The FernUniversit t is the only distance teaching university in Germany and an integral part of the regular public higher education system. Admission and examination requirements, final degrees conferred, doctorates and procedures to qualify as a university teacher are fully in line with those of conventional universities. The same applies to academic autonomy.
Academic research is done by professors of all faculties.
Studying at the FernUniversit t is based on private study guided from a distance. These study conditions particularly meet the educational needs of those applicants who are not able to study with a conventional university on account of professional or domestic commitments, or other personal reasons. Completion of at least four years full-time studies leads to the academic degrees Diplom II or Magister Artium, equivalent to a Master s degree. On the whole about 1,700 courses are offered for degree and postgraduate programmes as well as further education. The language of instruction is mainly German, with the exception of the Bachelor's programme in electrical engineering.