There are different types of assessment in the ISM distance learning programme: coursework, e-portfolio (here you perform various tasks over the course of a module, e.g. brief presentation, essay) and examinations. You can schedule your individual exam date at any time: you can start within 10 minutes! Of course, we offer you the chance to familiarise yourself with the technology in advance.
If you are enrolled full-time in the distance learning programme, you are legally considered a regular student. This entails various benefits.
Since you have a personal semester in distance learning, you also have a customisable semester break. However, there are no standardised requirements that are based on classic semester break times, for example, as in a face-to-face course. Instead, you can decide for yourself when you want to take a break.
Yes, if you like, you’re welcome to come to one of our 7 sites. As well as using the library, you can also get advice at the career centre or international office, for example.
The ISM distance learning programme has been designed for precisely such circumstances. You can organise your studies entirely according to your time constraints (incl. desired examination dates). Depending on your experience, educational background, your personal learning style and the time you have available to study, you can choose between three time models:
Bachelor:
Master:
It is possible to extend your studies by 12 months for free regardless of time model. You can also swap between time models.
You can swap your study time model once a year by making an online request, which can be filled out and sent in the e-campus.
You can apply for a semester of leave at any time with three months' notice at the end of the month.
It is possible to work parallel to the #ismdistancelearningprogramme if you are enrolled in the full-time model.
The ISM is officially recognised for an unlimited period by the Ministry of Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (the ISM has its headquarters here). All degree programmes taught face-to-face are recognised by the Accreditation Council and meet the quality criteria of the FIBAA (Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation). The degrees are equivalent to those of state universities.
A completed distance learning programme is a solid argument in your application or also for internal continuous development: you have demonstrated self-discipline and perseverance in particular (as well as your content-related development) over the course of the distance learning programme.
Whether you’re from Austria, Switzerland or any other country in the world, you can complete your 100% digital ISM distance learning programme from anywhere. It is important to note that this does not entitle you to a visa or residence permit: According to Section 16.0.4 of the Residence Act, the programme must “constitute the main purpose of residence. These requirements are not met, for example, by an evening, weekend or distance learning course.”.
There are six aspects that distinguish the distance learning programme at the ISM from other institutes:
Our multimedia learning materials have been completely newly created: current examples, elaborately illustrated textbooks, high-quality videos and different exercise materials for repetition. You can get a first look at selected learning materials in the taster course.
No, there are no compulsory attendances. That would contradict our flexible concept. Of course, we are convinced that participation is valuable and enriching, which is why we recommend (active) participation in the live formats.
Our study coaches accompany you during your studies. They are your first point of contact for questions about your studies and beyond. For example, they can also advise you on financing your studies or opportunities to spend a semester abroad.
The teachers and lecturers in the distance learning programme all have a background in practice or work alongside teaching. They therefore bring a high level of practical experience to the study programme. What makes the teachers in the distance learning programme particularly special is their joy in developing and implementing a completely new, future-oriented degree with the distancing learning programme.
To take part in the #ismdistancelearningprogramme, you need a computer or laptop with an up-to-date operating system (at the moment, this can be Windows 7+, Mac OSX 10.9+, Ubuntu 18.04+, Chrome 58+). Additional software may need to be installed (currently: Google Chrome Browser).
An internship is not a standard part of the #ismdistancelearningprogramme as many students are working alongside their studies. But you can of course do a voluntary internship during your distance learning programme. You can contact the career centre at one of the ISM sites for support.
A semester abroad is not part of the ISM distance learning programme because many students are employed. However, you are welcome to spend a semester abroad if you wish (the costs for this are incurred separately). The international office at an ISM campus will be happy to help you find a suitable university.
The bachelor thesis can be written in German or English. The length is between 10,000 and 12,000 words. In the thesis, you will work on a practice-oriented problem from your course of study. It is also possible to cooperate with a practice partner, e.g. if you are already working in a company and have identified a question that can be investigated. You will receive more detailed information about the requirements for your thesis during your studies.
The special thing: We don't have a traditional colloquium where you have to defend your thesis in an oral exam. Instead, a live seminar accompanies you while you write your thesis. The live seminar is our colloquium.
Our colloquium will guide you through all the important stages of your thesis:
In this live seminar, you will present your exposé in which you describe what you are investigating and how you are proceeding. In addition, you will receive feedback on your work and can exchange ideas with other students who are also working on their thesis.
The submission of the thesis takes place exclusively digitally via the learning platform.
The thesis will be supervised and evaluated by an ISM professor. This means that you have a contact person for all technical and methodological questions during the thesis. In addition, there is a second examiner, often another teacher from your course of study or a practice partner.
A semester abroad is not part of the ISM distance learning programme because many students are employed. However, you are welcome to spend a semester abroad if you wish (the costs for this are incurred separately). The international office at an ISM campus will be happy to help you find a suitable university.
On admission/recognition of prior achievements
You can also be admitted directly to the Bachelor’s degree programme without an Abitur or high school diploma if you have an intermediate school-leaving certificate as well as at least two years of commercial training and at least three years of professional activity in a commercial environment. If you have completed an advanced training course (e.g. master craftsman), we can also admit you directly. But even if you do not meet these conditions, you can still start studying with us: in this case, we offer a trial study programme or an entrance exam.
Unfortunately, there is no general answer to this question. If you have completed a Bachelor's degree at ISM, then you can also complete any Master's degree at ISM. This does not necessarily apply to other universities and degree programmes. Please contact our student advisory service beforehand to make sure!
You can of course switch between both types of study. However, to switch to a different type of study, you will need a new contract and you will have to terminate the previous contract. For recognition of equivalent academic achievements, it is best to contact the Student Advisory Service.
You can apply to study with us at any time. There are no deadlines to meet. Your studies start on the date of your choice. However, we need a bit of time to check your documents, especially prior achievements, as we check each application individually. Therefore, we recommend not putting off your application for too long!
Yes, you have two options:
In order to be admitted to a Master’s degree programme, you need a Bachelor’s degree with 180 ECTS credits, of which 50 ECTS credits must be in the field of economics and 10 ECTS credits in the fields of maths and statistics. If you do not have these credits, you have the following options:
The aim of bridging courses is to expand skills in a specific subject area and to acquire basic knowledge. With each bridging course, missing ECTS credits can be gained after successfully passing the exam in order to be admitted to the Master’s degree programme. Before you take the course, we check on a case-by-case basis whether you meet the entry requirements with your prior knowledge and show you which bridging courses you need to complete. Our bridging courses are currently only offered in German and can be taken once you have enrolled in a Master’s degree programme.
You will be credited 50% of the costs of the bridging courses in the third semester of your Master's programme. We offer these modules as bridging courses:
The course fee is €350 per 5 ECTS.
Live modules always start anew at regular intervals. You can choose from a variety of fixed dates. The dates and times are scheduled in such a way that you can usually take part alongside your job: either in the evenings or, for example, as block events on Friday afternoons or at the weekend.
Thanks to the flexible timetable and the possibility of studying online, it is possible to start at any time. Some students start their first live module at the very beginning, whereas others only start after three months, for example. You can simply decide for yourself when you want to start. Students simply choose the course from the schedule of live modules that suits them best in terms of content and their timetable.
If you miss a session, you have access to various documents from the live session such as literature, recording of the presentation or notes.
The live modules have a seminar format and offer lots of space for discussion. Knowledge of the respective subject area is taught by one of the professors interactively within small groups, and theoretical aspects are considered comprehensively, in part experimentally. All participants work on the contents in a structured way, possibly in the preparation and follow-up. The focus is on acquiring expertise and skills.
The live modules either comprise 12 sessions lasting 90 minutes each or they take place as longer block events, which then reduces the number of sessions.
You need to submit the relevant documents to us to demonstrate your English skills.
With us, you are in control of your study schedule and can be completely flexible in terms of time. Experience shows that at least 10 hours a week should be factored in for your studies. The 10 hours a week constitute the bare minimum of time needed to make any progress at all. The time needed also depends on individual factors such as previous experience, ambition, performance requirements, motivation as well as your professional and personal circumstances. You have the option of making your full-time studies as comprehensive as a normal face-to-face programme or allowing yourself more time for the modules. You also have the option of studying all modules one after the other instead of in parallel. You can also set your own exam dates and avoid exam stress.
Our exams take place online. It is not necessary to be present on campus. Assessment takes the form of examinations, e-portfolio tasks (e.g. essays or brief presentations) and coursework. You can easily register for exam dates online via our e-campus.
We have no fixed dates when the semesters start or end, except for the live modules (see above). This means you can start at any time. It’s best to choose a time to start your studies when you can take your time to get into the swing of things. This is when your semester begins.
Yes, it’s possible to study and work full-time. However, you should be aware that this leaves very little time for leisure activities, friends and family. If you work full-time, we recommend studying part-time. If you feel that you can cope with the additional work, you can switch to studying full-time after the start of your part-time programme. It is possible to switch time model once a year.
If you study full-time, you can usually do a €450 job at the same time. If you’d like to work more, this is usually at the expense of your free time, meaning scheduling time for your distance learning programme at the weekend too, for example.
We offer you a free, no-obligation consultation so that you can combine your lifestyle ideally with the flexible distance learning programme. Our study coaches will also support you throughout your programme and help you choose the right study model.
We support your learning success with comprehensive learning materials and literature as well as smart formats such as instructional videos and live digital sessions.
In your Master's thesis, you will work on a research-oriented question and will be accompanied by a professor from ISM. There will be at least three individual consultation appointments. In addition, you will receive self-study material on scientific work and statistical methods in order to repeat and deepen the necessary methodological basics on your own, if required.
The Master's thesis must be written in English. The only exception is currently the Master's in Media and Communication Psychology: Since this has German and English modules, the thesis can also be written in German or English. The length is between 25,000 and 30,000 words. You can choose a purely theoretical topic for your thesis or write it in cooperation with a practice partner. You will receive more detailed information about the requirements for your thesis during your studies.
The special thing about it: We don't have a classic colloquium where you have to defend your thesis in an oral exam. Instead, a live seminar accompanies you while you write your thesis. The live seminar is our colloquium.
Our colloquium will guide you through all the important stages of your thesis:
In this live seminar, you will present your exposé in which you describe what you will investigate in your master's thesis and how you will proceed. In addition, you will receive feedback on your work and can exchange ideas with other students who are also working on their thesis. The only exception is the Master Taxation: There is no colloquium.
The thesis is submitted exclusively digitally via the learning platform.
The thesis is supervised and evaluated by a professor at ISM. This means that you have a contact person for all technical and methodological questions during the thesis. In addition, there is a second examiner, often another teacher from your course of study or a practice partner.
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