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.

Two university cooperations are being developed into strategic partnerships:

California State University, Long Beach (CSULB): The university-wide cooperation with CSULB focuses strategically on the fields of international business, social and film. In 2017 it was chosen by NAFSA as a ‘Best Practice’ for a publication on building strategic university cooperations. 

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).

Virginia Tech: The strategic cooperation with Virginia Tech focuses on aerospace. 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.

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"