Studienkreis

What Studienkreis does

Studienkreis GmbH is a German private tutoring provider founded in 1974 and headquartered in Bochum, operating approximately 900–1,000 physical learning centers across all 16 German federal states and serving roughly 125,000 students per year (1.5 million students cumulatively). The company's core offering is K-12 tutoring across all subjects from Klasse 1 to 13, with the most popular delivery format being small-group sessions of 3–5 students at a 45-minute unit. It complements this in-person model with a blended online layer: live video tutoring delivered via Skype and a proprietary Jitsi-based platform branded 'Studienkreis Meet,' collaborative learning on Google Drive, webinar courses on Clickmeeting, the 'Nachhilfe to go' mobile app (live homework chat, explanatory videos, progress tracking), VR language courses in English and Spanish, and a real-time homework help chat. Specialized adjacencies include LRS/Dyskalkulie (dyslexia/dyscalculia) therapy, Abitur and Mittlerer Schulabschluss exam preparation, holiday intensive courses, and university-level online tutoring.

The underlying methodology is the 'Studienkreis-Lernkonzept' (step-and-phase learning schema), validated by Prof. Dr. Eiko Jürgens of the University of Bielefeld, with assessment-based individual learning plans and documented progress. The business model is predominantly subscription/recurring, priced per 45-minute lesson at €7.29–€11.38 for small-group tutoring on 12-month contracts, plus paid holiday courses from €49 for 10x45-minute units. A distinct revenue stream is the German government's Bildung und Teilhabe (BuT) program, which fully subsidizes tutoring for families receiving Bürgergeld, Wohngeld, Sozialhilfe, or Berlin-Pass. The company distributes through company-owned and franchise locations (operated via the subsidiary Studienkreis Partnersysteme GmbH, under the Tutor Holding GmbH group structure), direct-to-consumer online booking, and a 2x45-minute free trial offer; marketing combines SEO, paid search, social (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, YouTube, X), an educational blog ('Infothek'), a podcast ('Die letzte Reihe'), and Trusted Shops reviews. Ownership sits with private managing directors Dr. Alfons Prießner, Felix Ohswald, and Lars-Peter Haas, with growth-equity backing from EQT (2017); the company holds the Lernpakt 'Profi-Nachhilfe qualitätsgeprüft' industry quality certification.

Name

Studienkreis

Legal name

Studienkreis GmbH

Website

https://studienkreis.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Studienkreis is a German tutoring provider founded in 1974, operating ~900-1,000 physical centers and digital channels to deliver K-12 small-group, online, and VR-based tutoring to roughly 125,000 students annually across Germany.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Tutoring Services

NAICS

Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

K–12 Core Curriculum Small-Group Tutoring Centers (Math/ELA/Science/Social Studies) (EDANAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Homework Clubs & After-School Learning Centers (EDANAHAB), Specialized Learning Support (Dyslexia/LD Coaching, Assistive Strategies) (EDAJALAJ), Honors & Advanced Coursework Tutoring (non-AP/IB) (EDANAKAD), Study Habits & Homework Systems Workshops (EDAMAIAL)

Keywords

• Tutoring services
• K-12 education
• Online tutoring
• Exam preparation
• Remedial education

Headquarters

HQ city

Bochum

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. In-person Tutoring: Core tutoring services at ~900 physical locations across Germany. Priced per 45-minute lesson, with rates varying by location, subjects, frequency, and contract duration. Most popular format is small groups of 3-5 students.
2. Online Tutoring: Live video-based tutoring sessions delivered remotely, offering flexibility for students. Includes online tutoring for university students.
3. Exam Preparation Courses: Intensive exam prep courses including Abitur preparation, Mittlerer Schulabschluss (MSA) preparation, and Nachprüfung courses. Offered as holiday courses or ongoing preparation.
4. VR Language Courses: VR-based language courses in English and Spanish using virtual reality headsets for immersive learning experiences.
5. LRS & Dyskalkulie Courses: Specialized programs for reading/spelling difficulties (LRS) and dyscalculia, offered at dedicated centers.
6. State-Funded Tutoring (Bildung und Teilhabe): Free tutoring for eligible families receiving government benefits (BuT), with the government paying for services. This channel brings in customers who would otherwise not afford tutoring.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels14 records

Core offering

Studienkreis provides in-person and online tutoring services for primary and secondary school students (Grades 1-13) in Germany across approximately 900 physical learning centers. The company offers individualized and small-group instruction in all major school subjects, supplemented by exam preparation (Abitur, MSA), specialized LRS/dyscalculia support, holiday courses, VR language courses, an online learning portal, a mobile app with homework chat, and a state-funded tutoring program (Bildung und Teilhabe).

Product overview

Studienkreis is a German tutoring company operating since 1974 with approximately 1,000 locations serving over 125,000 students annually. The core offering consists of in-person tutoring at local branches and live online tutoring via video platforms (Skype and proprietary Studienkreis Meet). These are complemented by a suite of specialized modules including LRS/Dyskalkulie support courses, exam preparation programs (Abitur, MSA), holiday intensive courses, VR language courses, real-time homework help via live chat, and an online learning library. The Nachhilfe to go mobile app provides free digital learning tools including chat homework help and explanatory videos. The company also offers state-funded education programs (Bildung und Teilhabe) for eligible families and operates a customer/partner portal. All services are backed by a scientifically developed learning concept validated by academic research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 91.7% of students improve by at least one grade
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

AI capability1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• GoStudentminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership for powering free trial sessions. The Studienkreis website mentions that free trial session inquiries are powered by GoStudent, which contacts customers to arrange the free tutoring session.
• LegalTegrity GmbHminorOthers · 1 January 2024Independent whistleblower system provider commissioned to receive and anonymize reports of legal or regulatory violations, ensuring employee and stakeholder anonymity.
• Bildung und Teilhabe (Government Program)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with German government social programs to provide free tutoring for eligible families receiving Bürgergeld, Wohngeld, Sozialhilfe, or Berlin-Pass. Schools confirm need for tutoring and eligible families access free services.
• Bundesverband Nachhilfe- und Nachmittagsschulen e.V. (VNN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMembership in the German Tutoring and After-School Association, co-developer of the Lernpakt quality certification standards with Prof. Ludwig Haag from University of Bayreuth.
• Professor Ludwig Haag (University of Bayreuth)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic advisor who helped develop quality criteria for the Lernpakt 'Profi-Nachhilfe qualitätsgeprüft' certification program.
• Professor Dr. Eiko Jürgens (University of Bielefeld)coreOthersAcademic endorsement of Studienkreis's learning methodology. Prof. Jürgens validated the step-and-phase schema underlying the Studienkreis learning concept as particularly effective teaching.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• GoStudent: Austrian-founded online tutoring unicorn operating across DACH with a digital-first, individual-tutoring model. Direct competitor to Studienkreis in the German tutoring market and notably also its free-trial GTM partner, creating a unique head-to-head overlap in target customer and geography.
• Schülerhilfe: One of the largest physical-center tutoring chains in Germany with a comparable franchise-style model targeting K-12 students. Closest like-for-like competitor to Studienkreis in terms of physical footprint, in-person tutoring format, and German market focus.
• Lernstudio Barbarossa: German tutoring provider operating physical learning centers with small-group and individual tutoring for K-12 students. Competes head-to-head with Studienkreis for the same parent/student segments and German state funding programs.
• ABACUS Nachhilfeinstitut: Established German tutoring institute offering individual and small-group tutoring across multiple locations. Operates in the same physical-center, K-12 tutoring category as Studienkreis with similar subject coverage and target customers.
• EasyNachhilfe: Online tutoring platform serving German students with flexible scheduling and subject coverage. Direct competitor targeting the same German K-12 audience with a more digital-native delivery model.

Broad incumbents

• Superprof: Global marketplace connecting students with private tutors across many subjects and geographies. Operates in the same tutoring category as Studienkreis but with a broader, marketplace-style model rather than a branded institution.
• Preply: Global online language tutoring marketplace with strong DACH presence. Comparable in subject coverage (languages overlap with Studienkreis' VR and conventional language offerings) and direct-to-consumer online delivery model.
• Varsity Tutors: US-based tutoring and test-prep platform offering in-person and online instruction. Comparable hybrid delivery model (physical + online) and K-12 focus, though operating primarily in the North American market rather than Germany.
• Chegg: US-listed education technology company offering tutoring, textbook solutions, and study help. Comparable in K-12 and higher-ed tutoring focus and digital delivery, though operating in a different geography and broader portfolio.

Emerging players

• Khan Academy: Free online educational platform offering video lessons, practice exercises, and increasingly AI-powered tutoring (Khanmigo). A non-paid competitor, but its free, AI-enhanced model threatens to compress demand for paid tutoring services like Studienkreis.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Studienkreis_BO
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/studienkreisyt
• Facebookfacebook.com/Studienkreis
• LinkedInde.linkedin.com/company/studienkreis-gmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/studienkreis
• TikToktiktok.com/@studienkreis

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Studienkreis