Schmalkalden University

What Schmalkalden University does

Hochschule Schmalkalden (Schmalkalden University) is a public German university of applied sciences (Fachhochschule) founded in 1902, governed and primarily funded by the Free State of Thuringia. Located in Schmalkalden, southern Thuringia, the university operates across five faculties — Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Business Law, and Economics — delivering 20 bachelor's programs and 18 master's programs (including dual, part-time, and distance-learning formats) to approximately 3,000 students. Its core technology stack consists of standard higher-education infrastructure (Stud.IP learning platform, HISinOne campus and research information systems, MACH ERP, Microsoft 365, MATLAB, LabView, Autodesk, Esri ArcGIS, and an in-house Nextcloud-based HSM-Cloud), with no proprietary software product of commercial significance.

The university's revenue model is dominated by public funding under target and performance agreements (Ziel- und Leistungsvereinbarung) with the Free State of Thuringia, supplemented by semester fees (including the Semesterticket for public transportation), long-term study fees, third-party research funding from BMBF, the EU, the Carl Zeiss Foundation and industry partners, and revenue from continuing education through the Zentrum für Weiterbildung and its hsm-fernstudium.de distance-learning platform. Its primary customers are prospective and current students (the main persona), alongside regional and national companies that act as dual-study practice partners and collaborative research sponsors, with secondary segments including schools, alumni, and press. Go-to-market is largely direct-to-consumer via a multi-channel digital and events strategy (monthly online information events, chatbot, virtual campus tours, podcasts, study fairs, and school outreach), supported by event-driven engagement such as E-Science Days, Engineering Week, Research Days, and career fairs.

Name

Schmalkalden University

Legal name

Hochschule Schmalkalden

Website

https://hs-schmalkalden.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1902

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

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)

Keywords

• Higher education programs
• Applied sciences research
• Bachelor master degrees
• Dual study programs
• Continuing education services

Headquarters

HQ city

Schmalkalden

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. State Funding (Öffentliche Finanzierung): As a German public university of applied sciences (Fachhochschule), the primary revenue stream is state funding from the Free State of Thuringia, based on target and performance agreements (Ziel- und Leistungsvereinbarung).
2. Tuition and Fees: Semester fees including the Semesterticket for public transportation. Long-term study fees may apply for students exceeding standard program duration.
3. Third-Party Research Funding (Drittmittel): Research funding from external sources including federal ministries (BMBF), European funds, industry partnerships, and foundations. Managed through the Dezernat 2 (Research and Transfer).
4. Continuing Education and Distance Learning: Revenue from the Zentrum für Weiterbildung offering continuing education programs, distance learning bachelor's and master's degrees, and professional certification programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Hochschule Schmalkalden is a public University of Applied Sciences in Thuringia, Germany, delivering practice-oriented higher education and applied research. Its core offering comprises 16 full-time and 4 part-time bachelor programs, 9 full-time and 9 part-time master programs, dual study programs integrated with regional companies, distance learning degrees, continuing education, and third-party funded research across five faculties (Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Business Law, and Economics).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Zentrum für Weiterbildung: Center for Continuing Education offering part-time and distance learning programs
• Hereingeforscht.de
• Cellarius-Bibliothek

Products and services

• Bachelor Degree Programs 16 full-time and 4 part-time bachelor degree programs offered on-campus across five faculties (Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Business Law, and Economics), targeting school graduates, career changers, and professionally qualified applicants.
• Master Degree Programs Nine full-time and nine part-time master degree programs offered across the five faculties, including dual study, practice-integrated, and distance learning formats for graduates seeking advanced specialisation.
• Dual Study Programs (Duales Studium / BISS / Studium Praxis+) Dual study programs that integrate theoretical university study with practical training at practice-partner companies, accelerating transition to employment through higher practical content and company exposure.
• Distance Learning Programs (Fernstudium) Part-time and distance learning bachelor and master programs as well as continuing education programs offered through the Zentrum für Weiterbildung via hsm-fernstudium.de for working professionals seeking flexible study formats.
• Continuing Education (Zentrum für Weiterbildung) Continuing education programs, distance learning bachelor and master degrees, and professional certification programs offered by the Zentrum für Weiterbildung (Center for Continuing Education) for professionals and companies.
• Applied Research and Third-Party Funded Projects Third-party funded applied research projects (Drittmittel) conducted via Dezernat 2 (Research and Transfer) with funding from federal ministries such as BMBF, European funds, industry partnerships, and foundations including the Carl Zeiss Foundation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 3,000 students enrolled across 38 study programs

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

AI capability3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and moderate.

• GFE (Gesellschaft für Fertigungstechnik und Entwicklung Schmalkalden)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGFE and the university jointly conduct research projects, organize events (such as the Schmalkalden Tool Conference/Werkzeugtagung), and share a tandem professorship (Tandemprofessur). This is a key partnership for applied research and regional economic development.
• Fraunhofer GesellschaftmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe university cooperates with Fraunhofer research institutions on various research projects and technology transfer initiatives.
• Partner Universities Worldwide (ERASMUS+, MAGELLAN, Bilateral Exchange)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partner universities enable student and staff exchanges, double degree programs, and collaborative teaching. The university maintains active ERASMUS+ agreements and bilateral exchange partnerships with universities internationally.
• FH Kufstein Tirol (Austria)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerDouble Degree program with FH Kufstein in Electrical Engineering, allowing students to earn degrees from both institutions.
• Practice Partner Companies (Duales Studium)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCompanies serve as practice partners for dual study programs, providing practical training components. Partners are categorized into technology, media & IT, and business & law sectors.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Hochschule Wismar: Eastern German Fachhochschule of similar size (~3,000 students) with engineering, business, and design faculties. Closely comparable as a public, regionally anchored university of applied sciences in former eastern Germany.
• HTW Berlin: Berlin-based University of Applied Sciences with engineering, business, and computer science faculties of similar scale. Comparable as a public Fachhochschule delivering practice-oriented programs, though located in a major metropolitan area.
• Hochschule Darmstadt: German University of Applied Sciences with strong engineering, computer science, and business faculties serving a similar mid-sized student body. Directly comparable as a public Fachhochschule offering applied, practice-integrated degree programs funded primarily by state subsidies.
• Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt: Public University of Applied Sciences focused on engineering, business, and IT, with strong industry partnerships in automotive and technology sectors. Directly comparable to Schmalkalden in scale, technical orientation, and dual-study model.
• Hochschule Schmalkalden partner: FH Kufstein Tirol: Austrian University of Applied Sciences that runs a Double Degree program with Schmalkalden in Electrical Engineering. Directly comparable in size, applied-science orientation, and international exchange model.
• Hochschule Karlsruhe: Public University of Applied Sciences with engineering, computer science, business, and information science faculties. Directly comparable in institutional model, technical orientation, and state-funding structure.
• FH Aachen: Large Fachhochschule with engineering, business, and design faculties. Comparable as a public German university of applied sciences emphasizing practice-oriented teaching and industry collaboration, though larger in scale.

Broad incumbents

• Hochschule München: One of the largest German Universities of Applied Sciences, offering broad engineering, business, design, and social sciences programs. Comparable as a state-funded Fachhochschule, but materially larger and broader in scope than Schmalkalden.

Emerging players

• IU International University of Applied Sciences: Largest private university in Germany, with strong online/fernstudium offerings competing with state Fachhochschulen for working professionals. Comparable in continuing-education and distance-learning segments where Schmalkalden's Zentrum für Weiterbildung operates.
• FOM Hochschule: Germany's largest private university focused on part-time and dual study programs for working professionals. Competes with Schmalkalden's dual and continuing-education offerings in the same talent-development niche.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/FhSchmalkalden
• Facebookfacebook.com/fachhochschule
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/schmalkalden-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/hs_schmalkalden
• Xx.com/hs_schmalkalden

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Schmalkalden University