Certificates
Photo: Volker Wiciok
Are you interested in studying, but maybe you don’t have the time or you don’t actually need to complete an entire bachelor’s or master’s degree program? The FernUniversität offers you an alternative: studying for a certificate enables you to realize specific educational goals below degree level and to obtain a university-recognized qualification.
The certificate programs consist of thematically related modules from the undergraduate degree programs and have a scope of 60 to 75 ECTS credits (as part of a bachelor’s degree program) or 30 ECTS credits (as part of a master’s degree program).
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
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In a pilot phase lasting until the end of September 2025, the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences is offering the certificate “Fundamentals of Cultural Studies in Literature.” After earning 75 ECTS credits in the B.A. Cultural Studies: Students can apply for a certificate focusing on cultural and literary studies. This documents your achievements to date, enabling you to use them as proof in a professional or academic context. You can also continue and complete your bachelor’s degree.
You can find more information about the certificate on this page on the study website.
Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science
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The Certificate in Computer Science consists of subject-specific content from the bachelor’s degree program in computer science and offers you the opportunity to choose one of two specializations and set your own focus. You can choose between practical or technical computer science. In practical computer science, the following specializations are available:
- Software engineering,
- Operational information systems, or
- Distributed systems
The following specializations are offered in technical computer science:
- Internet security,
- Parallel programming, or
- Application-oriented microprocessors
Regardless of which certificate you choose, you will acquire fundamental knowledge of computer science paired with the scientific methodology you will need for solving computer science problems during your studies.
More information about the certificates in Computer Science (page in German)
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In the Certificate in Mathematics, you will acquire basic knowledge of mathematics from the bachelor’s degree course in mathematics and, building on this, choose one of the following specializations:
- Mathematical foundations of cryptography
- Function theory
- Parametric statistics
- Linear optimization
- Graph theory
- Numerical mathematics I
In the Certificate in Mathematics, you will acquire basic mathematical knowledge and learn how to apply it to mathematical problems.
More information about the certificate in Mathematics (page in German)
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The bachelor’s degree program in Mathematical and Technical Software Development offers the certificate “Mathematical and Computer Science Fundamentals.” This certificate is an optimum mix of mathematics and computer science and is particularly interesting for those who cannot or simply do not want to choose between these two disciplines. In the Certificate in Mathematical and Computer Science Fundamentals, you will acquire basic knowledge from both subjects as well as in-depth knowledge in the field of software engineering.
More information about the certificate in Mathematical and Computer Science Fundamentals
Faculty of Psychology
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Since the winter semester 2020/2021, the Faculty of Psychology has been offering an alternative to the entire bachelor degree course. This can be useful, for example, if your personal interests or professional requirements are focused on a specific field of psychology. You can obtain a certificate for the following areas of psychology:
- Psychology: social processes and the working world
- Psychology: social processes, diversity, and intervention
- Psychology: development and education
- Psychology: development and health
More information on the certificates in the bachelor’s degree program in Psychology
Faculty of Business Administration and Economics
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After completing six compulsory modules (totaling 60 ECTS credits) in the bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Economics, you are eligible to receive a certificate that documents your successful acquisition of the fundamentals of economics at university level. This provides you with official documentation of your academic success at an early stage of your studies.
Receiving the certificate means that you have achieved your first study goal. You can then continue your studies seamlessly until you obtain your bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Economics.
In any case, when you receive your certificate you should take advantage of the opportunity to have a personal interview with one of our Student advisors to discuss your further course of study and explore your options.
More information about the Certificate // Bachelor of Business Administration and Economics
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After completing six compulsory modules (totaling 60 ECTS credits), including at least three Business Information Systems modules, you are eligible to receive a certificate in the Bachelor’s degree program in Business Information Systems that documents your successful acquisition of basic skills in the field of Business Information Systems at university level. This provides you with official documentation of your academic success at an early stage of your studies.
Receiving the certificate means that you have achieved your first study goal. You can then continue your studies seamlessly until you obtain your bachelor’s degree in Business Information Systems.
In any case, when you receive your certificate you should take advantage of the opportunity to talk with one of our student advisors to discuss your further course of study and explore your options.
More information about the Certificate // Bachelor of Business Information Systems
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Building on your existing background in economics, you can receive a certificate in the master’s degree in Business Administration and Economics after completing three modules (totaling 30 ECTS credits), which documents your successful acquisition of in-depth knowledge in a selected economic subject area at university master’s level. This provides you with official documentation of your academic success at an early stage of your master’s studies.
Receiving the certificate means that you have achieved your first study goal. You can then continue your studies seamlessly until you obtain your master’s degree in Business Administration and Economics.
In any case, when you receive your certificate you should take advantage of the opportunity to talk with one of our student advisors about your further course of study.
More information about the Certificate // Master of Business Administration and Economics
Faculty of Law
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Students on the Bachelor of Law course at the Faculty of Law have the opportunity to obtain a certificate after completing modules worth 60 ECTS credits. This certificate serves to document the completed coursework and provides students who do not wish to continue their studies with proof of their academic success. At the same time, however, it offers students motivation to continue and complete their Bachelor of Law studies. At the student’s request, the application for the certificate can therefore be combined with an appointment with a student advisor to discuss further prospects.
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Students taking the Law degree course (First Law Examination) in the Faculty of Law have the opportunity to obtain a certificate after completing modules worth 60 ECTS credits. This certificate serves to document the completed coursework and provides students who do not wish to continue their studies with proof of their academic success. At the same time, however, it offers students motivation to continue and complete their law studies (First Legal Examination). At the student’s request, the application for the certificate can therefore be combined with an appointment with a student advisor to discuss further prospects.
More information on the Certificate // Law (First Legal Examination)
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Students in the Master of Law program at the Faculty of Law have the opportunity to obtain a certificate after completing modules worth 60 ECTS credits, building on their existing legal education. This certificate serves to document the completed coursework and provides students who do not wish to continue their studies with proof of their academic success. At the same time, however, it offers students motivation to continue and complete their Master of Law studies. At the student’s request, the application for the certificate can therefore be combined with an appointment with a student advisor to discuss further prospects.
More Information
How can I obtain a certificate?
You must be enrolled in the degree program in which you wish to obtain the certificate. In other words, you must fulfill all of the admission requirements and all other principles of the examination regulations of the respective degree program. When you enroll, you will be asked whether you are aiming for a certificate or a bachelor’s degree (query currently applicable during enrollment in the B.Sc. Psychology, B.Sc. Computer Science, B.Sc. Business Administration and Economics degree programs). Your answer is collected only for statistical purposes and has no bearing on your status as a student in your chosen degree program.
Can I continue my studies after receiving the certificate?
Of course, you can continue your studies after receiving the certificate, as you are enrolled as a regular student in the bachelor’s degree program. You can also reregister regularly after receiving the certificate. You can decide for yourself whether you want to end your studies with the certificate and deregister from the university or whether you want to continue your studies. All the credits shown on the certificate are automatically carried over to your bachelor’s degree. Feel free to make an appointment with the Student Advice Service to help you make your decision.
