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.*
* Due to corona the semester times in the academic year 2020/21 have been moved to a later start/end. It is very possible that for the exchange students the winter semester 2021/22 will also start in October.
Semester dates
Winter semester 2020/21
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| 2-29 September 2020 | Early Arrival Welcome Programme |
| 1–9 Oktober 2020 | Hamburg Welcome Week (Plan) |
3 October 2020 | Public holiday |
| 12 October 2020 | Start of classes (guest students, higher semesters & Master)** |
| 31 October 2020 | Public holiday |
| 2 November 2020 | Start of classes (degree-seeking freshmen) |
| 21 December 2020–1 January 2021 | Christmas holidays |
| 12 February 2021 | Last day of classes** |
| 15–27 February 2021 | Examination period |
| 1–20 March 2021 | Semester Holidays |
Summer semester 2021
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| 8-19 March 2021 | Hamburg Welcome Week (Online) |
| 22 March 2021 | Start of classes (probably online)** |
| 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 |
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.
