Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences

What Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences does

Hochschule Niederrhein (Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences) is a German public University of Applied Sciences (Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften) established in 1971 and headquartered in Krefeld, with additional campuses in Krefeld West and Mönchengladbach plus a food-technology facility in Neuss. Operating as a Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts under the supervision of the Ministry for Innovation, Science and Research of North Rhine-Westphalia (MIWF), it enrolls approximately 13,363 students across 78 Bachelor's and 34 Master's programs organized into 9 faculties (Chemistry, Design, Engineering & Informatics, Oecotrophology, Social Work, Textile & Clothing Technology, Business Sciences, Business Engineering, and Healthcare). Its core operational product is the digital campus ecosystem built around the HISinOne campus management portal and the iHN mobile application, supplemented by Moodle-based e-learning, sciebo cloud storage (a joint NRW initiative), eduroam WLAN, OpenVPN, Zoom/Jitsi video conferencing, and centralized identity management via the HN Identity Manager.

The institution is funded primarily through state allocations from North Rhine-Westphalia, supplemented by semester contributions, application fees, and revenue from the Zentrum für Weiterbildung (continuing education). Its go-to-market is direct-to-student recruitment through the HISinOne online portal combined with community-led outreach via events (HSNR Picknick Club, Design Discussion series, Ringvorlesung), school engagement (Talentscouting, NRW-Technikum), and dual study programs with regional industry partners via the IHK and similar chambers. Pricing for ancillary services is nominal — Office 365 ProPlus at €4.99/year, with most software (Sophos, MatLab, SPSS, LinkedIn Learning) provided free through campus licenses. The university is led by President Prof. Dr. Susanne Meyer and has no commercial ownership structure; it is governed entirely as a public-law institution with no venture capital, private equity, or listed securities.

Name

Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences

Legal name

Hochschule Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences

Website

https://hs-niederrhein.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Hochschule Niederrhein is a German public University of Applied Sciences serving approximately 13,363 students across 9 faculties and 112+ degree programs from campuses in Krefeld, Mönchengladbach, and Neuss, funded by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education (Applied Sciences)

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Polytechnic & Applied Sciences Universities (EDAHAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hybrid, Multi-Location & Multi-Country Study Abroad Programs (EDAIAAAE), Technical Universities with Specialized Engineering Domains (EDAHAEAI), Professional & Executive Short Courses (Non-Degree, International) (EDAIAIAH)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Applied sciences
• Bachelor degree programs
• Master degree programs
• Continuing education

Headquarters

HQ city

Krefeld

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Public Higher Education Funding: As a German public university (Körperschaft des Öffentlichen Rechts), primary funding comes from state government (Land Nordrhein-Westfalen) through the Ministry for Innovation, Science and Research. Funding covers operational costs, research, and infrastructure.
2. Student Tuition and Fees: Semester contributions including administrative fees, student union fees, and Semesterticket. Application and enrollment fees for certain programs.
3. Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning: Revenue from certificate courses, advanced Master programs, and professional development offerings through the Zentrum für Weiterbildung.
4. Software and Technology Services: Small fees for Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus (€4.99/year), campus cloud services (sciebo), and specialty software licensing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hochschule Niederrhein is a German public University of Applied Sciences delivering practice-oriented higher education. It offers 78 Bachelor and 34 Master degree programs across 9 faculties (Chemistry, Design, Engineering & Informatics, Oecotrophology, Social Work, Textile & Clothing Technology, Business Sciences, Business Engineering, Healthcare), enrolling roughly 13,363 students. The university supplements degree programs with dual study options, NRW-Technikum orientation semesters, applied research, and continuing education through its Zentrum für Weiterbildung, serving ~13,000 students across campuses in Krefeld and Mönchengladbach.

Product overview

Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences operates a comprehensive digital campus ecosystem centered on the HISinOne online portal for student administration and the iHN mobile app for on-the-go access. The university provides integrated IT services including WLAN connectivity (HN1X and eduroam), VPN for remote access, cloud storage via sciebo (NRW-wide campus cloud), and video conferencing through Zoom and Jitsi. Academic software is available through campus licensing arrangements including MatLab, IBM SPSS, and Microsoft Office 365. The e-learning platform (Moodle) hosts course materials, IT tutorials, and library training. Additional services include Sophos antivirus, LinkedIn Learning access, and the GigaMove file transfer service. The university operates three campuses (Krefeld Süd, Krefeld West, Mönchengladbach) with integrated library services, research support, and continuing education offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bachelor Degree Programs (78 programs)
• Master Degree Programs (34 programs)
• Dual Study Programs (Duales Studium)
• NRW-Technikum Orientation Semester with Practical Component
• Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning (Zentrum für Weiterbildung)
• International Exchange Programs (Incomings/Outgoings)
• Applied Research and Knowledge Transfer
• HISinOne Online Portal

Quantifiable outcome

• ~13,363 students enrolled across 112+ degree programs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Integration10 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• sciebo (Campus Cloud NRW)coreTechnology or IntegrationCollaborative cloud storage service operated by 22 NRW universities, funded by the state. Provides 30GB free storage per student with data stored exclusively in NRW. Offers synchronization client and web interface for file sharing and collaboration.
• eduroamcoreTechnology or IntegrationEuropean initiative providing seamless WLAN access for students and staff at participating institutions worldwide. Allows access at thousands of universities across Europe and beyond using home institution credentials.
• Hochschulallianz (HAfM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional alliance of universities in the Lower Rhine/Münsterland region for collaborative research, teaching, and student exchange programs.
• DFN-VereincoreTechnology or IntegrationGerman Research Network association providing digital certificate services and network infrastructure for academic institutions.
• IHK (Chamber of Industry and Commerce)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partnership with Chamber of Commerce for business collaboration, student career services, and industry-academia knowledge transfer.
• Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr (VRR)coreOthersRegional public transport association providing Semesterticket (Germany Ticket equivalent) for all enrolled students, enabling free public transit in the region.
• DrVis Software GmbHminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner for Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus distribution to students at €4.99/year, handling licensing and billing.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Technische Hochschule Köln (TH Köln): One of Germany's largest UAS institutions, located in NRW with similar applied-sciences mission, broad faculty mix, and continuing education offerings. Most direct comparability on size, scope, and market positioning to HSNR.
• Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg: NRW UAS with campuses in Sankt Augustin, Rheinbach, and Hennef. Compares closely to HSNR on size, faculty breadth, and applied-sciences orientation; competes for similar applicant demographics in NRW.
• Hochschule Osnabrück: Large Lower Saxony UAS comparable to HSNR on size, faculty breadth (engineering, business, design), and dual study programs. Among Germany's most operationally similar UAS institutions.
• FH Aachen (Fachhochschule Aachen): NRW-based UAS with strong engineering, design, and business faculties. Comparable to HSNR on applied-sciences positioning and student profile; competes for similar regional applicants in the western NRW corridor.

Broad incumbents

• RWTH Aachen University: Full technical university in NRW (not UAS) providing both applied and theoretical programs. Provides GigaMove file-transfer service to HSNR; broader and more research-intensive, attracting top STEM applicants who might otherwise consider HSNR's engineering programs.
• Hochschule München (Munich University of Applied Sciences): One of Germany's largest UAS institutions with a much broader portfolio and national reputation. Comparable on UAS model and applied-sciences emphasis but operates at significantly larger scale and different geographic market.
• HTW Berlin (Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Berlin): Large Berlin-based UAS with similar applied-sciences positioning across engineering, business, and design. Comparable on institutional model and program mix; serves a different metro market.

Regional players

• Hochschule Düsseldorf: Neighboring NRW UAS with comparable applied-sciences positioning across design, business, and engineering disciplines. Overlaps HSNR's catchment geography and competes for many of the same regional applicants.
• Hochschule Rhein-Waal: Public UAS with campuses in Kleve and Kamp-Lintfort in the Lower Rhine region of NRW. Directly comparable to HSNR on mission, governance (state-funded UAS), and target student segment; competes for the same regional applicant pool.

Emerging players

• IU Internationale Hochschule: Germany's largest private university with strong online and hybrid program offerings. Represents a structural competitive threat to public UAS institutions by offering flexible, often asynchronous alternatives to traditional campus programs at comparable or lower cost.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/hsniederrhein
• Facebookfacebook.com/HochschuleNiederrhein
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hochschule-niederrhein
• Instagraminstagram.com/hochschuleniederrhein

Compliance12 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences