Distance learning

Studying flexibly wherever you are and largely whatever the time - these are the attractions of distance learning for those working as well as those wanting to change careers or return do work. You continue your professional education parallel to your work and other commitments and acquire a recognised qualification of university standard. By law, distance learning courses are treated as equal to comparable attendance courses.

Human resources managers appreciate graduates of distance learning courses because of their self-motivation, determination and organisational skills. There are many reasons in favour of continuing education: improving your professional expertise, acquiring new knowledge or working on your personal development.

When you are interested in a distance learning course, the first step is to choose the appropriate course for you on the basis of your professional background, your previous education or your interests and aims. If you want to obtain a state-approved and internationally recognised academic degree (Bachelor or Master), you should complete a full course of studies. If you are interested in specific topics, your best course of action may be the study of selected modules.
Already completed modules can later be taken into account for Bachelor or Masters courses, provided that the entry requirements are met.

Once you have decided on a specific course, you will be attended to by the zfh Student Administration.
The application period for the following winter semester starts at the beginning of April or May, depending on the course you have chosen, and ends at the end of June or mid-July.
The application period for the following summer semester starts at the beginning of October or November, depending on the course you have chosen, and ends at the end of December or mid-January.

The application or registration procedure runs online via the registration page of your selected programme. Please note the respective checklist with the compilation of the required documents. Your application will be checked - if everything is complete and the admission requirements are met, you will receive a notification of admission and study fees from the zfh.

As soon as we have received your payment, you will be admitted to the distance learning programme and enrolled in the course. The zfh will forward your data to the respective university and you will receive your student card or your guest student certificate. This enrolment certificate will be reissued at the start of each term that you continue to study.

You can cancel your registration after admission; any fees already paid will be refunded minus a ten-percent administration charge.
You can also deregister after the start of term or after receipt of your student documents; however, in this case fees will not be refunded.

There are minor differences in the start/end of semesters between various universities of applied science. As a general rule, the winter term starts in September/early October, and the summer term in March. For most courses, you will then be looked after by the coordinators at individual universities of applied sciences. Prior to the start of the semester, you will receive an invitation to attend an introductory seminar or the first attendance date for your course, together with the first delivery of your course materials. Depending on your specific course, you should estimate spending 15-18 hours a week on your studies. Each term is approx. 20 weeks long.

First, during the self-study phase, you work through the study content using study letters or study software. Tutors and mentors provide you with professional support via a learning platform. Course materials are enriched with selected E-learning content, available to you online throughout the term via the learning platform. In addition, particularly during the self-study phase, the platform provides you with the opportunity of entering into exchanges with teachers and fellow students via various forums and newsgroups and of clarifying any questions you may have.

Depending on your particular course, you will receive assignments together with your course material which you have to complete within set times. It is very important that you keep to the submission deadlines. However, in most cases you will have the chance of applying for an extension of the deadline by 10 days. The assignments are then marked by the revisers of the respective distance learning course. The marked assignment with comments and a model solution is then returned to you. Professional mentors are on hand to deal with any questions you may have regarding comprehension of the subject matter or in relation to assignments.

Self-study phases are regularly supplemented by attendance phases, either in form of weekend courses at the participating universities of applied sciences during term time or as a one-week block seminar at the end of term. Their purpose is to deepen, reflect on and apply the knowledge acquired during the self-study phase. Training sessions include simulation games and exercises and the practical application of the course content.

At the end of each semester, you indicate your desire of continuing with your studies by re-registering for the next term. We will regularly send out reminders and information about deadlines. If you do not re-register by the stated deadline, you will be exmatriculated automatically after a certain period. Once you have re-registered, you will receive the notification of study fees; after payment, you will receive your enrolment certificate.

Particularly in state-approved or internationally recognised courses, exams are a compulsory part of the course. Exams are often conducted as part of attendance sessions. Each subject you enrolled for concludes with a performance test in form of written exams, case studies, group work or assessed seminars. If you have enrolled for a certificate programme or particular modules and attended the course and/or passed the exam successfully, you will be awarded a graded individual or overall certificate. If you do not sit or pass an exam, you will be given the opportunity to resit; in any case, you will be given an ungraded individual certificate as proof of attendance. In accredited Bachelor and Master programmes, the final term is devoted to writing your thesis. The course concludes with an oral examination on your Master thesis.

We will support you with our range of services throughout your course: from the general zfh Student Advisory Service to subject-specific advice by course coordinators at participating universities of applied sciences to help with educational leave.