Who
We are

Icon University

We are Europe’s fastest-growing provider for personalised education

With over 130,000 students enrolled, IU Group, holding company behind IU International University of Applied Sciences, is Germany’s largest private university group. IU provides a well-diversified mix of online degree courses, part-time studies and on-campus learning.
We are a pioneer in delivering high-quality education, leveraging technology and innovation to meet the changing needs of students.
Today, our vertically-integrated education platform offers the largest portfolio of bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes in Europe with more than 200 accredited courses in German and English. We cooperate with more than 15,000 enterprises and actively support them in their people development including in high-demand areas such as business administration, data & artificial intelligence and technology.
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Behind IU Group are more than 4,000 employees from more than 80 nationalities.​ In 2023, the Walbrook Institute London (formerly known as LIBF) as well as the Canadian University of Fredericton (UFred) were acquired by IU Group and joined their path of revolutionising online education. ​In 2024, the IU Copilot School featuring Microsoft was founded, giving people access to essential AI skills.

<2k

Students

2012

20k

Students

2018

>85k

Students

2021

>140k

Students

2024

FACTS & FIGURES

students

130,000

CORPORATE PARTNERS

>15,000

UPSKILLING opportunities

> 500

degree programmes

>200

Thereof in English

~ 50

STUDY LOCATIONS

>37

Multi-jurisdiction accreditation

GER/UK/CAN
Our Vision

EVERYBODY CAN ACCESS EDUCATION TO GROW

We want to become the #1 university in the world.
everybody
We are inclusive and non-elitist for global talents.
access
Our offering is accessible and affordable.
education
Our offer ranges from higher education to nano degrees.
grow
We drive individual progress through high-quality, career-oriented education.
our mission

We empower people around the globe
with the most personalised education.

Our Approach

Our students come first. We advance higher education with the clear goal of empowering people to grow.

We put the student centrE stage

We democratise learning by removing cultural and geographical entry-barriers and bridging the gaps between vocational, corporate and university education. Our customised learning journeys are designed to fit students’ individual lives and preferences.

highly satisfied students from more than 160 countries

Student-centric teaching innovation and AI technologies improve learning results while a clear focus on real-life skills and knowledge helps students succeed in the societies of tomorrow.

Sustainability

We are committed to environmental sustainability, provide affordable education for thousands, and adhere to the highest governance standards.
70%

of our students are from non-academic households

5x

more new students without a-levels compared to traditional universities

20%

of salary uplift after having completed an online study programme

Our Commitment to People and Planet

At IU Group, sustainability and social responsibility are core to how we operate. We are committed to minimising our environmental footprint, acting with integrity, and creating meaningful social impact — for our students, our employees, and society at large. We regularly measure and report on our progress across environmental, social, and governance dimensions, and continuously work to improve.
For more details, visit our dedicated sustainability page and explore our annual Sustainability and Social Impact Reports:

https://sustainability.iu-group.com/

Our students Put their trust in us and we keep our promise

Our mission is to empower people across the globe with the most personalised education, and over 90% of our students would recommend IU to others. We make sure to adhere to the highest standards of governance in everything we do, and to serve the interests of all our stakeholders in the best way possible.

IU Group Public Purpose

"The mission of IU Group is to empower people of all backgrounds to grow by expanding access to affordable, high-quality, career-oriented education, enabling social mobility and improved employment opportunities.
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We deliver this impact by scaling inclusive, flexible learning pathways – from higher education to nanodegrees – that are aligned with labour market needs and designed to support lifelong learning. This purpose guides our strategy to become the world's leading provider of higher education by combining reach, accessibility, and educational quality to create measurable social value and prepare people with the skills and confidence to succeed in the world of tomorrow."

IU Group Board
26 June 2026
IU holds the highest form of accreditation from the German Science and Humanities Council

Meet the Leaders

IU Group is led by a highly experienced, committed and entrepreneurial-minded leadership team.

Dr. Sven
Schütt

Dr. Sven
Schütt

Skilled leader of public and private enterprises
‍
AI thought-leader w/ back-ground in neurosciences
Follow me on LinkedIn:

Marvin
Lange

Marvin
Lange

Experienced CFO in high-volume digital businesses

Expertise in supporting hyper-growth strategies
Follow me on LinkedIn:

Dr. Carmen
Thoma

Dr. Carmen
Thoma

Economist with vast analytical skillset

Expert in data-driven digital sales and marketing
Follow me on LinkedIn:
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