HSD Hochschule Döpfer

What HSD Hochschule Döpfer does

HSD Hochschule Döpfer is a state-recognized, non-profit private University of Applied Sciences (Hochschule) registered in Potsdam, Germany as HSD Hochschule Döpfer GmbH (HRB 37430 P, incorporated November 2022), operating as the higher-education arm of the Döpfer Group. The institution delivers practice-oriented bachelor's and master's degree programmes, short-cycle university certificates, and continuing education, with discipline focus in nursing, rescue sciences, physician assistance, applied therapy sciences, psychology, medical pedagogy, social work, and childhood education. Degrees are legally equivalent to those of public German universities and are delivered across four campuses (Potsdam, Cologne, Regensburg, Hamburg) plus online/blended formats, with NC-free, year-round rolling admissions and small study groups.

Revenue is generated almost exclusively from recurring monthly tuition fees, with modest discounts for semester (3%) or annual lump-sum (4%) payment and extension fees of €250/month (Health/Social Sciences) or €300/month (Psychology) for studies exceeding the standard programme duration; educational services are VAT-exempt under §4(21) UStG. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the university's website, supported by ActiveCampaign-driven email automation, Calendly-based study advisory booking, social media channels, education fair participation (vocatium, Therapiemesse München), and the Döpfer Group's internal ecosystem of vocational schools (Döpfer Schulen), continuing education (Döpfer Akademie), therapeutic practice placements (Döpfer Praxisverbund), and a private primary school that feed prospects into the degree programmes. Operational technology is commodity: the Trainex-based E-Campus LMS for course delivery, Zapier-mediated data flows, and standard martech integrations.

Strategic positioning hinges on regulatory credentials (state recognition plus accreditation by Akkreditierungsrat, ACQUIN, and AHPGS), a 100+ partner network, international mobility via Erasmus+ (joined 2025), DAAD-funded FIT/CommuniCare internationalization with SDI Munich, and Open Access research publishing through Frontiers/ZB MED. Customer segments span Healthcare/Social Services Professionals, International Students, Working Professionals, and School Leavers, with no enterprise contracts disclosed. The firm is privately held under Managing Director Hubert Döpfer within the family-controlled Döpfer Group conglomerate.

Name

HSD Hochschule Döpfer

Legal name

HSD Hochschule Döpfer GmbH

Website

https://hs-doepfer.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

HSD Hochschule Döpfer is a state-recognized, non-profit private University of Applied Sciences in Potsdam, Germany, offering bachelor's, master's, and certificate programmes in nursing, therapy, psychology, rescue sciences, and social work across four campuses and online. It serves healthcare professionals, international students, working professionals, and school leavers under the Döpfer Group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Potsdam, Brandenburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: Monthly tuition fees constitute the primary revenue stream. The university operates as a non-profit GmbH, with all income reinvested into teaching and research quality improvement. Fee structure varies by degree programme and study model.
2. Extension Fees: Additional monthly fees charged when students exceed the standard programme duration (beyond approved leave of absence). Rates are €250/month for Health and Social Sciences and €300/month for Psychology programmes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

HSD Hochschule Döpfer is a state-recognised private University of Applied Sciences operating across four German campuses (Potsdam, Köln, Regensburg, Hamburg) plus online formats. It delivers state-accredited Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes, short-term university certificate courses, and continuing professional development in healthcare, nursing, rescue sciences, applied therapy sciences, medical pedagogy, psychology, and social work. Revenue is generated primarily from recurring tuition fees, with payment options including monthly, semester, and annual plans.

Product overview

HSD Hochschule Döpfer is a state-recognized private university of applied sciences offering a comprehensive portfolio of higher education programs in health, social sciences, and education. The offering consists of Bachelor's and Master's degree programs across campuses in Potsdam, Cologne, Regensburg, and Hamburg, complemented by short-term university certificate courses and continuing education through the Döpfer Akademie. Supporting infrastructure includes the Trainex e-learning platform (E-Campus) for course materials and academic management, along with international programs including the DAAD FIT Program for international student support and Erasmus+ for European mobility. The university also provides Open Access publishing support through Frontiers journals for faculty research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bachelor's Degree Programmes (Bachelorstudiengänge)
• Master's Degree Programmes (Masterstudiengänge)
• University Certificates (Hochschulzertifikate)

Quantifiable outcome

• Degree qualifications legally equivalent to those awarded by state universities, enabling transfer to any German university.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ZB MED (Zentralbibliothek Medizin)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOpen Access publication partnership enabling HSD faculty to publish in Frontiers journals under financially favorable conditions. The cooperation with ZB MED supports academic research dissemination.
• Frontiers (Open Access Journals)coreTechnology or IntegrationOpen Access publication platform. All Frontiers journal publication fees are fully covered by HSD for its faculty. ZB MED consortium agreement enables cost-effective publishing.
• SDI Munich (International University of Applied Sciences)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint implementation of the CommuniCare project under the DAAD FIT programme. Cooperation includes language courses (A1-B1) for international students and joint qualification programmes for international talents.
• DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding partner for FIT (Promotion of International Talents) and STIBET scholarship programmes. DAAD provides financial support for international student integration and mobility.
• Erasmus+ Programme (European Union)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Union mobility programme enabling student and staff exchanges. HSD joined Erasmus+ in 2025, opening opportunities for study abroad semesters, internships, and teaching/training stays in Europe.
• Döpfer AkademiecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Döpfer Group, providing continuing education courses and certificate programmes. Offers pedagogical and didactic training for healthcare professions.
• Döpfer SchulencoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVocational schools within the Döpfer Group offering training in nursing, therapy, and cosmetology. Source of prospective students and practical placement partners.
• Döpfer PraxisverbundcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPractice network within Döpfer Group providing clinical placement opportunities and employment pathways for graduates.
• PhysioCum Laude (Köln)minorOthersPhysiotherapy practice partnership for practical training and student placements.
• ErgoCum Laude (Köln)minorOthersOccupational therapy practice partnership for practical training and student placements.
• Therapie am RotkreuzplatzminorOthersTherapy practice partnership for practical training placements.
• Logopädie im WestendminorOthersSpeech therapy practice partnership for practical training placements.
• Logopädie in RheineminorOthersSpeech therapy practice partnership for practical training placements.
• Therapiezentrum DüsseldorfminorOthersTherapy center partnership for practical training placements.
• Therapiezentrum EßkuchenminorOthersTherapy center partnership for practical training placements.
• Therapie in der Residenz am DomminorOthersTherapy practice partnership for practical training placements.
• Therapie physioteam KölnminorOthersPhysiotherapy team partnership for practical training placements.
• Private Grundschule SchwandorfminorOthersPrivate primary school within Döpfer Group network.
• Berufsfachschule für Kosmetik RegensburgminorOthersVocational school for cosmetology within Döpfer Group network.
• Asklepios Klinik St. Georg HamburgminorOthersHospital where HSD graduate Lina Blum works in neurological early rehabilitation. Represents employment outcome for therapy science graduates.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Medical School Hamburg (MSH): Private Hochschule focused on health, psychology, and social-work degree programmes in northern Germany. Operates in HSD's Hamburg catchment and shares the practice-oriented, NC-free, healthcare-specialist positioning.
• Hochschule Fresenius: Germany's largest private university of applied sciences group with strong health, therapy, psychology, and nursing programmes across multiple campuses. Highly comparable to HSD in programme mix, target learner segments, and NC-free positioning.
• SRH Hochschulen: Large private Hochschule group with multiple campuses and health/social science programmes. Comparable in multi-campus, NC-free, and practice-integrated model — HSD competes for similar working-professional and school-leaver segments.
• MSB Medical School Berlin: Private Hochschule offering state-recognized degree programmes in nursing, therapy, psychology, and social work. Closely comparable to HSD on programme portfolio, learner segments, and campus-based delivery model.
• Carl Remigius Medical School: Private Hochschule offering therapy, nursing, and social-work programmes with a strong practice-network affiliation. Comparable to HSD on health/social programme mix and small-cohort, NC-free positioning.

Broad incumbents

• IU Internationale Hochschule: Germany's largest private university with very broad, mostly online programme portfolio including health and psychology. Competes with HSD for adult and international learners seeking flexible degree formats, though at much greater scale and lower price points.
• FOM Hochschule: Germany's largest private Hochschule with very broad programme coverage and an extensive dual-study and work-integrated model. Overlaps with HSD on working-professional target segment and campus network, though at far greater scale.

Regional players

• HMU Health and Medical University Potsdam: Private Hochschule located in Potsdam with health-focused programme portfolio. Direct local geographic overlap with HSD's Potsdam campus and similar practice-oriented positioning in medicine-adjacent fields.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCDp34x8VrWoejyjs6w0HXiw
• Facebookfacebook.com/hochschuledoepfer
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/hsd-hochschule-d%C3%B6pfer
• Instagraminstagram.com/hsdoepfer/?hl=de

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about HSD Hochschule Döpfer