About CODE

Educating the Digital Pioneers of tomorrow

CODE is a Berlin-based state-accredited university of applied sciences that offers bachelor degree programs in the field of Digital Product Development.

Sometimes good ideas need a decade to ripen

When Thomas Bachem – self-taught software engineer and designer – was looking for study programs to promote his endeavors as an internet entrepreneur, he was disappointed to see that the academic landscape mostly focused on never-changing basic principles of Computer Science, instead of the exciting new possibilities of the internet and its opportunities.

He decided to study Economics at a private business school in Cologne. This is where he experienced first-hand the radical drive to apply academic theories to the real world and a personal, supporting learning environment. Out of the fruitless search for a truly applied software-engineering program and the new experiences at a private university, the idea for CODE was born: CODE was going to be to Computer Science what business schools are to classic Economics programs.

One decade later, Thomas had founded several successful internet startups. As an entrepreneur and employer, he experienced time and time again that good software engineers, designers and product managers – the key drivers for ambitious digital companies – are a rare resource in Europe and Germany in particular because classical university programs rarely qualify young men and women for the challenges of the new economy.

The best way to predict the future is to invent it.Alan Kay, Computer Pioneer

Supported by internet- and startup-entrepreneurs

This core belief is widely shared among industry leaders and is the reason why more than two dozens of the most renowned, tech-enthusiastic internet- and startup entrepreneurs are backing CODE.

Recently, there were several articles in the press, also releasing the names of our supporters and investors.

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Backed by the academic community

Our academic council provides us with the latest insights in our fields research, a strong tie to scientific community and decades of experience in creating meaningful learning experiences. They help us identify those professors, researchers and lecturers who share our drive for excellence, our common mission and support our educational approach.

Become a professor at CODE

Dr. Shermin Voshmgir

Blockchain Expert, Founder at BlockchainHub, Public Speaker and Guest Lecturer at Vienna University of Economics

Prof. Dr. Birger Priddat

Economist and Philosopher, Former president of Witten/Herdecke University

Prof. Dr. Achim Bachem

Mathematician and Computer Scientist, Former Chairman of Forschungszentrum Jülich

Prof. Dr. Sven Ripsas

Entrepreneur and Educator, Professor of Entrepreneurship at Berlin School of Economics and Law

Prof. Hartmut Wöhlbier

Physicist and Designer, Professor for Interactive Media at Mannheim University of Applied Sciences

Prof. Dr. Diana Knodel

Computer Scientist and Entrepreneur, Founder at App Camps, Visiting Professor at TU Berlin

Dr. Fabian Geier

Philosopher and Information Ethicist, Visiting Assistant Professor at Yale NUS College

Prof. Dr. Michael Erlhoff

Design Theorist and Art Historian, Founding Dean at Köln International School of Design and honorary Professor at HBK

Prof. Dr. Stephan Stubner

Dean of HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management

On a mission to empower the Digital Pioneers of tomorrow

CODE offers a project-orientated and challenge-based learning experience that stimulates personal growth and enables students to develop professional competences as well as communicative and social skills. CODE is supported by two dozen of Germany’s most renowned internet entrepreneurs and provides a subsequent, income-adjusted tuition model to attract the most talented students regardless of their personal financial background.

Meet the team

Our team consists of internet entrepreneurs and higher-education professionals. We combine the advantages of an agile startup mindset with a decade of experience in managing progressive private universities.

Don’t aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally.David Frost, Journalist