Two words that are often used interchangeably in truth mean very different things. The difference shows not in the advertising but at the end, on your certificate. One path awards an academic degree, the other a certificate. Anyone who tells the two apart early saves themselves disappointment later and makes a decision that fits their own goal.
Degree or certificate, that is the core difference
A distance study programme runs through a state-recognised university and leads to an academic degree, that is a bachelor, master or doctorate. Its workload is measured in ECTS, the programme is accredited, and the degree appears on a university certificate at the end. A distance course (Fernlehrgang), by contrast, runs through an academy or private training provider and ends with a certificate. That certificate can be valuable in its field, but it is not a university degree and is not treated as one.
In Germany the distance course carries one extra feature: it usually needs approval from the Central Office for Distance Learning, known as the ZFU. This approval is pure consumer protection, it checks the contract and the learning material, but it says nothing about academic recognition. Anyone who confuses ZFU approval with university accreditation easily mistakes a course for a degree. Some providers rely on exactly this confusion in their advertising.
Both have their place. A course is often shorter, cheaper and hands-on, ideal for a focused piece of continuing education. A degree is more substantial and opens formal doors, for example where a role explicitly requires a bachelor. It only goes wrong when one is sold as the other. So it pays to look closely before your money and time are committed.
The name does not count, the workload in ECTS does
Providers can name their offers almost freely. The most honest test is therefore not the word in the brochure but the workload in ECTS. ECTS stands for European Credit Transfer System and measures the total workload, not just lecture time. One point equals roughly 25 to 30 hours of work. A bachelor usually covers 180 to 240 ECTS, a master 60 to 120. A distance course sits well below that and often carries no ECTS at all. If you cannot find an ECTS figure in an offer, that is a clear sign it is not an academic degree but a shorter piece of continuing education.
If you want the full picture, our overview page on how the qualifications from certificate to doctorate fit together lays out the complete map with the country comparison. For the choice between study and course, one question usually suffices: does the end bring an academic degree and an ECTS figure, or a certificate without a degree? That single answer places almost any offer correctly.
Pay attention to the type of provider too. A recognised university awards degrees; a plain academy usually only certificates. Check the institution's official name, not the marketing name of the programme, and whether it is genuinely recognised as a university. An attractive programme title does not turn a course into a degree.
When each path is worth it
Neither study nor course is better in principle, it depends on what your goal really requires. A distance course fits when you want to build focused knowledge in one topic and do not need a formal university degree. It is often faster to finish and practice-oriented. A distance study programme fits when your goal requires an academic degree, for a promotion, a career change or a further degree. Goal first, then path: an expensive master helps little for a short specialisation, and a certificate is of no use when a role formally requires a bachelor.
CAS, DAS and MAS: the Swiss middle ground
Switzerland has its own middle ground between course and classic degree: CAS, DAS and MAS. These are continuing-education formats at university level. A CAS covers around 10 ECTS, a DAS about 30 and a MAS around 60, ending as a Master of Advanced Studies. They are part-time, often build on one another and clearly exceed a typical course in size. What stays important: a MAS is a continuing-education master and not identical to a consecutive master from a first degree. If you are unsure which category a specific offer falls into, an independent initial consultation places the options for you, with no obligation, before you commit.
Frequently asked questions
Is a distance course worth less than a distance degree?
Not worth less, but something different. A distance course is continuing education with a certificate, a distance study programme awards an academic degree. For a focused qualification a course can be exactly right; for a role that formally requires a bachelor, it is not enough. The value therefore depends solely on your goal, not on a general ranking.
How do I tell whether it is a degree or a course?
By two things: the outcome and the provider. If the end brings an academic degree such as a bachelor or master and an ECTS figure, it is a study programme. If it ends with a certificate without a degree and without ECTS, it is a course. Check in addition whether a recognised university stands behind it or a private academy.
What does ZFU approval mean?
ZFU approval is mandatory in Germany for distance courses and serves consumer protection. It checks the contract and the learning material so that you are fairly informed. But it is not academic recognition: an approved course does not become a degree or a university qualification through it. So do not confuse ZFU approval with accreditation.
Are CAS, DAS and MAS a degree or a course?
They sit in between. CAS, DAS and MAS are Swiss continuing-education formats at university level with ECTS: around 10, 30 and 60 points. They are larger than a typical course, and a MAS even ends as a Master of Advanced Studies. Still, a MAS is a continuing-education master and not the same as a consecutive master from a first degree.
Can I transfer a course to a degree later?
Sometimes yes. If a course carries ECTS and comes from a university, the credits may be transferable to a degree later. Whether and how much is possible is decided by the receiving university case by case. A plain academy certificate without ECTS is recognised less often. Ask before booking if a later transfer matters to you.
The information on this page is general in nature and is meant as orientation. It does not replace an official credit transfer or recognition decision by the relevant university and is not legal advice. The universities and the responsible bodies decide: the ZAB in Germany, the BMBWF in Austria and the SBFI in Switzerland. Always check your specific case directly with the university before you enrol.