Institut für Fremdsprachen und Auslandskunde bei der FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg e.V.

What Institut für Fremdsprachen und Auslandskunde bei der FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg e.V. does

IFA (Institut für Fremdsprachen und Auslandsstudien) is a non-profit vocational language school and academy founded in 1948 and affiliated with Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU). Operating under Bavarian state educational law, IFA runs a two-year Berufsfachschule (BFS) for foreign language correspondents, a three- to four-year Fachakademie (FAK) for state-certified translators and interpreters, a one-year GAP YEAR program, and a B.A. Translation degree in cooperation with FAU. Instruction covers five languages: English, French, Italian, Russian, and Spanish. The institute also administers external language certification exams (CILS for Italian via Università per Stranieri di Siena; DELE for Spanish via Instituto Cervantes Munich) and offers continuing education seminars on German legal language for practicing translators and interpreters.

IFA's revenue model is tuition- and fee-based under Bavarian state regulations, with state-recognized certifications forming the core value proposition. The institute has no proprietary technology products — it relies on standard educational platforms (WebUntis for scheduling, Mebis for LMS) and web conferencing for digital outreach. Distribution is entirely direct from the Erlangen campus, with no third-party resellers or agents. Go-to-market is event-driven: IFA recruits primarily through monthly in-person information days (Infotage), video/phone consultations, and participation in the Bavarian Week of Education. Community engagement is maintained through the Alumni VFF network and biennial Career Day. A new part-time online study model for translator/interpreter training is planned for September 2026, representing IFA's first significant digital delivery channel. The institute has approximately 30 employees and is directed by Prof. Dr. Daniel Gossel.

Name

Institut für Fremdsprachen und Auslandskunde bei der FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg e.V.

Legal name

Institut für Fremdsprachen und Auslandsstudien bei der FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg e.V.

Website

https://ifa.fau.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

IFA Erlangen is a non-profit vocational language school founded in 1948 and affiliated with FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, offering state-certified training programs in five languages (English, French, Italian, Russian, Spanish) for prospective foreign language correspondents, translators, and interpreters across BFS, FAK, GAP YEAR, and B.A. programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Language Education

NAICS

Language Schools (611630), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

General Language Schools & Institutes (EDAMAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Language & Communication Continuing Education (EDAAAEAF), Exam Preparation Language Programs (IELTS/TOEFL/DELE/DALF/HSK, etc.) (EDAIAEAD)

Keywords

• Vocational language training
• Translator interpreter education
• Foreign language correspondence
• Language certification exams
• Continuing professional education

Headquarters

HQ city

Erlangen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and fee-based vocational training: IFA operates as a public vocational school (Berufsfachschule) and advanced academy (Fachakademie) under the Bavarian state school system. Revenue is generated through student tuition and fees for vocational language programs, including the one-year foreign language correspondent training, the three-year Fachakademie (academy) program for translator/interpreter certification, and the B.A. Translation program. The institute also offers fee-based continuing education courses such as German legal language seminars for external translators and interpreters, and administers external language certification exams (CILS, DELE) for a fee.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

IFA is a state-accredited vocational language school and academy offering full-time training programs in five foreign languages (English, French, Italian, Russian, Spanish). Its core offerings include a two-year Berufsfachschule program for foreign language correspondents, a three to four-year Fachakademie program for state-certified translators and interpreters, and a B.A. Translation degree offered in cooperation with FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg.

Product overview

IFA (Institut für Fremdsprachen und Auslandsstudien) is a vocational school and academy affiliated with Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, founded in 1948. The institution operates two main educational programs: Berufsfachschule (BFS) - a two-year vocational school for foreign language correspondents, and Fachakademie (FAK) - a three to four year academy for state-certified translators and interpreters. Languages taught include English, French, Italian, Russian, and Spanish. The portfolio includes GAP YEAR programs for (Fach-)Abitur graduates, a B.A. Übersetzen (translation) degree, language certification exams (CILS for Italian, DELE for Spanish), and continuing education seminars on German legal language for translators and interpreters. A new part-time online study model for translator and interpreter training is planned for September 2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Berufsfachschule für Fremdsprachenberufe (BFS) Two-year vocational training program preparing students for the profession of foreign language correspondent, combining comprehensive language education with business and communication skills. Students receive a state-certified qualification (Staatlich geprüfter Fremdsprachen- und Eurokorrespondent) qualifying them for roles in international business and communication.
• Fachakademie für Sprachen und internationale Kommunikation (FAK) Three to four year advanced study program (Fachakademie) for becoming a state-certified translator and interpreter, with specialization in languages and international communication. Graduates qualify for state-certified translator and interpreter roles and can pursue public appointment for court interpreting.
• GAP YEAR Program

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg (Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFA operates as an affiliated institute under FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, one of Germany's largest and most research-intensive universities. The partnership provides IFA with institutional infrastructure (IT systems including WebUntis, Mebis), university-level academic standards, and the ability to offer a B.A. Translation degree in cooperation with FAU's Department of Translation Studies. FAU's President is Prof. Dr. Joachim Hornegger.
• Erasmus+ (European Union)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFA participates in the Erasmus+ program, enabling students of both the Berufsfachschule (BFS) and Fachakademie (FAK) to undertake international study exchanges at partner institutions abroad. Outgoing student mobility is coordinated through Erasmus+ for both program types.
• Università per Stranieri di Siena (Italy)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFA serves as an authorized examination center for the CILS (Certificazione di Italiano come Lingua Straniera) certification exam, administered on behalf of the Università per Stranieri di Siena. The CILS certificate certifies Italian language communicative competence for professional and academic purposes.
• Instituto Cervantes, Munich (Spain)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFA is an authorized examination center for DELE (Diplomas de Español como Lengua Extranjera) Spanish language certification exams, administered on behalf of the Instituto Cervantes in Munich. Exams are offered for all proficiency levels, including the DELE Escolar variant for school-age students.
• VFF (Vereinigung der Freunde des IFA / Alumni Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFA maintains an active alumni network (Alumni VFF) that collaborates with the institute on career events, including the biennial Career Day. The alumni association supports current students in professional networking and provides ongoing community for graduates.
• Schreiber-Friebel-Stiftung (Foundation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Schreiber-Friebel-Stiftung is a foundation associated with IFA that provides scholarship opportunities for talented and committed students and trainees who have achieved a 'good' or better average grade. Scholarships are awarded annually for the following school year to support talented students.
• Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Wissenschaft und Kunst (Bavarian State Ministry)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAs a state educational institution, IFA operates under the regulatory oversight and authorization of the Bavarian State Ministry for Science and the Arts. The ministry acts as the supervisory authority, setting educational standards and frameworks within which IFA operates as a state-accredited Berufsfachschule and Fachakademie.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Heidelberger Akademie für Übersetzen und Dolmetschen: Heidelberger Akademie offers vocational training for translators and interpreters in the Heidelberg region, providing a comparable state-certified Fachakademie pathway to IFA. It addresses the same student persona of career-oriented language professionals in southern Germany.
• Euro-Schulen / ESO Education Group: Euro-Schulen is a network of vocational schools in Germany offering language training, foreign language correspondence, and continuing education programs. It shares IFA's vocational orientation and is among the most direct private-sector competitors for Berufsfachschule students in Germany.
• Universität Leipzig – Institut für Angewandte Linguistik und Translatologie: The University of Leipzig's translation studies institute offers degree programs in translation and interpreting, serving as a public-sector alternative to IFA's vocational Fachakademie. It attracts students seeking academic credentials rather than state vocational qualifications, but addresses the same underlying student demand for translation careers.
• Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz / FTSK Germersheim: The Faculty of Translation Studies, Linguistics, and Cultural Studies (FTSK) at the University of Mainz in Germersheim is Germany's largest academic center for translator and interpreter training. It serves as an academic counterpart to IFA's vocational programs, competing for top-tier students considering translation careers.

Others

• Goethe-Institut: The Goethe-Institut is Germany's official cultural institute promoting German language and culture worldwide. While it primarily teaches German as a foreign language and does not directly compete with IFA's translator/interpreter training, it is an adjacent institution in Germany's broader language education ecosystem and a potential referral source.

Broad incumbents

• inlingua Deutschland: inlingua is a major language training network in Germany offering corporate language training, group courses, and individual instruction across many languages. It serves a broader corporate/B2B market than IFA's state-certified vocational focus but competes for the same general pool of adult language learners in Germany.
• Berlitz Deutschland: Berlitz is a globally recognized language training provider with a strong German footprint, offering immersive language instruction for individuals and corporations. While primarily commercial/consumer-focused rather than state-certified, Berlitz competes with IFA for the adult language learner segment in major German cities.
• Carl Duisberg Centren: Carl Duisberg Centren is a long-established German language and intercultural training provider offering language courses, professional training, and study programs. While broader in scope than IFA, it overlaps in vocational language training and serves similar international student and professional segments.

Direct peers

• SDI München – Sprachen- und Dolmetscherinstitut: SDI München is one of Germany's most established private vocational schools for translator and interpreter training, offering state-certified programs across multiple languages. It is the closest direct competitor to IFA's Fachakademie and Berufsfachschule offerings, targeting a similar student persona of gap-year and career-changer language learners in Bavaria.
• FASK Germersheim (Fachakademie für Sprachen, Translation und Kultur): FASK Germersheim is a state-recognized Fachakademie in Rhineland-Palatinate offering vocational training in foreign language professions and translation, mirroring IFA's Fachakademie structure. It serves a comparable student profile and competes for the same pool of prospective certified translators/interpreter in Germany.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCX1VYeZPvJxfeJiVxtbiGsw/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/IFAERL
• Instagraminstagram.com/ifa_erlangen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/institut-f-r-fremdsprachen-und-auslandskunde-bei-der-uni-erlangen-n-rnberg-e-v-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Institut für Fremdsprachen und Auslandskunde bei der FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg e.V.