European University of Applied Sciences

What European University of Applied Sciences does

European University of Applied Sciences, operating commercially as CBS University of Applied Sciences (and formerly EU|FH), is a private German Hochschule and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Stuttgarter Klett Gruppe — a Stuttgart-headquartered European education conglomerate with operations across 24 countries. CBS delivers bachelor, master, MBA, and Studienkolleg programs across four thematic areas (Wirtschaft/Business, Soziales/Social, Gesundheit/Health, Pädagogik/Education) and three study formats: dual studies with employer-sponsored tuition, berufsbegleitend (part-time for working professionals), and Vollzeit (full-time International Business School). It operates nine physical campuses in Köln, Berlin, Mainz, Rheine, Solingen, Hamburg, Neuss/Düsseldorf, Rostock, and Stuttgart, supplemented by an online application portal and study advisory service.

The core operating technology is a Digital Präsenzhochschule model that combines in-person campus instruction with flexible digital learning components; branded sub-formats include NXT GEN Bachelor Studium, NEW ERA Master Studium, and the Kompass-Studium orientation tool. The institution holds five accreditations — Akkreditierungsrat (system accreditation), FIBAA, Wissenschaftsrat (reaccredited for 10 years in 2021), AACSB, and IACBE — and operates an NC-free (no Numerus Clausus) potential-based admissions process. Notable proprietary differentiators include the 0-Euro-Studium dual model in which practice partners such as UPS, IBM, Forvis Mazars, REWE Group, and Vodafone cover student tuition in exchange for workforce commitments.

Revenue is generated through three primary recurring tuition streams: employer-sponsored dual-study sponsorship, part-time professional tuition, and full-time Business School fees (including MBA), with additional non-tuition revenue from a branded Merch Shop. Go-to-market is sales-led, executed by the Studienberatung team via info events, Open Campus Days across all nine campuses, digital channels (TikTok, LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, WhatsApp), and the Klett Gruppe's broader education ecosystem. The institution targets individuals seeking practice-oriented higher education domestically, with international student services and exchange programs broadening the addressable pool.

Name

European University of Applied Sciences

Legal name

CBS University of Applied Sciences

Website

https://eufh.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

European University of Applied Sciences (CBS) is a private German university of applied sciences, owned by the Stuttgarter Klett Gruppe, offering bachelor, master, MBA, and Studienkolleg programs across nine German campuses in business, social, health, and pedagogy fields through employer-sponsored dual, part-time, and full-time formats.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Higher Education / Applied Sciences University

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAIAJAA

University-Affiliated Pathway & Foundation Programs

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/Overseas Pathway, Foundation & Bridging Programs

SECONDARYEDAIAAAE

Hybrid, Multi-Location & Multi-Country Study Abroad Programs

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/Study Abroad Program Providers (Multi-Country & Multi-Discipline)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Dual study programs
• Applied sciences university
• Business school programs
• Professional degree programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Bruehl

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Dual Studies Tuition Sponsorship: In the dual study model, employers (practice partners) cover the tuition fees of students. Students earn a salary from their employer while studying. This represents a cost-recovery or revenue-sharing arrangement where the employer invests in the student's education in exchange for a future workforce commitment.
2. Berufsbegleitendes (Part-time) Tuition: Students enrolled in part-time/occupational study programs pay tuition fees directly. These programs are designed for working professionals who study alongside their employment, with flexible schedules.
3. Vollzeit (Full-time Business School) Tuition: Full-time business school programs (International Business School) charge tuition fees for degree programs including Bachelor, Master, and MBA. Fee information is available via the Studiengebühren page.
4. Parent Company - Stuttgarter Klett Gruppe: CBS is a company of the Stuttgarter Klett Gruppe, a leading European education company active in 24 countries. The parent group generates revenue across a broad educational portfolio including publishing, schools, distance learning universities, and other educational institutions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

European University of Applied Sciences (branded CBS) delivers practice-oriented higher education programs (Bachelor, Master, MBA, and a Studienkolleg) across four thematic areas—Business, Social, Health, and Pedagogy—via three study formats: employer-sponsored dual study (0-Euro-Studium), part-time study for working professionals, and full-time international Business School study. Programs are offered across nine German campuses and combine on-campus instruction with flexible digital learning (Digital Präsenzhochschule model).

Product overview

CBS University of Applied Sciences (formerly EU|FH) is a digital presence university (digitale Präsenzhochschule) offering practice-integrated higher education across four thematic areas: Business (Wirtschaft), Social Sciences (Soziales), Health (Gesundheit), and Pedagogy (Pädagogik). The institution operates through multiple study formats including dual studies (with employer-funded tuition), part-time career studies, and full-time Business School programs. The portfolio includes Bachelor, Master, MBA degrees, and Prep4University Studienkolleg for international student preparation. Programs are delivered across nine campus locations in Germany (Köln, Berlin, Mainz, Rheine, Solingen, Hamburg, Neuss/Düsseldorf, Rostock, Stuttgart) combining in-person campus experiences with flexible digital learning formats.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CBS Dual Studies (0-Euro-Studium)
• CBS Part-time Studies (Berufsbegleitendes Studium)
• CBS International Business School (Full-time Studies)
• Prep4University Studienkolleg (W-Kurs and T-Kurs)
• International Management MBA
• NXT GEN Bachelor Studium
• NEW ERA Master Studium

Quantifiable outcome

• No NC (Numerus Clausus) or waiting periods — potential-based admissions
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• UPScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUPS serves as a practice partner (Praxispartner) for CBS dual study programs in the logistics and business fields. As a practice partner, UPS sponsors students who combine academic study at CBS with practical work experience at UPS, covering tuition fees and providing employment during the study period.
• IBMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBM acts as a practice partner for CBS dual study programs, particularly in technology and business-related degree programs. IBM sponsors students and provides practical training environments, integrating academic learning with real-world technology and consulting experience.
• Forvis MazarscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerForvis Mazars, a global audit and consulting firm, partners with CBS as a practice partner for dual study programs in auditing, consulting, and business-related fields. Students benefit from practical exposure to accounting, auditing, and advisory work while pursuing their degrees.
• REWE GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerREWE Group, one of Germany's largest retail companies, serves as a practice partner for CBS dual study programs, sponsoring students across business and retail management programs. Students gain hands-on experience in the retail and wholesale sector while completing their academic studies.
• VodafonecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVodafone acts as a practice partner for CBS dual study programs in business and technology-related degrees. Students sponsored by Vodafone gain practical experience in telecommunications, digital infrastructure, and business operations while studying at CBS.
• Stuttgarter Klett GruppeflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBS University of Applied Sciences is a company of the Stuttgarter Klett Gruppe, one of Europe's leading education companies active in 24 countries. The parent company operates a broad portfolio of educational offerings from kindergartens to universities, providing CBS with institutional backing, financial stability, and cross-selling opportunities through its extensive education network.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SRH Hochschulen: Group of private German universities with multiple campuses offering Bachelor and Master programs with practice orientation. Competes with CBS for employer-sponsored and dual-study students across the country.
• IU Internationale Hochschule: Germany's largest private university by enrollment, offering practice-oriented Bachelor, Master, and MBA programs with dual-study formats. Directly competes with CBS on price, dual-study model, and the working-professional target audience.
• Hochschule Fresenius: Private German university group with campuses in multiple cities and a portfolio spanning business, health, social work, and design. Closely matches CBS's four-thematic-area structure and dual-study offerings.
• BSP Business and Law School: Private Berlin-based business school offering Bachelor and Master programs with strong practice orientation. Comparable to CBS in scope, applied curriculum design, and employer-linked study models.
• FOM Hochschule: Private German university specializing in part-time degree programs for working professionals, with strong employer ties and evening/weekend formats. Closely overlaps CBS's berufsbegleitend (part-time) and dual-study positioning.
• Hochschule Macromedia: Private German university with practice-oriented Bachelor and Master programs and multiple campuses. Overlaps with CBS on applied/business-focused private higher education and employer-linked study formats.

Broad incumbents

• Stuttgarter Klett Gruppe: Parent company of CBS and a major European education conglomerate operating K-12 publishing, daycare, schools, distance learning, and universities across 24 countries. Relevant as the broader ecosystem, capital allocator, and distribution network behind CBS.
• WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management: Prestigious German private business school with AACSB, EQUIS, and AMBA triple accreditation. Competes with CBS's International Business School for premium MBA and Master candidates at a higher price tier and stronger global brand.

Regional players

• Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Umwelt (HfWU): Public German university of applied sciences with business and related programs. Comparable in offering type (applied Bachelor/Master with employer linkage) but competes as a free public alternative to CBS's tuition-bearing tracks.
• FH Aachen: Public German university of applied sciences in the Aachen/NRW region. Competes with CBS's Neuss/Düsseldorf and Cologne campuses for local students and employer partnerships as a tuition-free public alternative.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCJHNduX3nBqZuE3aSVyIrxQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/EuropaeischeFachhochschule
• TikToktiktok.com/@cbsuniversity
• Xx.com/eufhofficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eufh

Compliance5 records

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 European University of Applied Sciences