Internationale Berufsakademie (iba)

What Internationale Berufsakademie (iba) does

Internationale Berufsakademie (iba) is a private, state-recognized higher-education institution headquartered in Darmstadt, Germany, and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the non-profit F+U Unternehmensgruppe. The company operates the dual-study (duales Studium) model: students attend lectures two days per week at one of twelve physical campuses (Berlin, Bochum, Darmstadt, Erfurt, Hamburg, Heidelberg, Kassel, Köln, Leipzig, München, Münster, Nürnberg) or via a nationwide virtual campus, and work three days per week at a practice partner company. The catalog spans more than 40 bachelor programs across Business Administration (BWL) with 20 specializations, Social Work & Management, and Applied Therapy Sciences in Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, with program tuition typically paid by the practice partner rather than the student.

The technology stack supporting recruitment and delivery is composed of off-the-shelf SaaS integrations rather than proprietary infrastructure. The ibaCareer portal handles applications and is wired to HubSpot CRM; Make (Integromat) automates outreach, Airtable supports international candidate matching, DocuSign handles contracts, Calendly schedules appointments, and Superchat powers WhatsApp Business messaging. OpenAI's ChatGPT Business API is used to generate job advertisements for partner companies and to check applicant documents. Delivery infrastructure includes a virtual campus with live online lectures and WCAG 2.2 accessibility compliance. No proprietary AI/ML models, APIs, or patents are disclosed.

The business model is subscription-style tuition (€649-€679/month for BWL and Social Work programs, €239-€519/month for Therapy programs, plus one-time enrollment fees) collected primarily from a network of 7,000+ practice partner companies across Germany. The model is two-sided: students gain tuition-free education plus a salary, while practice partners access a recruitment pipeline that yields a 90%+ post-graduation takeover rate. Marketing relies on direct-to-consumer channels (info events, social media, study coaches, referral programs) and partner referrals. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, and the company is privately held by the F+U family-owned educational group.

Name

Internationale Berufsakademie (iba)

Legal name

Internationale Berufsakademie der F+U Unternehmensgruppe gGmbH

Website

https://ibadual.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2025

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Internationale Berufsakademie (iba) is a German state-recognized private Berufsakademie operating 12 campuses plus a virtual campus, delivering dual bachelor programs in Business Administration, Social Work, and Applied Therapy Sciences, with tuition funded by 7,000+ practice partner companies serving 3,500+ students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Darmstadt

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices14 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees (BWL Programs): BWL and BWL Interkulturelle Kompetenzen programs charge €679/month plus a one-time enrollment fee of €679. These fees are typically covered by the practice partner company, and students also receive a monthly salary.
2. Tuition Fees (Social Work Programs): Soziale Arbeit & Management and Soziale Arbeit, Management & Coaching programs charge €649/month plus a one-time enrollment fee of €649, typically covered by practice partners.
3. Tuition Fees (Physiotherapy Program): Physiotherapy program charges €239/month for semesters 1-6 and €519/month for semesters 7-8, with potential coverage by practice partner for later semesters.
4. Tuition Fees (Ergotherapy Program): Ergotherapy program structure mirrors physiotherapy with reduced fees for initial semesters and higher fees for advanced semesters.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels13 records

Core offering

Internationale Berufsakademie (iba) delivers dual bachelor degree programs that integrate academic study with paid workplace training at partner companies, using a 'split week' model (2 days campus, 3 days practical work). It offers over 40 programs across Business Administration (20 BWL specializations), Social Work & Management, and Applied Therapy Sciences (Physiotherapy and Ergotherapy). Students typically pay €0 in tuition as practice partner companies cover fees while paying monthly salaries, and over 90% of graduates are taken on by their practice company.

Product overview

Internationale Berufsakademie (iba) is Germany's largest state-recognized private Berufsakademie (vocational academy) offering dual study programs. The institution provides over 40 dual bachelor programs across three main areas: Business Administration (BWL) with 20 specializations, Social Work & Management (with optional Coaching), and Applied Therapy Sciences in Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy. Programs use a 'split week' model where students study 2 days on campus and work up to 3 days at partner companies. The core educational offerings include ibaCareer (online applicant portal), Virtual Campus for remote learning, and AI-powered recruitment services for partner companies. Programs are delivered at 12 physical campuses across Germany plus virtual campuses. Students receive state-recognized bachelor's degrees, with Social Work graduates also receiving state recognition as social workers/pedagogues, and Therapy graduates receiving both bachelor's degrees and state-certified professional qualifications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ibaCareer: Online application portal for prospective students to apply for dual study programs
• myiba
• iba-Store
• VICTORIA-ACADEMY

Products and services

• Dual Study Programs - Business Administration (BWL) Dual bachelor degree programs in Business Administration (BWL) with 20 industry specializations, combining 2 days/week on-campus study with 3 days/week paid work at practice partner companies. Students earn a Bachelor of Arts while gaining professional experience and receiving a monthly salary.
• Dual Study Programs - Social Work & Management (B.A.) Dual bachelor programs combining social work expertise with business management. Includes 'Soziale Arbeit & Management' (7 semesters) and 'Soziale Arbeit, Management & Coaching' (8 semesters). Graduates receive a Bachelor of Arts plus state recognition as a social worker/pedagogue, and optional Junior Coach certification.
• Applied Therapy Sciences - Physiotherapy (B.Sc.) Dual bachelor program combining physiotherapy studies with state-certified training. Includes 5 specializations: Sports Physiotherapy, Business Management, Stress Management & Coaching, Health Management & Prevention, and Palliative Practice. Available at Darmstadt and Heidelberg campuses over 8 semesters.
• Applied Therapy Sciences - Occupational Therapy / Ergotherapy (B.Sc.) Dual bachelor program combining occupational therapy studies with state-certified training. Includes specializations in Neurological Rehabilitation Procedures (Hand Rehabilitation, Brain Training, Neuropediatric Rehabilitation), Business Management, Palliative Practice, and Health Management. Located in Darmstadt.
• ibaCareer Applicant Portal Online application portal where prospective students register, upload documents, and manage dual study program applications. Integrated with HubSpot CRM and automates document intake via Make workflows.
• Virtual Campus Online delivery channel that enables students to complete dual studies entirely virtually. All lectures are conducted live online, allowing nationwide participation while maintaining the split-week model with practical work at partner companies.
• Virtual Campus Latin America Specialized virtual campus program with Latin American focus, offering international study opportunities through the dual study model, in cooperation with Talent Scouts Germany for international recruitment.
• Professional Development Programs (Berufsintegrierende Studiengänge) Career-integrated study programs for working professionals who wish to pursue higher education while continuing employment, complementing the primary dual study offerings.
• Study Coach Services Personalized student advisory service where Study Coaches provide individual guidance throughout the dual study program, complementing classroom instruction and practical workplace learning and helping match students with suitable practice companies.
• Trial Lectures (Schnuppervorlesungen) Free trial lecture program allowing prospective students to experience real lectures in Management and Social Work, meet faculty and current students, and determine if the dual study program suits their goals.
• AI-Powered Recruitment Services AI-enabled service using OpenAI ChatGPT Business API to generate tailored job advertisements for cooperation partners, perform applicant history analysis for statistical evaluations, and provide automated spelling and expression checking of application documents.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 90% of graduates are taken on by their practice company
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

AI capability4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• F+U UnternehmensgruppecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company of iba | Internationale Berufsakademie. F+U is a non-profit educational group in family ownership with 40 years of experience in the education sector. Provides institutional backing, shared resources, and operational support for iba's dual study programs.
• AHPGS (Akkreditierungsagentur für Studiengänge im Bereich Gesundheit und Soziales)coreTechnology or IntegrationAccreditation agency responsible for quality assurance of iba's Social Work and Applied Therapy Sciences programs. Conducts program accreditation and re-accreditation processes.
• ZEvA (Zentrale Evaluations- und Akkreditierungsagentur Hannover)coreTechnology or IntegrationHannover-based evaluation and accreditation agency responsible for accrediting iba's Business Administration (BWL) programs. Provides regular re-accreditation.
• Practice Partner Companies (Praxisunternehmen)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOver 7,000 companies across Germany serve as practice partners, providing work placement for dual study students. These include sports clubs, hotels, service companies, marketing agencies, and social institutions. Partners pay tuition and provide monthly salary while gaining trained future employees.
• ISBA (Internationale Studien- und Berufsakademie)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRelated educational institution within the F+U group network, potentially for cross-referrals or collaborative programs in the international education space.
• Talent Scouts GermanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInternational recruiting initiative for talent attraction, helping connect international candidates with iba's dual study programs.
• DBVC e.V. and IOBCe.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoaching certification partners for the Soziale Arbeit, Management & Coaching program. Students receive 'Junior Coach' certification recognized by these professional coaching associations (valid for cohorts until SS25).
• F+U Berufsfachschule für PhysiotherapiecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhysiotherapy school within F+U network that provides state-certified training alongside iba's dual study program, allowing students to earn both Bachelor degree and state physiotherapy certification.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Hochschule Macromedia: Private German university offering applied bachelor and master programs in business, media, and management. Competes with several of iba's BWL specializations such as marketing and digital media.
• EBS Universität für Wirtschaft und Recht: Private German university focused on business and law. Competes with iba's BWL programs for fee-paying and employer-sponsored students, particularly at the premium end of the market.
• International School of Management (ISM): Private German university group with multiple campuses offering bachelor and master programs in business and related fields. Overlaps with iba's BWL portfolio and competes for employer-funded and self-paying students.

Direct peers

• Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg (DHBW): Germany's largest public dual study university with ~34,000 students across 12 locations. Directly comparable dual-study model (theory + practice partner companies) and is iba's most direct competitor for both students and practice partners.
• IU Internationale Hochschule: Germany's largest private university offering state-recognized bachelor and master programs, including dual study variants. Competes with iba for fee-paying (and employer-funded) students across similar BWL and therapy-related disciplines.
• FOM Hochschule: Large private German university specializing in berufsbegleitende (work-integrated) bachelor and master programs. Directly competes with iba's career-integrated and dual study offerings for working professionals and their employers.
• SRH Hochschulen: Private, state-recognized university group with multiple campus locations across Germany offering bachelor programs in business, social work, and therapy. Comparable in program mix, multi-campus structure, and employer-funded delivery model.
• Berufsakademie Sachsen: State Berufsakademie in Saxony offering dual bachelor programs in business and social work. A direct competitor with the same dual-study concept and similar program structure, but publicly funded.
• Hochschule Fresenius: Private, state-recognized German university group offering bachelor programs in business, therapy, and health sciences. Overlaps with iba's program portfolio and competes for similar student and employer segments.

Emerging players

• WBS Schulen / WBS Training: Private vocational education provider offering practice-oriented training and continuing education programs in Germany. Overlaps with iba in business and social/health vocational training, though more focused on certificates and shorter programs than full bachelor degrees.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ibaDual
• YouTubeyoutube.com/ibadual
• Facebookfacebook.com/ibaDual
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ibadual
• Instagraminstagram.com/ibaDual
• TikToktiktok.com/@ibadual

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Internationale Berufsakademie (iba)