment process with no numerus clausus (no minimum grade cutoff) for most programmes. International applicants must hold a qualification equivalent to the German Abitur (for bachelor's entry) or a recognised first degree (for master's entry). Applicants should check their institution's recognition status on the anabin database (kmk.org/anabin). For applicants whose secondary or higher-education qualifications are not directly equivalent, the TestAS aptitude test is accepted as an alternative pathway for several bachelor's programmes (B.Sc. Psychology, Computer Science, Mathematics, Business Administration, and others). German language proficiency is required: typically TestDaF Level 3, DSH Level 1, or Goethe/telc C1 certificate minimum. APS certificate requirements for Indian, Chinese, and Vietnamese applicants follow standard German rules — contact the International Student Office to confirm whether APS is needed before enrollment, as the university's own pages do not explicitly address this. No special separate admission procedure exists for foreign-certificate holders; all applicants use the same online enrollment system during standard windows.
Application deadlines
Winter semester (starts 1 October): enrolment window 1 July – 31 August. Summer semester (starts 1 April): enrolment window 1 December – 31 January. For winter semester 2026/27 the window runs 1 June – 31 July 2026.
Languages of instruction
Almost exclusively German. Individual modules in English may exist within certain programmes — check each programme prospectus. No full degree programme is offered in English.
Campuses & locations
Universitätsstraße 47, 58097 Hagen, NRW; primary administrative and teaching hub
6 domestic centres across Germany; 7 international centres abroad (exact locations not listed on public pages)
Living in Nordrhein-Westfalen
Hagen is a mid-sized city in the southern Ruhr region of North Rhine-Westphalia, with approximately 190,000 residents. It sits at the edge of the Sauerland hills and offers easy rail connections to Dortmund (20 min), Wuppertal (20 min), Düsseldorf (~50 min), and Cologne (~1 hour). Living costs are below the German national average, with shared-flat rooms typically available from €250–€300/month. As a distance-learning university, most FernUni students engage with the city primarily through optional seminars and the main campus rather than daily on-campus attendance.
Student life & support
Because FernUniversität is a distance-learning institution, traditional on-campus student life is limited compared with a conventional university. Optional in-person seminars and study-group meetings are held at the Hagen campus and at regional centres. The university has a student body organisation (Studierendenschaft) and student services through Studentenwerk Dortmund, which provides counselling and social support. Most students study independently around work and family commitments; peer interaction occurs largely through online forums and study groups rather than campus activities.
36
Accredited Programmes
10
Bachelor/Bakkalaureus
26
Master
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