FHS St.Gallen University of Applied Sciences

What FHS St.Gallen University of Applied Sciences does

OST – Ostschweizer Fachhochschule (also referred to in legacy contexts as FHS St.Gallen University of Applied Sciences) is a public Swiss University of Applied Sciences headquartered in St.Gallen, Switzerland, with additional campuses in Rapperswil-Jona and Buchs. The institution was formed on 1 September 2020 through the merger of three predecessor institutions — FHS St.Gallen (founded 1858), HSR Rapperswil (founded 1872), and NTB Buchs (founded 1870) — combining over 170 years of educational and research tradition. It serves as the designated University of Applied Sciences for six Eastern Swiss cantons and the Principality of Liechtenstein.

The institution offers a comprehensive educational portfolio of 18 Bachelor programs spanning architecture, civil engineering, health sciences (nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy), computer science (including a dedicated Bachelor Artificial Intelligence and Bachelor Digital Design with AI Augmentation), social work, electrical/renewable energy/mechanical/mechatronics engineering, and business disciplines, alongside 6 Master programs including the cross-Switzerland Master of Science in Engineering (MSE) with 12 specialized profiles. OST integrates Applied Artificial Intelligence across all programs via its ICAI Interdisciplinary Center for Artificial Intelligence through the Interdisziplinäres Kontextstudium (IKTS) module framework, supported by specialized labs including BIM LAB OST, DigitalLab@OST, LowCodeLab@OST, MedTech Lab, the WPZ Heat Pump Test Center, and a Wasser-Cluster. Continuing education is delivered through CAS/DAS/MAS programs serving 1,500 professionals annually, alongside over 1,000 active applied research projects across six departments.

OST operates under a state-funded model with revenue derived from multi-cantonal public allocations, regulated tuition fees under Swiss education law, continuing-education program fees, and contract research and consulting services. Distribution occurs through direct on-campus enrollment (using SWITCH edu-ID authentication), Practice-Integrated Bachelor Programs (PiBS) delivered with regional employer partners such as SFS Group and HECKER GmbH, and an International Relations Office facilitating exchange programs. The customer base comprises approximately 3,800 degree-program students, 1,500 continuing-education participants, and industry research clients across Eastern Switzerland.

Name

FHS St.Gallen University of Applied Sciences

Legal name

OST – Ostschweizer Fachhochschule

Website

https://ost.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

OST – Ostschweizer Fachhochschule is a public Swiss University of Applied Sciences serving six Eastern Swiss cantons and Liechtenstein. It offers 18 Bachelor and 6 Master programs across technical, health, business, and social disciplines, with AI integration across all curricula via its ICAI center.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Technical and Trade Schools (61151)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Applied Research & Innovation Universities (EDAHAEAE)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Applied sciences
• University degree programs
• Continuing professional education
• Applied research services

Headquarters

HQ city

Rapperswil

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

OST is a public Swiss university of applied sciences that delivers practice-oriented higher education (Bachelor, Master, and Continuing Education programs) and applied research across technical, business, health, and social sciences disciplines. It serves approximately 3,800 students and 1,500 continuing education participants across three campuses, executing over 1,000 research projects annually for regional and industry partners.

Product overview

OST – Ostschweizer Fachhochschule is a university of applied sciences formed in 2020 through the merger of FHS St.Gallen, HSR Rapperswil, and NTB Buchs. It offers a comprehensive educational portfolio including 18 Bachelor programs (Architecture, Civil Engineering, Landscape Architecture, Urban Planning, Nursing, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Computer Science, Digital Design, AI, Social Work, Electrical Engineering, Renewable Energy, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Industrial Engineering, Business Economics, Business Law, Business Informatics) and 6 Master programs including the unique cross-Swiss Master of Science in Engineering (MSE) with 12 specialized profiles. The university integrates Applied Artificial Intelligence across all programs through its ICAI Interdisciplinary Center for AI, offering AI modules in every study field from Architecture to Nursing. It operates three campuses (Buchs, Rapperswil-Jona, St.Gallen) serving the six cantons of Eastern Switzerland and Liechtenstein, with approximately 3,800 students, 1,500 continuing education participants, and over 1,000 research projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ArchitekturWerkstatt: The Architecture Workshop offering a part-time, sustainable, and interdisciplinary Master of Arts in Architecture program.
• ICAI Interdisciplinary Center for Artificial Intelligence
• DigitalLab@OST
• BIM LAB OST
• MedTech Lab
• Racing OST
• OSTpoint (OSTpunkt)
• OSTpoint Magazin

Products and services

• Bachelor Artificial Intelligence Specialized Bachelor program teaching AI model development, training, responsible deployment, and integration into practical applications. Combines software engineering with modern AI technologies including Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Generative AI, NLP, and Computer Vision. Targets prospective students with relevant secondary education seeking AI-focused careers.
• Bachelor Digital Design (AI Augmentation) Design program integrating AI into creative and development processes. Students learn AI tools for user research, creative processes, and prototyping to create user-friendly and innovative solutions. For prospective students interested in AI-augmented design careers.
• Bachelor Informatik (Computer Science) General Computer Science program preparing students for software development, network infrastructure, system administration, and IT leadership roles across service and production sectors. For prospective students seeking broad IT careers.
• Bachelor Electrical and Computer Engineering Engineering program covering matter, energy, and information processing. Develops devices and algorithms at the intersection of analog and digital, hardware and software. Pioneer in AI education since 2012. For prospective engineering students.
• Master of Science in Engineering (MSE) Switzerland-wide collaborative engineering Master's program offered by OST in cooperation with all Swiss universities of applied sciences. Features 12 specialized profiles including Computer Science, Data Science, Information and Cyber Security, and Medical Engineering. For Bachelor graduates seeking advanced engineering specialization.
• Continuing Education (CAS/DAS/MAS) Executive education offerings including Certificate, Diploma, and Master of Advanced Studies programs across business, technology, and applied sciences. For working professionals seeking career advancement and specialized certifications.
• Research and Consulting Services Applied research and consulting across six departments covering Architecture, Health, Computer Science, Social Work, Technology, and Business with over 1,000 ongoing research projects. For industry partners, companies, and public organizations seeking R&D support and innovation.
• ICAI Interdisciplinary Center for Artificial Intelligence Interdisciplinary AI research center leading the IT-Bildungsoffensive (ITBO) education initiative. Coordinates AI integration across all OST study programs and supports AI student projects. For internal OST programs and external research partners.
• Interdisciplinary Focus: Applied Artificial Intelligence Cross-disciplinary AI focus integrating AI literacy across all study programs through IKTS modules, specialized AI courses, and AI student projects supported by ITBO funding. Built into all OST degree programs.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability10 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ICT-Berufsbildung SchweizcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOST serves as a university partner for ICT-Berufsbildung Schweiz (ICT Professional Education Switzerland), the national association for ICT vocational education. This partnership facilitates permeability between vocational education and higher education, enabling knowledge and experience exchange between educational levels and supporting the national ICT workforce development strategy.
• Swiss Universities (swissuniversities)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOST participates in the national Swiss higher education coordination through swissuniversities, collaborating on admission standards, international student exchange, and educational quality assurance across all Swiss universities of applied sciences.
• PiBS Partner CompaniescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVarious regional companies in Eastern Switzerland partner with OST for Practice-Integrated Bachelor Programs (PiBS). Students work 40% at partner companies while studying 60%, creating a talent pipeline. Partner companies include SFS Group, HECKER GmbH, and other regional employers across technology and engineering sectors. The program enables companies to develop skilled workforce while students gain practical experience.
• IT-Bildungsoffensive des Kantons St.Gallen (ITBO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOST leads the Applied Digitalization focus area as part of the IT Education Initiative of Canton St.Gallen. The ICAI Interdisciplinary Center for Artificial Intelligence manages this initiative, integrating AI education across all OST study programs with the goal of teaching AI fundamentals to all students.
• Formula Student SwitzerlandminorOthersOST participates in Formula Student Switzerland, an international engineering design competition for student teams to design and build race cars. The Racing OST team competes with their self-developed electric racing vehicle, showcasing engineering education excellence.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• FH Graubünden (FHGR): Smaller Fachhochschule operating in neighboring Graubünden. Overlaps with OST on tourism, engineering, and applied research, and competes for some of the same regional talent pipeline in Eastern Switzerland.

Direct peers

• HSLU Hochschule Luzern: Central Swiss Fachhochschule with engineering, business, design, social work, and music programs. Closely comparable in scale, program mix, and applied-research intensity.
• HES-SO Haute école spécialisée de Suisse occidentale: Western Switzerland's Fachhochschule network offering the same Bachelor/Master architecture across engineering, health, design, and business. Directly comparable to OST at the institutional-model level despite serving a different linguistic region.
• BFH Berner Fachhochschule: Swiss Fachhochschule covering the Bern region with parallel degree and applied-research structure. Competes with OST for the same national pool of FH applicants and federal funding allocations.
• FHNW Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz: Multi-campus Fachhochschule serving Northwestern Switzerland with a similarly broad offering in technology, business, social work, and design. Direct institutional peer operating under identical HFKG accreditation framework.
• ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften: One of Switzerland's largest universities of applied sciences, with comparable portfolio across engineering, health, business, and social work. ZHAW is the most direct structural peer to OST in terms of program breadth, applied-research mandate, and canton-funded operating model.
• SUPSI Scuola universitaria professionale della Svizzera italiana: Italian-speaking Swiss Fachhochschule with comparable degree structure, applied research mandate, and HFKG accreditation. Operates as a structural twin though in a different language region.

Emerging players

• Kalaidos Fachhochschule: Privately accredited Swiss Fachhochschule focused on working adults and flexible study models. Competes with OST's continuing-education programs (CAS/DAS/MAS) where employer-paid professional upskilling is a key buyer.

Broad incumbents

• ETH Zürich: Switzerland's flagship federal technology university. Competes with OST for top STEM talent and research funding, and is the benchmark against which OST's AI and engineering programs are positioned nationally.
• Universität St.Gallen (HSG): Co-located in St.Gallen, HSG is the dominant business and management university in the same region. Direct overlap with OST's School of Management and AACSB-accredited business programs, while HSG's brand attracts higher-tier applicants.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/hsrwebmaster
• Facebookfacebook.com/ostschweizerfachhochschule
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ost-ostschweizer-fachhochschule
• Instagraminstagram.com/ostschweizerfachhochschule

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 FHS St.Gallen University of Applied Sciences