AQAS e.V.

What AQAS e.V. does

AQAS e.V. (Agentur für Qualitätssicherung durch Akkreditierung von Studiengängen) is a German non-profit registered association (eingetragener Verein, Vereinsregister Köln VR 17554) founded in January 2002 by German universities to provide external quality assurance for higher education study programmes. Headquartered at Hohenstaufenring 30–32 in Cologne, the agency conducts programme accreditation (Programmakkreditierung) and system accreditation (Systemakkreditierung) under German accreditation law (Studienakkreditierungsstaatsvertrag, MRVO) and the European Standards and Guidelines (ESG). Since obtaining full ENQA membership in 2008 and registration in EQAR, AQAS has accredited more than 6,500 study programmes at universities, universities of applied sciences, and scientific societies, and has been recognised as a MULTRA signatory for joint programme accreditation.

The agency's core offerings are organised into three service lines: (1) national programme and system accreditation procedures for German higher education institutions, (2) international accreditation and joint programme services under the European Approach — covering programme- and institution-level accreditation on four continents — and (3) supplementary certification, consulting and workshop offerings such as the recurring 'Programmakkreditierung – Grundlagen und Praxis' training. AQAS does not operate a software product, API, or proprietary technology platform; its technology base is methodological, comprising established assessment frameworks, expert panel coordination, and deep institutional knowledge of ESG and German regulatory compliance. Notable capabilities include flexible procedure models (Bündelverfahren, vorgezogene Modellbetrachtungen) and the European Approach for Joint Programmes, which enables a single accreditation for multi-country degree programmes.

AQAS operates a professional services model funded by three revenue streams: (1) accreditation procedure fees regulated by the Akkreditierungsrat fee schedule (Gebührenordnung effective 09.08.2018), (2) recurring annual membership fees from more than 90 member universities and scientific societies, and (3) workshop and training fees. The go-to-market is enterprise field sales — direct engagement with higher education institutions, free initial consultations at the Cologne office, and ongoing support throughout multi-year accreditation lifecycles. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed. The agency is membership-governed through a General Assembly (Mitgliederversammlung), with a Board (Vorstand) led since July 2025 by Prof. Dr. Stefan Herzig and operational management under Managing Directors Doris Herrmann (Strategy, Procedures, International Affairs) and Dr. Verena Kloeters (Commercial, System Accreditation).

Name

AQAS e.V.

Legal name

Agentur für Qualitätssicherung durch Akkreditierung von Studiengängen (AQAS e.V.)

Website

https://aqas.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AQAS e.V. is a Cologne-based, German non-profit accreditation agency founded in 2002, providing external quality assurance and accreditation services for higher education study programmes nationally and internationally under German accreditation law and European ESG standards.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education Accreditation Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Accreditation Evaluation, Peer Review & Site-Visit Organizations (EDADACAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

International/Transnational Accreditation & Recognition Bodies (EDADACAG), Accreditation Standards, Benchmarking & Framework Organizations (EDADACAJ), Institutional & Programmatic Accreditation Audits (EDADAGAA)

Keywords

• Higher education accreditation
• Quality assurance services
• Programme accreditation
• System accreditation
• Joint programme accreditation

Headquarters

HQ city

Cologne (Köln)

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Accreditation Procedure Fees: Fees charged to higher education institutions for conducting accreditation procedures, both national and international. The fees are regulated by the Accreditation Council fee schedule.
2. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from national and international member universities and scientific societies that support and use AQAS services
3. Workshop and Training Fees: Revenue from educational workshops on accreditation procedures, such as 'Programmakkreditierung – Grundlagen und Praxis' workshops offered to university staff

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

AQAS e.V. is a German non-profit accreditation agency that conducts external quality assurance reviews of higher education study programmes. It performs programme accreditation (Programmakkreditierung) and system accreditation (Systemakkreditierung) under German accreditation law and the European Standards and Guidelines (ESG), and extends these services internationally — including joint programmes via the European Approach — for universities and scientific societies.

Product overview

AQAS e.V. is a higher education quality assurance agency that offers a portfolio of accreditation services centered around two core offerings: (1) Programmakkreditierung – Begutachtungsverfahren for program accreditation across all disciplines in Germany, and (2) Systemakkreditierung – Begutachtungsverfahren for system accreditation of quality assurance systems at higher education institutions. These are supplemented by International Accreditation & Services covering joint programmes under German criteria and the European Approach, plus a Certification, Consulting & Workshops tier (Zertifizierung Beratung Workshops) for supplementary professional development offerings. The organization does not offer a technology product or SaaS platform; its services are consultancy- and process-oriented.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Programmakkreditierung (Programme Accreditation) External review procedures (Begutachtungsverfahren) for the accreditation of individual study programmes in Germany. Covers all subject areas including teacher training (Lehramt), based on German criteria and ESG standards, with the Akkreditierungsrat making the final accreditation decision.
• Systemakkreditierung (System Accreditation) External review procedures (Begutachtungsverfahren) for accrediting the internal quality assurance systems of higher education institutions in Germany. Allows successful institutions to accredit their own study programmes under their QA system.
• International Accreditation & Services External accreditation of programmes and institutions outside Germany based on the European Standards and Guidelines (ESG), including joint programme assessments under the European Approach. Covers countries on four continents including Austria, France, Turkey, Chile, Oman, Kazakhstan, Russia, Ghana, and Nigeria. Also includes advisory offerings in internationalization.
• Zertifizierung, Beratung & Workshops (Certification, Consulting & Workshops) Supplementary offerings beyond review and accreditation procedures, including workshops on accreditation procedures (e.g., 'Programmakkreditierung – Grundlagen und Praxis' and European Approach procedures), the annual AQAS conference (Jahrestagung), and advisory services on accreditation and internationalization for university staff.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 6,500 study programmes accredited at universities and universities of applied sciences
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 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

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ENQA (European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008ENQA is the European umbrella organization for quality assurance agencies. AQAS has been a full member since 2008. ENQA develops the European Standards and Guidelines (ESG) and conducts reviews of European agencies. AQAS participates in working groups and contributes to policy development for quality assurance in the European Higher Education Area.
• EQAR (European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEQAR maintains a register of quality assurance agencies that comply with ESG. AQAS is registered in EQAR, which enables transparency and recognition of AQAS accreditation decisions across Europe.
• Akkreditierungsrat (Accreditation Council)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Accreditation Council is the central body of the foundation responsible for accreditation decisions in Germany. AQAS is authorized by the Council to conduct accreditation procedures. The Council makes final accreditation decisions based on AQAS assessment reports.
• ECA (European Consortium for Accreditation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECA is a consortium of European accreditation agencies that promotes mutual recognition of accreditation results. AQAS participates in MULTRA, the multilateral agreement for joint programmes, and collaborates on joint training programmes such as 'Assessing Joint Programmes'.
• INQAAHE (International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerINQAAHE is a global network for quality assurance agencies in higher education. AQAS participates in this international forum for exchange of experiences and best practices in quality assurance.
• CUE Kenya (Commission for University Education)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAQAS, in partnership with ECA, facilitated training 'External Quality Assurance – putting theory into practice' together with the Kenyan Commission for University Education (CUE) in February 2016 in Naivasha, Kenya. The training contributed to staff development, exchange of experiences between European and East-African perspectives on quality assurance.
• ACQUINcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAQAS and ACQUIN made a voluntary commitment to certain minimum standards for international accreditation procedures (Cross-Border Quality Assurance). This ensures that European ESG standards and German quality requirements are adhered to in international procedures.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• FIBAA: Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation, a German-based agency conducting programme and system accreditation in Germany and internationally. Direct competitor for both domestic German procedures and ESG-based international accreditations.
• NVAO: Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders, an EQAR-registered agency conducting programme and institutional accreditation in the Benelux region. Comparable ESG-based European peer and ENQA member with cross-border reach analogous to AQAS's international practice.
• ZEvA: Central Evaluation and Accreditation Agency Hannover, another authorized German accreditation agency offering programme and system accreditation. Direct domestic competitor within the same regulated framework.
• AQ Austria: Agency for Quality Assurance and Accreditation Austria, an ENQA-member and EQAR-registered agency that conducts accreditation and quality assurance procedures in Austria. Direct European peer with comparable ESG-based mandate and Austrian geography that overlaps with AQAS's Austrian procedure activity.
• ACQUIN: German accreditation agency authorized by the Akkreditierungsrat for programme and system accreditation. ACQUIN is a core cross-border quality assurance partner of AQAS (joint minimum standards for international procedures), and competes for the same German higher education institution clients.
• AHPGS: Akkreditierungsagentur für Studiengänge im Bereich Gesundheit und Soziales, specializing in accreditation of health and social programmes in Germany. Competes for programme accreditation mandates, particularly in healthcare disciplines where AQAS also operates.
• Hcéres: Haut Conseil de l'évaluation de la recherche et de l'enseignement supérieur, the French national evaluation and accreditation body. Comparable ENQA/EQAR-registered peer conducting programme and institutional reviews in France — a market where AQAS also runs procedures.
• evalag: Evaluationsagentur Baden-Württemberg, a state-based German accreditation and evaluation agency authorized by the Akkreditierungsrat. Competes with AQAS for programme and system accreditation work, particularly in southwestern Germany.
• ANECA: Agencia Nacional de Evaluación de la Calidad y Acreditación, Spain's national accreditation and quality assessment agency. ENQA member and EQAR-registered peer operating ESG-aligned procedures in a European higher education market that is structurally similar to AQAS's addressable territory.

Broad incumbents

• QAA UK: Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, the long-established UK quality assurance body and ENQA founding member. Larger and broader in scope than AQAS, but operates the same ESG-aligned quality assurance and review framework for higher education institutions.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aqas

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 AQAS e.V.