VHS Köln is a non-profit-making organisation for adult and further education. Although it is not a higher-education institution in the literal sense of the word, it belongs to the further education sector (in the same way as an Abendgymnasium (night school) or a Bildungszentrum (education centre)).

Courses are open to anyone aged 16 and over. The VHS also offers courses designed to cater for specific groups of people (unemployed, women, pensioners).