Haute école de santé Fribourg | Hochschule für Gesundheit Freiburg

What Haute école de santé Fribourg | Hochschule für Gesundheit Freiburg does

Haute école de santé Fribourg (HEdS-FR) is a public University of Applied Sciences (HES-SO) located in the bilingual (French/German) Canton of Fribourg, Switzerland, founded in 1913 and operating across two campuses (Mozaïk and St-Justin). It is one of the HES-SO network's specialized health schools, delivering a Bachelor in Nursing (French and bilingual tracks), a Bachelor and Master in Osteopathy (the only HES-level osteopathy program in Switzerland, established 2014), preparatory Modules Complémentaires and Maturité spécialisée Santé, and a portfolio of continuing education CAS/DAS programs in breastfeeding, rehabilitation, psychogeriatrics, pain management, pediatric eating disorders, and osteopathy in the first 1,000 days. The school also runs a simulation center (Centre de simulation) with trained simulated patients and a transdisciplinary innovation program (PIT eHealth) co-developing digital health tools with HEIA-FR and HEG-FR.

HEdS-FR's business model is that of a publicly funded Swiss HES institution: operating revenue derives primarily from cantonal (Canton of Fribourg) and HES-SO network funding under the AHES intercantonal agreement, supplemented by highly regulated tuition fees (CHF 700/semester for Swiss Bachelor students, CHF 1,050 for foreign students, plus a CHF 150 non-refundable registration fee) and continuing education program fees. The osteopathy Master is priced at CHF 700/semester plus course fees, and compensation modules for foreign-trained osteopaths (CRS recognition) are priced individually (e.g., CHF 3,200 for structural cervical osteopathy, CHF 7,500 for visceral). Customers span prospective Bachelor and Master students, practicing healthcare professionals seeking CAS/DAS credentials, international exchange students, and applied research partners including the Police cantonale fribourgeoise (COP1 project), University College of Osteopathy UK, and Southern Cross University Australia (CUTIES trial).

The school's strategic position is anchored in its regulatory monopoly on HES-level osteopathy in Switzerland and its bilingual/multidisciplinary campus context, which it leverages through applied research across five thematic axes (chronic diseases, ageing, occupational health, health professions, health and environment) and an expanding portfolio of community-facing innovation services (HUB InnoSanté, CoSaMo, HELP, EYE LEARN, DHC3, Student Venture Programm). With 136 employees, HEdS-FR is a small but institutionally entrenched player whose competitive position depends on continued public funding, regulatory protection of its osteopathy franchise, and the expansion of its applied research and continuing education revenue lines.

Name

Haute école de santé Fribourg | Hochschule für Gesundheit Freiburg

Legal name

Haute école de santé Fribourg

Website

https://heds-fr.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1913

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Public Swiss University of Applied Sciences (HES-SO) in bilingual Fribourg, offering Bachelor's and Master's degrees in nursing and osteopathy, the only HES-level osteopathy program in Switzerland, plus continuing education and applied health research.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Health Sciences Higher Education

NAICS

Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Allied Health & Rehabilitation Sciences Schools (PT/OT/SLP, etc.) (EDAHAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Healthcare & Clinical Professional Development (CME/CE) (EDAGANAJ), Healthcare & Medical Licensure Exam Prep (USMLE/COMLEX, NCLEX, Dentistry, Pharmacy, PA) (EDANAIAA)

Keywords

• Health sciences education
• Nursing education
• Osteopathy program
• Continuing education
• Applied health research

Headquarters

HQ city

Fribourg/Freiburg

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition — Bachelor Programs: Semester tuition fees charged to students enrolled in Bachelor programs. Swiss students pay CHF 700 per semester; foreign students pay CHF 1,050 per semester. Additional student contribution of CHF 100 per year. Reduced rate of CHF 150 per semester applies during temporary interruptions.
2. Modules Complémentaires — Tuition: Canton of Fribourg residents: Canton covers full tuition except for annual tuition of CHF 375 and annual study cost contribution of CHF 100. Students from other cantons without cantonal funding coverage pay CHF 11,175 per academic year for the Complementary Modules program.
3. Continuing Education — Modules and CAS/DAS Programs: Revenue from continuing education courses, CAS (Certificate of Advanced Studies) and DAS (Diploma of Advanced Studies) programs. Compensation modules for foreign osteopaths are priced individually (e.g., structural cervical osteopathy: CHF 3,200; pediatric osteopathy: CHF 800; ECOS exam: CHF 900). Registration fee of CHF 250 per module course.
4. Master in Osteopathy — Tuition: Master of Science in Osteopathy at CHF 700 per semester plus additional course fees. Duration: 4 semesters; 90 ECTS.
5. Public Funding — Canton of Fribourg and HES-SO: As a public HES institution, HEdS-FR receives operational funding from the Canton of Fribourg and the HES-SO (Haute école spécialisée de Suisse occidentale) network, supplementing tuition revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Haute école de santé Fribourg (HEdS-FR) is a public Swiss University of Applied Sciences that delivers university-level health sciences education across nursing (Bachelor en soins infirmiers, in French or bilingual French/German, full-time or part-time) and osteopathy (the only HES-level Bachelor and Master in Osteopathy in Switzerland, offered bilingually), alongside a preparatory Modules Complémentaires year, Maturité spécialisée santé track, an extensive continuing education catalog of CAS/DAS certificates, and applied health research across five thematic axes (chronic diseases, ageing, occupational health, health professions, health and environment). It also operates innovation units (HUB InnoSanté, CoSaMo, HELP, EYE LEARN, DHC3, Student Venture Programm) and a Centre de simulation with a simulated patient program.

Product overview

Haute école de santé Fribourg (HEdS-FR) is a Swiss University of Applied Sciences (HES-SO) offering a portfolio of health sciences education programs. The core offerings include a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (French or bilingual French/German), and a bilingual (French/German) Bachelor and Master in Osteopathy — the only HES-level osteopathy program in Switzerland. These are supplemented by a Complementary Modules year and Specialized Health Maturity track for admission preparation. Continuing education comprises a range of CAS and DAS certificates in specialized health domains (breastfeeding, pediatric eating disorders, rehabilitation, pain management, psychogeriatrics, cardiology, and osteopathy's first 1000 days), offered both independently and in partnership. Service offerings span applied research across five thematic axes (chronic diseases, aging, occupational health, healthcare professions, and environment), innovation services including the HUB InnoSanté, CoSaMo, HELP, EYE LEARN, DHC3, and the Student Venture Programm, plus a simulation center and library facilities. The portfolio is structured as a unified institution offering multiple interconnected educational programs, professional development tracks, and applied research services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HUB InnoSanté: Innovation hub supporting health innovation projects
• CoSaMo - Consultation Santé Mozaïk
• HELP: soutien psychologique et social
• EYE LEARN
• DHC3
• Student Venture Programm

Products and services

• Bachelor en soins infirmiers Three-year (full-time) or four-year (part-time) Bachelor of Science HES-SO in Nursing delivered in French or bilingual French/German at the Fribourg campus. For prospective students holding a Swiss maturité, CFC + maturité professionnelle, ECG + maturité spécialisée, or ES diploma. Tuition CHF 700/semester (Swiss) or CHF 1,050 (foreign) plus CHF 100 annual study cost contribution; CHF 150 non-refundable registration fee.
• Bachelor of Science HES-SO en ostéopathie Bachelor of Science HES-SO en osteopathie — the only HES-level osteopathy program in Switzerland. Six semesters, 180 ECTS, 36 modules integrating osteopathic sciences, medical diagnostics, and clinical training, conferring primary-care practitioner (first recourse) status under the 2020 LPSan law. Bilingual (French/German) or francophone tracks with annual regulation exam (ECUS).
• Master of Science HES-SO en ostéopathie Four-semester (90 ECTS) Master of Science HES-SO en Osteopathie at HEdS-FR, providing professional graduate-level training that enables access to osteopathic practice under Swiss regulations. Tuition CHF 700 per semester plus course fees; CHF 150 enrollment exam fee.
• Formation bilingue en soins infirmiers Bilingual (French/German) Bachelor track in Nursing at HEdS-FR, leveraging Fribourg's officially bilingual canton setting to deliver the Bachelor of Science HES-SO in Nursing with instruction in both languages.
• Modules complémentaires santé One-year preparatory Modules Complementaires program (also called Modules MC-MS) preparing students for HES-level Bachelor admission in nursing and osteopathy, structured as part of the Fribourg school's broader educational pathway.
• Maturité spécialisée santé Maturite specialisee sante track within the MC-MS offering, providing a specialized maturité path for prospective students seeking university-track admission to health-professions HES programs.
• CAS et DAS (Certificats et Diplômes de formation continue) Catalog of Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) and Diploma of Advanced Studies (DAS) programs for practicing healthcare professionals, including specialties in Breastfeeding/Lactation, Rehabilitation Care, Psychogeriatrics, Pain Management, Osteopathy and the First 1000 Days, Pediatric Eating Disorders, and Clinical Nursing Evaluation.
• Mesures compensatoires (CRS recognition) Compensation modules designed for foreign-trained osteopaths seeking CRS (Croix-Rouge Suisse) recognition to practice in Switzerland, offered as individual modules with unit pricing. Modules include structural cervical osteopathy (CHF 3,200), pediatric osteopathy (CHF 800), gynecological osteopathy (CHF 800), visceral osteopathy (CHF 7,500), cranial osteopathy (CHF 3,900), diagnostic integration and osteopathy (CHF 4,250), and ECOS exam (CHF 900), with CHF 250 non-refundable registration per module.
• Passerelle physiothérapie - ostéopathie Bridge program for qualified physiotherapists seeking entry to HES-level osteopathy training, with three validation cores: Core 1 included, Core 2 (diagnostic modules) at CHF 200, and Core 3 (VAE validation) at CHF 1,000. Maximum 6 candidates per year.
• Prestations de services Service offerings spanning five areas of expertise providing applied services (cours, prestations, competences) to external institutional and corporate clients, leveraging HEdS-FR's faculty and pedagogical expertise.
• Recherche appliquée et développement (Ra&D) Applied Research and Development program organized across five thematic axes: Maladies chroniques (chronic diseases), Vieillissement (ageing), Sante au travail (occupational health), Professions de la sante (health professions), and Sante et environnement (health and environment). Includes named research projects such as OSTEOSURVEY (Swiss osteopathic scope of practice), CUTIES (international infant colic trial), and COP1 (ergonomic police seat cushion).
• Centre de simulation Pedagogical simulation center with trained simulated patients, supporting clinical-skills readiness for nursing and osteopathy students through realistic patient-interaction scenarios.
• HUB InnoSanté Innovation hub supporting health innovation projects and entrepreneurship in the health sector, operated by HEdS-FR.
• CoSaMo - Consultation Santé Mozaïk Health consultation service (Consultation Sante Mozaik) operated by HEdS-FR, providing direct health consultancy services to external clients.
• HELP: soutien psychologique et social Psychological and social support service (HELP) operated by HEdS-FR providing psychological and social support to clients.
• EYE LEARN Educational innovation service (EYE LEARN) operated by HEdS-FR, providing pedagogical innovation support and resources.
• DHC3 Digital health innovation initiative (DHC3) operated by HEdS-FR, focused on digital health innovation and related services.
• Student Venture Programm Student Venture Programm (SVP) — student entrepreneurship support program operated by HEdS-FR providing venture/entrepreneurship support to students.

Quantifiable outcome

• 110+ years of continuous operation as a health professions school in Fribourg (founded ~1913)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HEIA-FR (Haute école d'ingénierie et d'architecture de Fribourg)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 September 2014HEIA-FR partners with HEdS-FR on the PIT eHealth transdisciplinary innovation project, in which computer engineering students and nursing students jointly develop technological solutions for chronic disease self-management. This partnership brings engineering and health science expertise together on the Pérolles campus, enabling student co-creation of eHealth prototypes.
• HEG-FR (Haute école de gestion Fribourg)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 September 2014HEG-FR participates in the PIT eHealth project alongside HEdS-FR and HEIA-FR, contributing business management students who handle market analysis, strategy, financing, and communication components of the eHealth innovation projects. Together, the three Fribourg HES institutions cover the full innovation chain from clinical need identification to technology development and market validation.
• Police cantonale fribourgeoisecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe cantonal police of Fribourg collaborates with HEdS-FR on the COP1 ergonomic research project, which involves developing a sensor-equipped seat cushion to evaluate mechanical stresses on police officers from equipment worn during driving. The police provide the real-world use case and occupational health requirements that drive the research.
• Institut HumanTech (HEIA-FR)coreTechnology or IntegrationThe HumanTech Institute within HEIA-FR provides engineering and sensor technology expertise for the COP1 project, collaborating with HEdS-FR's osteopathy and health science expertise to develop the instrumented seat cushion for police officer ergonomic assessment.
• University College of Osteopathy (UK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe University College of Osteopathy in the UK serves as the chief investigator institution for the CUTIES international pragmatic clinical trial on osteopathic care for infant colic, conducted across Switzerland, UK, and Australia. HEdS-FR contributed the Swiss data collection site, demonstrating the school's capacity to conduct GCP-compliant international clinical research.
• Southern Cross University (Australia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouthern Cross University in Australia participates in the CUTIES clinical trial as a partner institution, alongside HEdS-FR and the University College of Osteopathy. The trilateral collaboration spans three countries with different legislative and language contexts.
• Fédération Suisse des Ostéopathes (FSO-SVO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Swiss Federation of Osteopaths is a professional association partner in the OSTEOSURVEY research project, which surveys osteopaths' scope of practice across Switzerland. FSO-SVO facilitates practitioner recruitment and contributes to dissemination of findings within the professional community.
• Swiss Osteopathic Science FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding and academic partner for the OSTEOSURVEY project and other Swiss osteopathic research initiatives. The foundation supports the research mission of describing the osteopathic profession in Switzerland and promoting evidence-based practice.
• Fédération Suisse des patientsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Swiss Patients Federation participates as a stakeholder partner in the OSTEOSURVEY research project, representing the patient perspective in the study of osteopathic scope of practice in the Swiss healthcare system.
• Université de Montréal (CA)minorOthersInternational mobility partner for outgoing HEdS-FR nursing students (1–2 semester exchange) and incoming exchange students. Quebec-based partner enabling North American mobility experience.
• Université Laval (CA)minorOthersInternational mobility partner for outgoing HEdS-FR students and incoming exchange students in nursing. Located in Quebec City, offering exposure to the Canadian healthcare system and French-language academic environment.
• Université de Moncton (CA)minorOthersInternational mobility partner offering French-language exchange opportunities in New Brunswick, Canada. Enables HEdS-FR students to experience the Canadian healthcare context in an officially bilingual (French/English) Canadian province.
• Université Saint-Joseph (Beyrouth, LBN)minorOthersInternational partner in Lebanon for student exchange in nursing, providing HEdS-FR students with exposure to a Middle Eastern healthcare context and Arabic-French bilingual education.
• Evangelische Fachhochschule Berlin (DEU)minorOthersGerman partner institution (formerly ERASMUS+) for nursing student mobility, enabling exchange between the bilingual Fribourg campus and a German-language Swiss or German health context.
• Haute école de Namur-Liège-Luxembourg (BEL)minorOthersBelgian French-speaking partner institution for nursing student exchange under the SEMP program, facilitating mobility between French-speaking health education systems.
• Hochschule Osnabrück (DEU)minorOthersGerman university of applied sciences partner for nursing student mobility, offering German-language exchange and comparative health systems education.
• Haute école libre de Bruxelles – Ilya Prigogine (BEL)minorOthersBelgian partner institution in Brussels for nursing student mobility, enabling exposure to the Belgian healthcare system and French-language academic environment.
• FH Campus Wien (AUT)minorOthersAustrian partner institution for nursing student exchange under the SEMP program, offering access to the Austrian healthcare system and German-language academic environment.
• Universidad San Jorge (ESP)minorOthersSpanish partner institution (formerly ERASMUS+) for student exchange, providing a Southern European healthcare and academic perspective for HEdS-FR nursing students.
• HOWEST, University College West Flanders (BEL)minorOthersBelgian university of applied sciences in Kortrijk for international mobility, enabling exchange in nursing/health programs between French and Dutch-speaking regions of Belgium.
• HES-SO sans obstacleminorOthersAccessibility program within the HES-SO network that HEdS-FR participates in, providing accommodations and compensatory measures for students with specific needs, ensuring equal access to health education.
• Forum PsychogériatrieminorOthersAn interdisciplinary forum addressing psychogeriatric care topics in which HEdS-FR participates, connecting the school with healthcare institutions and professionals focused on elderly mental health.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Karolinska Institutet: Sweden's premier medical and health sciences university with extensive nursing and allied health programs. Larger and more established than HEdS-FR, but comparable in core mission of health professions education and applied clinical research.
• A.T. Still University: US-based health sciences university focused on osteopathic medicine and health professions. Larger, more established player with broader scope than HEdS-FR, but with directly comparable osteopathic education mission and clinical research activity.

Direct peers

• Bern University of Applied Sciences — Health Division: BFH Department of Health Professions offers Bachelor and Master programs in nursing and other health sciences. Comparable scope to HEdS-FR within the Swiss UAS landscape, with similar institutional governance and funding model.
• Haute école Arc Santé: HES-SO health sciences university in the Jura/Neuchâtel region offering nursing and other health programs. Sister HES-SO institution sharing governance, intercantonal funding framework, and applied research mission with HEdS-FR.
• ZHAW School of Health Sciences: Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften health sciences division, one of Switzerland's largest applied health sciences schools. Operates under the Swiss UAS framework (like HES-SO) and offers comparable nursing, health, and continuing education programs.
• Haute école de santé Vaud (HESAV): Vaud-based HES-SO health sciences university offering nursing, physiotherapy, and other health sciences degrees. Sister institution under HES-SO with comparable mission, Bac+3/Bachelor degree structure, and applied research program.
• University College of Osteopathy (UK): UK-based osteopathic education institution serving as chief investigator in the CUTIES international clinical trial partner with HEdS-FR. Closest international peer in osteopathy-specific health education, with comparable degree programs and research profile.
• SUPSI — Dipartimento economia aziendale, sanità e sociale: Scuola universitaria professionale della Svizzera italiana's health division offers nursing and health sciences programs in Italian-speaking Switzerland. Peer institution within the Swiss UAS system with parallel mission and applied research mandate.
• Haute école de santé Genève (HEDS): Geneva-based HES-SO health sciences university offering Bachelor and Master programs in nursing, physiotherapy, and other health professions. Direct peer under the same HES-SO network, sharing governance, funding framework, and degree-granting authority with HEdS-FR.
• FHNW — School of Life Sciences / Health: Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz offers health sciences programs in the German-speaking Swiss region. Comparable UAS institution with parallel Bachelor/Master in Nursing and applied research portfolio, serving as a peer in the broader Swiss UAS competitive set.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/hedsfr
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hedsfr
• Instagraminstagram.com/heds_fribourg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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