Fernfachhochschule Schweiz
Fernfachhochschule Schweiz is Switzerland's leading private distance university of applied sciences, delivering accredited Bachelor's, Master's, and continuing education programs via an 80/20 Blended Learning model to working professionals and corporate clients across Switzerland.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersBrig, Switzerland
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Fernfachhochschule Schweiz does
Fernfachhochschule Schweiz (FFHS), founded in 1998 and headquartered in Brig, Switzerland, is the country's leading private distance university of applied sciences (eidgenössisch anerkannte Fachhochschule). It delivers accredited Bachelor's, Master's, and continuing education programs (EMBA, MAS, DAS, CAS, SAS, MOOCs) exclusively through a Blended Learning model that combines approximately 80% self-study via a Moodle-based online learning platform with 20% face-to-face instruction at campuses in Zurich, Basel, Bern, Brig, and St. Gallen. The institution operates three dedicated research institutes — IFeL (holder of a UNESCO Chair on Personalised and Adaptive Distance Education), IMI (Management and Innovation), and the joint Laboratory for Web Science with SUPSI — plus a Health department focused on nutrition research, and maintains a Research Ethics Commission established in 2020.
Fernfachhochschule Schweiz firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Fernfachhochschule Schweiz
- Legal name
- Fernfachhochschule Schweiz
- Website
- https://ffhs.ch
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Fernfachhochschule Schweiz is Switzerland's leading private distance university of applied sciences, delivering accredited Bachelor's, Master's, and continuing education programs via an 80/20 Blended Learning model to working professionals and corporate clients across Switzerland.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Fernfachhochschule Schweiz industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education / Distance Learning
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Hybrid/Blended Classroom & HyFlex Instruction Systems (EDAFABAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Online/Hybrid Lifelong Learning Platforms & Open Enrollment Programs (EDAAAEAL)
Keywords
Where Fernfachhochschule Schweiz is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brig
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
Fernfachhochschule Schweiz business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Tuition and Program Fees: FFHS generates revenue through tuition fees for Bachelor, Master, and continuing education programs (MAS, DAS, CAS, SAS, seminars, MOOC). Programs are priced at various levels, with CAS programs costing around CHF 5,500-5,700, MAS programs around CHF 33,000, and DAS programs around CHF 16,500-16,700.
- E-Learning Services for Companies: FFHS provides consulting, assessment, and optimization services for e-learning offerings to firms, associations, and educational institutions. Services include evaluation of existing solutions, consultation on technology, methodology, didactics, creation of concepts, learning environments, courses, media, and examinations, and customized continuing education for staff.
- Corporate Events: FFHS hosts corporate events including BiscuITs tech talks and NextBiz@FFHS webinars for business professionals.
- Room Rental: FFHS offers room rental at FFHS Campus Brig and FFHS Gleisarena Campus Zurich facilities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | CAS Leadership - 10 ECTS Certificate program |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | MAS Industrie 4.0 - 60 ECTS Master program |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | MAS Arbeit 4.0 - 60 ECTS Master program |
| Subscription | Annual | DAS Data Science - 30 ECTS Diploma program |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | MAS Web for Business - 60 ECTS Master program |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Fernfachhochschule Schweiz product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Fernfachhochschule Schweiz (FFHS) provides accredited Swiss tertiary degree programs (Bachelor and Master) and continuing education programs (MAS, DAS, CAS, SAS) exclusively through a Blended Learning model that combines 80% online self-study via the Moodle learning management system with 20% face-to-face instruction delivered at four Swiss campuses (Zurich, Basel, Bern, Brig). The institution additionally offers vendor-neutral e-learning consulting, instructional design, course development, and remote examination services to corporate clients including the Swiss Army and XUND Bildung Gesundheit Zentralschweiz.
Product overview
Fernfachhochschule Schweiz (FFHS) is Switzerland's leading e-university offering over 25 years of distance learning expertise through a Blended Learning model (80% self-study via online platform, 20% face-to-face at campuses in Zurich, Basel, Bern, and Brig). The institution provides a comprehensive portfolio including bachelor's and master's degrees across business, technology, health, and law disciplines; continuing education through DAS, CAS, and MAS programs; and corporate e-learning consulting services. Key technology-focused programs include MAS Industrie 4.0 (covering AI, robotics, smart factory, digital twins), MAS Arbeit 4.0 (digital leadership, agile methods), MAS Web for Business (cloud, web engineering, IT security, AI-assisted development), and DAS Data Science (machine learning, data analytics). Specialized certificates address emerging needs: Generative KI, Human-Machine Collaboration, LegalTech/AI for legal practice, ESG Reporting, and Cyber Security. FFHS also offers MOOC programs and remote exam proctoring services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Bachelor Degree Programs (BSc) Accredited Bachelor of Science degree programs across business, technology, health, and law delivered via Blended Learning. Includes BSc Betriebsökonomie, BSc Cyber Security (with specializations in Security Operations and Digital Forensics), BSc Informatik, BSc Osteopathie, BSc Ernährung und Diätetik, BSc Wirtschaftsinformatik, BSc Wirtschaftsingenieurwesen, and BSc Wirtschaftsrecht. Designed for working professionals combining employment with part-time study.
- Master Degree Programs (MSc)
Quantifiable outcome
- 10% increase in student enrollment in 2025
Companies that use Fernfachhochschule Schweiz
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Fernfachhochschule Schweiz technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
AI capability8 records
Feature4 records
Fernfachhochschule Schweiz partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, notable and minor.
- SUPSI (Scuola universitaria professionale della Svizzera italiana)coreFFHS is a member of SUPSI. The institutions collaborate on research, particularly through the Laboratory for Web Science (LWS), a joint research unit between FFHS and ISIN institute of SUPSI. FFHS also draws on expertise from SUPSI for programs like MAS Industrie 4.0.
- Swiss Army (Schweizer Armee)notableThe Swiss Army utilizes FFHS expertise in e-learning and distance learning for their education and training programs.
- XUND Bildung Gesundheit ZentralschweiznotableXUND Bildung Gesundheit Zentralschweiz is a client utilizing FFHS e-learning services for healthcare education.
- Swiss Smart Factory (Innovation Park Biel)minorSwiss Smart Factory is a practice partner for the MAS Industrie 4.0 program, providing site visits and practical exposure to smart manufacturing.
- Fab Lab Biel-BienneminorFabrication laboratory partner for MAS Industrie 4.0 practical components.
- Industrie 2025minorSwiss industry network partner for the MAS Industrie 4.0 program focused on industrial digitalization.
- Swiss ICTminorSwiss ICT industry association partner for the MAS Industrie 4.0 program.
- Hightech Zentrum Aargau (HTZ)minorResearch collaboration partner with IMI for Traction research project on agile marketing channel development for SMEs.
- Swiss Universities (swissuniversities)coreFFHS is a member of swissuniversities, the association of Swiss universities that promotes Swiss higher education and research. FFHS degrees are recognized through this membership.
- SQS (Schweizerische Vereinigung für Qualitäts- und ManagementSysteme)coreFFHS holds SQS certification for quality management systems.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Fernfachhochschule Schweiz competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- FernUniversität in Hagen: The German state distance university; the closest international peer to FFHS because both are dedicated distance-learning universities offering accredited bachelor, master, and continuing education programs primarily for working professionals via blended/digital delivery.
- SRH Fernhochschule: Germany's private distance university offering accredited bachelor, master and continuing education via fully online/digital plus on-site formats; directly comparable to FFHS on private-for-profit status, accredited online degrees for working professionals, and German-speaking market focus.
- Athabasca University: Canada's online distance-learning university offering accredited bachelor, master and continuing education programs primarily online; directly comparable as a publicly chartered but fully distance-delivered higher education institution serving adult learners.
- IU Internationale Hochschule: Germany's largest private university with extensive online bachelor, master, and continuing education programs; competes for the same work-study learner and uses flexible/digital study models similar to FFHS's Blended Learning format.
- Kalaidos Fachhochschule: Another Swiss private, federally recognized Fachhochschule offering part-time bachelor, master and continuing education; the closest direct Swiss comparator to FFHS given matching legal status, Swiss accreditation, and working-adult learner focus.
Broad incumbents
- The Open University (UK): The UK's chartered distance-learning university with a much larger global footprint; broadly comparable as a fully-established distance university offering accredited distance degrees and continuing education, but operates at significantly greater scale and across multiple countries.
- ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften: One of Switzerland's largest public Fachhochschulen with broad bachelor/master programs and continuing education; comparable as a Swiss UAS competitor for students and continuing education customers, but public rather than private and not exclusively distance learning.
Others
- Moodle (open-source LMS): Open-source learning management system that FFHS both depends on (Moodle is its core LMS) and competes against in corporate e-learning consulting; relevant as the underlying platform partner and adjacent competitor in the e-learning services market FFHS sells into.
Regional players
- FHNW Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz: Another major Swiss Fachhochschule with campuses overlapping FFHS's Basel and Bern locations; directly comparable as a public Swiss UAS offering bachelor, master and continuing education, though broader scope and not exclusively Blended Learning.
- HWZ Hochschule für Wirtschaft Zürich: Swiss private business university offering part-time bachelor, master, MBA and continuing education for working professionals; comparable to FFHS in target learner, Swiss Fachhochschule/HE status, and continuing education focus, but concentrated in business/management rather than full multi-discipline portfolio.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Fernfachhochschule Schweiz social profiles
Digital presenceFernfachhochschule Schweiz compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Fernfachhochschule Schweiz financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Fernfachhochschule Schweiz leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Fernfachhochschule Schweiz funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Fernfachhochschule Schweiz M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Fernfachhochschule Schweiz
What does Fernfachhochschule Schweiz do?
Fernfachhochschule Schweiz (FFHS) provides accredited Swiss tertiary degree programs (Bachelor and Master) and continuing education programs (MAS, DAS, CAS, SAS) exclusively through a Blended Learning model that combines 80% online self-study via the Moodle learning management system with 20% face-to-face instruction delivered at four Swiss campuses (Zurich, Basel, Bern, Brig). The institution additionally offers vendor-neutral e-learning consulting, instructional design, course development, and remote examination services to corporate clients including the Swiss Army and XUND Bildung Gesundheit Zentralschweiz.
Is Fernfachhochschule Schweiz a public or private company?
Fernfachhochschule Schweiz is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Fernfachhochschule Schweiz founded?
Fernfachhochschule Schweiz was founded in 1998. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Fernfachhochschule Schweiz based?
Fernfachhochschule Schweiz is headquartered in Brig, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Fernfachhochschule Schweiz make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Program Fees are the primary driver. The others are E-Learning Services for Companies, corporate Events and room Rental.
Who are Fernfachhochschule Schweiz's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are FernUniversität in Hagen, SRH Fernhochschule, Athabasca University, IU Internationale Hochschule and Kalaidos Fachhochschule. Broad incumbents are The Open University (UK) and ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften. Moodle (open-source LMS) is listed as an others. Regional players are FHNW Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz and HWZ Hochschule für Wirtschaft Zürich.
Does Fernfachhochschule Schweiz have an API?
No public API is recorded for Fernfachhochschule Schweiz.
What industry is Fernfachhochschule Schweiz in?
Fernfachhochschule Schweiz's product category is Higher Education / Distance Learning. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAFABAC, Hybrid/Blended Classroom & HyFlex Instruction Systems, with a secondary code of EDAAAEAL, Online/Hybrid Lifelong Learning Platforms & Open Enrollment Programs. Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.