ELG E-Learning Group

What ELG E-Learning Group does

ELG E-Learning Group (legal entity: ELC E-Learning-Consulting GmbH) is an Austrian direct-to-consumer online education provider founded in 2012 and headquartered in Vienna. The company delivers 100% online, part-time distance learning programs in the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), serving working professionals who want to earn accredited Master-level qualifications alongside full-time employment. With 15,000+ education customers and 11,000+ MBA students, the company claims the largest MBA community in the German-speaking market and reports a 94% recommendation rate and 4.3/5 stars on FernstudiumCheck.de.

The core product portfolio centers on MBA programs with 13 specializations (Business Management, Controlling, Digital Transformation & AI, General Management, Gesundheitsmanagement & Digital Health, HR Management, Leadership & Change, Nachhaltigkeit, Projekt- & Prozessmanagement, Sales Management, Strategisches Management, Supply Chain Management, and Wirtschaftspsychologie) delivered in 60/90/120 ECTS variants, plus a new LL.M. Business & AI program launched in 2026. Supporting offerings include Hochschulzertifikate (university certificates at €2,990), Diplomlehrgänge (€1,990), Mikro-Zertifikate (€399), and the KI Essentials AI certificate (€499). Programs are delivered through a Moodle-based online campus augmented by the proprietary KI Lernassistent (AI learning assistant), online examinations without fixed appointment dates, personal study coaching, and a 24-hour response guarantee. Degree-granting authority rests with three accredited Austrian partner universities — FH des BFI Wien, Ferdinand Porsche FERNFH, and LUNEX University — whose state recognition at EQR/NQR Level 7 underwrites the academic credibility of the portfolio.

Revenue is generated almost entirely through one-time tuition fees, with MBAs priced under €10,000 and the LL.M. at €9,900. The go-to-market motion combines multi-channel digital marketing (Google Ads, Microsoft Bing, LinkedIn, Meta, SEO, info-webinars, YouTube, Spotify) with HubSpot-managed inside sales via live chat, WhatsApp, phone, and video consultation. Customer acquisition is supplemented by a "Bring a Friend" referral program (€500 for MBA/LL.M., €100 for Diplomlehrgang) and a Santander Bank installment-financing partnership from €150/month for Austrian residents. The company is privately held by two managing directors with no disclosed external investors or funding rounds.

Name

ELG E-Learning Group

Legal name

ELC E-Learning-Consulting GmbH

Website

https://fernstudium.study

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ELG E-Learning Group is an Austrian online distance-learning provider serving 15,000+ working professionals in the DACH region with accredited MBA, LL.M., and certificate programs delivered via partner universities and a proprietary AI-enabled learning platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Higher Education

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

AI-Powered Tutoring & Study Assistant Platforms (EDANAGAD)

Keywords

• Online MBA programs
• Distance learning
• Continuing education
• LL.M. programs
• Online certificates

Headquarters

HQ city

Vienna

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees - MBA Programs: One-time tuition fees for MBA programs; less than 10,000 EUR total. Programs available in 60, 90, and 120 ECTS variants with different pricing tiers.
2. Tuition Fees - LL.M. Programs: One-time tuition fee for LL.M. Business & AI program at 9,900 EUR for 60 ECTS
3. Hochschulzertifikate (University Certificates): 6-month programs at 2,990 EUR for 24 ECTS
4. Diplomlehrgänge (Diploma Programs): 4-month programs at 1,990 EUR for 400 hours
5. Mikro-Zertifikate (Micro-Certificates): 1-month programs at 399 EUR for 50 hours
6. KI Essentials Zertifikat: 8-hour AI certificate program at 499 EUR with 12 months access
7. Study Financing Partnership: Partnership with Santander Bank for monthly installment plans starting at 150 EUR per month for Austrian residents

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels13 records

Core offering

ELG E-Learning Group delivers 100% online, part-time (berufsbegleitend) postgraduate and continuing education programs to working professionals in the DACH region, in cooperation with accredited Austrian partner universities (FH des BFI Wien, Ferdinand Porsche FERNFH, LUNEX University). The portfolio spans MBA programs in multiple specializations (60/90/120 ECTS), an LL.M. Business & AI (60 ECTS), Hochschulzertifikate, Diplomlehrgänge, Mikro-Zertifikate, and a dedicated KI Essentials AI certificate, all delivered via a proprietary Moodle-based online campus with AI learning assistant and online examination system.

Product overview

ELG E-Learning Group operates as a distance learning provider offering a multi-tiered portfolio of online education programs. The core offerings include MBA programs with 13 distinct specializations (Business Management, Controlling, Digital Transformation & AI, General Management, Gesundheitsmanagement, HR Management, Leadership, Nachhaltigkeitsmanagement, Projektmanagement, Sales Management, Strategisches Management, Supply Chain Management, Wirtschaftspsychologie) across 60/90/120 ECTS variants, plus an LL.M. Business & AI program. Supporting programs include Hochschulzertifikate (university certificates in partnership with LUNEX University), Diplomlehrgänge (diploma programs), Mikro-Zertifikate (micro-certificates), and a dedicated KI Essentials AI certificate. The platform is delivered 100% online via the Online Campus learning platform, supported by AI-powered tools including a KI Lernassistent (AI Learning Assistant) and Study Coaching services. Programs are conducted in partnership with accredited Austrian universities: FH des BFI Wien, Ferdinand Porsche FERNFH, and LUNEX University.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MBA Programs Master of Business Administration degree programs delivered fully online for working professionals seeking career advancement into management and leadership roles. Available in 60/90/120 ECTS variants and 13 specializations; programs are state-recognized at EQR/NQR Level 7 and tax-deductible in Austria. Pricing starts below 10,000 EUR total.
• LL.M. Business & AI Master of Laws program combining business law, management, and AI regulation. Fully digital, self-paced study format without presence requirements, leading to a state-recognized degree at EQR/NQR Level 7. Tuition is 9,900 EUR for 60 ECTS.
• Hochschulzertifikate (University Certificates) 6-month academic certificate programs (24 ECTS) offered in partnership with LUNEX University, providing targeted knowledge expansion in specialized business areas for working professionals. Priced at 2,990 EUR.
• Diplomlehrgänge (Diploma Programs) Quick, practical-oriented online diploma programs lasting 4 months (400 hours), designed for upskilling and reskilling with fast knowledge acquisition. Priced at 1,990 EUR.
• Mikro-Zertifikate (Micro-Certificates) Compact certificate programs lasting 1 month (approximately 50 hours) providing rapid skill acquisition in specific topics across over 40 subject areas. Priced at 399 EUR.
• KI Essentials Zertifikat AI fundamentals certificate program teaching practical applications of AI tools like ChatGPT for professional productivity. 8-hour online program with 12 months access, no prior knowledge required. Priced at 499 EUR.

Quantifiable outcome

• 91% of students significantly expand their knowledge
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FH des BFI Wien (Fachhochschule des BFI Wien)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary partner university providing accredited MBA and LL.M. programs. Since 2018, the Executive Education Center of FH des BFI Wien conducts part-time Hochschullehrgänge in collaboration with E-Learning Group. Programs are designed as postgraduale Masterstudien without physical presence requirements. FH des BFI Wien has over 25 years of experience in business education.
• Ferdinand Porsche FERNFHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic Fachhochschule (university of applied sciences) specializing in academic distance learning. Offers MBA Sales Management program in partnership with E-Learning Group. Combines structured study paths with digital teaching and scientific mentoring for over 20 years.
• LUNEX UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner university offering CAS Hochschulzertifikate (University Certificates) in cooperation with ELC E-Learning-Consulting GmbH
• Grow My TreeminorOthersSustainability partner for tree planting initiative. For each enrollment in any continuing education program, one tree is planted through Grow My Tree's local operators in Global South countries. This compensates the CO2 emissions of online education (4-6 kg per MBA) with one tree absorbing approximately 22 kg CO2 annually.
• Leaders21 GmbHminorOthersLeadership development platform provider. E-Learning Group offers access to Leaders21 online platform as an optional additional product for leadership development and training.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Open University (UK): UK's largest academic institution and a global pioneer of distance learning with extensive online MBA and continuing education offerings. Comparable in fully-online accredited higher education model, though operating at much greater scale and broader international footprint.
• Hochschule Fresenius: Large private German university group offering online and hybrid MBA programs alongside traditional on-campus degrees. Broader portfolio than ELG but overlaps in professional online master's education and corporate training offerings.

Direct peers

• AKAD University: One of Germany's oldest distance learning universities offering online Bachelor, Master, and MBA programs. Competes directly with ELG in the same DACH professional upskilling segment with similar FernstudiumCheck rankings.
• FernUniversität in Hagen: Germany's only state distance-learning university, offering accredited online degree programs at scale. Comparable to ELG as a fully online higher education provider in the German-speaking market, though state-funded rather than private.
• FOM Hochschule: Germany's largest private university for working professionals offering part-time and online Bachelor/Master programs. Targets the same professional learner segment with similar flexible online and evening course formats across DACH.
• SRH Fernhochschule – The Mobile University: State-recognized distance university offering online Bachelor, Master, and MBA programs with flexible study models. Directly comparable to ELG in target market (working professionals), delivery format (online), and DACH geographic focus.
• PFH Private Hochschule Göttingen: Private German university offering online and campus-based Bachelor, Master, and MBA programs for working professionals. Comparable in private accredited distance learning positioning, specializations, and DACH target market.
• HFH Hamburger Fern-Hochschule: State-recognized private distance university in Hamburg offering online Bachelor, Master, and continuing education programs. Directly comparable business model and DACH focus with ELG, often appearing in similar FernstudiumCheck rankings.
• IU Internationale Hochschule: Germany's largest private university with extensive online MBA and continuing education programs at competitive price points. Directly competes with ELG in DACH distance learning market using similar accredited-university partnerships and digital-first delivery.
• Wilhelm Büchner Hochschule (WBH): Private distance learning university in Germany offering online Bachelor, Master, and certificate programs to working professionals. Similar DACH target audience, online delivery model, and FernstudiumCheck competition with ELG.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC844tdnvHGsTui9lcJMCouA
• Facebookfacebook.com/e.learning.g
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/elc-e-learning-consulting-gmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/e_learning_group

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 ELG E-Learning Group