Part-Time and Evening Degree Options for Working Adults in Germany

What berufsbegleitendes Studium means

Berufsbegleitendes Studium is the German term for a degree designed around a job rather than instead of one. Classes run in the evening, on weekends, in condensed blocks, or fully online, so you keep working while you study. Public universities and Fachhochschulen, universities of applied sciences, both offer this format, at bachelor's, master's, and some vocational continuing-education levels.

Fachhochschulen run more of these programs than research universities, since their teaching model already leans practical and many students combine study with an existing job or completed Ausbildung. The DAAD maintains a searchable database of accredited programs in Germany, including part-time and berufsbegleitend options, that you filter by subject, city, and degree level.

How the format changes your study routine

Expect one of a few common structures. Some programs hold classes two evenings a week plus one Saturday a month. Others concentrate teaching into multi-day blocks every few weeks, which suits students who travel for the program. A growing share run largely online with occasional in-person exam or seminar weekends.

Course length stretches accordingly. A bachelor's that takes three years full time commonly takes four to five years part time. A master's normally finished in two years often takes three to four. Universities publish the exact structure and required attendance on each program page, and this varies enough between programs that you should check it before applying rather than assume a standard pattern.

Funding through Aufstiegs-BAföG

Aufstiegs-BAföG, formally the Aufstiegsfortbildungsförderungsgesetz or AFBG, funds continuing professional education, including some berufsbegleitende degree programs that build on a completed vocational qualification. It works in two parts.

• Course and exam fees: a share is paid out as a non-repayable grant, and the remainder is available as a low-interest loan through KfW bank. Part of that loan is written off if you pass the final exam.

• Living costs: if you study full time or reduce your working hours enough to qualify, you apply for a monthly living-cost allowance on top of the course fee support, assessed against your income and assets.

Eligibility depends on already holding a relevant vocational qualification and enrolling in a program that the AFBG office classifies as an eligible Fortbildung. Apply through your local Amt für Ausbildungsförderung or the AFBG Digital online portal before the program starts, since funding does not apply retroactively.

Distance-learning alternatives

FernUniversität in Hagen, Germany's only state-run distance-learning university, offers full bachelor's and master's degrees with no fixed weekly attendance beyond occasional exam dates. Tuition runs notably lower than most private online providers, and you adjust your course load by term, which suits a schedule that shifts with your job.

Course fees for a job-related degree are often deductible on your German tax return as Werbungskosten, on top of any Aufstiegs-BAföG support you receive. A tax advisor or your local Finanzamt can confirm how this applies to your specific program and employment situation.

Using paid educational leave (Bildungsurlaub)

Most German states legally entitle employees to a set number of paid educational leave days each year, known as Bildungsurlaub or Bildungszeit. Some part-time programs schedule block seminar weeks specifically so students use this leave instead of their full annual holiday allowance. Confirm with your employer and your state's Bildungsurlaub law which of your program's in-person blocks qualify.

Typical entry requirements

Berufsbegleitende programs commonly ask for relevant work experience alongside your entry qualification, often one to two years for a bachelor's and more for a master's aimed at professionals already established in a field. Programs built for career changers sometimes waive the experience requirement but expect a stronger academic record instead.

Executive and MBA-style programs

German business schools such as Mannheim Business School, WHU, and ESMT Berlin run weekend and modular executive programs alongside their full-time MBAs, aimed at professionals who want to keep working through the degree. These programs typically charge private tuition on top of any AFBG support, so check the total cost against public university programs before committing to this route.

Choosing between university and Fachhochschule

Fachhochschulen tend to run more berufsbegleitende programs, keep class sizes smaller, and lean toward applied subjects like business, engineering, and social work. Research universities offer fewer part-time options but include them in fields like law, education, and some sciences where a state exam or teaching qualification is the end goal.

Check accreditation status before enrolling. German part-time degrees carry the same legal weight as full-time ones only when accredited by the same bodies, through the German Accreditation Council and an accreditation agency, so confirm this on the program page rather than assume it from the university's general reputation.

Practical steps to apply

• 🎓 Search the DAAD database or individual Fachhochschule websites for berufsbegleitend programs in your subject and city.

• 💶 Talk to your employer early. Many berufsbegleitende programs expect at least partial employer support or a flexible schedule agreement.

• 📩 Contact your local AFBG office before enrolling to confirm your program and vocational background qualify for funding.

• ⏱️ Plan for four to six years to finish a part-time bachelor's alongside full-time work, and build in a lighter semester around major life events.