HFWbern.ch

What HFWbern.ch does

HFWbern.ch is a federally recognized Swiss higher vocational school (Höhere Fachschule) founded in 1961 as the Höhere Kaufmännische Gesamtschule (HKG) by the Kaufmännischer Verband Bern, rebranded to its current name in 2005, and operating today under two legal entities — Verein Wirtschafts- und Kaderschule KV Bern (a non-profit association) and WKS KV Bildung AG. The institution delivers the three-year, six-semester part-time Dipl. Betriebswirtschafter:in HF program, a business administration diploma federally recognized at NQR Level 6, across four campuses in Bern, Biel, Burgdorf, and Thun, with approximately 100 new students enrolling annually. The curriculum combines generalist business education with over 50% practical applications delivered through day, afternoon/evening, and online/hybrid study models designed for working professionals.

The revenue model is anchored by recurring semester tuition (CHF 3,260 per semester all-inclusive, comprising CHF 2,480 semester fees, CHF 600 promotion fees, and CHF 180 Lernbox, with a new monthly CHF 563 payment option effective April 2026). Supplementary one-time streams include the Basiskurs Rechnungswesen (CHF 890), Basiskurs Englisch (CHF 780), a CHF 1,490 combination package, IELTS examination fees (approximately CHF 400 international / CHF 200 internal), and advanced C1/BEC preparation courses. All-inclusive pricing embeds specialization tracks, English instruction at B2/C1, coaching, examination training, diploma thesis support, and licenses for Microsoft 365, AI tooling, and the Campus LMS. Canton Bern subsidization is already deducted from stated prices. The primary customer segment is employed professionals holding a KV EFZ commercial apprenticeship or Berufsmaturität, with secondary demand from career changers and employer-sponsored cohorts seeking staff development.

The institution's technology stack centers on the Campus LMS (campuswks.ch) for digital learning delivery, supplemented by specialized teaching tools such as Banana Accounting Software for financial accounting courses. The go-to-market motion is event-driven: free monthly info sessions held in-person at all four campuses and online serve as the primary funnel, with HubSpot-mediated consultation scheduling converting prospects into applicants. Distribution is supported by the national four-school HFW partnership (Bern, Zürich, Luzern, Aarau) for curriculum consistency and brand reach, regional channel partnerships with BFB Biel and WST Thun for local market access, and an exclusive partnership with Mendo for the Banking & Finance specialization. Strategic priorities evidenced in recent activity include accelerated Bachelor pathway integration via a cooperation with PHW Bern, expansion of the Vertiefungskurse portfolio into AI, digital, and transformation verticals, and pricing model innovation to broaden accessibility.

Name

HFWbern.ch

Legal name

Verein Wirtschafts- und Kaderschule KV Bern

Website

https://hfwbern.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

HFWbern.ch is a federally recognized Swiss higher vocational school in Bern delivering the three-year part-time Dipl. Betriebswirtschafter:in HF business administration program across four campuses to approximately 100 working professionals annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Vocational Business Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Business and Secretarial Schools (611410)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International Business & Global Management Schools (EDAHAHAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Hybrid/Blended Classroom & HyFlex Instruction Systems (EDAFABAC)

Keywords

• Higher vocational education
• Business administration diploma
• Vocational training programs
• Part-time professional education
• Executive business courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Bern

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Semester Tuition Fees: Core revenue stream from tuition fees charged per semester. Each semester includes: Semestergebühren (CHF 2,480), Promotionsgebühren (CHF 600), and Lernbox (CHF 180), totaling CHF 3,260 per semester or CHF 563 monthly.
2. Basiskurs Rechnungswesen: Voluntary preparatory accounting course priced at CHF 890, separate from main study program.
3. Basiskurs Englisch: Voluntary preparatory English course priced at CHF 780, separate from main study program.
4. IELTS Examination Fees: Optional English proficiency examination fees: approximately CHF 400 for international IELTS diploma or CHF 200 for internal examination.
5. Combination Package: Bundled offer combining Basiskurs RW and Basiskurs Englisch for CHF 1,490.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

HFWbern.ch is a Swiss higher vocational school for economics that delivers the federally recognized "Dipl. Betriebswirtschafter:in HF" — a three-year part-time business administration diploma across six semesters. The curriculum combines general business, social competencies, project and self-competence with specialization tracks in areas such as Banking & Finance, KI/Digital Transformation and Digital Marketing. Supplementary fee-based preparatory and continuing-education courses (e.g., foundation accounting, English, BEC/IELTS prep, Berufsbildnerkurs) extend the portfolio.

Product overview

HFWbern.ch is a federally recognized Swiss higher vocational school (Höhere Fachschule) offering the primary Dipl. Betriebswirtschafter:in HF program—a three-year part-time business administration diploma with multiple study formats (day, evening, hybrid/online) across four campuses (Bern, Biel, Burgdorf, Thun). The portfolio includes specialized add-on modules such as the Data Analyst & KI, Banking & Finance, Digital Marketing, Leader 4.0, Nachhaltigkeit, Psychology @ Work, Teamleiter:in, and Transformation Spezialist:in elective tracks (included in tuition), plus preparatory Foundation Courses (Basiskurse) in Accounting and English, advanced IELTS C1 preparation, BEC exam preparation courses, and a vocational trainer course. Students access course materials and online learning through the Campus LMS platform. All programs are SBFI-recognized and NQR Level 6 certified.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Vertiefungskurse: Specialization courses offered in 6th semester including Banking & Finance, Data Analyst & KI, Digital Marketing, Leader 4.0, Nachhaltigkeit, Psychology @ Work, Teamleiter:in, and Transformation Spezialist:in

Products and services

• Dipl. Betriebswirtschafter:in HF Federally recognized three-year part-time higher vocational diploma in business administration, delivered over six semesters via day, evening, or hybrid formats across Bern, Biel, Burgdorf and Thun. Designed for working professionals with a federal vocational certificate such as the Kaufmännischer EFZ. Includes general business, social and project competence modules plus specialization tracks such as Banking & Finance, KI/Digital Transformation and Digital Marketing. Awards a federally protected title at NQR Level 6 with up to 90 ECTS credits toward a Bachelor's degree.
• Basiskurs Rechnungswesen Standalone foundation course in financial accounting that prepares prospective students for the Dipl. Betriebswirtschafter:in HF program. Priced at CHF 890 and available as an individual add-on or as part of the Combination Package.
• Basiskurs Englisch Standalone foundation English-language course for students needing English preparation before starting the diploma program. Priced at CHF 780 and available as an individual add-on or bundled.
• Englisch C1 / IELTS Preparation Advanced English course targeting C1 proficiency and IELTS exam preparation. Priced at CHF 990 and offered as a standalone continuing-education offering.
• BEC Vantage & BEC Higher Preparation Cambridge Business English Certificate (BEC) Vantage and Higher preparation course for professionals seeking internationally recognized business English credentials.
• Berufsbildnerkurs Standalone fee-based course qualifying participants to act as certified vocational trainers responsible for supervising commercial apprentices (Kaufmännische Lernende) under Swiss vocational education regulations.
• Combination Package (Kombi-Paket) Bundled package combining multiple preparatory modules (e.g., Basiskurs Rechnungswesen and Basiskurs Englisch) at a combined price of CHF 1,490, offering a discounted entry into HFWbern.ch's preparatory track.

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 100 new students enroll annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

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

• PHW Bern (Private Hochschule Wirtschaft)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew cooperation enabling HFW students to take the 'scientific working' course during their 6th semester, counted as a specialization. Allows accelerated 3-semester Bachelor completion alongside up to 100% work commitment. Maximum 90 ECTS recognized from HFW diploma.
• KV Business School ZürichcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four HFW partner schools forming the national HFW network. Jointly develops and delivers the Higher Vocational School for Economics program with consistent quality standards across all locations.
• HF KV Luzern (KV Luzern / Berufsakademie)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four HFW partner schools forming the national HFW network. Jointly develops and delivers the Higher Vocational School for Economics program with consistent quality standards.
• HFW Aarau (Höhere Fachschule für Wirtschaft Aarau)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four HFW partner schools forming the national HFW network. Partner leadership team includes Adrian Rutz (HF KV Luzern), Thomas Karrer (HFW Aarau), Christian Messerli (HFW Bern), Stephan Weiss (KV Business School Zürich).
• WST Thun (Wirtschaftsschule Thun)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional partner offering HFW program at Thun location. Students benefit from local access while receiving the same curriculum and instruction as Bern campus.
• BFB Biel (Berufsfachschule Biel)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional partner offering HFW program at Biel location. Enables students from Biel-Seeland-Jurasüdfuss region to attend locally.
• BZI Interlaken (Berufsbildungszentrum Interlaken)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAdditional regional partner offering HFW programs through WKS KV Bildung AG. Programs include WST and BZI offerings coordinated through WKS KV Bildung AG.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• HWZ Hochschule für Wirtschaft Zürich: Private Swiss business school offering bachelor and master programs with similar applied orientation. Targets the same working professional and career changer cohort but at higher price points and degree levels.
• Berner Fachhochschule (BFH): The Canton Bern university of applied sciences competing for the same working-professional segment with bachelor and master degree authority. Higher prestige but less flexible for employed students; overlapping employer relationships.
• ZHAW School of Management and Law: One of Switzerland's leading business faculties within a public FH, offering bachelor, master and executive programs in Winterthur/Zürich. Adjacent competitor in the applied business education category.
• Kalaidos Fachhochschule: Switzerland's first private university of applied sciences, offering federally accredited bachelor and master programs including in business administration. Competes for the same employed-learner demographic with degree-granting authority.
• Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz (FHNW) - Hochschule für Wirtschaft: Public FH business faculty in Northwestern Switzerland offering accredited business degrees. Competes for the same applied business education demand across multiple cantons.

Regional players

• Wirtschaftsschule Thun (WST): Regional channel partner delivering the HFWbern curriculum at the Thun location under the WKS KV Bildung AG umbrella. Operates in the same immediate catchment but in partnership rather than competition.
• BFB Berufsfachschule Biel: Regional channel partner offering the HFWbern curriculum at the Biel/Bienne location. Comparable KV-school ecosystem in the bilingual Seeland-Jura region, structurally aligned with HFWbern's delivery model.

Direct peers

• HFW Aarau: Third member of the four-school HFW partnership, delivering the same NQR Level 6 HF business diploma in the Aargau region. Shares curriculum standards and partner leadership with HFWbern.
• HF KV Luzern / Berufsakademie Luzern: Second of the four HFW partner schools, offering the same higher vocational business administration diploma in Central Switzerland. Joint curriculum development and shared HFW leadership structure.
• KV Business School Zürich: One of the four HFW partner schools delivering the same federally recognized Dipl. Betriebswirtschafter/in HF curriculum in Zürich. Directly comparable program structure, pricing model, and target student segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hfwbern

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 HFWbern.ch