FH Wedel University of Applied Sciences

What FH Wedel University of Applied Sciences does

FH Wedel University of Applied Sciences (Fachhochschule Wedel gGmbH) is a private non-profit university of applied sciences located in Wedel, in the Hamburg metropolitan region of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. The institution was founded in 1948 (with roots to 1945 under the Physikalisch-Technische Lehranstalt) and currently enrolls approximately 1,300 students across twelve Bachelor and eight Master programs organized in three departments: Computer Science, Engineering, and Business Administration. The university has been led by three consecutive generations of the Harms family (Helmut Harms as founder, Dirk Harms 1977-2010, Eike Harms from 2010). It operates from a single campus with 16 specialized research laboratories (Virtual Reality, Robotics and Industrial Image Processing, SmartArea/IoT, Games Development, Industry 4.0, Optics & Laser Technology) and six data centers.

Its core offering is practice-oriented higher education, including a dual study model combining academic instruction with on-the-job training at partner companies (91 dual partners including Airbus, Lufthansa Technik, tesa SE, Hamburger Hochbahn, E.ON, and medac). The product portfolio is anchored by a hybrid teaching platform using live-streamed lectures, Moodle LMS, and myCampus portal, supplemented by intensive Study Bootcamps, an entrepreneurship program (StartupBridge founded 2020), research labs, and Erasmus+ international exchange partnerships. Curricula are co-developed with industry, exemplified by the 2010 Otto Group cooperation agreement that established an endowed chair and launched Germany's first consecutive E-Commerce program, and the 2013 joint Institute for Software Technology and Outsourcing with akquinet AG. State funding from Schleswig-Holstein underpins the tuition-and-fees revenue model alongside professional development and continuing education revenue streams.

The business model is direct-to-consumer enrollment of students (primarily domestic prospective undergraduates, plus international students via the English-language M.Sc. IT Engineering and exchange programs), supported by tuition, public subsidy from the Land Schleswig-Holstein, and corporate partnerships. Distribution is channeled through on-campus education, dual-study placements with regional employers, and international exchange programs. The institution holds no external private equity or venture capital; ownership and control remain concentrated within the founding family through the gGmbH non-profit structure.

Name

FH Wedel University of Applied Sciences

Legal name

Fachhochschule Wedel gGmbH

Website

https://fh-wedel.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

FH Wedel University of Applied Sciences is a private non-profit university in Wedel, Germany, serving approximately 1,300 students with twelve Bachelor and eight Master programs in computer science, engineering, and business, including dual-study and English-language international offerings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAHAEAB

Polytechnic & Applied Sciences Universities

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Technical & Polytechnic Universities

SECONDARYEDAAAEAA

University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Continuing Education (Noncredit) & Lifelong Learning Programs

SECONDARYEDAIAAAE

Hybrid, Multi-Location & Multi-Country Study Abroad Programs

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/Study Abroad Program Providers (Multi-Country & Multi-Discipline)

SECONDARYEDAIAJAA

University-Affiliated Pathway & Foundation Programs

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/Overseas Pathway, Foundation & Bridging Programs

Keywords

• Higher education
• University of applied sciences
• Dual study programs
• Informatics degrees
• Engineering education

Headquarters

HQ city

Wedel

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and fees: Revenue from student tuition and program fees, supported by the state of Schleswig-Holstein (Land Schleswig-Holstein). The university operates as a non-profit entity (Gemeinnützigkeit established 1974) under the Fachhochschule Wedel gGmbH legal structure.
2. Continuing education and certificates: Revenue from professional development courses and certification programs offered through the Weiterbildung department, including Promovieren (doctorate programs) and Kurse und Zertifikate.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Fachhochschule Wedel is a private University of Applied Sciences offering practice-oriented Bachelor and Master degree programs in Informatics, Engineering, and Business Administration. It delivers these programs through on-campus and hybrid/online teaching, supported by 16 specialized laboratories, dual study partnerships with industry, and intensive Study Bootcamps. Its customers are prospective and enrolled students seeking higher education with strong industry alignment.

Product overview

Fachhochschule Wedel (FH Wedel) is a private university of applied sciences offering a portfolio of twelve Bachelor and eight Master degree programs across three faculties: Informatics, Engineering, and Business. The institution emphasizes practice-oriented education through dual study programs with corporate partners, intensive Study Bootcamps, and extensive research laboratories including Virtual Reality, Robotics, SmartArea (IoT), and Industry 4.0 facilities. The university supports entrepreneurship through its Startup Bridge service and international mobility through Erasmus+ and partner university exchanges. A hybrid teaching model combines campus-based and online learning.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bachelor Programs (Bachelor of Science) Twelve undergraduate degree programs across the Computer Science, Engineering, and Business faculties, including Informatik, Technische Informatik, Medieninformatik, Computer Games Technology, Data Science & Artificial Intelligence, IT-Ingenieurwesen, Smart Technology, E-Commerce, Betriebswirtschaftslehre, Wirtschaftsinformatik, IT-Management & Consulting, Wirtschaftsingenieurwesen, Marketing Media & AI, and Angewandte Wirtschaftspsychologie & Data Analytics; available on-campus, in hybrid format, and as dual study (Studium mit vertiefter Praxis).
• Master Programs (Master of Science) Eight graduate degree programs including Informatik, Wirtschaftsinformatik / IT-Management, Data Science & Artificial Intelligence, IT-Engineering (English-language), IT-Sicherheit, E-Commerce, Wirtschaftsingenieurwesen, Betriebswirtschaftslehre, and Sustainable & Digital Business Management.
• Dual Studies Program (Duales Studium) Combined academic study with professional workplace experience delivered through partnerships with over 90 companies including Airbus, Lufthansa Technik, and E.ON. Available across Bachelor programs as Studium mit vertiefter Praxis / Verbundstudium.
• Master+ Program A combined dual-study and Master program model launched in 2026 that allows students to gain professional work experience at partner companies while simultaneously pursuing a Master of Science degree.
• Research Laboratories Sixteen specialized research and teaching laboratories including Virtual Reality, Robotics & Industrial Image Processing, SmartArea (IoT/ambient assisted living), Games Development, Industry 4.0, Urban Farming, and Optics & Laser Technology, supported by six modern data centers on campus.
• Study Bootcamps Intensive study blocks with focused learning periods combining lectures, exercises, and project work in condensed timeframes as a differentiated teaching methodology for enhanced practical skills development.
• Startup Bridge Entrepreneurship Service Entrepreneurship support service providing comprehensive startup assistance for students and alumni, including business plan development from concept through monetization, with consulting, coaching, and networking services.
• International Exchange Programs (Erasmus+ and Partner Universities) Erasmus+ and international exchange programs with partner universities worldwide, integrated into study programs or offered as optional semesters abroad, including accommodation and orientation services for incoming students.
• Hybrid Teaching Platform Flexible study delivery model combining in-person lectures at the Wedel campus with online instruction via live-streamed lectures, the Moodle learning management system, the myCampus student portal, and continuous access to learning materials.
• MiRoCup (MINT Robotics Cup) A hands-on robotics and STEM competition program featuring formats including Race Track, Maze navigation, and LiveBot Mission Control, targeting students and schoolchildren at all experience levels.
• Continuing Education and Certificate Programs (Weiterbildung) Professional development courses, certificate programs (Kurse und Zertifikate), and doctorate pathways (Promovieren) offered through the Weiterbildung department.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% student recommendation rate (StudyCheck 2019)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability8 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Airbus Operations GmbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAirbus is a dual study partner company, providing practical training opportunities for students in the dual study program at FH Wedel.
• VINCORION Advanced Systems GmbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVINCORION is a dual study partner providing practical training positions for FH Wedel students.
• Hamburger Hochbahn AGcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHamburger Hochbahn is a dual study partner offering practical training for FH Wedel students.
• tesa SEcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributortesa SE is a dual study partner providing practical training opportunities for students.
• Lufthansa Technik AGcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLufthansa Technik is a dual study partner offering practical training positions for FH Wedel students.
• E.ON Grid Solutions GmbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorE.ON Grid Solutions is a dual study partner providing practical training opportunities for students.
• medac Gesellschaft für klinische Spezialpräparate mbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributormedac is a dual study partner offering practical training for FH Wedel students.
• Otto GroupflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation agreement signed in 2010 for establishment of an endowed chair (Stiftungslehrstuhl) and introduction of the E-Commerce program. First E-Commerce consecutive study program in Germany launched at FH Wedel.
• akquinet AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded the Institute for Software Technology and Outsourcing (Institut für Softwaretechnik und Outsourcing) together with FH Wedel in 2013.
• Wedeler Hochschulbund e.V. (WHB)flagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFounded in 1982, the WHB is FH Wedel's support association with 207 member companies. It promotes exchange with industry, supports students ideologically and financially, and awards prizes for outstanding theses.
• International Partner UniversitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFH Wedel has partnership agreements with international universities for student exchange. Initially focused on overseas cooperations, later expanded to include European universities through the Erasmus+ program.
• StartupBridgecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded in 2020, StartupBridge provides comprehensive startup support for students and alumni including consulting, coaching, and networking services. Launched a new phase in startup promotion.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Hochschule Darmstadt (h_da): Large public University of Applied Sciences with strong applied computing, engineering, and dual study offerings — a benchmark for public-sector applied sciences against which FH Wedel competes.
• Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt (THI): Public University of Applied Sciences in Bavaria with a strong dual study model and corporate partnerships (notably automotive) — a publicly-funded comparable to FH Wedel's practice-oriented, industry-linked approach.
• HAW Hamburg (Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften): Large public University of Applied Sciences in Hamburg, offering comparable informatics, engineering, and business programs as state-funded competition to FH Wedel in the same metropolitan region.

Regional players

• HFH Hamburger Fern-Hochschule: Private distance-learning university based in Hamburg with an applied science focus and continuing education programs; competes in the same Hamburg Metropolitan Region for part-time professional students.

Direct peers

• FOM Hochschule: Private Hochschule specializing in part-time and dual study programs for working professionals, headquartered in Essen with strong corporate partnerships, overlapping materially with FH Wedel's dual study model.
• SRH Hochschule Heidelberg: Private state-recognized Hochschule with a practice-oriented focus and dual study programs, comparable in structure to FH Wedel's applied sciences positioning.
• Hochschule Fresenius: One of Germany's largest private Universities of Applied Sciences (Fachhochschulen), offering practice-oriented Bachelor and Master programs with strong industry connections and a similar tuition-based model to FH Wedel.
• DIPLOMA Hochschule: Private German Hochschule with blended/distance learning Bachelor's and Master's programs; competes for working professionals and dual study applicants in a similar niche to FH Wedel.
• IU Internationale Hochschule: Germany's largest private university with a heavy online/distance-learning focus and broad program catalog. Directly competes with FH Wedel for tech and business students via flexible, scalable delivery.
• Hochschule Macromedia: Private Hochschule with strong media, games, and digital business programs. Comparable to FH Wedel's Media Informatics, Computer Games Technology, and Marketing/Media/AI offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/diefhwedel
• Facebookfacebook.com/fh.wedel

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 FH Wedel University of Applied Sciences