HAW goes USA HAW goes USA

HAW Hamburg currently has the following US partner universities. In addition, the university is a member of the Global E3 network, with a further US partners. The 'HAW goes USA' strategy is an important module within the university's internationalisation strategy.

Four university cooperations are being developed into strategic partnerships:

Virginia Tech: The strategic cooperation with Virginia Tech focuses on aeronautical engineering. The ‘Junior Spring Semester Abroad’ programme has been in place since 2020. Virginia Tech students complete a full semester programme in Hamburg, which is credited towards their studies in Blacksburg, so the time to graduation is not extended. Through the DAAD's ISAP funding, Hamburg students complete a full semester in Blacksburg with a full scholarship. In addition, the areas of faculty exchange, Master's thesis in Blacksburg and joint research projects are being developed. The cooperation has received ISAP funding from the DAAD since 2018.

California State University, Long Beach: The university-wide strategic cooperation with CSULB was chosen by NAFSA in 2017 as ‘Best Practice’ for a publication on strategic university cooperation. A special programme is with the School of Social Work, which offers a ‘Junior Spring Semester Abroad’ programme in Hamburg, whereby the time to graduation is not extended. The university cooperation is characterised by a strong network of lecturers with various summer schools, workshops and guest lectureships in Hamburg and Long Beach. The cooperation was awarded DAAD ISAP funding for collaboration in film (2017-2025). It currently receives ISAP grants for international business (since 2021) and social work (2024-2026).

University of Rhode Island: Since 2012 the student exchange with the University of Rhode Island has its focus on a double degree programme in International Business. In addition, URI offers a five-year 'International Business Program' (IBP) during which URI students complete a study and internship year in Germany in cooperation with HAW Hamburg. At Master's level, there is a Master Class in Quantatative Data Analysis coupled with the opportunity to complete a research stay in Rhode Island. The cooperation received ISAP funding from the DAAD in 2012-2017.

Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA): The Faculty of Design has a lively student exchange programme with the renowned art academy in Baltimore. With ISAP funding from the DAAD for the years 2024-2026 the focus was on strengthening student exchange and developing faculty exchange.

Each year up to 30 US exchange students study in Hamburg, making them the largest group of international guest students at HAW Hamburg. As part of the reciprocal exchange agreements, the same number of HAW Hamburg students spend an exchange semester at one of our US partner universities.

Since 2014 the focus has also been on developing faculty exchange in the form of summer schools, workshops, COIL modules and joint research with selected partners.

In order to increase the number of US exchange students, HAW Hamburg increased the number of classes offered in English. Currently the university offers over 100 courses and every department is represented. In general, the courses are core classes, which German students can also take as part of their degree programmes, thus contributing to Internationalisation @ Home at HAW Hamburg.

Link to "Programmes in English"

The third goal is to develop collaborations with research US universities in special areas of research expertise at HAW Hamburg. One example is the cooperation between Prof. Dr. Thomas Clemen and his research team MARS (Multi-Agent Research Simulation) with the University of Florida and other US universities. There are also plans to develop joint research projects in the field of aeronautical engineering with Virginia Tech.