Frequently Asked Questions on Fees (FAQs)

Fees easily explained: Do you still have questions? Don’t worry – we’re here to help. In this section, you will find short and concise answers to the most frequently asked questions about fees and payments in the following thematically sorted sections. In addition, our Student Services will be happy to assist you.

 

The Costs of Distance Learning

  • The basic funding for the FernUniversität is provided by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, in the same way as for on-campus universities. However, in contrast to classroom teaching at a distance learning university, distance learning incurs additional costs. These include expenses for the preparation, technical implementation, distribution and delivery of the course content. In accordance with Section 6 of the NRW University Fees Act in conjunction with Section 3 of the NRW University Fees Ordinance, students must be charged fees to cover costs. The FernUniversität specifies these fees in its own fee regulations. They consist of the following components:

    • a basic fee of 60 euros per semester
    • a course fee of 11 euros per credit point taken (ECTS points)
  • You can find an explanation of how the semester costs are calculated here.

  • You can find an overview of the total costs of a degree program here.

  • There are no additional costs if you exceed the standard period of study. Students in higher semesters continue to pay the usual semester fees:

    • a basic fee of 60 euros per semester
    • a course fee of 11 euros per credit point taken (ECTS points)
    • student body fee per semester (only for full-time and part-time students)
  • You can repeat modules free of charge for four semesters after initially registering for the fee-based module. The usual course fee of EUR 11.00 per ECTS point does not apply.

    If you only take repeat modules during a semester and do not take any new modules, you merely pay the following fees:

    • a basic fee of 60 euros per semester
    • student body fee per semester (only for full-time and part-time students)
  • No, the FernUniversität charges the same fees to all students, regardless of their place of residence/mailing address.

  • The FernUniversität in Hagen is a state university that is open to all citizens regardless of their financial status.

    Students who receive unemployment benefit/citizen’s benefit/basic income support must ensure that they are still available to the labor market when taking up their studies. This is usually the case for part-time studies with less than 20 hours per week, as the distance learning course can be completed part-time.

    Please note that full-time students are generally not entitled to basic state benefits, as the Job Center argues that they could apply for benefits under the Federal Training Assistance Act (BAföG) in order to finance their studies. We recommend that you clarify the details with your local job center/employment office before starting your studies.

 

Course Transcript/Fee Notice

  • The course transcript lists the modules/courses you have taken in a semester with prices. At the same time, the course transcript serves as proof of your study load (1 ECTS point = 30 hours). The transcript is not a request for payment. You will not be asked to pay your semester fees until you receive your fee notice.

    You can call up the transcript for the current or previous semester at any time in studyPORT under => Study and examination organization => Certificates (=> Studien- und Prüfungs­organisation => Bescheinigungen) and print it out if required (https://studyport.fernuni-hagen.de/).

  • The notification of fees is the university’s request for payment of the costs incurred during the semester. The individual items, e.g. basic fee, modules with prices, student body contribution, are displayed transparently and calculated as a total.

    As a rule, you will receive one notification of fees per semester. If you incur any further costs, e.g. additional modules, postage fees from the university library, a further fee notice will be issued during the semester.

  • You will receive the notification of fees by post before the start of each semester:

    • Winter semester: August/September
    • Summer semester: February/March

    If you have not received a fee notice by October or April, please contact the fee administration office by sending a mail to gebuehren.

  • The FernUniversität trusts its students and does not require advance payment of fees for the first enrollment/admission or re-registration.

    Only students who have not paid their fees on time in the past or who still owe the FernUniversität will be asked to pay in advance.

 

Payment

  • We offer two payment options:

    • Direct debit
    • Bank transfer

    You can find all the information on payment here.

  • Generally speaking, the fee notice must always be paid within the specified payment period. If you are unable to meet the payment deadline for an important reason, please contact the fee administration office (gebuehren).

  • You can check studyPORT at any time to see whether you have any outstanding amounts. You will only be shown an account statement with the amounts still to be paid, the reason for payment and the bank details if you are in arrears.

    studyPORT https://studyport.fernuni-hagen.de/ => Study and Examination Organization => Certificates => Account Statement

    (Studien- und Prüfungs­organisation => Bescheinigungen => Kontoauszug)

  • By granting us a SEPA direct debit mandate, you give us permission to debit the fees from your account on a semester-by-semester basis (following the issue of a fee notice).

    Detailed information on the SEPA procedure (Single Euro Payments Area) can be found on the website of the Deutsche Bundesbank (https://www.bundesbank.de/de).

  • You can send us your new bank details (IBAN and BIC) by email to gebuehren.

  • Please inform us of your new bank details (with IBAN and BIC) no later than one week before the next direct debit is due. You will find the collection date on your fee notice.

    Please bear in mind that we have to process a direct debit order for several thousand students which is sent to the bank one week before the announced debit date. Changes are no longer possible after this, so you must let us know promptly.

  • You can submit a SEPA direct debit mandate at any time. Please note, however, that the collection via direct debit will only take place for future notifications.

  • You can revoke a SEPA direct debit mandate you have already issued by email, stating your matriculation number.

    Please note that the direct debits are processed and forwarded to the bank one week before the announced debit date. Changes are then no longer possible and can only be taken into account for the future.

  • If your account does not have sufficient funds, has already been closed, or your bank details were incorrect, the direct debit will be rejected by your bank. You will be charged a fee by your bank and a processing fee of 5 euros by the FernUniversität, which will be sent to you in a separate fee notice. Your existing SEPA direct debit mandate will also be deleted. Therefore, you will have pay the entire amount yourself by bank transfer.
    You will not be able to set up another direct debit procedure until your account has been settled. Please contact the fee office directly.

  • In addition to the bank details of the FernUniversität and the amount, you will need the reason for payment for the correct allocation of the payment. You will find allthe details on the fee notice sent to you or on your account statement in studyPORT (https://studyport.fernuni-hagen.de/).

    studyPORT => Study and Examination Organization => Certificates => Account Statement.

    (studyPORT => Studien- und Prüfungs­organisation => Bescheinigungen => Kontoauszug)

  • If you have inadvertently transferred too much, a credit balance will be created on your personal fee account. The credit is automatically offset against future fees. If you prefer, you can also have the credit refunded. Please send us an email to gebuehren with your matriculation number and IBAN. For remittances abroad, we also require the BIC as well as the name of the bank and its location.

  • The purpose of payment (Verwendungszweck) on the fee notice, for example 19XXXXXXX200, is made up of the check digit 19, the seven-digit matriculation number XXXXXXX and the three-digit notice number 200. The purpose of payment ensures that your payment is automatically assigned to the correct fee notice and settled.

  • If you are transferring money from abroad, please contact your bank directly. Your bank will tell you how to transfer the fees to Germany in euros. Note the following:

    • Please ask your bank about the costs of the transfer. Banks usually charge additional fees for international transfers. For countries in the Eurozone as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and the UK, please refer to the European SEPA Credit Transfer.
    • The currency of the transfer must be the euro. Make sure that you transfer the full amount to the FernUniversität in accordance with the fee notice.
    • The bank transfer should not contain any additional instructions such as “urgent,” as this usually results in higher bank charges.
    • Your bank must participate in the SWIFT system to be able to execute a transfer to our account.
  • Participation in the SEPA direct debit scheme is only possible within the European SEPA area. These are countries in the Eurozone as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and Great Britain.
    If you only have a foreign bank account outside the SEPA area mentioned above, you must transfer the fees yourself to the FernUniversität account.

 

Discounts

  • Only full-time and part-time students in need can apply for the discount. You can find a description of the requirements here.

  • For full-time students, a maximum of 30 ECTS points (equivalent to EUR 330.00) can be deducted from the tuition fee and a maximum of 20 ECTS points (equivalent to EUR 220.00) can be deducted from the tuition fee for part-time students as well as the student body fee.

    The basic fee of 60.00 euros, however, must be paid in full each semester.

  • You can receive the discount for the entire standard period of study of a bachelor’s and a master’s degree program:

    • for a maximum of 10 semesters of full-time study
    • for a maximum of 20 semesters of part-time study
  • You must resubmit the application each semester by the published deadlines. This is because your personal situation may change each semester. You can find the deadlines here.

  • Generally speaking, this is not possible. If you are in need and have missed the deadline, please contact the fees office (gebuehren) at the earliest possible opportunity.

  • If you are not registering for any new modules and only plan to repeat modules, no course fee will be charged. If you are in a documented case of need, only the student body fee will be waived in this case. At the same time, the reduced semester is also counted.

    Depending on your personal situation, you must make up your own mind whether to apply for a discount in this case.

  • Yes, you can submit the relevant evidence later. It is important that you submit the application within the respective deadline (https://www.fernuni-hagen.de/studium/kosten/ermaessigung.shtml).

  • You can provide documentary evidence the success of your studies in the form of the grades you have achieved at the FernUniversität. From the 4th semester onwards, a copy of your new transcript of records must be submitted each semester together with the application for a reduction. You can also submit the performance overview from the examination portal (studyPORT).

  • No, that is not possible.

  • No, that is not possible.

  • The first degree is the first degree you take after school or after vocational training, for example:

    • first bachelor’s degree including the first postgraduate master’s degree

    • first diploma course

    • first magister degree

    You are only eligible for a discount while studying for your first bachelor’s degree and the subsequent first master’s degree based on it.

    Students who already have a master’s/diploma or magister degree cannot receive a discount. No reduction can be granted for the acquisition of a second bachelor’s degree either.

 

Legal Basis for the Fees

  • The FernUniversität in Hagen is a state university in the state of North-Rhine Westphalia (NRW) 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.

 

Contact

Fee Administration

Email: gebuehren

Phone: +49 2331 987-2777

Consultation hours:
Mon. to Fri. from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

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Web Editorial - Study | 09.01.2025