Academic calendar
The academic year at HAW Hamburg is divided into two semesters. The winter semester runs from September to the beginning of February and the summer semester runs from March to mid July.* This information is for international exchagen students, who plan to study for one or two semesters at HAW Hamburg.
* Due to corona the semester times in the academic year 2021/22 have been moved to a later start/end.
Semester dates
Summer semester 2021
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| 8-19 March 2021 | Hamburg Welcome Week (Online) |
| 22 March 2021 | Start of classes** |
| 2-5 April 2021 | Easter holiday |
| 1 May 2021 | Public holiday |
| 13 May 2021 | Public holiday |
| 24 May 2021 | Public holiday |
| 2 July 2021 | Last day of classes** |
| 5-16 July 2021 | Examination period |
| 17 July-31 August 2021 | Semester holidays |
Winter semester 2021/22
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| 20 September–10 October 2021 | Hamburg Welcome Programme |
| 3 October 2021 | Public holiday |
| 11 October 2021 | Start of classes** |
| 31 October 2021 | Public holiday |
| 23 December 2021–2 January 2022 | Christmas holidays |
| 4 or 11 February 2022 | Last day of classes** |
| 7 or 14–26 February 2022 | Examination period |
| 1–20 March 2022 | Semester Holidays |
Summer semester 2022
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| 7–18 March 2022 | Hamburg Welcome Week (Plan) |
| 21 March 2022 | Start of classes |
| 15–18 April 2022 | Easter holidays |
| 1 May 2022 | Public holiday |
| 26 May 2022 | Public holiday |
| 5 June 2022 | Public holiday |
| 30 June 2022 | Classes end |
| 4–23 July 2022 | Examination period |
| 24 July–31 August 2022 | Semester holidays |
Hamburg Welcome Week: This is an orientation programme for international exchange students and international first-year students to help you to get to know Hamburg and the other new students.
** First/last day of classes: In most departments the higher-level classes will start in the first week of the semester; in some departments the first week of the semester may just be an orientation week for the new freshmen. Some classes can run slightly longer because of this. Please check with your Student Exchange Coordinator for the exact dates.
Public holidays: On public holidays shops, banks and post offices are shut in Germany. It is a good way to travel for short trips during the semester, but please be aware that there is increased traffic on roads, in trains and at airports as Germans use these days for long weekends or short breaks.
