HWZ Zurich University of Economics

What HWZ Zurich University of Economics does

HWZ Hochschule für Wirtschaft Zürich AG is a privately funded Swiss university of applied sciences in business administration, headquartered in the Sihlhof building at Lagerstrasse 5, central Zurich (near the main railway station). Founded in 1986, it operates without state subsidies and is financed entirely through tuition fees and service revenues, holding institutional accreditation from the Swiss Accreditation Council valid through 2030. The institution employs 51–100 internal staff and draws on a network of 800+ practicing industry lecturers to deliver its programs.

HWZ's core product is a portfolio of part-time, Bologna-compliant degree and continuing education programs designed for working professionals. Bachelor's offerings include Business Administration (with a Passerelle fast-track for HF graduates), Business Communications, Business Psychology, and Digital Business & AI (180 ECTS each). Master's programs cover Banking & Finance, Business Administration with a major in Digital Strategy, and Real Estate (90–120 ECTS). The continuing education stack spans Certificate/Diploma/Master of Advanced Studies (CAS/DAS/MAS), an Executive MBA, a Doctor of Business Administration, Short Advanced Studies, and seminars. Digital infrastructure consists of the myHWZ web portal and a companion iOS/Android app, supplemented by Microsoft 365 and standard LMS tooling. Class sizes are capped at 32 students and programs accommodate 50–90% concurrent employment.

Revenue is generated through three streams: (1) tuition and semester fees for degree and continuing education programs, with bachelor registration at CHF 150 and Master/MSc at CHF 500 and materials around CHF 300/semester; (2) corporate training delivered in German, English, and French to enterprise clients; and (3) ancillary services including room hire at the Sihlhof facility and a free HWZ Job Market. Go-to-market is sales-led, with personal consultation for program selection and a multi-channel awareness mix spanning the website, newsletter, social media, information evenings, podcasts, and alumni network (alumniHWZ). Customer segments are working professionals (B2C, primary) and corporate/organizational clients seeking workforce development (B2B).

Name

HWZ Zurich University of Economics

Legal name

HWZ Hochschule für Wirtschaft Zürich AG

Website

https://fh-hwz.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

HWZ is a privately funded Zurich-based university of applied sciences delivering part-time Bachelor's, Master's, and continuing education programs in business administration to working professionals and corporate clients across Switzerland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education (Business Administration)

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International Business & Global Management Schools (EDAHAHAJ)

Keywords

• Part-time business education
• Executive continuing education
• Bachelor business administration
• Master banking finance
• Corporate training programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Program Fees: Revenue generated from Bachelor, Master, and continuing education programs. HWZ is a private institution without government subsidies, carrying all its expenses independently. Tuition fees vary by program, with semester fees published on program websites.
2. Corporate Training and Services: Company training programs and room hire services for seminars, conferences, and events in the heart of Zurich
3. Seminars and Short Courses: Seminars and short courses offered through HWZ Academy with certificates, with optional ECTS credits available through additional assessments

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

HWZ delivers accredited part-time higher education and continuing professional development in business administration, including Bachelor and Master of Science degree programs (Business Administration, Business Communications, Business Psychology, Digital Business & AI, Banking & Finance, Real Estate), and a continuing education ladder (CAS, DAS, MAS, Executive MBA, DBA, SAS, seminars). All programs are designed for working professionals who can study while maintaining 50–90% employment, supported by the myHWZ digital portal and mobile app, and taught by 800+ industry practitioners.

Product overview

HWZ Zurich University of Economics offers a comprehensive portfolio of part-time and professional education programs in business and economics. The core offering consists of Bachelor of Science programs (BSc) in Business Administration, Business Communications, Business Psychology, and Digital Business & AI, along with Master of Science programs (MSc) in Banking & Finance, Business Administration (Digital Strategy major), and Real Estate. The institution provides extensive continuing education through Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS), Diploma of Advanced Studies (DAS), Master of Advanced Studies (MAS), Executive MBA, and Short Advanced Studies (SAS) programs. Digital services include the myHWZ student portal and mobile application. Programs are designed for working professionals, with most degree programs offered in German and focused on practical, application-oriented learning.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HWZ Academy: Continuing education division offering seminars, CAS, DAS, MAS, and EMBA programmes
• Mindful Business Club (MBC)
• alumniHWZ

Products and services

• Bachelor in Business Administration HWZ Full-time and part-time Bachelor of Science program in Business Administration providing foundational knowledge in economics, management, and business operations, aimed at prospective and working students pursuing an initial business degree.
• Bachelor in Business Administration HWZ – Passerelle Accelerated pathway allowing graduates of Higher Vocational Schools (HF) to earn a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 2 years (4 semesters), designed for professionals with vocational credentials seeking an academic degree.
• Bachelor in Business Communications HWZ Part-time Bachelor program focusing on business communication strategies, corporate communications, and media relations for students targeting communication-focused business roles.
• Bachelor in Business Psychology HWZ Part-time Bachelor program combining business administration with psychological principles applied to workplace settings, for students pursuing HR, organizational development or people analytics roles.
• Bachelor in Digital Business & AI HWZ Part-time Bachelor program focusing on digital transformation, artificial intelligence applications, and technology-driven business strategies, aimed at students targeting digital and technology-focused business roles.
• MSc in Banking & Finance HWZ Master of Science program specializing in banking, finance, and financial management with a practical-application focus, designed for professionals advancing in financial services.
• MSc in Business Administration HWZ – Major in Digital Strategy Master of Science program with a specialization in digital strategy, covering digital transformation and technology leadership for mid-career professionals targeting strategic roles.
• MSc Real Estate HWZ – Major in Finance, Sustainable & Digital Value Creation Master of Science program specializing in real estate management with a focus on finance, sustainability, and digital innovation, aimed at professionals in the real estate sector.
• Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) Postgraduate certificate programs requiring at least 10–15 ECTS credits, focused on specialized business topics and aimed at professionals seeking targeted upskilling.
• Diploma of Advanced Studies (DAS) Postgraduate diploma comprising 2 CAS modules (minimum 30 ECTS), providing comprehensive specialized education for professionals seeking deeper expertise than a single CAS.
• Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) Advanced postgraduate degree comprising 3 CAS modules plus a Master thesis (minimum 60 ECTS), designed for experienced professionals seeking deep specialization in a business field.
• Executive MBA (EMBA) Executive Master of Business Administration program designed for senior leaders, covering strategic management, leadership, and business transformation over 3 semesters (90 ECTS), including international study trips.
• Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) Doctoral-level program in business administration for advanced research and academic contributions, aimed at senior practitioners pursuing doctoral-level scholarship.
• Short Advanced Studies (SAS) Short professional development programs requiring 3 ECTS credits, covering specific business topics with practical application and optional Leistungsnachweis assessments.
• Seminars & Courses (HWZ Academy) Short professional development workshops and seminars providing targeted skill-building in specific business areas, offered through HWZ Academy with certificates and optional ECTS credits.
• Company Training Customized company training programs delivered in German, English, and French, supporting employee development and tailored upskilling for organizations of all sizes.
• Room Hire at Sihlhof Rental of seminar rooms, auditorium, and foyers at the Sihlhof building near Zurich main railway station, available for half-day or full-day hire for seminars, conferences and events.
• myHWZ Portal Central digital platform for students, lecturers, and staff providing access to all information around coursework, course materials, grades, communications, career services and academic resources.
• myHWZ Mobile App Mobile application for iOS and Android enabling students to access academic information, course materials and HWZ resources on the go.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40 years of educational excellence
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Mindful Business Club (MBC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA curated, non-commercial platform for organizations and leaders actively shaping value-based, people-centred and future-oriented business practice. Combines academic rigour with entrepreneurial practice, providing a safe space for reflection, dialogue and responsible decision-making.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz (FHNW): Swiss state-funded university of applied sciences with a School of Business offering BSc, MSc and continuing education. Comparable program portfolio but serves a different regional catchment (northwestern Switzerland) rather than competing directly in Zurich.
• Hochschule Luzern: Swiss public university of applied sciences providing business degree and executive education programs. Overlaps with HWZ on program structure and continuing education, but operates in central Switzerland rather than competing head-on in Zurich.

Emerging players

• IMD Business School: Swiss-based business school specializing in executive MBA, executive education and leadership programs for senior managers. Partial overlap with HWZ's EMBA and CAS/MAS segment, focused exclusively on experienced executives in a different price tier.

Direct peers

• FOM Hochschule: German private university of applied sciences focused on part-time business education for working professionals and managers. Strong overlap with HWZ on part-time/dual-study model, executive education ladder, and practice-oriented teaching.
• ZHAW School of Management and Law: Swiss state-subsidized university of applied sciences with a similarly broad business program portfolio, including BSc/MSc/MBA programs and continuing education. Direct overlap with HWZ on program mix and target segment, differing primarily in funding model.
• SRH Hochschule: German private university group offering business degree and continuing-education programs with a strong part-time and employer-integrated model. Comparable to HWZ in operating model and in targeting employed adult learners across multiple locations.
• Fernfachhochschule Schweiz (FFHS): Swiss private distance-learning university of applied sciences offering business and IT programs largely via online study. Comparable in being a privately funded Swiss FH serving working professionals, but competing via remote learning rather than on-campus part-time attendance.
• Kalaidos Fachhochschule: Swiss private university of applied sciences offering business and healthcare degree programs through a practice-oriented model. Closest structural match to HWZ as another privately funded Swiss FH focused on working professionals.

Broad incumbents

• IU International University of Applied Sciences: Germany's largest private university with a broad portfolio of part-time business and management degree programs delivered flexibly (online and on-site) to working professionals. Comparable product set and target market, scaled nationally rather than locally.
• Universität St. Gallen (HSG): Switzerland's premier business university and the dominant brand in Swiss management education. Competes with HWZ across Bachelor, Master, MBA, and executive education segments, but at a meaningfully higher price/selectivity tier and with public funding.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/fhhwz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hwz-hochschule-fur-wirtschaft-zurich

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 HWZ Zurich University of Economics