FernUni Hagen

What FernUni Hagen does

HIMS (Hagener Institut für Managementstudien e.V.) is the management continuing-education arm of FernUniversität in Hagen, Germany's largest university by enrollment (~70,000 students) and the only state distance-learning university in the German-speaking world. Founded in 2000 and operated as a non-profit affiliated institute (An-Institut), HIMS delivers a tiered portfolio of accredited distance-learning programmes: nine Master's degrees (one M.Sc. in General Management, plus eight M.A. specializations in Controlling, Corporate Accounting, Digital Transformation, HRM, International Management, Leadership, Marketing, and Psychological Group Management), offered in 60/90/120 ECTS variants, and three stacked certificate programmes (Basisstudium, Aufbaustudium, Spezialisierungsstudium).

Name

FernUni Hagen

Legal name

Hagener Institut für Managementstudien e.V. (HIMS e.V.)

Website

https://fernuni-hagen-hims.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

HIMS is the non-profit continuing-education institute of FernUniversität in Hagen, offering accredited online Master's degrees and certificate programmes in management to working professionals worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education / Distance Learning Management Programs

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Professional & Executive Short Courses (Non-Degree, International) (EDAIAIAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Credentialing, Certification Prep & Exam Training (BPACANAJ)

Keywords

• Distance learning management
• Continuing management education
• Online master programs
• Professional certificate programs
• University distance education

Headquarters

HQ city

Hagen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition/Program Fees (Studienentgelte): HIMS generates revenue through fixed tuition fees charged per program tier (Basisstudium, Aufbaustudium, Spezialisierungsstudium, and Masterstudiengänge in 60/90/120 ECTS variants). Semester-wise installment payment options are available. Revenue is collected directly from students or via employer cost-coverage agreements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

HIMS offers accredited distance learning Master's and certificate programmes in management, delivered fully online through a state-recognised university (FernUniversität in Hagen). The portfolio includes nine Master's degrees (M.Sc./M.A.) in specialisations such as General Management, Controlling, Corporate Accounting, Digital Transformation, HRM, International Management, Leadership, Marketing, and Psychological Group Management, plus three progressive certificate tracks (Basisstudium, Aufbaustudium, Spezialisierungsstudium), enabling working professionals worldwide to obtain formal management qualifications while remaining employed.

Product overview

FernUni Hagen's HIMS (Hagener Institut für Managementstudien) operates as an affiliated institute at FernUniversität in Hagen, offering a tiered portfolio of distance learning programs. The offering consists of nine Master's programs (General Management M.Sc., and eight specialized M.A. programs: Controlling, Corporate Accounting, Digital Transformation, Human Resource Management, International Management, Leadership, Marketing, and Psychological Group Management) and three stacked certificate programs (Basisstudium, Aufbaustudium, and Spezialisierungsstudium). All programs are part-time, module-based distance learning with online seminars and online examinations, accredited by FIBAA, with students enrolled as continuing education students at FernUniversität in Hagen. The certificate programs serve as progressive entry points that can be credited toward the Master's programs, and all programs award university degrees (M.Sc./M.A.) or university certificates with institutional certification.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• General Management (M.Sc.) Master of Science programme providing cross-functional management competencies covering central management topics and impulses for responsible leadership of organisations. Offered in three ECTS lengths (60/90/120) over 18/24/30 months respectively. Awarded by FernUniversität in Hagen.
• Controlling (M.A.) Master of Arts programme focused on indicator-based management control and impulses for business management steering. Covers controlling instruments, cost management, and risk controlling. Offered in 60/90/120 ECTS lengths.
• Corporate Accounting (M.A.) Master of Arts programme covering business management of organisations with a focus on corporate accounting. Addresses the design of accounting systems, cost accounting for management, and financial reporting. Offered in 60/90/120 ECTS lengths.
• Digital Transformation (M.A.) Master of Arts programme focused on successfully integrating people and technology in organisations. Provides impulses for digital business models, online marketing, and leadership in the context of digital change. Offered in 60/90/120 ECTS lengths.
• Human Resource Management (M.A.) Master of Arts programme on strategically leveraging the success factor of employees. Covers HR management, labour co-determination, and the intersection of personnel management and new ways of working. Offered in 60/90/120 ECTS lengths.
• International Management (M.A.) Master of Arts programme on responsibly shaping global operations. Covers international market entry, cross-cultural leadership, international marketing, and controlling in an international context. Offered in 60/90/120 ECTS lengths.
• Leadership (M.A.) Master of Arts programme on experiencing successful leadership relationships. Covers leadership and women, leadership and ethics, and leadership in the new world of work. Offered in 60/90/120 ECTS lengths.
• Marketing (M.A.) Master of Arts programme on sustainably addressing future-oriented markets. Covers market-oriented corporate management, strategic marketing planning, pricing management, and digital marketing and e-commerce. Offered in 60/90/120 ECTS lengths.
• Psychological Group Management (M.A.) Master of Arts programme on successful leadership of heterogeneous groups. Covers cooperation in groups and teams, conflict management, and the psychological foundations for managing virtual cooperation in diverse teams. Offered in 60/90/120 ECTS lengths.
• Basisstudium Management (Certificate) Foundational certificate programme providing compact basic knowledge across four management subject areas. Awards 25 ECTS credits with a standard duration of 1 semester part-time. Concludes with the 'Certified Management Expert (Basic Level)' certificate. Tuition: €3,300.
• Aufbaustudium Management (Certificate) Intermediate certificate programme providing in-depth knowledge across five management subject areas. Awards 50 ECTS credits with a standard duration of 2 semesters part-time. Concludes with the 'Certified Management Expert (Enhanced Level)' certificate. Tuition: €5,940.
• Spezialisierungsstudium Management (Certificate) Advanced certificate programme providing specialised expertise in one selected management area chosen from eight specialisations (Controlling, Corporate Accounting, Digital Transformation, HR Management, International Management, Leadership, Marketing, Psychological Group Management). Awards 35 ECTS credits over 2 semesters part-time. Concludes with the 'Certified Management Expert (Professional Level)' certificate. Tuition: €3,540.

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FernUniversität in HagencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2000FernUniversität in Hagen is HIMS's parent institution and primary academic partner. As the only state distance university in the German-speaking world (~70,000 enrolled students, 50 years of distance learning experience), FernUniversität provides the institutional framework, official student registration (Einschreibung), degree conferral authority, library access, and physical campus infrastructure (including accommodation options). HIMS is a formally established affiliated institute (An-Institut) under the Hagen Business School. The partnership is the foundational structural arrangement without which HIMS's programmes would not exist.
• IWW — Institut für wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Forschung und Weiterbildung GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIWW is a professor-led institute under the Hagen Business School that offers state-recognised (staatlich zugelassene) certificate programmes leading to qualifications such as 'Betriebswirt/in (IWW)'. HIMS references IWW as an alternative provider for candidates who do not find a suitable programme within HIMS's portfolio. IWW programmes have no formal entry requirements and can be completed in 5 or 9 months.
• AI Performance AcademyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAI Performance Academy partners with HIMS to co-host professional development workshops on topics such as AI Agent Systems, Digital Sustainability, and Understanding AI. These workshops are marketed through HIMS and open to HIMS students and the broader professional public, serving as a marketing and community-building channel.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• IU International University of Applied Sciences: Germany's largest private university with a comprehensive online/distance-learning portfolio including management Master's programmes. Direct competitor in the same working-professional, fee-paying, online-modular segment with much greater scale and marketing reach.
• AKAD University: One of Germany's largest private distance-learning universities, offering accredited bachelor's, master's, and certificate programmes in business and management to working professionals. Directly comparable in distance-learning format, target audience, and tuition-driven business model.
• IWW – Institut für wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Forschung und Weiterbildung: Direct peer and explicit cooperation partner operating under the same Hagen Business School umbrella. Offers state-recognised certificate programmes (e.g., Betriebswirt/in) for working professionals, serving as a complementary sister institute for the same pool of FernUniversität-affiliated continuing education students.
• FOM Hochschule: Private university specifically designed for working professionals, offering part-time Bachelor's and Master's programmes with evening and weekend formats. Highly comparable in target customer (employed professionals seeking accredited degrees) and pricing tier.
• SRH Fernhochschule – The Mobile University: State-recognised private distance-learning university within the SRH group offering accredited online Bachelor's and Master's programmes including business management. Closely comparable in distance-learning delivery, professional accreditation, and adult-learner focus.

Broad incumbents

• The Open University (UK): UK-based distance-learning institution with globally recognised accredited management and business programmes. Comparable model of state-affiliated distance higher education for adult learners, providing a benchmark for international scale and global reach.
• Frankfurt School of Finance & Management: Established German business school with a significant executive education and part-time Master portfolio. Competes for the same working-professional cohort via accredited management programmes, with stronger brand recognition and broader corporate relationships.
• EBS Universität für Wirtschaft und Recht: German private business school offering part-time and executive Master's programmes in management, leadership, and finance. Comparable in accredited continuing management education for working professionals, with a stronger private-sector brand.
• Mannheim Business School: Affiliate of the University of Mannheim offering part-time MBA and Master's programmes in management. Directly comparable in target customer (experienced professionals) and accredited German university credentials, though positioned in a higher price tier.
• WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management: Top-ranked German business school offering part-time MBA and management Master's programmes for working professionals. Competes for higher-end management credentials but at substantially higher price points than HIMS, serving as a reference point for the premium tier.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fernuni-hagen

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 FernUni Hagen