What DHSN | Duale Hochschule Sachsen does

DHSN (Duale Hochschule Sachsen) is a state-recognized dual study university (Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts) operating under the supervision of the Saxon State Ministry for Science and Art (SMWK) on behalf of the Free State of Saxony. Founded in 1991 originally as Berufsakademie Sachsen and recently rebranded as Duale Hochschule Sachsen, the institution delivers higher education programs that integrate academic theory with paid practical work experience at partner companies. Students enroll in one of seven campus locations across Saxony (Glauchau as headquarters, plus Dresden, Leipzig, Riesa, Plauen, Bautzen, and Breitenbrunn) and choose from over 50 programs across three academic areas: Business/Economics, Technology, and Social and Health Sciences. The core product is a tuition-free dual study program in which students receive a monthly salary from a practice-partner company rather than paying fees, and graduate with full social-security coverage accumulated during their studies.

The business model is state-funded and nonprofit: DHSN does not charge tuition to students or practice partners and instead receives operating funding from the Free State of Saxony. Practice-partner companies provide host placements, supervision, and student remuneration in exchange for access to a pipeline of practically trained graduates; over 90% of graduates are placed in jobs or retained by their practice partner immediately after graduation. DHSN also operates cooperative research projects and technology-transfer formats connecting academic output to regional industry, supported by facilities including campus libraries, laboratories (notably NIIA-Labore at Leipzig), language centers, student housing, and sports facilities. The institution holds CHE Ranking 2026 top-group recognition for theory-practice integration across multiple programs and has established partnerships with DATEV (digital accounting certification) and IHK Regionalkammer Plauen (regional economic development). Headcount is reported at 51-100 core employees, supported by an extended faculty drawn from practice partners.

The go-to-market motion is sales-led and dual-sided: DHSN recruits prospective students through education fairs (stuzubi), open-house campus tours, social media (YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn), and a digital content presence, while concurrently cultivating practice-partner companies for hosting relationships. Technology infrastructure is administrative rather than proprietary: OPAL for learning management, Campus Dual for student self-service, Matomo/Piwik for web analytics, and standard video and social plugins for content distribution. The institution is led by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Markus Krabbes as interim rector, with seven campus directors and an interim governance structure typical of a German public-law university undergoing post-rebranding transition.

Name

DHSN | Duale Hochschule Sachsen

Legal name

Duale Hochschule Sachsen

Website

https://dhsn.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

DHSN (Duale Hochschule Sachsen) is a state-funded dual study university in Saxony, Germany, offering tuition-free programs that combine academic theory with paid practical work at partner companies across seven campuses in Business, Technology, and Social/Health Sciences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education (Vocational / Dual Study)

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Technical and Trade Schools (61151), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Cooperative Education (Co-op) Technical Universities (EDAHAEAF)

Keywords

• Dual study programs
• Vocational higher education
• Practice-integrated learning
• State university saxony
• Bachelor master degrees

Headquarters

HQ city

Glauchau, Sachsen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. State Funding: As a public institution (Anstalt des öffentlichen Rechts) under the Saxon State Ministry for Science and Art (SMWK), DHSN receives government funding from the Free State of Saxony. The institution does not charge tuition fees to students or practice partners.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

DHSN delivers state-recognized dual study programs that combine academic coursework at seven campuses across Saxony with paid practical training at dual practice partner companies. Students earn academically accredited bachelor's and master's degrees in fields spanning business, engineering, social work, and healthcare, while receiving a salary from their practice partners throughout the program.

Product overview

DHSN (Duale Hochschule Sachsen) is a state university in Saxony, Germany, formerly known as Berufsakademie Sachsen. It operates as a dual study institution combining academic education with practical work experience at partner companies. The institution consists of seven campus locations (Glauchau, Dresden, Leipzig, Riesa, Plauen, Bautzen, Breitenbrunn) offering over 50 dual study programs across three academic areas: Business/Economics (Wirtschaft), Technology (Technik), and Social/Health Sciences (Sozial- und Gesundheitswesen). Students receive monthly remuneration from their practice partners during studies. The institution provides facilities including libraries, laboratories (NIIA-Labore at Leipzig), language centers, student housing, sports facilities, and canteens. Research and knowledge transfer services connect academic work with regional industry partners. The campuses serve as the primary organizational units, each with specific study program offerings and local facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Dual Study Programs (Bachelor and Master) State-recognized degree programs integrating theoretical coursework at DHSN with paid practical training at dual practice partner companies, leading to bachelor's or master's degrees in business, engineering, social work, and healthcare fields.
• Research and Transfer Projects Applied research projects and knowledge-transfer services carried out with partner companies and regional institutions across the seven campuses in Saxony.
• International Language and Communication Courses Language and communication courses offered to international students and dual partners as part of the internationalization offerings of DHSN.
• DHSN Merchandise Shop Online store selling DHSN-branded merchandise such as polo shirts and hoodies to students, staff, alumni, and supporters.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 90% of graduates are immediately placed in jobs or remain with their practice partner after graduation
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• IHK Regionalkammer PlauencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026DHSN Plauen and IHK Regionalkammer Plauen signed a joint working program for 2026/2027 to strengthen the university location in Plauen and actively shape the future of the region.
• Dual Practice PartnerscoreOthersCompanies across Saxony that partner with DHSN to host students during practical phases. These practice partners provide monthly salary to students and receive practically trained graduates.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• SRH Hochschule Heidelberg: State-recognized private university offering applied bachelor and master programs with strong practice orientation. Competes with DHSN for practice-oriented students, especially in business and technology fields.
• IU Internationale Hochschule: Germany's largest private university offering dual study programs alongside distance and campus-based degrees across many fields. Operates nationally at scale that DHSN cannot match, but targets the same dual-study student persona.
• Technische Universität Dresden: Major public research university in Saxony with strong engineering, business, and computer science programs. Overlaps with DHSN in subject areas and competes for the same regional student and practice-partner base, but at full-university scale.
• Hochschule Fresenius: Large private university group with multiple locations across Germany offering practice-oriented programs in business, technology, health, and design. Competes with DHSN for both students and corporate practice partners in overlapping subject areas.

Direct peers

• Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg (DHBW): Germany's largest and most established dual university, combining academic theory with structured practice phases at partner companies across 12 locations. Most directly comparable to DHSN as a state-funded cooperative education institution with employer-integrated curricula.
• NORDAKADEMIE Hochschule der Wirtschaft: State-recognized private dual university in northern Germany offering practice-integrated bachelor's and master's programs with partner companies. Operates the same earn-while-you-learn dual study model as DHSN.
• Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Umwelt (HfWU): State university in Baden-Württemberg offering practice-oriented programs in business, engineering, and environment. Comparable state-funded higher education model with strong employer ties, similar to DHSN.
• FOM Hochschule: One of Germany's largest private universities with a strong focus on practice-oriented degree programs for working professionals and dual students. Competes for the same corporate partners and dual-study student segment as DHSN.

Regional players

• Hochschule Wismar: State university of applied sciences in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern offering practice-oriented bachelor and master programs. Comparable Fachhochschule-style applied higher-education model in another eastern/northern German state.
• HTWK Leipzig (Hochschule für Technik, Wirtschaft und Kultur): State university of applied sciences located in Leipzig, sharing a campus city with DHSN. Offers comparable practice-oriented programs in business and technology and competes for the same regional applicant pool in Saxony.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@DualeHochschuleSachsen
• Facebookfacebook.com/dualehochschulesachsen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/duale-hochschule-sachsen
• Instagraminstagram.com/dhsn.sachsen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries7 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 →

Frequently asked questions about DHSN | Duale Hochschule Sachsen