Laudius Akademie für Fernstudien

What Laudius Akademie für Fernstudien does

Laudius Akademie für Fernstudien is a privately held German distance learning provider founded in 1984 and headquartered in Straelen, Germany, with 35 employees. The company offers over 140 ZFU-certified Fernlehrgänge (distance learning courses) across nine thematic categories — General Knowledge, Beauty & Lifestyle, Foreign Languages, Health, Creativity, Personal Development, Psychology, Business, and others — targeting adult learners in German-speaking markets (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg) and Belgium. Selected courses also qualify for the German government's Bildungsgutschein (education voucher) program, opening a federally funded retraining channel for vocational learners.

The core technology is the proprietary Online Campus LMS (lms.laudius.net), which provides 24/7 access to digital course materials, an integrated online library, a text-to-speech Vorlesefunktion, online assignment submission, and direct messaging with instructors. Students can opt into a digital-only tier or add printed materials shipped by mail, and a simplified Selbststudium (self-study) tier exists without instructor support. The company holds ISO 9001:2015 certification from Lloyd's Register and course-level recognition from the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF).

The business model is direct-to-consumer tuition revenue, with course fees ranging from approximately €128 to €4,840 depending on duration and depth, paid either upfront or via monthly installments starting around €22-€24. A 4-week free trial and a 36-month free extension reduce enrollment friction and protect completion rates. Distribution is multi-channel: website direct enrollment, toll-free phone sales, WhatsApp, free online info sessions, and content marketing through a blog and social media (Facebook, Instagram). Discount programs (15% for volunteers, students, retirees, Bundeswehr personnel; 20% for repeat learners) and a referral promotion (second course free) support volume-based acquisition. The company is independently owned with no disclosed investors, no funding rounds, and no M&A activity.

Name

Laudius Akademie für Fernstudien

Legal name

Laudius Akademie für Fernstudien

Website

https://laudius.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Laudius Akademie für Fernstudien is a German distance learning provider offering over 140 ZFU-certified courses via its proprietary Online Campus LMS to adult learners in German-speaking markets, serving professional development, personal enrichment, and government-funded education segments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Distance Learning and Adult Continuing Education

NAICS

All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Language Schools (611630)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Integrated Tutoring + Learning Content Platforms (Curriculum + Tutors) (EDANAGAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Online Language Learning Platforms (Self-Paced) (EDAMAFAC)

Keywords

• Distance learning courses
• Online education platform
• Professional development training
• Language learning courses
• Continuing education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Straelen

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Course Tuition Fees: Primary revenue stream from course enrollment fees. Students pay for individual distance learning courses with options for digital-only or digital plus printed materials. Prices range from approximately €24/month installment plans to full course fees up to €4,840. Revenue is recognized at enrollment with payment plans available.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Laudius Akademie für Fernstudien is a German distance learning provider offering more than 140 state-certified courses across categories including foreign languages, health, wellness, psychology, business, personal development, and creativity. Students enroll online and access course materials through a proprietary Online Campus LMS, with options for digital-only or digital-plus-printed materials, personal tutor support, homework correction, and optional certification exams. The platform includes unique features such as text-to-speech functionality and an online library supporting flexible self-paced study.

Product overview

Laudius Akademie für Fernstudien operates as a distance learning provider with over 40 years of experience, offering a portfolio of more than 140 Fernlehrgänge (distance learning courses) across nine thematic categories. The core platform is the Online Campus learning management system (LMS), which provides students with 24/7 access to digital course materials, an integrated online library, text-to-speech functionality, and direct communication channels with instructors. Students can choose between purely digital course materials (standard) or add printed materials delivered by mail. The company also offers a simplified Selbststudium (self-study) option without instructor support for those seeking basic course access only. Supplementary services include free online orientation sessions and homework/assignment submission and grading through the LMS.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fernlehrgänge (Distance Learning Courses)

Quantifiable outcome

• 36 months free extension on course duration available if studying slower than planned

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hamburger Akademie für Fernstudien: Hamburg-based distance learning provider operating a similar Fernlehrgang catalog with tutor support and ZFU-certified courses, competing head-to-head in the German adult-learner segment.
• ILS (Institut für Lernsysteme): One of the largest German Fernstudien providers, offering ZFU-certified distance learning courses across similar categories (business, languages, health, personal development) with a comparable tutor-supported model. Direct competitor in the same DACH market.
• Europäische Fernhochschule Hamburg (Euro-FH): State-recognized Fernhochschule offering accredited distance learning degree programs plus shorter courses, with similar LMS-based delivery and tutor support targeting working adults in DACH.
• SGD (Studiengemeinschaft Darmstadt): Long-established German distance learning institution (founded 1950s) with a broad course catalog and ZFU certification. Closely comparable to Laudius in offering structure, tutor model, and DACH target audience.
• AKAD University: German distance-learning university offering accredited bachelor's, master's, and certified courses with strong overlap in business, management, and personal development curricula. Comparable in ZFU accreditation and DACH focus.
• FernUniversität in Hagen: Germany's only state distance-learning university, offering fully accredited degree programs with online delivery. The public-sector incumbent that anchors the broader German Fernstudien category and sets credentialing standards Laudius must align with.

Emerging players

• Babbel: Berlin-based digital language learning subscription platform covering many of the same target languages (Englisch, Französisch, Spanisch, Italienisch, Türkisch, etc.). Competes with Laudius' language course segment on price and convenience for self-paced learners.

Regional players

• DeutschAkademie: Munich-based German-language school offering online and in-person German courses for foreigners. Adjacent overlap with Laudius' 'Deutsch im Beruf' and language portfolio, particularly in the integration and professional German segment.

Others

• IHK (Industrie- und Handelskammer) Weiterbildung: Chambers of commerce offering certified business and management continuing education across Germany. Adjacent ecosystem player for vocational and IHK-certified programs (Laudius already offers 'Geprüfte Schutz- und Sicherheitskraft (IHK)' and 'Wirtschaftsfachwirt*in (IHK)').

Broad incumbents

• Udemy: Global online learning marketplace with thousands of courses across business, languages, health, and personal development. A much larger, well-capitalized platform competing for hobby and personal-development learners that Laudius targets.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Laudius.de
• Instagraminstagram.com/laudius.akademie
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/laudius-gmbh

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Laudius Akademie für Fernstudien