Financing your distance learning

If you notice during your studies that you need more time, you can extend your studies by up to 12 months or take a semester off  – both completely free of charge.

If you pay your tuition fees in advance, you will benefit from our discounts. Depending on your study model, you will receive discounts of up to 10%. If you abandon your studies, you will get your deposit back for the remaining months. 

You have a bachelor's degree from IU? Then you get a 15% discount on all master's and MBA programmes. As a member of the German Bundeswehr Association, you receive a €2.000 discount on your tuition fees.

On our online recognition page , we have prepared standard and individual applications forms for you. You can submit them with just a few clicks before you apply and have them checked with no strings attached. 

Our standard applications are pre-filled and cover a range of training and further education – including IHK, HWK and VWH. For example, if you have completed training in retail, you can save up to XX € and XX hours of time with a Bachelor of Business Administration. Calculate now how you can benefit from your education. 
 
If you have professional or university experience which doesn’t fit standard recognition, please declare this in your individual application. By the way: you can combine different types of previous experience.  
 
To complete your online recognition, simply fill in our contact form withyour desired degree programme and upload your relevant proof. Next, all you have to do is wait for your notification of recognition which will tell you whether and to what extent we can recognize your previous experience. Your notice of recognition will be officially valid after your enrollment. 

BAföG is meant to help you fully concentrate on your studies. That's why you only get BAföG if you're studying full-time. If you invest between 37 and 40 hours a week in your studies, you can receive BAföG funding.

Yes. You can combine your BAföG with a scholarship and student or educational loans – e.g. from KfW or Deutsche Bildungs ​​AG. 
Find out more about scholarships and loans

We have a dedicated page on which we have compiled all the advantages and facts about your online studies and employer financing. On this page, you can download the application for cost absorption which you fill out together with your employer. If you have any questions, our study advisors will be happy to help you. 

Tuition fees as well as costs for office supplies or trips to exams are tax-deductible. The exact amount you can save depends on your individual situation. This is how it works*: 
 
Initial training 
Requirements: 

• You have not yet completed any vocational training or studies. 

Possibilities: 

• You can declare your tuition fees as special expenses in your tax return. 

• Your special expenses are limited to a maximum of €6,000 per year. 

• The tuition fees are deducted from the taxed income and reduce your tax burden. You may receive a tax refund. 

Note: 

• You can only declare tuition fees in the year in which they are due and paid, regardless of the billing period. 

• A tax refund is only possible if your gross income is above the tax-free allowance of 9,168 € (as of 2020). 

Secondary education 

Requirements: 

• You have already completed vocational training or a bachelor's degree. 

Your options: 

• If your gross income is above the tax-free allowance of 9,168 € (as of 2020), you can declare your tuition fees as income-related expenses in your tax return. This reduces your taxable income and yields a tax refund. 

• If your gross income is below the tax-free allowance of EUR 9,168 (as of 2020), a direct tax refund is not possible. However, you should file a tax return anyway. The tax office notes your tuition fees in full as a loss carried forward. The next time your gross income is above the tax-free allowance, the loss carryforward will be deducted from your taxed income and you will receive a tax refund. 

*Please note that our website is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice in the strict sense of the word. Our contents  – even if they have been researched with the greatest care  – do not replace individual advice that addresses your personal situation. We cannot assume any liability or guarantee for the correctness, completeness or topicality of the information provided.