The new THWS Online Campus: flexible, practical and forward-looking

With the introduction of online degree programmes, THWS is breaking new ground for flexible, location-independent studying.

THWS is one of the first state higher education institutions in Germany to offer online degree programmes – flexible, location-independent, quality-assured and equivalent to any on-campus programme. What are the goals behind this, who is the programme suitable for and how is online study structured?

Published on 24 November 2025

Full-time degree programmes conducted entirely online at a state higher education institution – the Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt (THWS) is launching a new offering for students in the 2025/26 winter semester. With this move, THWS is pursuing a clear vision: to reach new target groups, promote digital education formats, and enable flexible study.

Professor Dr. Jean Meyer, President of THWS, hopes that the new programme will bring significant gains at the national level. "We want to create flexible, digital teaching formats that benefit not only our students, but also our professors," he says. In addition, the online courses would complement the existing programmes by providing additional qualification opportunities for specific professional fields.

Quote by Professor Dr. Jean Meyer: "We want to create flexible, digital teaching formats that benefit not only our students, but also our professors."

A key advantage over private educational institutions is the state quality assurance of THWS. President Professor Dr. Meyer emphasises the high standards maintained by the University. "We are confident that this seal of quality will enhance the value of THWS online degrees and, over time, differentiate them from degrees awarded by non-state universities."

The advantages of the THWS Online Campus

Studying online at THWS offers many advantages for students. The main advantage is flexibility, as the course can be tailored to suit both their schedule and location. It can therefore be adapted to the needs of each individual, making it easy to combine studying with everyday life.

THWS draws on over 50 years of experience in state education for its online courses. It offers high-quality, accredited courses that impart valuable practical skills and are highly regarded by employers. THWS's online degree programmes combine flexibility with a structured approach. They enable students to efficiently combine theoretical knowledge with practical application. The interactive exchange in a supportive online community, as well as practical projects and an application-oriented teaching approach, provide optimal preparation for a successful career.

Portrait of Professor Dr. Jean Meyer — Professor Dr. Jean Meyer, President of the Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt, sees great potential in the online degree programmes (© Stefan Bausewein)

The THWS Online Campus is aimed at anyone looking for a practice-oriented course of study with maximum flexibility. International students living outside Germany can also apply to study online at THWS. "This applies, for example, to people with professional commitments, young parents, people who care for relatives, or people who simply prefer to study from home," President Professor Dr. Meyer explains. These lifestyles and situations mostly render face-to-face courses impossible but not online courses."

Quote by Professor Dr. Jean Meyer: "These lifestyles and situations mostly render face-to-face courses impossible but not online courses."

Structure of the online degree programmes

The online degree programmes at THWS are conceptualised as full-time programmes consisting of live sessions, asynchronous learning units, and phases of self-study. On average, 24 hours per week should be allocated for courses and additional time for self-study.

In the live sessions, students can interact directly with professors and fellow students, ask questions, and explore topics in greater depth together. The asynchronous learning units impart new knowledge through various formats such as video lectures and interactive scripts. Students work through them flexibly and at their own pace. The content covered is then consolidated and explored in greater depth on an individual basis. This part of the programme can be freely structured and optimally adapted to the student's personal circumstances.

Christian Galgenmüller, Instructional Designer at the Zentrum Digitale Lehre (Center for Digital Teaching), is responsible for implementing and coordinating THWS's online degree programmes. He says that the degree programmes are structured similarly to on-campus programmes. "The uniformly designed modules enable students to plan their studies more effectively."

Innovative learning methods and comprehensive examination formats

All learning materials are accessible via a central online platform. There, students can also take online tests to monitor their own learning progress and review specific content. During their studies, a variety of formats developed specifically for online teaching are also used. "We offer online quizzes and digital flashcards for knowledge testing, as well as opportunities for digital collaboration, for example in project work. In addition, virtual laboratories and innovative formats such as escape games are part of our offer," Galgenmüller says.

Portrait of Christian Galgenmüller — Christian Galgenmüller, Instructional Designer at the Zentrum Digitale Lehre (Center for Digital Teaching) at the Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt, is responsible for the implementation and coordination of online courses at THWS (© Holger Schilling)

All examinations are conducted entirely online, for example in the form of online written examinations. Additional examination formats include oral colloquiums, presentations, e-portfolios, and traditional formats such as term papers. "The variety of formats used for online teaching provides students with a flexible and comprehensive learning environment that meets the requirements of online study," Galgenmüller explains.

Quote by Christian Galgenmüller: "The variety of formats used for online teaching provides students with a flexible and comprehensive learning environment that meets the requirements of online study."

Insight into everyday student life

The bachelor's degree programme in Health and Environmental Psychology illustrates the structural design of an online degree programme at THWS: a typical week of study comprises six one-hour live sessions that enable exchange with lecturers and fellow students. In addition, there are asynchronous learning units with videos and interactive scripts that can be worked through according to a personal schedule. Self-studies serve to deepen what has been learned and can also be organised flexibly. "In the first half of the week, students work through the asynchronous content and engage intensively with the subject matter," Galgenmüller says. "Towards the end of the week, they then take part in a synchronous session to clarify key questions, work on tasks together, solve exercises, and exchange ideas with their fellow students." Studying online at THWS therefore also means studying in an online community – as part of a lively learning community. And it is this sense of community that ultimately makes studying at THWS so special – both online and offline.