Danube University Krems

What Danube University Krems does

Danube University Krems (Universität für Weiterbildung Krems) is Austria's first and only public university exclusively dedicated to continuing education, founded in 1995 and headquartered in Krems an der Donau. The institution delivers part-time, work-compatible academic programs targeting employed adults seeking career advancement, including Master's degrees (MA, MBA, LL.M.), Bachelor programs, PhDs, Academic Expert Programs, Certificate Programs, Micro-Credentials, and Seminars across ten subject areas spanning health, business, law, education, digitalization, arts, media, migration, psychotherapy, and environment. The core technology layer is a blended-learning model combining online preparation phases, live online consultation hours, moderated discussion forums, and in-person presence days delivered via Canvas and Moodle LMS platforms.

The business model rests on three revenue pillars: (1) tuition fees for degree and certificate programs (Master programs priced at EUR 8,800-11,900 with multi-year installment structures), (2) Austrian federal and state government funding as a public university, and (3) competitive research grants including EU-funded projects (EU.ACE, REFAIR, AGRECOfarm). The university employs a stackable-credential framework allowing students to accumulate credits from short programs toward full degrees, creating a differentiated progression pathway. Distribution is multi-channel: direct online application, on-campus presence at the Krems campus, international partner universities (Göttingen, Brno, Vilnius, Kyiv), and external venue partnerships for specialized workshops.

The university has no parent company, no private equity exposure, and no subsidiaries. It is government-owned and operated under Austrian Universitätsgesetz oversight. Notable recent strategic moves include the launch of an Energy and Climate Law LL.M. for October 2026, deepening of the five-university Data Economy Law consortium, and participation in the EU.ACE European University Alliance. Customer outcomes are strong on satisfaction metrics: 91% of graduates rate lecturer quality and study-life compatibility positively. Headcount and revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Danube University Krems

Legal name

Universität für Weiterbildung Krems

Website

https://donau-uni.ac.at

Company type

Public

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Danube University Krems is Austria's first public university dedicated exclusively to continuing education, founded in 1995. It delivers part-time Master's, Bachelor's, PhD, and certificate programs via blended learning to working professionals across ten subject areas including law, education, health, and digitalization.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Continuing Education / Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Online Nonprofit Universities (EDAHALAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs (EDAAAEAA)

Keywords

• Continuing education programs
• Professional development courses
• Graduate degree programs
• Blended learning education
• Lifelong learning programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Krems An Der Donau

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: The university charges tuition fees for its continuing education programs. Fee structures vary by program: Master programs such as Educational Leadership cost EUR 11,900, while the Data Economy Law LL.M. costs EUR 8,800. Programs are offered at different price points depending on format and duration. The institution is a public university, and tuition represents a portion of revenue alongside government funding.
2. Research Grants and Project Funding: The university generates revenue through competitive research grants and EU-funded research projects. Examples include the EU.ACE project for European University for Academic Continuing Education, EU-Forschungsprojekt REFAIR on informal labor, and AGRECOfarm for agricultural education in West Africa. These grants support research activities and staff positions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Danube University Krems is Austria's first public university exclusively dedicated to continuing education, offering part-time, work-integrated study programs (Certificates, Academic Expert Programs, Bachelor, Master including MBA and LL.M., and PhD levels) across subjects such as education, law, data economy, health, business, and arts. Programs are delivered in blended learning formats combining online components with limited in-person presence days at the Krems campus, and select programs operate through international university partnerships across Europe.

Product overview

Danube University Krems (Universität für Weiterbildung Krems) is a university for continuing education offering a comprehensive portfolio of academic programs and professional development courses. The institution provides Stackable Programs allowing flexible progression from Certificate Programs and Academic Expert Programs (AEP) through to Bachelor, Master (including MBA and LL.M.), and PhD levels. Key programs include Educational Leadership for school management, Data Economy Law for legal aspects of data-driven businesses, Stage Narration combining theatrical arts with societal engagement, and eEducation focusing on digital learning design. Programs are delivered through blended learning formats combining online coursework with in-person sessions, utilizing LMS Canvas and Moodle platforms for distance learning components.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Stage Narration: A study program combining scientific expertise with theatrical practice, focusing on narrative forms for stage and society.
• Data Economy Law LL.M.
• Educational Leadership
• EU.ACE

Products and services

• Educational Leadership - Professionelles Schulmanagement, MA (CE) Master of Arts (Continuing Education) program qualifying participants for leadership roles in educational institutions, focusing on management concepts, digitalization, and sustainable school development. Awarded for 90 ECTS over 4 semesters (berufsbegleitend / part-time work-integrated). Total tuition: EUR 11,900, including mandatory modules (69 ECTS), elective courses (6 ECTS), and Master's thesis (15 ECTS). Designed for working professionals in school management.
• Data Economy Law, LL.M. Master of Laws (LL.M.) program taught in English that addresses legal challenges of data-driven business models, covering intellectual property, data protection, GDPR compliance, innovation law, and AI regulation. Awarded for 60 ECTS over 2 semesters. Total tuition: EUR 8,800. Co-taught with partner universities Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Masaryk-Universität (Brno), Kazimieras Simonavičius-Universität (Vilnius), and Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. Designed for lawyers, in-house counsel, and professionals engaged with digital business regulation.
• Stage Narration Part-time program combining scientific expertise with theatrical practice, focusing on narrative forms for stage and society. Offered as a Master program or Academic Expert Program in cooperation with the Wortwiege Festival in Wiener Neustadt, with funding from Land Niederösterreich and Stadt Wiener Neustadt. Designed for theater practitioners, performers, and cultural professionals seeking academic credentials combined with practical festival experience.
• eEducation - Digitales Lerndesign Master program focusing on innovative concepts that combine classical and digital teaching and learning methods, examining eLearning, digital instructional design, and digital learning tools in educational contexts. Designed for educators, instructional designers, and learning professionals seeking academic credentials in digital learning design.
• DeL Summer School on Data Economy Law Two-week intensive summer school covering legal aspects of data-driven businesses, developed by five European partner universities (Krems, Göttingen, Brno, Vilnius, Kyiv). Combines a two-week online preparatory course with a final face-to-face week at the Flackl-Wirt hotel in Reichenau an der Rax in the Austrian Alps, approximately 2 hours from Vienna. Free of charge; participants only cover travel and accommodation. Application via the Danube University Krems page.
• Energie- und Klimarecht LL.M. (Energy and Climate Law) Professional Master of Laws (LL.M.) program providing legally secure competence for climate protection and energy transition, designed for legal professionals working in energy and environmental regulation. Starting October 2026. Offered by Danube University Krems as a new Master study program.

Quantifiable outcome

• 91% of graduates rate study compatibility with work and private life positively
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 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

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• European University for Academic Continuing Education (EU.ACE)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU.ACE is a European University Alliance dedicated to developing innovative pathways for academic continuing education. The 'European University for Academic Continuing Education (EU.ACE)' project focuses on developing forward-looking approaches in scientific continuing education, involving multiple European universities in collaborative curriculum development and mobility programs.
• Georg-August-Universität GöttingencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner university in the Data Economy Law LL.M. program, providing teaching faculty and academic expertise in intellectual property and technology law. One of four strategic Erasmus+ partner universities in the program.
• Masaryk-Universität (Brünn)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner university in the Data Economy Law LL.M. program, contributing legal scholars and expertise in data protection and digital law to the collaborative degree program.
• Kazimieras Simonavičius-Universität (Vilnius)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner university in the Data Economy Law LL.M. program, providing faculty expertise in European digital law and technology regulation as part of the strategic Erasmus+ partnership.
• Taras Shevchenko National University of KyivminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFifth partner university in the DeL Summer School consortium, bringing Ukrainian perspectives on data economy law. Participation highlights international academic cooperation despite ongoing conflict conditions.
• Wortwiege Festival Wiener NeustadtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual theater festival serving as the practical partner for the Stage Narration program. Students gain hands-on theater experience through festival productions, with professional actors and directors mentoring participants.
• Land NiederösterreichcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerState government of Lower Austria provides funding support for the Stage Narration program, demonstrating institutional commitment to cultural and educational initiatives.
• Stadt Wiener NeustadtminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCity of Wiener Neustadt supports the Stage Narration program through funding, contributing to the cultural education initiative.
• European University Association (EUA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEUA is the representative organization of European universities. Membership provides access to best practices, policy advocacy, and collaboration opportunities across European higher education.
• AUCEN (Austrian University Continuing Education and Staff Development Network)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustrian network connecting universities for continuing education and staff development initiatives, enabling collaboration on professional development programs.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Athabasca University: Canadian public online university specializing in distance and continuing education for working adults. Comparable as a public, fully online/distance university offering flexible undergraduate and graduate programs with a continuing education mandate.
• SRH Hochschulen: Private German university group offering career-integrated and continuing education programs with blended-learning formats. Comparable for its focus on working professionals, stackable credentials, and applied Master's programs in business, technology, and health.
• MCI Management Center Innsbruck: Austrian private university of applied sciences offering career-integrated Bachelor's, Master's, and executive programs. Comparable as an Austrian institution targeting working professionals with applied, industry-co-designed programs in business, technology, and social sciences.
• FernUniversität in Hagen: Germany's primary state distance-learning university, offering part-time and continuing education programs across multiple disciplines. It is the most directly comparable public, distance/hybrid university serving working professionals in the DACH region.
• WU Executive Academy: Continuing education arm of Vienna University of Economics and Business, offering MBAs, Master's, and certificate programs for working professionals. Comparable as an Austria-based provider of part-time, work-compatible Master's programs in business and management.
• Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC): Online public university in Catalonia offering Bachelor's, Master's, and doctoral programs with a continuing education focus. Comparable as a nonprofit online/distance university targeting working adults, although operating in a different national context.

Regional players

• Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Recht Berlin (HWR): Berlin-based public university of applied sciences with a strong continuing education portfolio (HWR Berlin Professional School). Comparable for its German-language continuing and executive programs targeting working professionals, though primarily serving the Berlin/Brandenburg region.
• FH Wien: Austrian University of Applied Sciences offering work-integrated Bachelor's and Master's programs. Comparable as a domestic Austrian provider serving working students, though with a stronger undergraduate orientation.

Broad incumbents

• University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC): Large US public online university serving adult and working learners globally with continuing and professional education programs. Comparable as an established public, fully online university, though operating at much greater scale and with employer-funded models.
• The Open University (UK): The UK's largest academic institution and a global benchmark for distance and part-time higher education. Comparable as an established public, distance-learning university serving working adults, though at significantly greater scale and broader subject coverage.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/donau_uni
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/danubeuniversity
• Facebookfacebook.com/donau.uni
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/donau-universit-t-krems
• Instagraminstagram.com/unikrems

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Danube University Krems