NBS Northern Business School

What NBS Northern Business School does

NBS Northern Business School is a state-recognized private university of applied sciences (Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften) founded in 2007 in Hamburg, Germany, and operated on a non-profit basis by the Norddeutsche Bildungsstiftung. The institution delivers higher-education degree programs to approximately 1,000 enrolled students, supported by 33 professors and around 30 administrative staff, with over 2,000 alumni to date. Its core product portfolio consists of 5 Bachelor programs — including Betriebswirtschaft with 10 specializations, Kommunikationsmanagement, Sicherheitsmanagement, Soziale Arbeit, and Studium Individuale — and 4 Master programs (Controlling & Finance, Modern Leadership MBA, Real Estate Management, and Unternehmenssicherheit & Interdisziplinäre Kriminalwissenschaften), supplemented by a continuing-education catalog of micro-degrees and professional certifications.

Teaching is delivered through flexible study formats (full-time in-person, full-time online, part-time online/hybrid) on a Moodle-based eLearning platform, with Microsoft Office 365 licensing for students and online examination options. Research is organized across 6 specialized institutes covering unmanned systems, Northern European economics, HR management, psychosocial research, controlling/finance, and intelligence & security management. The go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via a self-service online application with rolling admissions, augmented since March 2023 by a partnership with WBS GRUPPE that extends student counseling and examination services to 280+ locations nationwide.

Revenue is generated primarily through semester tuition fees, payable via interest-free monthly installments, with BAföG and KfW student loans accepted as financial aid. As a non-profit (gemeinnützige) GmbH, the school reinvests all revenues into teaching, infrastructure, and support. The customer base spans German prospective university students (including those without Abitur, via entrance examination), working professionals seeking flexible study, and international exchange students routed through 40+ partner universities. Distribution leverages the WBS TRAINING physical network, the NBS website, StudyCheck reviews, and Open Campus Day events.

Name

NBS Northern Business School

Legal name

NBS Northern Business School gemeinnützige GmbH

Website

https://nbs.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

NBS Northern Business School is a state-recognized, non-profit private university of applied sciences in Hamburg, Germany, offering Bachelor, Master, and continuing-education programs to around 1,000 students via flexible online, hybrid, and in-person formats, distributed nationally through a WBS GRUPPE partnership with 280+ counseling locations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Undergraduate Business Schools (BBA/BSBA Programs) (EDAHAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

International Business & Global Management Schools (EDAHAHAJ), Online Professional Schools (MBA/MPA/MPH/Etc.) (EDAHALAE), Online Nonprofit Universities (EDAHALAK)

Keywords

• Higher education programs
• Bachelor degree programs
• Master degree programs
• Continuing education courses
• Private university degrees

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: NBS generates revenue through semester tuition fees charged to enrolled students. The school operates on a nonprofit model with all revenues reinvested into teaching, infrastructure, and student support. Payment options include monthly installments (12 rates per year), extended installment plans, and upfront full payment. BAföG funding (for full-time programs) and KfW student loans are accepted as financial aid options.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

NBS Northern Business School is a state-recognized private university of applied sciences in Hamburg, Germany, offering accredited Bachelor's and Master's degree programs in business administration, communications management, security management, social work, real estate, and modern leadership, delivered through flexible full-time, part-time, and online study formats. The school also provides continuing education micro-degrees and professional certifications, along with applied research through six specialized institutes.

Product overview

NBS Northern Business School is a state-recognized private university of applied sciences offering a portfolio of higher education programs and continuing education. The core offering consists of 5 Bachelor programs (Kommunikationsmanagement, Sicherheitsmanagement, Soziale Arbeit, Studium Individuale, and Betriebswirtschaft mit 10 specializations) and 4 Master programs (Controlling und Finance, Modern Leadership, Real Estate Management, and Unternehmenssicherheit & Interdisziplinäre Kriminalwissenschaften). Continuing education is provided through 6+ Micro Degree and certification programs covering Digitalisierung & Innovation, Nachhaltigkeit, Personalführung & Change Management, Waffensachkunde, Corporate Threat Manager, and Port Facility Security Officer. Research is conducted through 6 specialized institutes (IuS, INER, IHRO, IpVOF, IUCF, and I2SM). The institution operates flexible study models allowing full-time, part-time, and online participation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kommunikationsmanagement (B.A.) Bachelor program in Communications Management focusing on strategic communication, media, and corporate communications for prospective students.
• Sicherheitsmanagement (B.A.) Bachelor program in Security Management covering corporate security, risk management, and safety protocols for students pursuing security careers.
• Soziale Arbeit (B.A.) Bachelor program in Social Work preparing students for careers in social services and community work.
• Studium Individuale (B.A.) Individualized Bachelor program allowing students to customize their curriculum according to personal career goals.

Quantifiable outcome

• No NC required - admission based on self-assessment rather than grade thresholds
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• WBS GRUPPE / WBS TRAININGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2023Strategic partnership established March 1, 2023, enabling NBS to extend its consultation services to over 280 WBS TRAINING locations across Germany. This partnership enhances NBS's distribution reach and provides prospective students with convenient in-person counseling options throughout Germany.
• Partner Universities (around 40)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational exchange partnerships with approximately 40 universities worldwide, enabling student mobility through Erasmus+ and other exchange programs. Students can spend a semester abroad at partner institutions.
• Partner Companies (over 40)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of over 40 companies providing internship opportunities, practical project collaborations, and career networking for students. Partners benefit from access to qualified graduates.
• Norddeutsche BildungsstiftungcoreOthersThe operating foundation behind NBS Northern Business School. Established the private university on initiative of companies and business associations from the Hamburg metropolitan region.
• WBS STUDIENKOLLEGminorOthersFor international students whose qualifications don't meet entry requirements, NBS can refer them to WBS Studienkolleg for preparation courses leading to the Feststellungsprüfung (FSP) examination for German university entrance qualification.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• AKAD University: Long-established German distance-learning private university (Fernhochschule) offering Bachelor and Master programs online/correspondence, including business degrees — comparable on the online/flexible study format NBS emphasizes.
• Hochschule Macromedia: Private Hochschule with campuses in multiple German cities offering applied business, management, and communications programs in flexible study formats — comparable size and student profile to NBS.
• FOM Hochschule für Oekonomie & Management: Germany's largest private Hochschule with a nationwide network of campuses and a strong focus on part-time, berufsbegleitend study formats — competing head-to-head with NBS for the same working-professional and non-traditional student segments.
• Europäische Fernhochschule Hamburg: Private, state-recognized Fernhochschule headquartered in Hamburg offering distance-learning Bachelor and Master degrees — same home city and similar focus on flexible, online business study programs.
• BSP Business and Law School: Berlin/Hamburg-based private business and law school with a similar portfolio size, accreditation profile, and focus on berufsbegleitende study formats — most direct competitor in the Hamburg market.
• HMKW Hochschule für Medien, Kommunikation und Wirtschaft: Private Hochschule in Berlin/Cologne offering business, communication, and management programs with small cohorts and practice orientation — directly comparable on format and program mix (including Kommunikationsmanagement).

Broad incumbents

• Hochschule Fresenius: Private, state-recognized university group with multiple campuses and applied sciences programs in business, psychology, and security — overlapping with NBS in business administration and the Sicherheitsmanagement niche.
• IU International University of Applied Sciences: Germany's largest private university, fully online and hybrid, offering BWL and business Master programs at massive scale. Direct overlap on BBA/MBA content and the online flexible-format positioning NBS uses to differentiate.
• SRH Hochschule (SRH Universities): Group of state-recognized private universities across Germany offering business and management programs with strong online/hybrid formats; comparable accreditation status and student target.

Regional players

• Hochschule Wismar (Distance Learning): Public distance-learning programs from Hochschule Wismar target the same part-time/professional student segment across Germany via Fernstudium — competing for similar applicants at lower price points.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/145283177198
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nbs-northern-business-school-ggmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 NBS Northern Business School