01
Quality signal beyond ZFU
Members commit to an association code of conduct and mutual quality review. Where ZFU licensing is the legal minimum, BVFA membership signals that a provider voluntarily carries additional standards.
BVFA
Association
Leading professional association for distance learning and distance study in Germany. Registered association, based in Berlin, founded 1969. More than 120 member organisations, awards Studienpreis and Tutor of the Year.
Industry association Registered association Berlin, DE 120+ members Founded 1969
01 / Profile
Voice of the industry, for over 55 years.
The Federal Association of Distance Learning Providers is not a learning provider itself, but the professional body in which the providers are organised. Founded in 1969 as Deutscher Fernschulverband, later Forum DistancE-Learning, since 2020 under its current name.
BVFA represents over 120 member organisations from distance teaching, distance study and service providers. According to its own figures it covers around 80 percent of the adults in Germany who use quality-assured digital learning formats. Since November 2024 the association has been led by President Andreas Vollmer.
BVFA works on three levels. Education policy as a voice towards the Bundestag, ministries and EU institutions, with its own positions on the Distance Learning Protection Act (FernUSG), AZAV funding and online exams. Quality via expert groups, the DQR register and standards that members commit to. Visibility via the annual Studienpreis, the Tutor of the Year online vote and the FachForum as the industry congress.
With its head office at Rosenstrasse 2 in Berlin-Mitte, the association is deliberately close to federal politics. The motto „Bildung. Digital. Vernetzt." (Education. Digital. Networked.) describes the direction of travel: digital learning out of the niche, on equal footing with classical campus education.
02 Strengths
What BVFA stands for
Four areas where the association makes a difference for the industry and for students.
02
Industry barometer
The annual Branchencheck Distance-Learning collects market data on growth, topics and student demographics. The Strukturdaten Distance Learning are produced in cooperation with BIBB. This is the most credible openly available data base for the German distance study market.
03
Visibility for teachers and learners
The Studienpreis with over 35 years of history and the Tutor of the Year online vote make achievements visible that rarely surface in classical university rankings: personal supervision, theses, innovative learning projects from adult education.
04
Political weight
The association regularly comments on legislation around distance teaching, online examinations and AZAV cost calculations. Without this bundled voice the FernUSG reform process would have no representation of providers and learners.
03 Activities
Projects and initiatives at a glance
A selection of the running formats through which BVFA brings industry, research and politics together.
Awards 2 formats
Research & data 3 formats
Events 2 formats
Standards & policy 3 areas
What does this mean for you? BVFA membership of a provider does not replace state recognition or ZFU licensing. It is an additional indicator of quality orientation. How much weight this should carry in your programme choice, I clarify with you in the first call.
04 Key facts
BVFA in detail
Spec sheet for research and reference.
Legal form Registered association (e.V.)
Type Industry and professional association for distance learning and distance study
Location Rosenstrasse 2, 10178 Berlin (Berlin-Mitte, Germany)
Founded 1969 (as Deutscher Fernschulverband)
Former names Deutscher Fernschulverband · Forum DistancE-Learning (until 2020)
Members More than 120 organisations from distance teaching, distance study and services
Expert groups Distance teaching · Distance study · Service providers
President Andreas Vollmer (since November 2024)
Motto Bildung. Digital. Vernetzt.
Awards Studienpreis (5 categories) · Tutor of the Year
Congresses FachForum / Future Congress · Bundesweiter Fernstudientag
Standards DQR register · Code of conduct · Position papers on FernUSG / AZAV
Language German
Website fernstudienanbieter.de
05 Frequently asked
FAQ on BVFA
What you should know about the association before using its signals for your study choice.
Association and membership
What is the Federal Association of Distance Learning Providers (BVFA)?
BVFA is the leading professional association for distance learning and distance study in Germany. Based in Berlin, registered association, founded in 1969 as Deutscher Fernschulverband, until 2020 known as Forum DistancE-Learning. More than 120 member organisations from distance teaching, distance study and service providers.
What does BVFA membership mean for a provider?
Providers commit to industry standards, an association code of conduct and mutual quality oversight. Members are organised in expert groups for distance teaching, distance study and services. Membership is an additional quality signal alongside state recognition and ZFU licensing.
How does BVFA differ from ZFU?
ZFU (Staatliche Zentralstelle für Fernunterricht in Cologne) is a state authority that reviews and licenses distance learning courses under the Distance Learning Protection Act. BVFA is a private-law industry association. ZFU licensing is required by law, BVFA membership is voluntary and an additional quality signal.
Awards and programmes
What is the BVFA Studienpreis?
The Studienpreis has been awarded annually for over 35 years to outstanding graduates and innovative projects in distance teaching and distance study. Five categories, applications via studienpreis.org. One of the oldest recognition formats in German adult education.
What is the Tutor of the Year award?
An annual online vote by distance learners in which the personal tutor is nominated and recognised. The award honours the central role of personal supervision in distance study and makes teaching quality visible that classical rankings rarely capture.
What is the DQR register?
A register operated by BVFA that classifies distance study and distance teaching offerings according to the German Qualifications Framework (DQR). An independent panel reviews the entries. It helps to compare educational qualifications and their value across DQR levels 1 to 8.
Working with Studienflüsterer
Does BVFA membership help with study choice?
Yes, as an additional filter. Providers with BVFA membership are contractually committed to association standards and appear regularly in the branch survey. In the first call I clarify how much weight this signal should carry for your specific programme choice.
How do I as Studienflüsterer use the BVFA connection?
BVFA is a branch barometer and standards setter. Through the member list, the branch survey and the association's positioning papers I keep an overview on market development, regulation and quality trends. That feeds into the recommendations on which programmes suit your profile. Details on the process are on the consultation process page.
Next step
Which provider fits your profile?
In 30 minutes I clarify with you which programmes from the BVFA membership and beyond suit your profile. BVFA membership is just one of several filters I apply on your behalf.
Clarify your options