Media University

What Media University does

Media University GmbH (formerly HMKW — Hochschule für Medien, Kommunikation und Wirtschaft) is a state-recognized private university of applied sciences headquartered in Berlin, Germany, operating three campuses in Berlin, Köln, and Frankfurt. Founded in October 2009 with an initial cohort of 14 students, the institution has grown to 51–100 employees and offers approximately 14 Bachelor programs and 10+ Master programs across five departments: Design, Journalism and Communication, Psychology, Business/Management, and Humanities. Programs are delivered in on-campus (Präsenzstudium), dual-study (duales Studium), and distance-learning (Fernstudium) formats, with degrees accredited by the Wissenschaftsrat (German Science Council, 2014) and FIBAA.

The core product is accredited German higher education with a media-industry orientation, combining practice-oriented project learning with industry partnerships. The curriculum integrates AI across multiple disciplines, including dedicated AI Master's programs (M.A. Artificial Intelligence and Societies; M.A. Artificial Intelligence, Education, Technology and Innovation) launched in 2026. Technology infrastructure includes HubSpot CRM for prospect and student management, Chatling and Soul Machines chatbots for customer interaction, Eventbrite for event registration, and Google Signals for analytics, all operated under GDPR compliance.

The business model is tuition-based, with revenue derived from semester fees for state-recognized Bachelor and Master degrees. Specific pricing is not publicly disclosed, but the university offers financing options including KfW student loans and a "Start ohne Risiko" program to reduce enrollment friction. The go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via the university website, supplemented by Open Days, trial lectures (Probevorlesungen), portfolio consultations, education fair participation, and an active social media presence across LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok. The customer base is highly fragmented — individual prospective students and parents — with no enterprise revenue concentration. Media University has no external funding rounds and is owner-operated, with no publicly disclosed parent company.

Name

Media University

Legal name

Media University GmbH

Website

https://media-university.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Media University is a state-recognized private German university of applied sciences operating three campuses in Berlin, Köln, and Frankfurt, offering accredited Bachelor and Master programs in media, design, journalism, psychology, and business to prospective students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Fine Arts Schools (611610), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Film, Television & Media Arts Colleges (EDAHAJAE)

Keywords

• Private higher education
• Media studies programs
• Distance learning degrees
• Applied sciences university
• Design and journalism education

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Study Fees: Revenue from student tuition for state-recognized Bachelor and Master degree programs. Private university with accredited degrees (B.A., B.Sc., M.A., M.Sc.) offered at three campuses in Germany.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Media University is a German private university of applied sciences that delivers state-recognized Bachelor (B.A., B.Sc.) and Master (M.A., M.Sc.) degree programs in media, design, communication, psychology, business, and humanities through three on-site campuses in Berlin, Köln, and Frankfurt, alongside distance learning and dual study formats. Its programs are practice-oriented, project-driven, and increasingly integrate AI applications into the curriculum. The institution is institutionally accredited by the Wissenschaftsrat and the FIBAA.

Product overview

Media University (Hochschule für Medien, Kommunikation und Wirtschaft) is a German private university of applied sciences offering state-recognized Bachelor (B.A., B.Sc.) and Master (M.A., M.Sc.) degrees across three campuses in Berlin, Cologne, and Frankfurt. The institution provides educational programs in five academic departments: Design (including graphic design, film, photography, illustration, interactive media), Journalism and Communication, Psychology (including media and business psychology), Management and Business Studies, and Humanities. Programs are delivered through on-campus presence study, dual study (combined with vocational training), part-time, and distance learning formats. Key academic offerings include media-focused programs in digital marketing, game design, journalism, event management, and AI-related specializations. The university integrates AI across multiple programs and offers professional development through career services, international exchange (Erasmus+), and alumni networks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• B.A. Digitales Marketing und E-Commerce

Named customers14 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability9 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Erasmus+ Partner UniversitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational exchange program partnerships with European universities through Erasmus+ enabling student and staff mobility. Multiple partner institutions across Europe for academic exchange.
• Partner Universities WorldwidecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal network of international partner universities beyond Europe for study abroad opportunities and academic collaboration.
• Volda University CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorwegian partner institution with journalism program. Students from Volda have visited Media University for international exchanges.
• Hogeschool van AmsterdamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch partner university (Faculty of Media, Information & Communication). Regular student exchanges and collaborative projects including Design Thinking workshops.
• City News KölnminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal magazine cooperation providing journalism students with practical writing and photography opportunities through real publication experience.
• Hessischer RundfunkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman public broadcaster partnership for practical training. Students visit for audio journalism seminars and professional radio practice insights.
• BlackBerryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCase study project partner for Köln campus students working on marketing strategy for smartphone product launch.
• UFA LabminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEntertainment industry partner providing excursion opportunities. Students learn about transmedia storytelling and digital entertainment production.
• WEISSER RINGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman crime victim support organization partnering for media scholarship program with journalism students.
• Deutsches Rotes Kreuz (DRK)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman Red Cross partnership for joint media scholarship initiatives supporting student journalists.
• Fürstenberg FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation partnership for mental health in higher education research project at Berlin campus.
• TraiNexminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTraining and career platform partner for student recruitment and alumni career services.
• Fulbright GermanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerU.S. State Department program partnership hosting American journalism fellows for Berlin Capital Program seminars.
• Al Jazeera Berlin BureauminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational news network providing journalism students with insights into international news operations.
• BitkomminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGerman digital industry association partnership for lectures on digital economy and career opportunities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• SAE Institute: Global private provider of creative media education (audio, film, game design, animation) with German campus presence; directly comparable on creative-arts curriculum and tuition-based private delivery model.
• SRH Hochschule Heidelberg: Private German university of applied sciences with multi-campus presence and state-recognized degrees; comparable private Hochschule operating model and accreditation stack.
• Hochschule Macromedia: Private German university of applied sciences with multiple campuses and a media, communication, and management focus — highly comparable operating model, target student (Bachelor/Master in media/creative fields), and tuition-funded revenue model.
• BSP Business & Law School: Private Berlin-based Hochschule offering state-recognized Bachelor and Master programs; comparable private higher education structure, accreditation profile, and tuition-driven model.
• ISM International School of Management: Private German university of applied sciences with multiple campuses offering Bachelor, Master, and dual-study programs; comparable private Hochschule model with similar multi-campus and dual-study delivery formats.
• University of Europe for Applied Sciences: Private German Hochschule with strong media, design, film, and creative arts programs across multiple campuses; directly comparable niche positioning, degree offerings, and target student segments.
• Hochschule Fresenius: Large private German university group offering Bachelor and Master programs across multiple campuses with applied sciences focus; comparable structure, accreditation profile, and tuition-funded model.

Emerging players

• CODE University of Applied Sciences: Berlin-based private university with a strong focus on technology, design, and digital skills; overlapping prospective student pool and innovation-oriented curriculum design, though smaller and more tech-focused than Media University.

Broad incumbents

• FOM Hochschule: One of Germany's largest private universities with dual-study and part-time formats focused on working professionals; comparable private, tuition-funded model with similar dual-study delivery and part-time target segments.
• IU International University of Applied Sciences: Germany's largest private university, offering a broad portfolio of accredited online and on-campus programs including media and business degrees; overlaps on private accreditation and digital/online delivery but operates at substantially greater scale.

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@media.university.
• Facebookfacebook.com/mu.mediauniversity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/media-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/media.university.de
• TikToktiktok.com/@media.university

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Media University