Fernfachhochschule Schweiz

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.

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

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

• Distance learning education
• Blended learning programs
• Continuing education programs
• E-learning consulting services
• Tertiary degree programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Brig

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Corporate Events: FFHS hosts corporate events including BiscuITs tech talks and NextBiz@FFHS webinars for business professionals.
4. Room Rental: FFHS offers room rental at FFHS Campus Brig and FFHS Gleisarena Campus Zurich facilities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core 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

Named customers2 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability8 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

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

• SUPSI (Scuola universitaria professionale della Svizzera italiana)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFFHS 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)notableOthersThe Swiss Army utilizes FFHS expertise in e-learning and distance learning for their education and training programs.
• XUND Bildung Gesundheit ZentralschweiznotableOthersXUND Bildung Gesundheit Zentralschweiz is a client utilizing FFHS e-learning services for healthcare education.
• Swiss Smart Factory (Innovation Park Biel)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss 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-BienneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFabrication laboratory partner for MAS Industrie 4.0 practical components.
• Industrie 2025minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss industry network partner for the MAS Industrie 4.0 program focused on industrial digitalization.
• Swiss ICTminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss ICT industry association partner for the MAS Industrie 4.0 program.
• Hightech Zentrum Aargau (HTZ)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration partner with IMI for Traction research project on agile marketing channel development for SMEs.
• Swiss Universities (swissuniversities)coreOthersFFHS 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)coreOthersFFHS holds SQS certification for quality management systems.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Direct 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

• Xx.com/ffhs
• Facebookfacebook.com/Fernfachhochschule
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fernfachhochschule-schweiz

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fernfachhochschule Schweiz