IU International University of Applied Sciences

IU International University of Applied Sciences (IU), based in Erfurt, Germany, is a private, for-profit university offering vocational and academic programs in both German and English. Established in 1998 as the International University of Applied Sciences Bad Honnef / Bonn (IFH), it welcomed its first students in 2000. The university has evolved significantly over the years through several mergers, including with Adam Ries University of Applied Sciences in 2013 and the University of International Business and Logistics in 2016. It was renamed IUBH in 2017 and finally became IU International University of Applied Sciences in 2021. With over 130,000 students as of 2021, IU is the largest state-accredited university in Germany and ranks among the largest globally. IU offers flexible learning models, including on-campus, online, and blended formats. It received institutional accreditation from the German Science and Humanities Council in 2009 and again in 2021 and its programs are accredited by FIBAA on behalf of the German Accreditation Council. The university is operated by IU Internationale Hochschule GmbH, part of IU Group N.V., which has been owned by British private equity firm Oakley Capital since 2017. IU’s governance includes a rectorate, senate, and advisory board to align academic and professional interests.