IU International University of Applied Sciences receives system reaccreditation until 2033

Erfurt, Germany, 27 November 2025. IU International University of Applied Sciences has been granted system reaccreditation by the German Accreditation Council until 2033 – the maximum possible duration. This confirms that Germany’s largest university of applied sciences continues to reliably ensure the quality of its teaching and study programmes, and is authorised to independently review, approve and accredit its degree programmes with the Accreditation Council’s seal.

System reaccreditation is regarded as the highest form of quality recognition within the German higher education system. It certifies that a university has an established and effective quality assurance system that continuously reviews, safeguards and improves the quality of its programmes, teaching content and examinations.

“The system reaccreditation demonstrates the professionalism of our processes and our ability to safeguard the long-term quality of our educational offerings,” says Prof PhD Holger Sommerfeldt, Rector of IU International University of Applied Sciences. “We offer one of the most diverse ranges of programmes and study formats in the country and are currently supporting more than 130,000 people worldwide in achieving their personal and professional goals. This decision confirms that we are on the right track: we have a robust and scalable quality system that works in a large, fast-growing university – thanks to the dedication of our teams in teaching and administration.” 

Quality that grows with the institution

In a multi-stage review procedure, the independent experts confirmed that IU had successfully implemented and further enhanced its quality system throughout the entire initial accreditation period (2018 to 2025). During a phase of significant growth, IU consistently strengthened its system: processes were refined, responsibilities clearly defined, and resources purposefully expanded to meet the high demands of modern, data-driven quality assurance.

“With data-driven quality assurance and clearly documented processes, we close the quality loop – data lead to measures, and measures lead to better teaching,” explains Prof PhD Anastasia Hermann, Vice-Rector for Teaching Quality, who oversees the university’s quality system and the system accreditation procedure.

Since the initial accreditation, every degree programme at IU has successfully undergone at least one full cycle of the internal quality assurance process – clear evidence of the system’s effectiveness. The expert panel highlighted the university’s strong student orientation, its flexible study options and the wide range of evaluation opportunities throughout the entire student journey. They also rated the system’s scalability particularly highly: while student numbers have almost quadrupled since the initial accreditation, the quality assurance teams have been systematically strengthened in terms of staffing, structure and technology.

With this decision by the Accreditation Council, IU International University of Applied Sciences is once again confirmed as a reliable, quality-assured and innovative educational partner. The university further consolidates its position as Germany’s largest higher education institution and underscores its contribution to a diverse and accessible higher education landscape.