DHBW Karlsruhe

What DHBW Karlsruhe does

DHBW Karlsruhe (Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg Karlsruhe) is a public state university in Karlsruhe, Germany, and one of 12 campuses in the DHBW system, the largest dual study university in Germany. Founded in 1974, it enrolls approximately 3,200 students across 19 bachelor's programs organized into three faculties: Health (Gesundheit), Technology (Technik), and Business (Wirtschaft). Its core offering is the dual study model, in which students alternate every three months between theoretical instruction at the university and practical phases at partner companies over a three-year (six-semester) bachelor's program, with students earning income during practice phases and no tuition being charged. The institution also offers master's degrees via DHBW CAS for working professionals and provides student support services including DHBeWell (health management) and RESI (resilience platform).

The business model is built on state public funding as a legally independent public corporation (Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts) under the Ministry for Science, Research and Art Baden-Württemberg, supplemented by project grants from federal and EU sources (e.g., Bundesministerium für Forschung, Technologie und Raumfahrt for TrainYourBrain; Erasmus+ for MobyDig). Revenue does not derive from tuition; instead, the dual partner network (companies hosting practice placements and recruiting graduates) functions as a quasi-revenue channel through employer-funded salaries paid to students during practice phases. Distribution is direct via the university's own website, applicant exchange (Bewerberbörse), and the IPSI platform connecting dual partners with international interns from 450+ partner universities.

Underlying technical infrastructure includes the Eye Tracking Laboratory (Tobii T60 XL, Tobii Glasses, GSR biofeedback, SPSS) supporting applied research in advertising effectiveness, usability, and consumer behavior; the zSpace VR Laboratory developed under the MobyDig Erasmus+ project with Luleå University of Technology and University of Oulu; the TrainYourBrain digital media literacy platform funded by the federal ministry; and standard operational integrations including Matomo analytics, Eye-Able accessibility, and social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube). Proprietary research outputs have included commissioned studies such as a Seeberger product-placement analysis featured on the SWR Marktcheck television program.

Name

DHBW Karlsruhe

Legal name

Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg

Website

https://karlsruhe.dhbw.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Short description

DHBW Karlsruhe is a public state university in Germany offering 19 dual bachelor's programs across Health, Technology, and Business faculties, combining academic theory with paid practical phases at partner companies for approximately 3,200 students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Cooperative Education (Co-op) Technical Universities (EDAHAEAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Diploma-to-Degree / Articulation & Credit-Transfer Pathways (EDAIAJAG), Professional & Executive Short Courses (Non-Degree, International) (EDAIAIAH)

Keywords

• Dual higher education
• Bachelor degree programs
• Career-integrated learning
• Work-integrated education
• Applied health sciences

Headquarters

HQ city

Karlsruhe

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. State Funding (Öffentliche Finanzierung): As a public university in Baden-Württemberg, DHBW Karlsruhe receives government funding for educational operations. The university is a legally independent public corporation (rechtsfähige Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts).
2. Student Practice Income: Students earn income from their dual partner companies during practice phases. The university structure enables students to receive compensation while studying, creating a financial benefit that supports living expenses without explicit tuition costs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

DHBW Karlsruhe delivers dual higher education in Germany, combining academic theory at the university with practical work phases at partner companies on a rotating three-month basis. Students earn a bachelor's or master's degree in Health, Technology, or Business while receiving income from their dual partner. The university serves approximately 3,200 students across 19 bachelor's programmes and additional master's programmes through DHBW CAS.

Product overview

DHBW Karlsruhe is a dual university offering integrated academic and professional education across three faculties (Health, Technology, and Business) through 19 Bachelor programs and Master degrees. The institution's product portfolio centers on dual study programs that alternate between university theory and partner company practice. Supporting educational technology offerings include the TrainYourBrain digital media literacy platform with its gamified escape room 'Die Macht von Obscura,' research facilities such as the Eye Tracking Laboratory for advertising and usability research, and student support services including DHBeWell health management and RESI resilience programs. The MobyDig project represents international EdTech collaboration through Erasmus+ funded blended learning modules for STEM education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Dual Study Bachelor Programmes Three-year dual bachelor's degree programmes that alternate every three months between university teaching and paid practical phases at a dual partner company. Available across three faculties (Health, Technology, Business) with 19 programme options; public university tuition-free model.
• Dual Study Master Programmes (DHBW CAS) Master's programmes at DHBW CAS (Center for Advanced Studies) designed for working professionals who continue employment at their partner company while completing advanced academic studies part-time.
• Physician Assistant (B.Sc.) Six-semester dual full-time B.Sc. programme combining classroom teaching with three-month rotations at clinical healthcare facilities, designed for already-qualified healthcare professionals (nurses, MTAs, OTAs, physiotherapists, paramedics) to qualify for higher-responsibility Physician Assistant roles within medical teams.
• Applied Midwifery Science (B.Sc.) Dual midwifery bachelor programme combining biomedical science with communication skills and clinical practice rotations at partner hospitals such as ViDia Christliche Kliniken, Städtisches Klinikum Karlsruhe, and HELIOS Klinikum Pforzheim. Prepares midwives for evidence-based professional care spanning pre-conception to one year postpartum.
• Eye Tracking Laboratory Research Services Applied research facility offering eye tracking analysis for advertising effectiveness, retail and point-of-sale shopping behaviour, website/e-shop/app usability and UX testing, packaging tests, and web design studies. Combines Tobii T60 XL stationary and Tobii Glasses mobile measurement with GSR biofeedback and SPSS-supported analysis. Used by DHBW researchers and external partners (e.g., Seeberger featured in SWR Marktcheck).
• TrainYourBrain Platform Digital media-literacy learning platform combining scientific findings from perception and behavioural psychology with a gamified experience to help users identify fake news, clickbait, and AI-generated fakes. Includes the 'Die Macht von Obscura' Digital Escape Room.

Quantifiable outcome

• Students complete dual bachelor's degree in 3 years (compared to 3-4 years at traditional universities)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

AI capability7 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• CyberForum KarlsruheminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026Host venue for DHBW Karlsruhe's participation in Bunte Nacht der Digitalisierung 2026. CyberForum is Karlsruhe's digital and innovation network. DHBW showcased TrainYourBrain platform and Eye Tracking research at this event.
• Luleå University of TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2016International partner in the MobyDig Erasmus+ project (01.09.2016 - 31.08.2019). Developed blended learning chemistry course content and Intensive Study Programmes. DHBW Karlsruhe contributed chemistry modules and virtual reality laboratory content while Luleå provided ecodesign and biomaterials content. Project funded by EU Erasmus+ with 149,805 EUR grant.
• University of OulucoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2016International partner in the MobyDig Erasmus+ project (01.09.2016 - 31.08.2019). Developed organic chemistry content and biomaterials applications. Provided Intensive Study Programme hosting. Project funded by EU Erasmus+ with 149,805 EUR grant. Collaboration on transnational course in biomaterials and chemistry.
• DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 September 2016National agency for Erasmus+ programme, administering funding for international mobility and strategic partnerships. DAAD supports the MobyDig project and other internationalization initiatives at DHBW Karlsruhe.
• IPSI Platform (International Praktikanten)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPraktikantenplattform connecting dual partners with international talents from 450 partner universities. Enables dual partner companies to recruit international interns. Free registration for partner companies.
• Seeberger (Lebensmittelmarke)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood brand that commissioned Eye Tracking research at DHBW Karlsruhe to analyze product placement effectiveness in retail. Results featured in SWR Marktcheck television program. Example of applied research partnership.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• DHBW Stuttgart: Flagship location of the same Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg system. Operates the identical dual study model with 3-month theory/practice rotations and partners with Baden-Württemberg employers; directly comparable in business model, governance, and revenue structure.
• DHBW Mannheim: Another DHBW system location in Baden-Württemberg offering the same dual bachelor's programs across Business, Technology, and Health. Shares accreditation, governance, and partner network with DHBW Karlsruhe.
• Hochschule Karlsruhe (HKA): Public University of Applied Sciences located in the same city of Karlsruhe, Germany. Offers bachelor's and master's programs with strong practical orientation across technology, business, and design; competes for the same regional student pool and applied-research employer relationships.
• NORDAKADEMIE Hochschule der Wirtschaft: Private dual university in northern Germany operating a near-identical cooperative study model (the 'Nordakademie Modell') with employer partners and 3-month rotation. Closest non-DHBW comparator in business model and target market.
• Berufsakademie Sachsen (BA Sachsen): State-run dual study institution in Saxony offering the same cooperative theory-plus-practice model with employer partners. Directly comparable to DHBW Karlsruhe as a public-sector dual university, though operating in a different state with different employer base.
• Duale Hochschule Gera-Eisenach: Public dual university in Thuringia with a comparable cooperative education model across business, technology, and social work. Shares regulatory structure (state-licensed Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts) and dual employer-partner model with DHBW Karlsruhe.
• HTW Berlin - Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft: Large public University of Applied Sciences in Berlin offering practice-oriented bachelor's and master's programs across business, technology, and design. Comparable as a public German state university of applied sciences with employer-integrated learning, though without the formal 3-month dual rotation structure.

Broad incumbents

• FOM Hochschule für Oekonomie und Management: Germany's largest private university with a strong focus on work-integrated and employer-cooperative programs for working professionals. Comparable target market (career-integrated learners) but operates as private for-profit with tuition revenue and digital delivery, unlike DHBW's public state funding model.
• IU International University of Applied Sciences: Large private German university with a dual study program (IU Duales Studium) that directly mirrors DHBW's cooperative model with employer partners. Operates at much larger scale with online and remote modalities that DHBW Karlsruhe lacks.

Regional players

• Hochschule der Bundesagentur für Arbeit (HdBA): Germany's only university of the Federal Employment Agency, offering dual study programs entirely integrated with employer practice phases. Highly comparable dual/employer-integrated model, but specialized to the Federal Employment Agency's workforce.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCe5bTJ_lECQ7DiU_NXQMilQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/DHBWKarlsruhe
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/dhbwkarlsruhe
• Instagraminstagram.com/dhbwkarlsruhe

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about DHBW Karlsruhe