What DHBW Stuttgart does

DHBW Stuttgart is a public state university in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, and the largest location within the Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg (DHBW) system, which was founded in 1974 as Germany's first state dual university. It offers 18 nationally accredited and internationally recognized dual bachelor degree programs across four faculties — Wirtschaft und Gesundheit (Business and Health), Technik (Engineering), and Sozialwesen (Social Work) — comprising more than 60 study directions. The institution operates from a main campus at Rotebühlstraße 133 in Stuttgart and a secondary campus in Horb am Neckar, serving approximately 8,000 students with an annual intake of around 3,000 new students.

The core product is the dual study model itself: students alternate between 3-month theory phases at the university and 3-month practice phases at one of approximately 2,000 dual partner companies and social institutions, earning a tariff-regulated training allowance throughout. Delivery relies on a standard higher-education technology stack rather than proprietary infrastructure: the Dualis student information system, Moodle LMS (elearning.dhbw-stuttgart.de), Nudgis/Ubicast for video streaming, Shibboleth/DFN-AAI for single sign-on, Matomo for consent-based web analytics, Office 365, Nextcloud and bwCloud for storage, and virtual PC pools. Differentiated applied-research activity is concentrated in dedicated centers — ZfKI (AI), ZDT (digital transformation), ZFM (vehicle development and sustainable mobility), ZEF (empirical research), ZMS (management simulation), and ZIK (intercultural competence) — alongside student-led initiatives such as DHBW Smart Rollerz, which builds 1:10 autonomous-driving vehicles using LiDAR-camera sensor fusion for the annual CAuDri-Challenge.

DHBW Stuttgart's business model is that of a public-law corporation (rechtsfähige Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts) funded primarily by state budget allocations from the Ministry for Science, Research and the Arts (MWK) of Baden-Württemberg. Revenue is supplemented by tuition fees from international and Zweitstudium students per state regulation, semester contributions from domestic students, partner-driven training allowances paid to (not by) students, and applied-research transfer activity. The go-to-market motion is event-driven and dual-sided: prospective students are reached through Study Talks, Studieninfotag, trade fairs (vocatium), school outreach (Kinderakademie, Girls' Day, Junior-Ingenieur-Akademie), an online OSA self-assessment, and social channels, while dual partners are recruited through direct enterprise outreach to build the practice-phase network. International exchange is distributed via Erasmus+, Study Abroad, Freemover, and intermediaries (Asia Exchange, GOstralia!, College Contact, ISO, World of Students) across 40+ countries. The institution is governed by Rector Prof. Dr. Beate Sieger-Hanus, with Prof. Dr. Martina Klärle serving as President of the wider DHBW system.

Name

DHBW Stuttgart

Legal name

Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg

Website

https://dhbw-stuttgart.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Short description

DHBW Stuttgart is Germany's first state dual university, combining academic study with practical work at approximately 2,000 partner companies to serve around 8,000 students across 18 bachelor programs in business, engineering, social work, and health.

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

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

Keywords

• Dual study programs
• Higher education
• Bachelor degree programs
• Applied research
• Vocational academic training

Headquarters

HQ city

Stuttgart

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. State Public Funding: DHBW Stuttgart is a public university funded by the state of Baden-Württemberg through the Ministry for Science, Research and Kunst (MWK). Core operational funding comes from public budget allocations.
2. Tuition Fees (International/Zweitstudium): International students and those pursuing a second degree (Zweitstudium) are charged tuition fees per state regulations; standard domestic students have no tuition fees but pay semester contributions
3. Dual Partner Compensation: Dual partner companies pay students a training allowance (Ausbildungsvergütung) during both theory and practice phases; minimum tariff-based compensation required, regulated by collective agreements

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

DHBW Stuttgart is a state-funded dual university that delivers cooperatively structured bachelor and master degree programs, alternating between academic study phases at the university and practical training phases at partner companies. It offers dual study programs across business, engineering, IT, and social work disciplines, supported by applied research centers and continuing-education programs (DHBW CAS). Students are recruited through dual partner firms, and the institution primarily serves domestic and international students seeking a paid, practice-integrated academic degree.

Product overview

DHBW Stuttgart is Germany's first state dual university, offering 18 nationally accredited and internationally recognized dual bachelor degree programs across four faculties (Wirtschaft/Business, Technik/Engineering, Sozialwesen/Social Work, and Gesundheit/Health). The institution operates a platform-plus-ecosystem model: the core product is the dual bachelor program, which combines academic study with practical work phases at approximately 2,000 partner companies. Supplementary offerings include the DHBW CAS (Center for Advanced Studies) for approximately 30 dual master's programs, dedicated AI research (ZfKI), autonomous driving research (ZFM), and digital transformation research (ZDT). Student technology initiatives include DHBW Smart Rollerz (autonomous driving project competing in the CAuDri-Challenge), DHBW Engineering, and various digital platforms (Moodle LMS, Dualis student portal, Nextcloud cloud storage, Office 365, bwCloud). International support services include Culture Connection, Buddy Programme, ZIK (Center for Intercultural Competence), and partnerships with over 100 international universities through Erasmus+, Study Abroad, and exchange programs. The institution serves approximately 8,000 students at Stuttgart and Campus Horb, with annual enrollment of around 3,000 new students.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DHBW Smart Rollerz: Student project team developing autonomous driving model vehicles, competing in CAuDri-Challenge and formerly Carolo-Cup
• Culture Connection
• Buddy Programme
• Center for Advanced Studies (DHBW CAS)
• Zentrum für Künstliche Intelligenz (ZfKI)
• Zentrum für Digitale Transformation (ZDT)
• Zentrum für Empirische Forschung (ZEF)
• Zentrum für Managementsimulation (ZMS)
• Zentrum für Interkulturelle Kompetenz (ZIK)

Products and services

• Dual Bachelor Degree Programs (BWL, Technik, IT, Soziale Arbeit) State-recognized bachelor degree programs combining academic phases on campus with structured, paid in-company training phases at dual partner companies; offered across business, engineering, IT, and social work disciplines. Designed for prospective students seeking integrated academic and practical training.
• DHBW CAS Master Programs Postgraduate master's-level continuing-education programs offered in cooperation with corporate partners, providing advanced, practice-oriented qualifications to graduates and working professionals.
• International Exchange / Study Abroad Programs Structured outbound and inbound exchange opportunities enabling dual students to complete a study phase abroad at partner universities, broadening international exposure and academic profile.
• Study Talk / OSA Online Self-Assessment An online self-assessment tool that supports prospective students in evaluating their fit with DHBW Stuttgart's dual study programs before applying.
• Applied Research Centers (e.g., Digitalization, AI, Sustainability) Research centers that conduct industry-relevant applied research projects in cooperation with partner companies, supporting both teaching and transfer of knowledge to the regional economy.

Quantifiable outcome

• ~8,000 students enrolled at Stuttgart/Horb campuses; ~3,000 new students annually; 18 Bachelor programs across 4 faculties
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration14 records

AI capability6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Approximately 2,000 Dual Partner Companies and Social InstitutionscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDHBW Stuttgart partners with approximately 2,000 companies and social institutions across Germany. These dual partners provide practical training phases for students, pay training allowances, and often employ graduates. Partners span all major industries including banking, insurance, healthcare, retail, manufacturing, IT, and social services. Partnership involves signing study contracts with students and coordinating theory-practice alternation.
• Partner Universities Worldwide (Erasmus+ and Exchange Programs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDHBW Stuttgart maintains international partnerships with universities across Europe (Erasmus+), North America, Asia, Australia, Africa, and South America. Key partners include: EK Business Academy Copenhagen, Kajaani/Laurea/Oulu UAS (Finland), French universities (Université de Lorraine, Nantes, Versailles, Toulouse III), Dutch universities (Fontys, Den Haag, Hanzehogeschool Groningen), UK universities (Edinburgh Napier, London Metropolitan), US universities (Cal Poly SLO, CSU Fullerton, UCSD, San Diego State), Australian universities (Bond, Griffith, RMIT, Swinburne), and many others. Programs include Erasmus+ exchange, Study Abroad, and Freemover options.
• Asia Exchange, College Contact, GOstralia!, ISO, World of StudentsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThese partner organizations specialize in mediating study abroad placements for DHBW Stuttgart students. Asia Exchange focuses on Asian universities, GOstralia! on Australian placements, College Contact on European and international exchanges, ISO on various destinations, and World of Students on diverse study abroad options.
• Zentrum für Interkulturelle Kompetenz (ZIK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZIK provides cultural preparation and support for international exchanges, particularly for Social Work faculty students. ZIK offers intercultural certification, events, foreign internship support, and cultural preparation programs for students undertaking international placements.
• Culture Connection Club and Buddy Programme PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent-led internationalization initiative pairing German students with international exchange students. The Culture Connection Club supports outgoing students planning abroad semesters and assists incoming international students at DHBW Stuttgart. Buddy Programme assigns German buddies to international students for orientation support and cultural integration.
• University of Ulm and KIT (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology) - CAuDri ChallengeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe CAuDri-Challenge (Cognitive Autonomous Driving) was co-founded by teams from University of Ulm, KIT, and DHBW Stuttgart. This student competition for autonomous driving model vehicles continues the legacy of the former Carolo Cup. DHBW Stuttgart hosts the annual competition in its Fakultät Technik Neubau building. Other participating teams have included HTW Leipzig, Ostfalia Cup, and Raven GP (GUC Cairo).

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Hochschule für Technik Stuttgart: Regional public university of applied sciences in Stuttgart focused on technical disciplines. Competes with DHBW Stuttgart's engineering faculty for applied-science students, though without the structured dual partner company model.

Direct peers

• DHBW Mannheim: Direct peer within the DHBW system offering dual bachelor programs in business, engineering, and social work. Operates the same three-month theory-practice alternation model with its own network of dual partner companies.
• DHBW Karlsruhe: Sibling DHBW location in Baden-Württemberg offering dual study programs in business and engineering with overlapping partner networks and identical regulatory framework under MWK funding.
• Steinbeis University Berlin: German private university organized around the transfer model combining academic study with project-based work at Steinbeis transfer centers. Operates a parallel work-integrated model with similar academic-practice integration to DHBW Stuttgart.
• FOM Hochschule: Germany's largest private university focused on berufsbegleitend (work-integrated) study for working professionals. Competes for dual/part-time learners in the same German market, especially in business and engineering fields.
• Berufsakademie Sachsen: State-level dual study institution in Saxony modeled closely on the DHBW concept. Competes for German dual-study market share with a similar three-month alternation structure and partner-company model.

Broad incumbents

• University of Stuttgart: Broader incumbent public university in the same Stuttgart metropolitan area. Offers traditional degree programs without the dual-practice model but competes for the same Abiturienten pool and research talent.
• Drexel University: US-based university historically built around cooperative education (co-op) with mandatory work placements integrated into degree programs. Shares the core pedagogical concept of academic-practice integration that defines DHBW Stuttgart's dual study model.
• Northeastern University: US-based global research university recognized as a pioneer of cooperative education with co-op placement programs. Operates a comparable model of alternating academic study with paid workplace experience, though on a much larger international scale.

Emerging players

• Hochschule der Bundesagentur für Arbeit: Public-sector university operated by the German Federal Employment Agency offering dual study programs for civil servants and social insurance professionals. Overlaps with DHBW Stuttgart's social work and health faculty offerings in serving public-sector employers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/dhbwstuttgart
• Facebookfacebook.com/dhbwstuttgart
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dhbw-stuttgart
• Instagraminstagram.com/dhbwstuttgart

Compliance2 records

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 DHBW Stuttgart