University of Applied Sciences Leipzig

What University of Applied Sciences Leipzig does

Hochschule für Telekommunikation Leipzig (HfTL), branded in English as the University of Applied Sciences Leipzig, was a private Fachhochschule that operated in Leipzig, Germany from September 11, 1953 until December 31, 2022. Originally established as a training school for postal workers in the GDR, it transitioned into a telecommunications-focused university of applied sciences after German reunification. Its distinguishing structural feature was sole sponsorship by Deutsche Telekom AG (since 1995), making it the only university in Germany owned by a DAX40-listed company; ownership was later transferred to HfTL Trägergesellschaft mbH, a wholly-owned Deutsche Telekom subsidiary, in autumn 2014.

The institution delivered accredited Bachelor's and Master's programs in Communications and Media Informatics, Applied Computer Science, Business Informatics, and Information and Communication Technology through three study formats — direct study (Vollzeitstudium), dual study (duales Studium) integrated with Deutsche Telekom practical placements, and part-time continuing education (berufsbegleitendes Studium). Teaching was practice-oriented, supported by modern laboratory equipment at the Gustav-Freytag-Straße and Brandenburger Straße campuses (~8,000 sqm of teaching space by 1998), with research collaborations involving Deutsche Telekom T-Labs, Testzentrum Nürnberg, IHK Leipzig, TU Cottbus, TU Ilmenau, and international partners in Dublin and Bratislava.

HfTL graduated approximately 19,546 students over its lifetime (9,791 direct-study and 9,755 distance-learning), with the final cohort enrolled in 2017 and operations formally wound down on December 31, 2022. In 2018, Deutsche Telekom endowed the Faculty of Digital Transformation at the state-owned HTWK Leipzig — offering two Bachelor's and one Master's program in ICT Engineering and Telecommunications Informatics — as the strategic successor arrangement, resolving conflicts between corporate governance and academic freedom that had characterized the single-sponsor model.

Name

University of Applied Sciences Leipzig

Legal name

HfTL Trägergesellschaft mbH

Website

https://hft-leipzig.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1953

Operating status

Closed

Short description

HfTL was a private University of Applied Sciences in Leipzig, Germany, offering accredited Bachelor's and Master's programs in telecommunications and informatics. Owned by Deutsche Telekom AG, it operated from 1953 until its 2022 closure, graduating approximately 19,546 students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Educational Services (611), Technical and Trade Schools (61151)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Engineering & Technology Institutes (Comprehensive) (EDAHAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Cooperative Education (Co-op) Technical Universities (EDAHAEAF)

Keywords

• Higher education programs
• Telecommunications engineering
• Applied computer science
• Dual study programs
• ICT degree programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Leipzig

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations

Core offering

Hochschule für Telekommunikation Leipzig (HfTL) was a private university offering accredited Bachelor and Master degree programs in communications and media informatics, applied computer science, business informatics, information and communication technology, and telecommunications informatics. Programs were delivered in three formats: direct study (on-campus full-time), dual study (integrated classroom and industry practice at Deutsche Telekom), and part-time/continuing education study. The university was uniquely sponsored by Deutsche Telekom AG, providing students with industry-integrated practical training, modern laboratory equipment, and direct research access to T-Labs.

Product overview

Hochschule für Telekommunikation Leipzig (HfTL) was a private university in telecommunications and informatics, operated by Deutsche Telekom AG and closed on December 31, 2022. The institution offered accredited study programs across three study forms: direct study (Vollzeitstudium), dual study (Duales Studium), and part-time/continuing education study (Berufsbegleitendes Studium). Programs included Communications and Media Informatics, Applied Computer Science, Business Informatics, Information and Communication Technology, and Telecommunications Informatics at Bachelor and Master levels. The institution conducted practice-oriented research in collaboration with Deutsche Telekom subsidiaries and partner universities. Following closure, the Deutsche Telekom-funded Faculty of Digital Transformation at HTWK Leipzig continues offering ICT and telecommunications engineering programs, maintaining the educational legacy through Kooperation with the Saxon state.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kommunikations- und Medieninformatik (Communications and Media Informatics)

Quantifiable outcome

• 19,546 total graduates (9,791 direct studies + 9,755 distance learning) before transformation

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HTWK Leipzig (Hochschule für Technik, Wirtschaft und Kultur Leipzig)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Following HfTL's closure on December 31, 2022, the Deutsche Telekom AG endowed the 'Faculty of Digital Transformation' at HTWK Leipzig to continue offering Bachelor and Master programs in ICT Engineering and Telecommunications Informatics. This represents a strategic continuation of teaching and research activities.
• Deutsche Telekom AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeutsche Telekom AG was the founding and sole trustee of HfTL since 1995, providing industry expertise, practical training opportunities, modern technology, and research collaborations through T-Labs and Testzentrum Nürnberg. The company endowed the Faculty of Digital Transformation at HTWK Leipzig to continue the educational mission.
• IHK Leipzig (Industrie- und Handelskammer Leipzig)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional cooperation for research projects in computer science and electromagnetic compatibility. IHK Leipzig collaborated on research projects that provided practical experience for students.
• TU CottbusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver-regional research partnership for Next Generation Networks research collaboration.
• TU IlmenauminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver-regional research partnership for telecommunications and informatics research.
• Partnerhochschule DublinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research collaboration on Radio over Fiber technology with the Dublin partner university.
• Partnerhochschule BratislavaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research collaboration on Next Generation Networks with the Bratislava partner university and Slovak Telecom, a subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom AG.
• Slovak TelecomminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration on Next Generation Networks with Slovak Telecom, a Deutsche Telekom subsidiary, conducted with students and the Bratislava partner university.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• HTWK Leipzig (Hochschule für Technik, Wirtschaft und Kultur Leipzig): State university of applied sciences in Leipzig that absorbed HfTL's teaching mission via the Deutsche Telekom-endowed Faculty of Digital Transformation from 2018. Most direct comparator as successor institution offering equivalent ICT and telecommunications programs.
• Hochschule Darmstadt (h_da): Large German university of applied sciences with strong programs in electrical engineering, computer science, and telecommunications informatics. Closely comparable Fachhochschule model and subject mix.
• TU Ilmenau: Public technical university specializing in telecommunications, information technology, and media. Listed as HfTL's direct research partner and a competitor for telecommunications-focused students in central Germany.
• SRH Hochschule Heidelberg: Private, industry-oriented German university of applied sciences with practice-oriented programs including computer science and business informatics. Similar private, practice-oriented German Fachhochschule positioning.
• Berufsakademie Sachsen (BA Sachsen): State-recognized dual study institution in Saxony offering cooperative education programs combining theory and practice. Closely comparable dual-study model in the same geographic region as HfTL.
• FOM Hochschule: Large private German university of applied sciences with significant dual study and part-time programs in business informatics and ICT. Closely comparable business model for working professionals and dual study formats.
• Technische Hochschule Wildau (TH Wildau): German university of applied sciences near Berlin with strong focus on ICT, telecommunications, and business informatics; comparable Fachhochschule structure and technical program portfolio.

Emerging players

• Technische Hochschule Georg Agricola (THGA): Industry-sponsored technical university in Germany originally founded by the German mining industry; structurally analogous to HfTL as a corporate-sponsored Fachhochschule with practice-oriented technical education.

Broad incumbents

• TU Dresden: Major public technical university in Saxony offering electrical engineering, computer science, and telecommunications programs with substantially broader scope. Regional incumbent competitor for technical talent in Saxony during HfTL's operating years.
• Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Recht Berlin (HWR Berlin): Large Berlin-based university of applied sciences with a business informatics and engineering portfolio. Broader than HfTL but overlapping in dual-study business informatics offerings.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hftl
• Facebookfacebook.com/HfT.Leipzig

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about University of Applied Sciences Leipzig