BTK University of Art and Design

What BTK University of Art and Design does

BTK University of Art and Design is a private German higher-education institution founded in 2006 and headquartered in Berlin, operating as part of the broader GUS Germany GmbH (GGG) network of universities alongside the University of Europe for Applied Sciences (UE). The institution is positioned as a creative university, offering state-recognised and accredited undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes across Art & Design, Business, Tech, Health and Sports disciplines, with the GUS Germany network serving more than 18,000 students across campuses in Berlin, Hamburg, Iserlohn and Potsdam in Germany, plus international locations in Amsterdam (Netherlands) and Dubai (UAE).

The core product is a portfolio of accredited degree programmes delivered through physical campuses and an Online Campus platform, supported by 1,000+ partner universities and corporate partnerships with brands such as Canon, Merck, RTL, DHL, Daimler, BASF and Axel Springer, as well as a 2022 partnership with Borussia Dortmund (BVB). These partnerships provide project-based learning, case studies and employer-pipeline exposure rather than disclosed product integrations or technology platforms.

The business model is tuition-based, with revenue generated from student enrolment across multiple campuses, programmes and geographies. Distribution is multi-channel: direct enrolment on German campuses, an Online Campus for remote learners, international campuses for non-resident students, and a partnership ecosystem that supports student exchange and corporate pathways. The institution has received recognitions including the GloBis 5-Star award and the German Education Award Medium-Sized Companies in 2024/2025, and marked its 25th anniversary in 2025 as part of the broader GUS Germany network.

Name

BTK University of Art and Design

Legal name

University of Europe for Applied Sciences

Website

https://btk-fh.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Short description

BTK University of Art and Design is a private, state-accredited creative university founded in 2006 in Berlin, operating within the GUS Germany network and serving undergraduate and postgraduate students across Art & Design, Business, Tech, Health and Sports programmes via German and international campuses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (611610)

akta.pro primary industry

Design Colleges (Graphic, Industrial, UX/UI, Interior) (EDAHAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Engineering & Technology Institutes (Comprehensive) (EDAHAEAA)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• University degree programmes
• Art and design education
• Business and sport education
• Technology and software education

Headquarters

HQ city

Iserlohn

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: UE generates revenue primarily through tuition fees charged to students for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across their campus locations in Germany and Dubai.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Revenue generated through cooperation partnerships with corporate entities including scholarship sponsorships (e.g., BVB scholarship covering 100% tuition fees).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

BTK University of Art and Design is a private higher education institution that delivers state-recognized and accredited undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes across six academic schools (Art & Design, Business & Sport, Tech & Software, Dual Programmes, Health & Psychology, and Foundation Year). Programmes are taught on five physical campuses in Germany and Dubai, with an online campus platform supporting remote learning.

Product overview

The University of Europe for Applied Sciences (UE) is a higher education institution offering state-recognized and accredited undergraduate and postgraduate study programmes across six academic schools: Art & Design, Business & Sport, Tech & Software, Dual Programmes, Health & Psychology, and Foundation Year. The institution operates multiple campuses across Europe (Berlin, Hamburg, Iserlohn, Innovation Hub in Potsdam) and in Dubai, with partnerships including Amsterdam Shorts Week. UE is part of GUS Germany GmbH (GGG) network and functions as an educational service provider rather than a technology product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Art & Design Programmes

Quantifiable outcome

• 90%+ of alumni graduating from business or creative degrees find employment within 12 months

Named customers2 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Borussia Dortmund (BVB)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince July 1, 2022, UE became the first official university partner of Borussia Dortmund. The partnership includes exclusive guest lectures and sporting events with BVB employees and legends. The highlight is a BVB scholarship covering 100% of tuition fees. The cooperation was celebrated at UE Sports Day at the Sports and Entrepreneurship Campus in Iserlohn with BVB legend Roman Weidenfeller present.
• University of Applied Sciences Europe AmsterdamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive collaboration providing Amsterdam Shorts Week - a unique short-term international learning experience for UE business students. Students dive into innovative business topics, work on case studies, gain insights into international markets, and build networks with peers and professionals in Amsterdam.
• CanoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate cooperation partner providing industry connections and resources for students.
• MerckcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate cooperation partner providing industry connections and potential research opportunities for students.
• RTLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedia cooperation partner providing industry exposure and potential career opportunities for students.
• DHLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLogistics cooperation partner providing industry connections and practical exposure.
• DaimlercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAutomotive cooperation partner providing industry connections and potential career pathways.
• BASFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChemical industry cooperation partner providing research and industry connections for students.
• BSH Middle EastcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint initiative with UE Dubai to run Green Genius Challenge sustainability innovation programme for high schoolers, promoting sustainable home appliance innovation.
• VispaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate cooperation partner.
• Axel SpringercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedia publishing cooperation partner providing industry connections and career opportunities.
• Reporters Without BordersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit organization partnership focused on press freedom and journalism education.
• Student Partout / JobboerseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJob platform partnership helping connect students with employment opportunities.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Macromedia University of Applied Sciences: Private German university with campuses including Berlin, offering applied bachelor's and master's programmes in design, business, journalism and technology. Direct competitor in the German private applied-sciences market, serving similar creative and business student segments.
• SRH Berlin University of Applied Sciences: Private German university based in Berlin with schools covering design, business, engineering and technology. Closely comparable in scale, geographic footprint, and applied-sciences curriculum orientation to BTK/UE.
• IU International University of Applied Sciences: Largest private university in Germany offering applied-sciences programmes across business, design, tech and health, with strong online and hybrid delivery. Directly competes in the same German private applied-sciences category, with materially larger scale.
• Mediadesign Hochschule: Private German university specialized in media, design, and creative industries, with multiple campus locations. Directly competes for design and creative media students in the same B2C private higher-education segment.
• Berlin School of Business and Innovation (BSBI): Berlin-based private university offering business, creative and technology programmes with international student focus. Comparable in internationalization strategy (English-language programmes, multinational intake) and B2C enrollment model.
• GISMA University of Applied Sciences: Berlin-based private business school with programmes in management, finance and technology. Overlaps with UE's Business & Sport school and competes for similar B2C international student demand.
• CODE University of Applied Sciences: Private Berlin-based university focused on software engineering, interaction design and digital product development. Competes with the Tech & Software and design-oriented programmes at UE's Innovation Hub in Potsdam.

Broad incumbents

• Central Saint Martins (University of the Arts London): Globally recognized public arts college within UAL offering design, art and fashion programmes. Indirect peer setting the global benchmark for art & design higher education that BTK/UE's Berlin design programmes are benchmarked against.
• Hochschule für Gestaltung Schwäbisch Gmünd: Public German university specializing in design (product, communication, interaction). Competitor for art & design applicants in Germany, with stronger brand in classical design education but a more limited programme portfolio.

Emerging players

• SAE Institute: International creative media education provider with campuses in Germany offering applied programmes in audio, film, animation and game development. Comparable in delivery format and creative-industries orientation.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/uegermany
• Facebookfacebook.com/UE.Germany
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/btk-hochschule-fuer-gestaltung
• Instagraminstagram.com/ue.germany
• TikToktiktok.com/@ue.germany

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

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 BTK University of Art and Design