What FHWien der WKW does

FHWien der WKW is a private Austrian university of applied sciences (Fachhochschule) founded in 1994 and headquartered on the WKO campus in Vienna (Währinger Gürtel 97, 1180 Wien). It is operated by FHW Fachhochschul-Studiengänge Betriebs- und Forschungseinrichtungen der Wiener Wirtschaft GmbH, owned 75.25% by Wiener Wirtschaft Holding GmbH and 24.75% by Fonds der Wiener Kaufmannschaft. The institution serves approximately 2,917 Bachelor and Master students (2025) across 11 Bachelor programs and 10 part-time Master programs in management and communication disciplines, including Real Estate Management, Digital Business, Journalism, Tourism, Marketing & Sales, HR, and Corporate Communication. It has produced 16,811 graduates since founding and maintains 161 international university partnerships for student exchange.

The core academic product is delivered on-campus using Moodle as the learning management system and Microsoft Office 365 for cloud services, with teaching carried out by a faculty where two-thirds come directly from industry. Mandatory professional internships, dedicated corporate mentoring programs, and named partnerships with firms including Coca-Cola, BIG, BUWOG, CBRE, EHL, Strabag, Immobilienscout24, ORF, DER STANDARD, and Kurier anchor the practice-oriented pedagogy. Sub-brands such as Hernstein Academy (continuing education), the Institute for Digital Transformation and Strategy (IDS), M!LK Magazine (51,000 circulation), Radio Radieschen 91.3, and the Schreibzentrum/Writing Center extend the product surface beyond degree programs.

Revenue is generated through a regulated subscription-recurring model combining per-student federal subsidies under the Austrian Fachhochschulgesetz (FHG) and tuition fees, supplemented by continuing-education fees, corporate research collaborations, and media advertising. Direct-to-consumer student recruitment runs annually from January through March via the website, info events, open house days, and an online application tool. The institution is accredited by AQ Austria and holds RICS accreditation for its Real Estate Management programs, supporting its positioning as Austria's leading Fachhochschule for management and communication, validated by INDUSTRIEMAGAZIN Top 5 ranking (2026) and U-Multirank Top Performer (2020).

Name

FHWien der WKW

Legal name

FHW Fachhochschul-Studiengänge Betriebs- und Forschungseinrichtungen der Wiener Wirtschaft GmbH (FHW GmbH)

Website

https://fh-wien.ac.at

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

FHWien der WKW is Austria's leading private university of applied sciences for management and communication, serving approximately 2,917 Bachelor and Master students in Vienna with 11 Bachelor and 10 Master programs, 161 international partnerships, and 16,811 alumni since 1994.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Vienna

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and program fees: Public university of applied sciences funded through a combination of public subsidies and student tuition fees for degree programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

FHWien der WKW is a private university of applied sciences that delivers practice-oriented Bachelor's and Master's degree programs in management and communication. The institution offers 11 Bachelor's programs and 10 Master's programs in fields such as digital business, corporate communication, journalism, financial management, real estate management, tourism, HR, and marketing, supported by mandatory professional internships and industry-experienced lecturers. Continuing education is provided through the Hernstein Academy sub-brand.

Product overview

FHWien der WKW is Austria's leading University of Applied Sciences for Management and Communication, offering a portfolio of 11 Bachelor programs and 10 Master programs. The institution follows a platform-plus-modules architecture with core academic degree programs supplemented by continuing education (Hernstein Academy), student support services (Writing Center, Teaching & Learning Center), and specialized study programs organized by academic department. Programs are delivered in German or English, in full-time, part-time (berufsbegleitend), or dual formats. The institution emphasizes practice-oriented education with two-thirds of lecturers coming directly from industry, mandatory internships, and close cooperation with Austrian companies in teaching and research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hernstein Academy: Continuing education programs offered by FHWien der WKW
• M!LK Magazin
• Radio Radieschen 91.3
• Institute for Digital Transformation and Strategy (IDS)
• Schreibzentrum/Writing Center

Products and services

• Bachelor-Studiengänge (Bachelor's Programs) FHWien der WKW offers 11 practice-oriented Bachelor programs in Management and Communication, available in full-time, part-time (berufsbegleitend), or dual study formats. Programs include Content Production & Digital Media Management, Corporate Communication, Digital Business, Financial & Tax Accounting, Real Estate Management, Journalism & Media Management, Communication Management, Marketing & Sales, Human Resources Management, Tourism Management, and Corporate Management & Entrepreneurship. Targeted at individuals with general higher education entrance qualification (Matura).
• Master-Studiengänge (Master's Programs) FHWien der WKW offers 10 practice-oriented Master programs exclusively in part-time (berufsbegleitend) format. Programs include Digital Innovation, Digital Technology & Innovation, Executive Management (English), Financial Management & Controlling, Real Estate Management, Journalism & New Media, Communication Management, Marketing & Sales Management, Organizational & Human Resource Development, and Urban Tourism & Visitor Economy Management. Targeted at individuals with completed academic degrees seeking advanced qualifications.
• Hernstein Academy (Continuing Education) The Hernstein Academy offers continuing education programs for professionals seeking to expand their knowledge and skills in management and communication areas. Targeted at working professionals pursuing lifelong learning and career development.

Quantifiable outcome

• 16,811 graduates since founding in 1994
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IvalucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital expert for real estate companies collaborating with Real Estate Management study area for Digital Real Estate Day events, providing prop-tech solutions presentations for students and young professionals.
• Immobilienscout24coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading Austrian real estate portal partnering with Real Estate Management department for industry connections and student engagement.
• Bundesimmobiliengesellschaft (BIG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal Real Estate Company, major Austrian real estate owner and manager, partnering with Real Estate Management study area.
• BUWOGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor Austrian housing provider and real estate developer, partner for student mentoring and industry projects.
• CBREcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal commercial real estate services firm, partnering with Real Estate Management for industry expertise and student mentoring.
• EHLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustrian real estate services company, partner for student mentoring and industry projects in real estate sector.
• StrabagcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor European construction group, partner for real estate and construction industry connections.
• RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal professional body for chartered surveyors, providing accreditation for Real Estate Management programs.
• ORFminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustrian public broadcaster sponsoring Radio & Audio category of Journalismus Nachwuchspreis (Journalism Prize).
• DER STANDARDminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustrian quality newspaper sponsoring Text category of Journalismus Nachwuchspreis; also provides magazine distribution (41,600 copies).
• KurierminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustrian newspaper sponsoring Multimedia category of Journalismus Nachwuchspreis.
• Österreichische Medienakademie (ÖMA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustrian Media Academy providing seminar place for best thesis winner of Journalismus Nachwuchspreis.
• 161 Partner UniversitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational university partnerships enabling student exchanges, outgoing opportunities, and global mobility programs.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• FH Salzburg: Austrian Fachhochschule offering applied bachelor and master programs across business, design, engineering, and social sciences. Comparable Fachhochschule degree structure and practice-led positioning.
• FH Campus Wien: Large Vienna-based university of applied sciences offering practice-oriented bachelor and master programs across multiple disciplines. Most direct local competitor given shared city, format, and Fachhochschule positioning.
• IMC Fachhochschule Krems: Private Austrian university of applied sciences with full-time and part-time bachelor/master programs focused on business, health, and life sciences. Comparable private Fachhochschule model targeting similar student segments.
• FH Joanneum: One of Austria's largest universities of applied sciences with multiple campuses and broad program portfolio. Comparable practice-oriented model serving undergraduate and graduate students.
• FH Vorarlberg: Austrian Fachhochschule offering applied bachelor and master programs in business, engineering, design, and social work. Comparable Fachhochschule structure with similar practice orientation and degree mix.
• MODUL University Vienna: Private Austrian university focused on management, tourism, and new media technology programs. Similar private higher education model with comparable degree offerings and international student focus.

Regional players

• Webster Vienna Private University: Private university in Vienna offering US-accredited bachelor and master programs in business, psychology, and international relations. Comparable private higher education model in Vienna targeting similar student segments.

Emerging players

• FOM Hochschule: Germany's largest private university of applied sciences with part-time and dual study programs targeting working professionals. Comparable berufsbegleitend (part-time) format and practice-oriented degree model.
• SAE Institute: Private higher education provider specializing in creative media, audio, film, and animation programs across multiple countries. Comparable private degree-granting model targeting practice-oriented creative and media disciplines that intersect with FHWien's communication programs.

Broad incumbents

• Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien (WU): Austria's largest public business university offering comprehensive bachelor, master, and doctoral programs in management and economics. Overlaps with FHWien's management and communication focus but operates as a larger public research university.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/FHWien
• Facebookfacebook.com/FHWien
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fhwien-der-wkw
• Instagraminstagram.com/fhwien_wkw

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 FHWien der WKW