Costs in Detail – Fees: Why Am I Paying and What For?
Photo: Jakob Studnar
As a state university, we value a transparent approach and clearly presented facts. With that in mind, we’re happy to explain why fees are charged for distance learning and how they are made up. We also explain what services your fees enable us to provide.
Our Services for Your Academic Success
Like all of the state universities in North Rhine-Westphalia, the FernUniversität is publicly funded. However, our unique teaching model involves certain additional costs.
Distance learning students bear these additional costs in the form of fees. These are then used to finance the additional services provided by the FernUniversität. For example:
- Didactic preparation of study materials in digital and analog format
- Digital and analog distribution of study materials
- Provision of learning platforms with specialist mentoring
- Decentralized technical and administrative support
- On-site service, for example on-site examinations at our campus locations
Semester Costs
The semester costs are 225 to 280 euros for part-time students and 390 euros for full-time students. They are made up from the following components:
- Basic fee: 60 euros
- Document fees: 11 euros per ECTS point
- Student body contribution: For the summer semester 2025, this fee will not be charged (one time only)
Basic fee: The basic fee helps to finance the ongoing costs of the infrastructure required for distance learning for the distribution of study materials and the campus locations. The basic fee is paid by all students each semester.
Document fees: The tuition fees are variable and depend on the individual module allocation. The scope of the modules is measured in ECTS points. Your individual course fee is calculated by multiplying the ECTS points you earn by the price of 11 euros. If you repeat a module within four semesters of paying the fee for it, no additional fee will be charged.
Student body contribution: To finance student self-administration, the FernUniversität collects a student body fee from all enrolled full-time and part-time students on behalf of the student body. For the summer semester 2025, this fee will not be charged (one time only). You can find out more about the work done by the student body on their website www.fernstudis.de.
Example Calculations of Semester Costs
The curricula are designed in such a way that you study full-time for 30 ECTS credits per semester and part-time for 15 to 20 ECTS credits. Your way you structure your studies and what courses/modules you select will affect the amount of the semester costs.
Here are some example calculations:
| B.A. Cultural Studies | Semester costs 225 euros
|
| B.Sc. Economics | Semester costs 280 euros
|
| B.Sc. Mathematics | Semester costs 390 euros
|
Total Costs of a Degree Program
To calculate the total costs, you need to consider the standard period of study and the total course fees for your degree program. As the various degree courses have different standard periods of study and the course fees also vary depending on the discipline, the individual degree courses all have slightly different prices.
The course fees are based on the curricula and are the same regardless of whether you are studying full-time or part-time. Both part-time and full-time students must complete the same modules in order to obtain their degree. The duration of study directly influences the total costs due to the basic fee and the student body contribution. The longer you take to complete your studies, the higher the overall costs. If you extend your studies beyond the standard period of study, the costs increase.
Bachelor and state exam programs
| Bachelor programs | Full-time | Standard period of study (full-time) | Part-time | Standard period of study (part-time) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Educational Science | 2,229 euros | 6 semesters | 2,643 euros | 12 semesters |
| Humanities with a focus on history, literary studies, philosophy | 2,229 euros | 6 semesters | 2,643 euros | 12 semesters |
| Political Science, Administration, and Sociology | 2,229 euros | 6 semesters | 2,643 euros | 12 semesters |
| Psychology | 2,152 euros | 6 semesters | 2,566 euros | 12 semesters |
| Computer Science | 1,954 euros | 6 semesters | 2,368 euros | 12 semesters |
| Mathematics | 2,009 euros | 6 semesters | 2,423 euros | 12 semesters |
| Mathematical and technical software development | 1,954 euros | 6 semesters | 2,368 euros | 12 semesters |
| Business Administration and Economics | 2,174 euros | 6 semesters | 2,381 euros | 9 semesters |
| Business Information Systems | 2,229 euros | 6 semesters | 2,436 euros | 9 semesters |
| Bachelor of Laws | 2,229 euros | 6 semesters | 2,436 euros | 9 semesters |
| State exam study program | Full-time | Standard period of study (full-time) | Part-time | Standard period of study (part-time) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Legal Examination | 3,550 euros | 10 semesters | 3,895 euros | 15 semesters |
| Master’s programs | Full-time | Standard period of study (full-time) | Part-time | Standard period of study (part-time) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Educational Science with a focus on digital media or adult/continuing education (formerly Education and Media: eEducation) | 1,431 euros | 4 semesters | 1,707 euros | 8 semesters |
| History of Europe – Epochs, Upheavals, Interdependencies | 1,431 euros | 4 semesters | 1,707 euros | 8 semesters |
| Political Science – Governance and Participation (formerly M.A. Governance) | 1,431 euros | 4 semesters | 1,707 euros | 8 semesters |
| Philosophy – Philosophy in a European Context | 1,431 euros | 4 semesters | 1,707 euros | 8 semesters |
| Sociology – Approaches to Contemporary Society | 1,431 euros | 4 semesters | 1,707 euros | 8 semesters |
| M.A. Modern German Literature in a Media-cultural Context | 1,431 euros | 4 semesters | 1,707 euros | 8 semesters |
| Psychology | 1,079 euros | 4 semesters | 1,355 euros | 8 semesters |
| Computer Science | 1,211 euros | 4 semesters | 1,487 euros | 8 semesters |
| Practical Computer Science | 702 | 3 semesters | 909 euros | 6 semesters |
| Mathematics | 1,156 euros | 4 semesters | 1,432 euros | 8 semesters |
| Data Science | 1,046 euros | 4 semesters | 1,322 euros | 8 semesters |
| Business Psychology | 1,266 euros | 4 semesters | 1,404 euros | 6 semesters |
| Business Administration and Economics | 1,156 euros | 4 semesters | 1,294 euros | 6 semesters |
| National Economics | 1,156 euros | 4 semesters | 1,294 euros | 6 semesters |
| Business Administration and Economics for Engineers and Natural Scientists | 1,156 euros | 4 semesters | 1,294 euros | 6 semesters |
| Business Information Systems | 1,156 euros | 4 semesters | 1,294 euros | 6 semesters |
| Master of Laws | 977 euros | 3 semesters | 1,184 euros | 6 semesters |
Example calculations of total costs
| B.A. in Cultural Studies | Total costs 2,643 euros
|
| B.Sc. Business Administration and Economics | Total costs 2,381 euros
|
| B.Sc. Mathematics | Total costs 2,009 euros
|
Legal Basis
The FernUniversität in Hagen is a state university in the state of North-Rhine Westphalia and is therefore bound by the legal requirements of the Higher Education Act for the state of NRW. The FernUniversität has issued its own fee regulations on the basis of this law and the associated ordinance. You can find a summary of our legal bases here.
Frequently Asked Questions on Fees (FAQs)
You can find answers to the most commonly asked questions about fees on our FAQs page.
Contact
Fee Administration
Email: gebuehren
Phone: +49 2331 987-2777
Consultation hours:
Mon. to Fri. from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
