STH Basel

What STH Basel does

STH Basel (Staatsunabhängige Theologische Hochschule Basel) is a privately funded, university-accredited evangelical theological institution founded in 1970 in Riehen near Basel, Switzerland, and owned by the non-profit Immanuel-Stiftung. The institution operates as a state- and church-independent university delivering the full academic ladder in Protestant theology — a three-year Bachelor of Theology (180 credit points), a two-year Master of Theology (120 credit points), a Doctorate (Dr. theol.), and, since 2020, a Habilitation program — along with supplementary offerings such as the QUEST program for lateral-entry church workers, distance language courses in Latin/Greek/Hebrew, auditor slots (Gasthörer), and theology-as-minor modules. Its curriculum spans Old and New Testament studies, biblical languages, historical, systematic, and practical theology, philosophy, and mission science, delivered through on-campus instruction at Mühlestiegrain 50 with limited remote options (e.g., the Scrivid platform for Greek).

Revenue is generated through per-semester tuition (CHF 1,900 + CHF 50 admin fee for full-time Bachelor/Master; higher annual fees for Doctorate and Habilitation) and charitable donations, with no state funding. The institution runs a wholly-owned publishing subsidiary, Immanuel Verlag (founded 1983), a quarterly magazine (STHPerspektive), a podcast, and an institutional library. Marketing is conducted through the institutional website, print and digital content, open days and orientation webinars, conference booths, and alumni networks, recruiting prospective theology students across German-speaking Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and beyond. Faculty of roughly seven full ordinary professors, holding habilitations and credentials from Tübingen, Erlangen-Nürnberg, Leuven, Zurich, and other leading European universities, are led by Rector Prof. Dr. Jacob Thiessen (since 2004) and Prorektor Prof. Dr. Benjamin Kilchör.

Name

STH Basel

Legal name

STH Basel - Universitäre Theologische Hochschule

Website

https://sthbasel.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

STH Basel is a privately funded, state-independent evangelical theological university in Riehen/Basel, Switzerland, accredited by the Swiss Accreditation Council, offering Bachelor, Master, Doctorate, and Habilation programs in Protestant theology for prospective pastors, researchers, and church workers across German-speaking Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Theological Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Denominational Theological Colleges (e.g., Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Evangelical) (EDAHAKAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Christian Colleges with Theological Programs (EDAHAKAG), Faith-Affiliated Private Research Universities (EDAHABAJ)

Keywords

• Theological education
• Divinity programs
• Biblical studies
• Pastoral training
• Theological research

Headquarters

HQ city

Riehen

HQ country

Switzerland

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: STH Basel generates revenue primarily through tuition fees charged per semester for Bachelor, Master, and doctoral programs. Full-time students pay standard fees while part-time students pay according to credit load.
2. Donations and Support: The institution is funded through donations from supporters, friends, and patrons. STH Basel receives no state funding and relies on charitable contributions from individuals and organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

STH Basel is a privately funded, state-accredited evangelical theological university offering accredited academic degree programs in theology (Bachelor of Theology, Master of Theology, Doctorate, Habilitation) plus supplementary programs including the Quereinsteigerprogramm (QUEST), distance language courses in Latin/Greek/Hebrew, auditor (Gasthörer) access, and theology as a minor for external university students. The institution prepares individuals for pastoral ministry, academic teaching, theological research, mission work, and religious education. Revenue is generated primarily through semester tuition fees and charitable donations.

Product overview

STH Basel is a privately-funded, university-accredited evangelical theological institution offering a comprehensive theological education portfolio. The core academic offerings include Bachelor of Theology (3 years, 180 KP), Master of Theology (2 years, 120 KP), Doctorate (Dr. theol.), and Habilitation programs. Supplementary offerings include the Quereinsteigerprogramm for career changers, distance language courses in Latin/Greek/Hebrew, auditor programs (Gasthörer), and theology as a minor for other university students. Related products include the STHPerspektive quarterly magazine, the Immanuelverlag publishing house, the institutional library, and a podcast series. The institution operates as a unified theological university with no modular software product architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bachelor of Theology (BTh)

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FTH Gießen (Freie Theologische Hochschule Gießen)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman partner institution with ongoing cooperation. Both institutions share academic exchange and have mutual recognition of theological education standards.
• ETF Leuven (Evangelische Theologische Faculteit)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelgian theological faculty with historical ties. Prof. Dr. Benjamin Kilchör completed his doctoral studies here.
• Theological Institute of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation agreement for student and professor exchanges between Tallinn, Estonia and STH Basel.
• Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church in HungaryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBudapest-based university partnership for theological exchange and academic collaboration.
• Protestant Theological Institute of Cluj-NapocaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRomanian theological institute partnership for academic exchange.
• Movetia / SEMP (Swiss-European Mobility Programme)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTH Basel holds SEMP charter accreditation enabling Erasmus+ mobility funding for student and professor exchanges with partner institutions.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Theologische Hochschule Ewersbach: German evangelical free-church theological school affiliated with the Evangelische Kirche der Union, offering accredited theology programs. Comparable to STH Basel in denominational niche (evangelical/free-church) and German-speaking market focus.
• Theologisches Seminar St. Chrischona (tsc): Swiss evangelical theological training institution in the Basel region, focused on preparing candidates for free-church ministry. Directly comparable geographically and denominationally to STH Basel's evangelical positioning, though offering primarily diploma rather than full university-level degrees.
• Evangelische Theologische Faculteit (ETF Leuven): Belgian evangelical theological faculty with historical ties to STH Basel (where Prof. Kilchör completed his doctorate). Offers comparable accredited Bachelor, Master, and doctoral theology programs in a confessional-evangelical framework.
• Freie Theologische Hochschule Gießen (FTH Gießen): German evangelical free theological university that is a Core strategic partner of STH Basel. Both institutions serve the German-speaking free-church market with accredited theology degrees at university level, making them the closest direct peer in mission, structure, and offering.
• Freie Theologische Akademie Göttingen: German evangelical-theological training institution offering degree programs for free-church ministry. Comparable niche positioning and German-speaking target audience.
• Theologisches Seminar Reutlingen (TSR): German evangelical theological seminary affiliated with the Liebenzeller Mission, offering theology degrees for free-church ministry preparation. Comparable to STH Basel in target market (German evangelical pastors) and degree offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Universität Zürich – Theologische Fakultät: Major Swiss state university theological faculty offering accredited theology programs at no tuition. Represents the closest broad-incumbent competitor in the same national geography, providing a free alternative that pressures STH Basel's value proposition.
• Universität Basel – Theologische Fakultät: State-accredited Swiss theological faculty in Basel offering free, fully state-funded theology degrees. Overlaps with STH Basel geographically and in degree offerings but differs as a secular, multi-confessional public university with substantially larger faculty and resources.

Emerging players

• Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam – Faculteit Religie en Theologie: Dutch university with a theological faculty historically rooted in the Reformed evangelical tradition (founded by Abraham Kuyper). Overlaps with STH Basel in confessional-Reformed orientation and European reach, but operates on a much larger scale as a comprehensive university.

Regional players

• Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church in Hungary: Hungarian Reformed-church university with a theological faculty that is a partner of STH Basel. Comparable in faith-based university positioning but serves primarily the Hungarian market rather than competing directly in the DACH region.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/STHBasel
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sth-basel

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 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 STH Basel