IU vs PFH
Two distance-learning universities side by side, by the same criteria and with the same primary sources, so you can see where they really differ.
IU and PFH in detail
The same criteria for both, every entry sourced. The information provided by the university is binding.
| Criterion | IU | PFH |
|---|---|---|
| Country | DE | DE |
| Operator | privat | privat |
| Location | Erfurt | Göttingen |
| Founded | 1998 | 1995 |
| Format | online, Blended Learning | online, On-site |
| Start of studies | any time | fixed dates |
| Without Abitur | Yes | Yes |
| Recognition | State-recognised (since 1999), Bologna-compliant | State-recognised (Lower Saxony), Bologna-compliant |
| Price level | ||
| Price example | from approx. EUR 259/month (Bachelor) | approx. EUR 312 to 460/month (distance learning) |
What the table does not show
Exams. At IU: Flexible Online-Klausuren rund um die Uhr per Proctoring; Präsenzprüfungen an Standorten möglich. At PFH: Prüfungen an Studienzentren in DE, AT und ES; Fernstudiengänge ZFU-zugelassen; feste Starttermine.
Accreditation. IU is institutionally accredited via German Council of Science and Humanities (Wissenschaftsrat) (2009, re-accredited 2021), with programme accreditation via System-accredited by FIBAA (since 2018). PFH is institutionally accredited via State-recognised under the Lower Saxony Higher Education Act; institutionally re-accredited by the German Council of Science and Humanities (Wissenschaftsrat) (most recently on 31.01.2025, as a university of applied sciences), with programme accreditation via ASIIN, FIBAA and ZEvA (per programme); distance-learning programmes ZFU-approved.
Subjects. Both offer Business Administration, Psychology, Management. Only IU additionally offers Computer Science, Health, Social Work, Technology, Marketing. Only PFH additionally offers Business Psychology, Social Affairs, Technology, Law, Business Informatics.