Hartnack School Berlin

What Hartnack School Berlin does

Hartnack School Berlin (Hartnackschule Berlin GmbH & Co. KG) is a private German language school founded in 1915, headquartered at Motzstraße 5 in the Schöneberg district of Berlin. It delivers German-as-a-Foreign-Language (DaF) instruction across all CEFR levels (A1–C2) via in-person classes at its Berlin campus and live online courses delivered over Zoom. The school operates as a BAMF-approved course provider, a telc Competence Centre, and a DTZ Examination Centre, and holds ISO 9001 and AZWV certifications. It is a member of the Federal Association of German Private Schools (VDP).

The school's product portfolio spans general German courses, BAMF-funded integration courses (Integrationskurse), vocational language courses (Berufssprachkurse), specializations for academic healthcare professionals (Akademische Heilberufe), early childhood educators (Frühpädagogik), telc/TestDaF/DSH exam preparation, and corporate training (Firmenservice). Supporting digital infrastructure includes the myHartnack student portal (Kurso platform), a proprietary mobile app on iOS and Android, and a free online placement test integrated via Cornelsen. Course fees (e.g., €275–€303/month for general courses, €280 promotional for telc preparation) are structured as monthly subscriptions, with teaching textbook sales and exam fees as ancillary revenue streams. The school also serves as a corporate training provider and accepts state-funded participants via BAMF, Jobcenter, and Arbeitsagentur referrals.

Name

Hartnack School Berlin

Legal name

Hartnackschule Berlin GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://hartnackschule-berlin.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1915

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hartnack School Berlin is a private German language school founded in 1915, offering German-as-a-Foreign-Language courses (A1–C2) in-person and online, plus BAMF-funded integration/vocational courses, telc/DTZ examinations, and corporate training to individual learners, migrants, and corporate clients in Berlin and globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Language Education Services

NAICS

All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Other Schools and Instruction (6116), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Subject-Specific Short Courses & Academies (e.g., STEM, Business, Arts) (EDAIAIAC)

Keywords

• German language education
• Integration courses
• Telc exam preparation
• Professional language training
• Corporate language training

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Language Course Fees: Revenue is generated primarily from tuition fees for German language courses at various levels (A1-C2), including general courses, exam preparation courses, and specialized professional language courses. Prices vary by course type and duration. Courses longer than one month can be paid in monthly installments. The school also sells teaching textbooks and materials.
2. BAMF-Funded Courses: State-funded integration courses and vocational language courses (Berufssprachkurse) conducted on behalf of the Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (BAMF). These courses are government-funded for eligible participants.
3. Exam Fees: Revenue from telc language examinations (B1, B2, C1, C1 Hochschule) and DTZ examinations. The school is a telc Competence Centre and DTZ examination centre.
4. Teaching Materials: Sale of textbooks and exercise materials for various course levels (A1-C2), including Studio 21 and Aspekte neu series.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Hartnack School Berlin is a private German-as-a-Foreign-Language school offering structured German courses at all CEFR levels (A1-C2) delivered in-person at its Berlin campus and live online via Zoom. It operates as a BAMF-approved provider of Integrationskurse and Berufssprachkurse, runs telc and DTZ exam preparation and certified examinations on-site, and offers specialized tracks for medical professionals, early-childhood educators, and university-bound international students (TestDaF, DSH).

Product overview

Hartnack School Berlin is a private language school founded in 1915, offering a comprehensive portfolio of German language education products. The core offering consists of in-person and live-online German courses across CEFR levels A1 to C2. The school operates as both a BAMF-approved provider for state-funded integration courses and professional language courses (Berufssprachkurse), and as a private course provider. Specialized products include Academic Health Professions courses for medical professionals, telc examination preparation courses, TestDaF/DSH study preparation programs, and early childhood education language training. The ecosystem includes the Hartnack App for student mobile access, an online placement test for course selection, company training services for corporate clients, and health insurance/visa referral services for international students. The school also serves as an official telc Competence Center and DTZ Examination Center, allowing students to complete recognized certification exams on-site.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Deutschkurse in Berlin (German Courses in Berlin) In-person German language courses conducted at the Hartnackschule campus near Nollendorfplatz in Berlin-Schöneberg. Available from A1 (beginner) to C2 (advanced) with multiple start dates and a minimum of 10 participants per class. Target audience: adult learners, migrants, and professionals seeking classroom-based German instruction.
• Live-Online-Deutschkurse (Live Online German Courses) Interactive German language courses delivered in real-time via Zoom video conferencing, allowing students to attend classes remotely from anywhere in the world. Available at CEFR levels A1 through C1 with the same curriculum as in-person classes. Target audience: international and remote learners who cannot attend the Berlin campus.
• Integrationskurse (Integration Courses) BAMF-funded integration courses combining German language training to CEFR level B1 with orientation modules covering German history, culture, politics, and society. Target audience: migrants, refugees, ethnic German repatriates, and eligible foreigners referred by BAMF/Jobcenter/Arbeitsagentur with certificates of eligibility. Registration is in-person at the service office.
• Berufssprachkurse (Professional Language Courses) BAMF-funded vocational language courses for skilled workers and professionals, including B2/C1 level courses to improve German for the German job market. Target audience: employed and unemployed migrants funded through Jobcenter, Arbeitsagentur, or BAMF.
• Akademische Heilberufe (Academic Health Professions) Specialised C1-level language course for physicians, dentists, and pharmacists from abroad preparing for the Medical Association's specialist language examination (Fachsprachprüfung) required for German medical licensing. Target audience: international healthcare professionals pursuing licensure in Germany.
• telc Prüfungsvorbereitungskurse (telc Exam Preparation Courses) Preparation courses for telc B1, B2, C1, and C1 Hochschule examinations, including intensive exercises, realistic exam simulations, strategy training, and individual feedback from experienced teachers. Promotional price €280 (vs €360 regular). Target audience: candidates preparing for certified telc German language exams.
• Deutsch für Mediziner (German for Medical Professionals) Language training for healthcare professionals covering medical terminology, patient communication, documentation, and the German healthcare system. Prepares for telc Deutsch B2-C1 Medizin exams. Target audience: international doctors, nurses, and healthcare staff working in Germany.
• Studiumsvorbereitende Kurse (Study Preparation Courses) University preparation courses including TestDaF preparation, TestDaF examinations, Studienkolleg preparation, and DSH preparation courses for international students seeking German university admission. Target audience: international applicants for German higher education institutions.
• TestDaF Vorbereitungskurs (TestDaF Preparation Course) Preparation for TestDaF (Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache), a recognized language certificate for German university admission covering CEFR levels B2 to C1+. Target audience: prospective international students who need TestDaF for university admission.
• Frühpädagogik (Early Childhood Education) Professional language course for educators and those working with children, focusing on vocabulary, parent/colleague communication, and report writing. Prepares for Deutsch-Test für Beruf at B2/C1 levels. Target audience: early childhood educators and educational professionals.
• telc & DTZ Prüfungen (telc & DTZ Exams) Official telc and DTZ (Deutsch-Test für Zuwanderer) examination centre services offering certified language proficiency tests. The school is a designated telc Competence Centre and DTZ Examination Centre. Target audience: candidates requiring officially recognised German language certificates.
• Firmenservice (Company Service / Corporate Training) Corporate language training services for businesses, offering customised German courses for employees with flexible scheduling options including morning courses (9am-12pm). Billed under contract terms with minimum 1-month duration and bank-transfer invoicing. Target audience: German companies and organisations registering employees for German language courses.
• Unterrichtsbücher (Teaching Books) Curriculum materials sold to students, including textbooks (Studio 21 for A1-B1, Aspekte neu for B2-C1), workbooks, and supplementary grammar exercises created by the school's editorial team. Prices range from €18.50 to €38.99 per item. Target audience: enrolled students and self-study learners.
• Krankenversicherung / Visum (Health Insurance / Visa Referral) Referral service for health insurance (via CareConcept) and visa support services for international students, including document handling and registered mail services (€3.75 surcharge for registered mail). Target audience: international students and visa applicants needing mandatory health insurance and visa documentation.
• Sprachcafé (Language Café) Free weekly conversational practice sessions held at the school for students to practise German in informal settings. Held at B2/C1 level and for all levels. Target audience: enrolled Hartnackschule students seeking informal speaking practice.
• Online Einstufungstest (Online Placement Test) Free online German language assessment tool powered by Cornelsen, enabling prospective students to self-assess their CEFR level (A1-C2) before course registration. Target audience: prospective students evaluating course level prior to enrolment.

Quantifiable outcome

• telc Competence Centre and DTZ Examination Centre status — official certification of examination quality and standards
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Zoom Video Communications, Inc.coreTechnology or IntegrationZoom is the primary video conferencing platform used to deliver live online German language courses. The school conducts online courses via Zoom, with data processing covered by an order processing agreement (Auftragsverarbeitungsvertrag) compliant with GDPR Art. 28.
• CareConcept GmbHminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCareConcept provides health insurance referral services for international students and visa applicants. The school refers students to CareConcept as part of its visa and health insurance support services.
• BAMF (Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHartnackschule conducts BAMF-funded integration courses, Berufssprachkurse, and related language programmes as an authorised course provider on behalf of the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees.
• Bundesagentur für Arbeit (Federal Employment Agency) / JobcentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVocational language courses (Berufssprachkurse) are funded through and referred by the Federal Employment Agency and Jobcenters, enabling unemployed and employed migrants to access professional language training.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights12 records

Direct peers

• GLS German Language School Berlin: Private Berlin-based German language school offering in-person and online DaF courses across CEFR levels with specialised exam preparation. Directly comparable to Hartnack in target market, course portfolio, and Berlin-based DaF delivery model.
• DeutschAkademie: Munich-headquartered private DaF school chain with courses across multiple German cities including Berlin. Directly comparable to Hartnack on adult DaF instruction, standardised curriculum, and BAMF-integrationskurse offering.
• Speakeasy Berlin: Berlin private language school focused on immersive German courses for adults and professionals. Comparable to Hartnack on adult DaF target market and central Berlin in-person delivery.
• TANDEM Berlin: Berlin-based private language school offering German courses for adults and integration-course participants. Comparable to Hartnack on in-person Berlin DaF delivery, BAMF integration courses, and adult-learner focus.
• Carl Duisberg Centren: German private language and training provider offering DaF courses, professional language training, and corporate programmes. Comparable to Hartnack on vocational language courses (Berufssprachkurse equivalent) and corporate training.
• BWS Germanlingua: Berlin-based private German language school with intensive DaF courses and exam preparation. Comparable to Hartnack on intensive course formats, exam-prep positioning, and Berlin in-person delivery.
• Did - Deutsch-Institut Berlin: Private Berlin DaF school offering group and individual German courses across all CEFR levels, with TestDaF/telc preparation. Comparable to Hartnack in course structure, exam-prep focus, and Berlin adult-learner segment.

Broad incumbents

• Goethe-Institut: Germany's flagship publicly-funded cultural institution operating DaF schools and exams globally. Comparable to Hartnack as a major German-language teaching and examination provider, though with a much broader international footprint and subsidised funding model.
• Volkshochschulen (DVV / VHS Berlin): Publicly-funded adult education centres offering subsidised German courses across Berlin. Comparable to Hartnack on adult DaF delivery and integration-course provision, though operating at lower price points with public subsidies.

Emerging players

• Kapitel Zwei: Smaller private Berlin DaF school offering in-person and online German courses with telc examination centre status. Comparable to Hartnack on niche private DaF positioning and exam centre operations, but with a smaller footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Hartnackschule
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hartnackschule

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Hartnack School Berlin