Distance universities in numbers
Who are the big providers, how fast is the market growing, and how are the distance learners distributed? This report shows the landscape of the German distance universities in official figures.
The order of magnitude
Distance learning has long ceased to be a niche model. The key figures from the official statistics.
In short: In the winter semester 2024/25, 262,229 people in Germany were studying at a distance, that is 9.2 percent of all students. Two providers, the IU and FernUniversität in Hagen, together account for more than half of them.
The largest distance universities
Students per university in the winter semester 2024/25. For pure distance universities this practically equals the number of distance learners.
In short: The IU Internationale Hochschule is by far the largest provider, followed by FernUniversität in Hagen as the only state distance university. After that the field becomes much more fragmented.
Students per university, winter semester 2024/25
Universities with a predominantly distance learning offering; IU at its main campus in Erfurt including a small on-campus and dual share.
Data as a table
| University | Students |
|---|---|
| IU Internationale Hochschule (Erfurt) | 105,984 |
| FernUniversität in Hagen | 63,410 |
| HFH Hamburger Fern-Hochschule | 14,265 |
| Euro-FH Hamburg | 10,610 |
| SRH Fernhochschule | 9,282 |
| AKAD University | 6,633 |
| DIPLOMA Hochschule | 6,538 |
| Wilhelm Büchner Hochschule | 4,313 |
Almost quadrupled since 2006
The number of distance learners in Germany has been growing for almost two decades, nearly without interruption.
In short: In 2006 around 68,000 people were studying at a distance, today it is more than 262,000. The share of all students rose from 3.4 to 9.2 percent over the same period.
Distance learners in Germany, selected winter semesters
Destatis special analysis (up to 2022/23 in Hüsch 2024), from 2023/24 statistical report on students.
Data as a table
| Winter semester | Distance learners | Share of all students |
|---|---|---|
| 2006/07 | 67,833 | 3.4% |
| 2011/12 | 132,960 | n/a |
| 2016/17 | 163,653 | n/a |
| 2021/22 | 242,520 | n/a |
| 2022/23 | 250,418 | 8.6% |
| 2023/24 | 255,315 | 8.9% |
| 2024/25 | 262,229 | 9.2% |
A market with two heavyweights
The most striking figure is the concentration: in the winter semester 2022/23, the IU and FernUniversität in Hagen together accounted for 55.5 percent of all distance learners, and in terms of order of magnitude nothing has changed about that. Behind them follows a broad field of medium-sized providers with between 4,000 and 15,000 students, each with its own profile, its own price structure and its own examination logic.
Also remarkable is the shift in weight: in the winter semester 2011/12, FernUniversität in Hagen still held more than half of all distance learners, today it is around a quarter. It is above all the private sector that has grown, in which almost two thirds of distance learners are now enrolled.
For prospective students this means: the choice is greater than ever, but size alone is no mark of quality. A source-based comparison of the providers is worthwhile, for example via the Hochschulnavigator, which compares the distance universities in the DACH region in detail.
Answered briefly
What is the largest distance university in Germany?
Measured by student numbers, the IU Internationale Hochschule with more than 100,000 students at its main distance learning campus (WS 2024/25). The largest state provider is FernUniversität in Hagen with more than 63,000 students according to the official count.
How many people study at a distance in Germany?
In the winter semester 2024/25 there were 262,229 distance learners, which corresponds to 9.2 percent of all students. Since 2006 the number has almost quadrupled, while the total number of students grew much more slowly.
Do more people study at private or state distance universities?
At private ones: 63.5 percent of distance learners were enrolled at private universities in the winter semester 2024/25, 36.2 percent at state institutions. The private sector thus carries the largest part of the growth of recent years.
Sources, method and download
Where the numbers come from, how they are compiled and how you may reuse them with a source reference.
How these numbers are compiled
The basis is the official higher education statistics: the statistical report on the statistics of students shows distance learners and students per university. The time series up to the winter semester 2022/23 comes from a Destatis special analysis, published in Hüsch 2024 (Beiträge zur Hochschulforschung). For pure distance universities the number of students practically equals the number of distance learners; for universities with a mixed offering we point this out.
Sources: Federal Statistical Office, student statistics, winter semester 2024/25 (final) · Hüsch, The trend towards distance learning, Beiträge zur Hochschulforschung 2/2024
Last updated: 26.07.2026. The figures are updated as soon as the sources publish new data.
Which distance university suits you?
Size is no mark of quality. Which provider fits your goals is best clarified in a personal conversation. At Studienflüsterer the initial consultation is free and without obligation.