EK - Erhvervsakademi København

What EK - Erhvervsakademi København does

EK - Erhvervsakademi København is a publicly funded Danish business academy (erhvervsakademi) established in 2025 through the merger of Cphbusiness and KEA - Copenhagen School of Design and Technology, making it Denmark's largest business academy in its first year of combined operations. The institution delivers higher education and continuing-education programs through 11 campuses spanning the Greater Copenhagen area (Copenhagen K/N/NV, Lyngby, Hillerød, Ballerup, Hellerup) and Bornholm (Rønne), supplemented by online programs. Its product portfolio is organized into three tiers: full-time programs including 2-year academy-level degrees (erhvervsakademiuddannelser), 3.5-year professional bachelor's degrees (professionsbacheloruddannelser), and top-up bachelor's programs; part-time continuing education comprising academy-level (akademiuddannelser) and diploma-level (diplomuddannelser) programs; and short professional courses plus 6-week job-focused courses for unemployed individuals. Disciplines span economics, finance, marketing, IT, cybersecurity, design, construction, energy, and service management.

EK's revenue model rests on three streams: Danish government taximeter funding for EU/EEA students (primary), tuition fees from non-EU/EEA international students, and fees from continuing-education courses, short courses, and corporate training (individual course fees range from approximately DKK 5,000 to DKK 12,500). Technology underpins operations through a digital learning platform, an online application portal with summer and winter intake cycles, an asynchronous online education format, and the 'Mit EK' student portal. The institution is led by Rektor Steen Enemark Kildesgaard, employs 1,104 staff, and enrolled 5,588 new students for summer 2026 (a roughly 3% increase year-over-year) out of 16,060 total applications. Customer segments span full-time students, working professionals and corporate clients, international exchange students, and unemployed persons retraining through municipality-funded programs. Teaching and applied research are conducted in close collaboration with Danish businesses and municipalities, with award-winning work such as the 2021 Ministry of Education and Research 'Research Project of the Year' for the 'Knibestriben' incontinence design project.

Name

EK - Erhvervsakademi København

Legal name

Erhvervsakademi København

Website

https://ek.dk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2025

Operating status

Operating

Short description

EK - Erhvervsakademi København is Denmark's largest publicly funded business academy, formed in 2025 from the merger of Cphbusiness and KEA. It serves full-time students, working professionals, corporate clients, and unemployed individuals through 11 campuses and online programs spanning IT, business, design, and technical disciplines.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Business and Secretarial Schools (61141), Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International Business & Global Management Schools (EDAHAHAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Online Professional Schools (MBA/MPA/MPH/Etc.) (EDAHALAE), Education Professionals (Teacher/Administrator CE, CPD) (EDAAALAE)

Keywords

• Higher education programs
• Professional bachelor degrees
• Continuing education courses
• Vocational higher education
• Business academy training

Headquarters

HQ city

København K

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: As a public higher education institution in Denmark, EK receives government funding for educating Danish and EU/EEA students
2. Tuition Fees (Non-EU/EEA Students): International students from outside the EU/EEA pay tuition fees for programs
3. Continuing Education and Courses: Revenue from part-time professional development programs, academy-level (akademiuddannelser) and diploma-level (diplomuddannelser) courses, and shorter professional courses for individuals and companies

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

EK - Erhvervsakademi København is Denmark's largest business academy, formed in 2025 through the merger of Cphbusiness and KEA. It delivers full-time higher education programs (2-year academy-level and 3.5-year professional bachelor's degrees), part-time continuing education (academy and diploma programs), short professional courses, and job-focused training for the unemployed across disciplines including IT, cybersecurity, business, design, construction, and service management. Instruction is delivered through 11 campuses across Greater Copenhagen and Bornholm plus online programs.

Product overview

EK - Erhvervsakademi København is Denmark's largest business academy, formed from the merger of Cphbusiness and KEA. The institution offers a comprehensive portfolio of educational products organized into three main tiers: (1) Full-time programs including 2-year academy-level professional bachelor's degrees (Erhvervsakademiuddannelser), 3.5-year professional bachelor's degrees (Professionsbacheloruddannelser), and top-up bachelor programs; (2) Part-time continuing education comprising academy-level programs (Akademiuddannelser) and diploma-level programs (Diplomuddannelser); and (3) Short professional courses (Korte kurser) and job-focused training for the unemployed. Programs span disciplines including economics, finance, marketing, IT and cybersecurity, design, construction, energy, and service management. Several programs are available online, providing flexibility for working students.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Erhvervsakademiuddannelser (Academy-level Professional Programs) Two-year full-time higher education programs at the academy level covering disciplines including economics, finance, marketing, IT, design, construction, and service sectors. Targeted at high school graduates and adult learners seeking practical, career-oriented education.
• Professionsbacheloruddannelser (Professional Bachelor's Degrees) Three-and-a-half-year professional bachelor's degree programs providing in-depth education in specialized fields such as building construction, cybersecurity, and business development. Targeted at students seeking advanced professional qualifications.
• Top-up uddannelser (Top-up Bachelor's Programs) Accelerated bachelor's degree programs allowing students to progress from academy level to full bachelor's qualification in areas such as software development, web development, and international trade. Targeted at students with prior academy-level qualifications.
• Akademiuddannelser (Part-time Continuing Education Programs) Part-time continuing education programs at the academy level lasting typically 3 years, covering areas such as leadership, IT, sales and marketing, energy technology, and economics and resource management. Targeted at working professionals seeking to upskill or reskill.
• Diplomuddannelser (Diploma Programs) Advanced part-time continuing education programs at the diploma level typically lasting 2.5-3 years, including leadership, sales and marketing, and digital concept development. Targeted at working professionals pursuing advanced qualifications.
• Korte kurser (Short Professional Courses) Individual professional development courses available in various disciplines including leadership, communication, HR, IT security, marketing strategy, and sustainable project management. Priced individually between approximately 5,000 and 12,500 DKK, with durations of 2-14 course days. Targeted at working professionals seeking targeted skill updates.
• Kurser for ledige (Courses for the Unemployed) Six-week job-focused training courses for unemployed individuals covering AI applications, sustainable business practices, digital marketing, and project management, providing 5-10 ECTS credits. Prices range from approximately 7,314-12,124 DKK, funded through municipalities or unemployment insurance funds.
• Online uddannelser (Online Education Programs) Digitally delivered education programs enabling remote learning for disciplines including marketing economics, service economics, financial controller studies, and various continuing education courses. Targeted at students who cannot attend physically due to work, family, or international obligations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5,588 new students enrolled in 2026, 3% increase from previous year
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• NoviPelminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStartup company that collaborated with KEA (now EK) on the 'Design mod inkontinens' research project. NoviPel developed tools to assess biomechanical changes in the pelvic floor and assist incontinence treatment with modern technology. The collaboration led to the award-winning 'Knibestriben' project.
• Københavns Professionshøjskole (KP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner institution in the incontinence research project. A midwife from KP's midwife education program (Marie Mansachs) collaborated with KEA teachers on workshops and co-creative processes with mother groups in Copenhagen.
• Danish Hospitality IndustryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Danish hotels for the 'Værtskab 2.0' (Hospitality 2.0) research project studying how technology can be used to create guest relationships. Research involved interviews with hotel managers and front-stage staff, observation of hotel lobbies, and workshops with hotel representatives.
• Københavns Kommune (Copenhagen Municipality)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Copenhagen Municipality in the 'BiKE - Bæredygtighed i Københavnske Erhverv' project. The municipality provides support for green business models, though the project notes that research comparing Copenhagen's sustainability to other cities is lacking.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Aalborg University (AAU): Major Danish public university with strong programs in business, IT, and engineering, including Aalborg's distinctive problem-based learning model. Comparable as a Danish higher-education peer with overlapping applied programs and similar funding model.
• Copenhagen Business School (CBS): Denmark's premier business university offering bachelor, master, and PhD programs. Comparable as a regional incumbent operating in the same business-education market in Copenhagen, though at a higher academic tier with research-led degrees versus EK's applied focus.
• DTU - Technical University of Denmark: Denmark's leading technical university with strong programs in IT, cybersecurity, and engineering. Comparable as an incumbent that overlaps with EK's cybersecurity, IT, and engineering-technology programs in the Copenhagen region.
• VIA University College: One of Denmark's largest university colleges offering professional bachelor programs across multiple disciplines. Comparable as a larger Danish higher-education peer with overlapping applied programs, though with a broader portfolio than EK's business focus.

Direct peers

• UCL University College (Erhvervsakademi UCL): Danish educational institution offering applied higher education programs including business academy tracks. Comparable as a state-funded peer providing similar academy-level programs and competing for the same Danish student pool.
• Cphbusiness - Copenhagen Business Academy (predecessor): Predecessor institution to EK following the 2025 merger with KEA. Directly comparable as a former Danish business academy that contributed EK's core business, finance, and economics programs.
• Business Academy Aarhus (Erhvervsakademi Aarhus): One of Denmark's other major erhvervsakademi, providing academy-level and professional bachelor programs in business, IT, design, and applied fields. Directly comparable as a peer state-funded business academy with similar funding model and program portfolio.
• Zealand Business College (ZBC): Danish erhvervsakademi offering academy and professional bachelor programs in business, IT, and technical disciplines. Directly comparable to EK as a state-funded business academy competing for similar Danish students and employer partnerships.
• KEA - Copenhagen School of Design and Technology (predecessor): Predecessor institution to EK following the 2025 merger with Cphbusiness. Directly comparable as a former Danish business academy that contributed EK's design, IT, and technology programs.

Regional players

• Noroff University College: Norwegian higher-education institution offering applied bachelor's programs in technology, digital media, and business. Comparable as a Nordic peer in the applied higher-education space, with overlapping online delivery and cybersecurity/IT programs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kea-k-benhavns-erhvervsakademi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about EK - Erhvervsakademi København