About SHW – Studienzentrum Hohe Warte
A Vienna-based member college of Woolf, offering European-accredited online postgraduate education to ambitious professionals worldwide.
Making European Academic Excellence Globally Accessible
SHW exists to break down the barriers between talented, experienced professionals and the European academic credentials they deserve.
Founded in Vienna, a city with an unparalleled intellectual heritage, SHW operates as a member college of Woolf, a degree-awarding higher-education institution operating a global collegiate model, licensed by Malta's MFHEA.
We believe that academic achievement should not be limited by geography, prior formal education, or rigid entry requirements. Through flexible online delivery and our innovative Performance-Based Admission pathway, we open doors that traditional institutions often close.
Our programmes are fully online, taught in English, and designed to fit the demanding schedules of working professionals, from early-career managers to C-suite executives.
Accreditation & Recognition
Degrees are awarded by Woolf under its recognized degree-awarding authority or by the respective partner university. Woolf degrees comply with the standards of the EHEA and follow the Bologna Process.
- MFHEA (Malta) – License No. 2019-015
- European Higher Education Area (EHEA) compliant
- Bologna Process – internationally recognised
- Degrees awarded by Woolf under its degree-awarding authority
- Global academic network and partnerships
A History of Academic Growth
A decisive milestone in the institution's development came in 2002 with its recognition by the Austrian Ministry of Education to offer MBA programmes. This formal recognition marked the transition from a primarily seminar-oriented continuing education institution to a provider of academic programmes at an international level. This laid the foundation for the sustainable academisation of the institution's offerings. As a result, the portfolio was continuously expanded in terms of content. The original focus on marketing and sales was systematically supplemented by strategic business management, general economics, organisational research and interdisciplinary management courses. This development responded to the growing demand for holistically trained managers who are able to reflect on and responsibly tackle complex economic and social challenges.
Academic Partners
SHW collaborates with internationally recognised institutions to ensure our programmes meet European academic standards.
SHW & Woolf – A Global Collegiate Model
Since 2024, SHW has been a member college of Woolf. Woolf is a degree-awarding higher-education institution operating a global collegiate model, licensed and regulated by the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA) under License No. 2019-015. Woolf is responsible for academic governance, quality assurance, regulatory compliance, and the awarding of degrees.
Through Woolf's collegiate model, independent colleges collaborate within a shared academic framework and common quality standards. For SHW, this partnership provides access to an international academic environment, structured academic processes, and global visibility, while allowing SHW to continue independently designing and delivering its programs, under the guidance of Woolf's academic policies and quality assurance requirements.
SHW collaborates with selected international partner universities within the framework of its academic programmes. These currently include in particular the University of Huddersfield (UK) and DTI University (Slovakia). The academic responsibility for the study programmes lies with the respective partner institutions, while SHW is responsible for programme development and delivery, as well as research collaborations, student support and quality assurance. This cooperation model ensures that the programmes are conducted in accordance with international academic standards while maintaining a practical orientation.
FAQ: Accreditation & RecognitionAccreditation & Compliance Statements
The following statements apply to all academic programmes offered by SHW International College through Woolf.
Accreditation: Woolf is a licensed higher-education institution in the European Union with degree-awarding authority under MFHEA License No. 2019-015.
Degree Awarding: Degrees are awarded by Woolf under its recognized degree-awarding authority or by the respective partner university.
Recognition: Woolf degrees comply with the standards of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) and follow the Bologna Process, enabling broad international recognition.
Member College: SHW International College is a member college of Woolf, delivering academic programs under Woolf's quality assurance and accreditation framework.
What We Stand For
We remove barriers to postgraduate education through flexible study formats and alternative admission pathways.
Our programmes maintain the highest academic standards, preparing students for research, leadership, and professional excellence.
Every student receives dedicated advisory support from enrolment to graduation. You are never just a number.
We cultivate critical thinking, independent research, and the pursuit of knowledge beyond conventional boundaries.
Grounded in a city of culture, diplomacy, and intellectual tradition, Vienna enriches our academic identity.
We adapt to your life, not the other way around. Study at your own pace, on your own schedule, from anywhere.
Where to Find Us
Geweygasse 4A/1/1
1190 Vienna, Austria
+43 1 370 88 77
info@shw-college.com
Max-Nonne-Straße 45
D-22419 Hamburg, Germany
Administrative and partnership office serving the DACH region.