The network character of the vhb guarantees that the professional, technical and didactical potential of the Bavarian universities is made available in the virtual arena to the student, irrespective of his or her place of study or residence. Not only do students profit from this network. In fact, the vhb also encourages an active exchange and solid collaboration between the academic staff of the various universities and other institutions of higher learning.

Besides the nine state universities and the 17 universities of applied sciences, the Augustana-Hochschule Neuendettelsau, the Katholische Stiftungsfachhochschule München, the Evangelische Fachhochschule Nürnberg, the Katholische Universität Eichstätt-Ingolstadt and the Universität der Bundeswehr München also belong to the member universities.