bbw Hochschule

What bbw Hochschule does

bbw Hochschule is a privately operated German University of Applied Sciences (Hochschule) founded in 2007 and headquartered in Berlin, operating under the legal entity bbw Akademie für Betriebswirtschaftliche Weiterbildung GmbH, itself part of the broader bbw Gruppe. The institution delivers 19 state-recognized and FIBAA-accredited Bachelor's and Master's programs across business, engineering economics, and engineering disciplines, including specialized rail engineering tracks in signaling and power supply, real estate management, mechatronics, electrical engineering, and emerging-vertical Master's degrees in sustainability, smart building technology, mobility systems, and digital transformation. It serves approximately 710+ enrolled students drawn from 37+ nationalities, with NC-free (no grade-cutoff) access that explicitly accommodates applicants without a traditional Abitur, career changers, and university dropouts.

The institution runs a digitally supported delivery model built on a Moodle-based learning portal (Lernportal), Microsoft Teams for digital collaboration, Cisco WebEx for webinars, and a proprietary academyFIVE online application portal developed by Simovative GmbH; roughly 25% of module workload is designated for self-directed digital learning. Supporting infrastructure includes an Online Campus student portal for grades and schedules, a JobTeaser-powered career center, and Eventbrite-managed information events, alongside a multi-channel marketing presence across social platforms and Sendinblue email.

Revenue is generated primarily through student tuition fees and corporate partnership contributions from a network of 200+ practice partners (Praxispartner), including Deutsche Bahn, WSP, AOK Nordost, Furrer+Frey, and HPA Hamburg Port Authority. Dual-study programs (duale Studiengänge) are co-funded by partner companies that compensate students during their studies, effectively making corporate partners both distribution channels and co-investors in workforce development. The GTM motion is sales-led, combining direct consultation (Beratungsgespräch), monthly online information sessions, a self-serve online application portal, and corporate-sponsored recruitment. In April 2023, bbw Hochschule relocated its campus to a modern facility inside Berlin-Adlershof's Wissenschafts- und Technologiepark at Wagner-Régeny-Straße 21.

Name

bbw Hochschule

Legal name

bbw Akademie für Betriebswirtschaftliche Weiterbildung GmbH

Website

https://bbw-hochschule.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

bbw Hochschule is a privately operated, FIBAA-accredited University of Applied Sciences in Berlin offering 19 Bachelor's and Master's programs in business, engineering, and rail technology to 710+ students, with dual-study options co-funded by 200+ corporate partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Study Fees: As a private university of applied sciences, bbw Hochschule generates revenue primarily through tuition fees paid by students. The institution offers both full-time and part-time/dual study programs, with dual programs partially funded by partner companies who compensate students during their studies.
2. Corporate Partnership Fees: Partner companies pay for access to dual students and workforce development programs, effectively co-investing in their future skilled workforce.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

bbw Hochschule is a private University of Applied Sciences delivering state-recognized and FIBAA-accredited Bachelor and Master degree programs across business administration, engineering, and technology disciplines. The institution offers 19 study programs in full-time, part-time, and dual study formats, combining academic coursework with practical training through 200+ partner companies. Instruction is supported by a digital learning ecosystem including a Moodle-based Lernportal, Microsoft Teams, and the academyFIVE online application portal.

Product overview

bbw Hochschule is a university of applied sciences offering a portfolio of 19 state-recognized and accredited study programs across three academic groups: Business Sciences (Wirtschaftswissenschaften), Engineering Economics (Wirtschaftsingenieurwesen), and Engineering Sciences (Ingenieurwissenschaften). Programs are delivered at the Campus Adlershof in Berlin, with offerings for first-time students, working professionals (part-time/continuing education), and career changers. The institution provides dual study programs with over 200 partner companies, full-time and part-time bachelor's and master's degrees. Supporting infrastructure includes the Online Campus student portal for grades and schedules, and the Moodle-based Lernportal for digital learning content. The university emphasizes practical orientation with real company projects and industry-experienced lecturers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wirtschaft und Management (Bachelor)
• Immobilienwirtschaft (Bachelor)
• Immobilienmanagement dual (Bachelor)
• Wirtschaftsingenieurwesen (Bachelor)
• Elektrotechnik (Bachelor)
• Elektrotechnik – Leit- und Sicherungstechnik (Bachelor)
• Elektrotechnik – Bahnstromversorgung (Bachelor)
• Mechatronik – Sondertechnik (Bachelor)
• Real Estate Project Management (Master)
• Digital Business and eCommerce (Master)
• Medien- und Eventmanagement (Master)
• Strategic Management in Logistics (Master)
• International Technology Transfer Management (Master)
• Sustainability & Smart Building Technology (Master)
• Management of Mobility Systems (Master)
• Business Engineering in Digital Transformation (Master)
• Maschinenbau – Mechatronik (Master)
• Elektrotechnik – Höh. Techn. Anlagenmanagement (Master)
• Mechatronik – Sondertechnik (Master)
• Online Campus student portal
• Lernportal (Moodle-based learning platform)

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% employment rate achieved within 6 months of graduation
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Deutsche BahncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeutsche Bahn is a major practice partner for the bbw Hochschule's dual study programs in railway engineering, including Elektrotechnik – Leit- und Sicherungstechnik (railway signaling and safety technology). The partnership enables students to combine academic study with practical training while receiving compensation from DB.
• NextrailcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNextrail serves as a partner for the dual study program in railway signaling technology, providing practical training opportunities and industry expertise to engineering students.
• WSPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWSP is a practice partner for railway engineering programs, contributing to the dual study curriculum in rail infrastructure and power supply specializations.
• Furrer+FreycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFurrer+Frey partners with bbw Hochschule for dual study programs in railway electrification and power supply (Bahnstromversorgung, Fahrleitungen, Hochspannungstechnik), providing specialized practical training in overhead line systems.
• AOK NordostsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAOK Nordost is a health insurance partner providing practice opportunities for students and potential health management programs.
• HPA Hamburg Port AuthoritysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHamburg Port Authority serves as a practice partner, offering insights into logistics, mobility, and port management for relevant study programs.
• SIGNONsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSIGNON provides practice opportunities in rail engineering and safety systems for students in electrical engineering and railway technology programs.
• Dorsch GruppesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerDorsch Gruppe serves as a practice partner for engineering programs, providing project experience in architecture and engineering consulting.
• SWECOsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSWECO provides practice opportunities for sustainability, engineering, and urban planning students, connecting academic learning with real-world infrastructure projects.
• 200+ Additional Partner CompaniessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeyond the named partners, the institution maintains relationships with over 190 additional companies across various industries, providing diverse practice and employment opportunities for students.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• BSP Business & Law School: Private Berlin-based Hochschule focused on business, law, and management programs. Same city and overlapping applied-business curriculum, competes for similar Berlin and international students.
• Hochschule Macromedia: Private Hochschule with multiple German campuses offering business, media, and management degrees. Comparable applied-science positioning, dual-study offerings, and recruitment of international students.
• SRH Hochschule: Private Hochschule within the SRH group offering applied Bachelor and Master programs with strong practice and dual-study orientation. Closely comparable in curriculum philosophy, accreditation footprint, and corporate partner model.
• IU International University of Applied Sciences: Germany's largest private university with extensive dual-study, online, and on-campus programs across business, engineering, and tech. Competes head-to-head with bbw Hochschule for tuition-paying, career-oriented students and corporate partners.
• FOM Hochschule: One of Germany's largest private Hochschulen, offering part-time and dual Bachelor/Master programs primarily for working professionals. Direct competitor in the applied-business and engineering education space, with a similar partner-driven and practice-oriented model.
• HMKW Hochschule für Medien, Kommunikation und Wirtschaft: Private Berlin Hochschule for media, communication, and business with applied Bachelor and Master programs. Comparable in city, private-Hochschule positioning, and program mix.
• Hochschule Fresenius: Private university of applied sciences operating multiple campuses in Germany with applied Bachelor and Master programs in business, health, and engineering. Direct overlap in target students and program mix.
• CODE University of Applied Sciences: Berlin-based private Hochschule offering applied software engineering and digital business programs. Competes with bbw Hochschule's digital transformation and business engineering tracks for the same urban, tech-oriented applicant pool.
• University of Europe for Applied Sciences (UE): Private German Hochschule with campuses in Berlin and other cities offering business, design, and tech programs. Direct overlap in applied, internationally oriented Bachelor and Master programs targeting similar students.

Regional players

• Technische Hochschule Brandenburg (THB): Public University of Applied Sciences in Brandenburg near Berlin offering engineering and business programs with a strong dual-study tradition. Regional alternative that competes for the same dual-study applicants and corporate partners in the Berlin-Brandenburg area.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/bbwHochschule
• Xx.com/bbwhochschule

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about bbw Hochschule