- Founded
- 2013
- Students
- 4,797
- Programmes
- 20
- Taught in English
- 1
About IST-Hochschule für Management
IST-Hochschule für Management is a private, state-recognised university of applied sciences founded in 2013 and based in Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia. The institution is institutionally accredited by the Wissenschaftsrat (German Science Council) and holds FIBAA programme accreditation. It specialises in distance and blended-learning degree programmes, combining self-study course materials with online lectures, tutorials, and a learning app, supplemented by optional in-person seminars at exam centres across Germany and Austria.
The university organises its programmes across four subject clusters: Sport & Management, Fitness & Health, Tourism & Hospitality, and Communication & Business. Both bachelor and master degrees are offered as full-time, part-time, and dual-study variants, with the dual-study track typically employer-funded. One English-taught master programme is available (Exercise Science & Sports Nutrition); all other programmes are delivered in German.
With approximately 4,800 enrolled students, IST-Hochschule is one of the larger private distance-learning universities in Germany. Its programmes are consistently ranked among the most popular distance-learning offerings on platforms such as FernstudiumCheck. The university is classified as a Fachhochschule (university of applied sciences), emphasising practical, industry-facing competencies over research.
State-recognised private university of applied sciences in Düsseldorf, founded 2013
Institutional accreditation by the Wissenschaftsrat; FIBAA-accredited bachelor and master programmes
Four subject clusters: Sport & Management, Fitness & Health, Tourism & Hospitality, Communication & Business
Flexible study formats: full-time, part-time, and dual-study (blended/distance learning)
One English-taught master's programme available (Exercise Science & Sports Nutrition)
Ranked most popular distance-learning university in Germany on FernstudiumCheck 2026
Key facts
- Type
- Fachhochschulen / HAW
- Founded
- 2013
- Students
- 4,797
- Faculties
- 4
- Programmes
- 20
Study programmes
20 accredited degrees at IST-Hochschule für Management, 1 of them taught in English.
Showing 1–20 of 20 programmes
Admissions & fees
What it costs
IST-Hochschule is a private institution; tuition fees apply to all students regardless of nationality. Bachelor programmes: €379/month (6-semester full-time track, total approx. €13,644) or €319/month (8-semester part-time track, total approx. €15,312). Master programmes: €445/month (4-semester full-time) or €325/month (6-semester part-time); dual master programmes approx. €415/month over 5 semesters (typically employer-funded). All study materials and online campus access are included in the monthly fee; no additional semester contribution. There is no tuition-free public-university status here - this is a private Fachhochschule.
Admission requirements
Applicants must hold a recognised German Hochschulzugangsberechtigung (university entrance qualification) or an equivalent foreign qualification. International applicants are processed through uni-assist for credential evaluation. For Indian, Chinese, and Vietnamese applicants, an APS (Akademische Prüfstelle) certificate is required as part of the visa and admission process - the IST-Hochschule international office references APS and uni-assist for non-European applicants. Language proficiency in German is required for all German-taught programmes (specific level not stated on the official site - verify with the institution). The one English-taught master's programme requires B2 English. Application is submitted via the online portal at anmeldung.ist-hochschule.de. The international office contact is Nina Jestaedt.
Application deadlines
Bachelor's and MBA programmes accept applications year-round with no fixed deadline (distance learning, flexible start). Master's programmes have a winter-semester application deadline of 30 September.
How international applicants apply
Used - uni-assist in VPD mode plus the university's own online registration. IST-Hochschule appears on uni-assist's official member list with the note that applicants obtain the Vorpruefungsdokumentation (VPD) from uni-assist and then submit their application with the VPD directly to the university; its International Office publishes a dedicated uni-assist information sheet for applicants with foreign education certificates (linked from the Incoming Students section) and advises non-EU dual-study applicants on 'Uni Assist und VPD', APS certificates and blocked accounts. The degree application itself is filed via IST's own online registration (anmeldung.ist-hochschule.de); because delivery is distance-based, studying entirely from abroad (digital exams or exams at Goethe-Instituts worldwide) is possible.
Languages of instruction
German (all programmes except one). One English-taught master's programme: Master's Program in Exercise Science & Sports Nutrition. MBA programmes require B2-level English proficiency.
Entry requirements, intake dates and language levels differ for every degree.
Scholarships at IST-Hochschule für Management
2 schemes run or administered by the university. Always confirm current amounts and deadlines on the official page.
Deutschlandstipendium
EUR 300 monthly income-independent grant co-funded by private sponsors and the federal government; selection weighs grades ('gut'...
Amount: EUR 300 per month
Deadline: Application window opens 15 July and closes 15 August (2026 cycle)
bachelor, master
IST-Stipendienprogramm (own scholarship programme)
Performance-independent scholarship aimed at socially engaged or disadvantaged applicants, people with family obligations or excep...
bachelor, master
Campuses & locations
Erkrather Str. 220 a-c, D-40233 Düsseldorf. Primary administrative and academic hub.
Living in Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is the state capital of North Rhine-Westphalia and one of Germany's major business and media hubs, home to fashion, advertising, and corporate headquarters. The city has a large international community and excellent transport links, including a major international airport. For distance-learning students at IST-Hochschule, physical presence in Düsseldorf is minimal; exam sittings are available across nine German cities and Innsbruck (Austria).
Student life & support
Because IST-Hochschule operates primarily as a distance-learning institution, traditional on-campus student life is limited. Students interact mainly through an online campus platform, digital tutorials, and web-based training. Optional in-person seminars and exams are held at partner locations across Germany. The university has a dedicated support structure for high-performance athletes who combine study with competitive sport careers.
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