Carinthia University of Applied Sciences

What Carinthia University of Applied Sciences does

Carinthia University of Applied Sciences (FH Kärnten, legally Fachhochschule Kärnten gemeinnützige Gesellschaft mbH) is a publicly funded Austrian university of applied sciences headquartered in Villach, with five campuses across Carinthia (Villach, two Klagenfurt sites, Spittal an der Drau, and Feldkirchen) and a hybrid delivery extension in Lavanttal. The institution is organized into four academic schools — Civil Engineering & Architecture, Engineering & IT, Health Sciences and Social Work, and Management — and offers bachelor's, master's, and doctorate-level programs alongside continuing education. Its core technology infrastructure comprises simulation labs for healthcare education, Smart Lab and 3D printing facilities for engineering, and digital learning management systems supporting hybrid instruction.

FH Kärnten serves traditional full-time students, working professionals seeking part-time (berufsbegleitend) credentials, HTL/technical college graduates entering with advanced standing, and international students through ERASMUS+ and 160+ partner university agreements. The business model relies on Austrian federal and state government funding indexed to enrollment, supplemented by non-EU tuition, the ÖH semester contribution of approximately €25.20, and revenue from the FH Kärnten Academy continuing education division (e.g., 3D printing certificate at €4,200, mediator program at €7,940, psychiatric nursing specialization at €8,500). Revenues are further augmented by applied research contracts funded through KWF and regional industry partners including the Silicon Alps Cluster.

The institution's competitive positioning rests on its small-group, individualized teaching model, geographic accessibility across Carinthia, international partnerships (ATHENA, AACSB, ACE2-EU, EUA), and specialized regulatory accreditations including a UNESCO Chair in Management of Conservation Areas and healthcare specializations designated under §65 and §17 GuKG. Distribution occurs through centralized online application (bewerbung.cuas.at), campus-based delivery, the FH Extended Lavanttal hybrid model, and co-branded continuing education programs with external partners such as CSAW and PMS Elektro- und Automationstechnik GmbH.

Name

Carinthia University of Applied Sciences

Legal name

Fachhochschule Kärnten gemeinnützige Gesellschaft mbH

Website

https://fh-kaernten.at

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Carinthia University of Applied Sciences (FH Kärnten) is a publicly funded Austrian Fachhochschule with five campuses across Carinthia, delivering bachelor's, master's, and continuing education programs across engineering, IT, health sciences, social work, and management to traditional students, working professionals, and international learners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Engineering & Technology Institutes (Comprehensive) (EDAHAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Technical Universities with Architecture, Built Environment & Design Engineering (EDAHAEAJ), Technical Universities with Energy, Materials & Sustainability Focus (EDAHAEAL), Undergraduate Business Schools (BBA/BSBA Programs) (EDAHAHAA)

Keywords

• Higher education programs
• Applied sciences university
• Continuing education courses
• Professional certification programs
• Engineering and health degrees

Headquarters

HQ city

Spittal An Der Drau

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Semester Fees: FH Kärnten operates as a publicly funded Austrian university of applied sciences (Fachhochschule). For EU/EEA citizens, study programs are tuition-free aside from the ÖH (Austrian Students' Union) contribution of approximately €25.20 per semester (index-adjusted). Non-EU students may be subject to tuition fees. Revenue is supplemented by government funding based on student enrollment and program accreditation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Carinthia University of Applied Sciences (FH Kärnten) is an Austrian publicly funded university of applied sciences delivering accredited Bachelor's and Master's degree programs, continuing education, and professional certification across four academic schools: Civil Engineering & Architecture, Engineering & IT, Health Sciences & Social Work, and Management. Programs are offered full-time and part-time (berufsbegleitend) across five campuses in Carinthia, with specializations in healthcare, engineering, business, and conservation area management.

Product overview

Carinthia University of Applied Sciences (FH Kärnten) is a higher education institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of degree programs and continuing education. Its main products include: FH Kärnten Academy for continuing education with certificate courses and microcredentials; full Bachelor and Master degree programs across Engineering & IT, Health Sciences & Social Work, Business & Management, and Civil Engineering & Architecture; and specialized professional programs like the 3D printing certificate, AI-related short programs (KI Strategie, KI-Management, KI & Data Driven Business), and healthcare specializations. Programs are delivered across five campuses in Villach, Klagenfurt, Spittal, Feldkirchen, and via FH Extended in Lavanttal. The institution also operates a UNESCO Chair for conservation area management and partners with external organizations for specialized training like ERC Advanced Life Support and modern software development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FH Kärnten Academy: Continuing education and professional development programs including master courses, certificate programs, and seminars
• FH Kärnten Research
• StudyXplore
• FH Extended
• FresH Blog
• FH talk

Products and services

• FH Kärnten Academy (Weiterbildungszentrum) The continuing education division of FH Kärnten offering academic expert programs, certificate courses, microcredentials, and professional development programs across health, technology, business, and social fields. For working professionals and lifelong learners.

Quantifiable outcome

• First Austrian university to implement visible Student Health Management (Studentisches Gesundheitsmanagement)
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, regional and minor.

• ATHENA European University AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerATHENA is a European Universities Initiative alliance in which FH Kärnten participates as a founding member. The alliance aims to create deep transnational cooperation between universities across Europe, enabling joint programs, student mobility, and collaborative research.
• AACSB Business Education AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFH Kärnten is a member of AACSB International's Business Education Alliance, providing access to global business education standards, accreditation support, and network connections with leading business schools worldwide.
• AQ Austria (Agentur für Qualitätssicherung und Akkreditierung Austria)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAQ Austria is the Austrian agency for quality assurance and accreditation. FH Kärnten's study programs are accredited through this body, ensuring compliance with Austrian and European higher education standards.
• ACE2 European UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACE2-EU is a European University alliance focused on creating sustainable academic cooperation. FH Kärnten's School of Health Sciences and Social Work actively participates in ACE-SCHOLAR workshops and ethical research training initiatives.
• European Universities Association (EUA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEUA represents European universities and university associations, providing FH Kärnten with access to policy discussions, best practice sharing, and professional development opportunities.
• ERASMUS+ ProgrammecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerERASMUS+ enables student and staff mobility, joint projects, and Blended Intensive Programs. FH Kärnten actively participates in ERASMUS+ for international exchange with partner institutions across Europe.
• 160+ Partner Universities WorldwidecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFH Kärnten maintains exchange agreements with more than 160 universities globally, enabling student mobility, staff teaching exchanges, and joint research collaborations across diverse geographic regions.
• KWF (Kärntner Wirtschaftsförderungs Fonds)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKWF is the Carinthian Economic Promotion Fund that supports FH Kärnten's research and development activities, regional innovation initiatives, and technology transfer programs.
• PMS Elektro- und Automationstechnik GmbHregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerPMS GmbH hosts FH Extended courses at its facilities in Lavanttal, providing classroom space and equipment for engineering programs. This partnership extends FH Kärnten's reach to the Lavanttal region through hybrid learning delivery.
• EVALAG (Evaluationsagentur)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEVALAG is a higher education evaluation agency that supports FH Kärnten's quality management and institutional assessment processes.
• Silicon Alps ClusterregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerSilicon Alps is an electronics and microelectronics cluster in Carinthia and Tyrol. FH Kärnten collaborates with this cluster for industry partnerships, student projects, and technology transfer in the electronics sector.
• Cities Mission - KlagenfurtregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerFH Kärnten participates in the Cities Mission initiative alongside the City of Klagenfurt, supporting urban climate and sustainability initiatives.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• FH Joanneum: Austrian University of Applied Sciences with multi-school portfolio across engineering, IT, health, and management, operating multiple campuses in Styria. Same Austrian UAS legal model, same four-school structural template, and overlapping program mix make it the closest direct peer.
• University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria (FH Oberösterreich): Austrian UAS with multiple campus locations and a similarly comprehensive four-school structure spanning engineering, business, health, and applied social sciences. Closest structural analogue in the Austrian UAS landscape.
• FH Technikum Wien: Austrian UAS with a strong engineering and technology focus and applied-research orientation. Comparable technical depth, similar statutory framework, and direct overlap in IT, mechatronics, and engineering degree programs.
• FH Campus Wien: One of Austria's largest Fachhochschulen, operating as a non-profit with broad coverage of engineering, health, and applied social sciences under the same Austrian Fachhochschule law. Comparable institutional model with broader scale.
• IMC University of Applied Sciences Krems: Austrian UAS with a similarly diversified portfolio across business, health, and life sciences. Comparable use of international English-language programs and a strong continuing-education/Academy revenue line.
• Hochschule München (Munich University of Applied Sciences): Large German-speaking UAS with a comprehensive multi-school portfolio in engineering, business, design, and social work. Applies the same Fachhochschule model in a larger jurisdiction and serves as a structural cross-border benchmark.
• FH Vorarlberg: Smaller Austrian UAS operating in a similarly sized federal state with a comparable applied-sciences program mix including engineering, business, and design. Direct peer on scale and operating model.
• FH Salzburg - Salzburg University of Applied Sciences: Austrian UAS serving a similarly sized federal state, with comparable multi-campus structure and program breadth in engineering, design, business, and social work. Closely mirrors FH Kärnten's regional-applied-sciences positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Graz University of Technology (TU Graz): Larger, full-status Austrian technical university with extensive engineering, IT, and applied sciences offerings. Competes for the same student and faculty pool in Austria with deeper research footprint and stronger brand.
• University of Klagenfurt: Full-status public university headquartered in the same Carinthia region, with broader academic and research scope across technical, business, and social sciences. Operates as the regional incumbent against which FH Kärnten competes for local students.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/fhkaernten
• Facebookde-de.facebook.com/FHKaerntenCUAS
• LinkedInat.linkedin.com/school/fachhochschule-k%C3%A4rnten
• Instagraminstagram.com/fhkaernten
• TikToktiktok.com/@fhkaernten
• Pinterestat.pinterest.com/fh_kaernten_hochschule
• Xx.com/FHKaernten

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Carinthia University of Applied Sciences