Deutsche Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaften - DHAW

What Deutsche Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaften - DHAW does

Deutsche Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaften (DHAW) is a private, state-recognized online distance university founded in 2023 and headquartered in Potsdam, Brandenburg, Germany, operating under the trustee company GU Deutsche Hochschule GmbH. It delivers fully accredited Bachelor's and MBA programs entirely online through a proprietary eCampus digital platform — with no physical campuses — covering business administration and management (including 17 specializations), computer science (including AI, cyber security, and software development), sustainability management, psychology, and taxation. The modular-sequential study design (one module at a time, flexible exam scheduling, no fixed lecture times) is paired with dedicated study coaching and includes Microsoft 365 licensing, free admission checks, and credit recognition for prior qualifications.

DHAW serves German working professionals and career changers seeking flexible, affordable higher education accessible without Numerus Clausus restrictions, alongside continuing-education seekers purchasing shorter certificate programs in areas such as AI Management, Sustainability, and Project Management. The business model is a direct-to-consumer monthly subscription across Bachelor programs (from €179/month; total €9,900–€15,900 depending on pace and specialization) and MBAs (60–90 ECTS variants). Enrollment is digital-first, supported by phone, WhatsApp, and email advising, HubSpot CRM-managed marketing automation, and Google Analytics–driven acquisition.

The institution has scaled rapidly from 131 students at end-2023 to over 1,000 students by October 2025, positioning it as one of Germany's fastest-growing private distance universities. It ranked 7th of 117 listed providers with a 4.6/5 Empfehlungssiegel 2026 from Fernstudium Direkt. Under founding President Prof. Dr. Manfred Eglmeier, DHAW built accredited operations; in January 2026, Prof. Dr. iur. Sarah R. Azimi was unanimously elected President. The institution is pursuing internationalization, launching a new Psychology department in October 2026, and engaging with international accreditation bodies (FIBAA) to broaden its standing in the European higher education market.

Name

Deutsche Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaften - DHAW

Legal name

GU Deutsche Hochschule GmbH

Website

https://deutschehochschule.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Deutsche Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaften (DHAW) is a state-recognized, fully online private distance university in Potsdam, Germany, offering accredited Bachelor's and MBA programs in business, IT, and psychology to working professionals and career changers through a subscription-based eCampus platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Potsdam

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees - Bachelor Programs: Monthly subscription-style payments for distance learning bachelor programs. Total program costs range from €9,900 to €15,900 depending on program, time model, and duration. Multiple payment models available including full-time and part-time variants.
2. Tuition Fees - MBA Programs: Monthly payments for MBA distance learning programs. Programs range from 60 to 90 ECTS with corresponding fee structures.
3. Certificate Programs: Shorter professional certificate programs in areas such as AI Management, Sustainability Management, Online Marketing, Project Management, and Process Management.
4. Credit Recognition and Anrechnung Fees: Students can have prior university credits or non-university qualifications (e.g., vocational training) recognized. Each recognized ECTS reduces total tuition by €20.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

DHAW is a state-recognized private distance learning university offering fully online accredited bachelor's, MBA, and professional certificate programs in business, IT, psychology, and sustainability fields. All study, examinations, and student services are delivered 100% digitally via the proprietary eCampus platform, with flexible study models allowing working professionals to complete modules at their own pace with no fixed semesters or lecture times.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Betriebswirtschaft und Management (B.A.) Bachelor Program Accredited online bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Management, offered with multiple specializations and flexible part-time study models (60, 80, 96) for working professionals in Germany.
• Informatik (B.Sc.) Bachelor Program Accredited online bachelor's degree in Computer Science, with specializations in Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, Software Development, and Media Informatics, delivered fully online for working professionals.
• Wirtschaftsinformatik (B.Sc.) Bachelor Program Accredited online bachelor's degree in Business Informatics combining IT and business administration, delivered via DHAW's eCampus platform.
• Nachhaltigkeitsmanagement (B.A.) Bachelor Program Accredited online bachelor's degree in Sustainability Management, focused on sustainable economics and corporate responsibility, delivered fully online for working professionals.
• Steuerwesen (B.A.) Bachelor Program Accredited online bachelor's degree in Taxation, providing applied training in tax law and accounting for working professionals in Germany.
• Psychology (B.Sc.) Bachelor Program Accredited online bachelor's degree in Psychology with eight specializations including Work and Organizational Psychology, Health Psychology, and Business Coaching, scheduled to launch with first intake in October 2026.
• MBA Business Management Accredited online MBA program in Business Management, offered in 60 and 90 ECTS variants providing business fundamentals with optional industry-specific specialization, for working professionals seeking managerial credentials.
• MBA Digital Business und AI Accredited online MBA program in Digital Business and AI, providing advanced training in digital transformation and artificial intelligence for working professionals.
• MBA Finance Accredited online MBA program in Finance, providing advanced training in corporate finance, financial strategy, and investment for working professionals.
• MBA HR Management Accredited online MBA program in HR Management, providing advanced training in human resources strategy and people management for working professionals.
• MBA International Management Accredited online MBA program in International Management, providing advanced training in global business operations and cross-cultural leadership for working professionals.
• MBA Management im Gesundheitswesen Accredited online MBA program in Healthcare Management, providing advanced training in management of healthcare organizations and systems for working professionals.
• MBA Projekt- und Prozessmanagement Accredited online MBA program in Project and Process Management, providing advanced training in project leadership and process optimization for working professionals.
• MBA Wirtschaftspsychologie Accredited online MBA program in Business Psychology, providing advanced training in applying psychological insights to organizational and management contexts for working professionals.
• KI-Management Certificate Program Online professional certificate program in AI Management, providing targeted training for professionals seeking to upskill in artificial intelligence without committing to a full degree program.
• Nachhaltigkeitsmanagement Certificate Program Online professional certificate program in Sustainability Management, providing targeted training for professionals seeking credentials in sustainable business practices.
• Online Marketing Certificate Program Online professional certificate program in Online Marketing, providing targeted training for professionals seeking credentials in digital marketing.
• Projektmanagement Certificate Program Online professional certificate program in Project Management, providing targeted training for professionals seeking credentials in project leadership.
• Prozessmanagement Certificate Program Online professional certificate program in Process Management, providing targeted training for professionals seeking credentials in business process optimization.

Quantifiable outcome

• Student growth from 131 to 1,000+ in approximately 2 years (2023-2025)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

AI capability4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation (FIBAA)coreOthers · 25 February 2025DHAW Vice President Prof. Dr. Sarah R. Azimi serves as an expert reviewer for FIBAA, an international accreditation organization for business education. In February 2025, she participated in an on-site evaluation at Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM) in Indonesia as part of FIBAA's accreditation process. This demonstrates DHAW's engagement with international quality assurance standards in higher education.
• ECOVISminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerECOVIS is a business partnership providing practical learning opportunities for DHAW students. The partnership creates win-win situations: students gain practical insights into professional application fields, while companies like ECOVIS get early access to potential qualified employees. DHAW's cooperation with companies provides real-world business perspectives integrated into the study experience.
• GU Deutsche Hochschule GmbHcoreOthersGU Deutsche Hochschule GmbH is the parent/trustee company (Trägergesellschaft) operating DHAW. Registered in Potsdam (HRB 36626 P). Managed by Prof. Dr. Alexander Habasche and Mag. PhDr. Klaus Volcic. Responsible for overall university operations, business management, and strategic direction.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/gu.hochschule
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/deutschehochschule-dhaw
• Instagraminstagram.com/gu.hochschule

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

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 →

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