Studying abroad Studying abroad

HAW Hamburg has a large network of partner universities where you can study for one or two semesters or, in special cases, can complete a double degree.

In determining which university is the right one for you, it is important to make sure that your choice corresponds to your study goals and the content of your degree course, that you have strong skills in the language of instruction and that you are curious about a different system of university studies. You should familiarise yourself with the course offerings at the university that interests you well in advance. Read reports from previous study abroad students and listen to fellow students who have already taken the leap of going abroad at information events or in the podcast '8000 Miles from Home'.

A study stay abroad should be planned carefully. Start gathering information, working on your language skills, and preparing at least one year – or even one and a half years – before the planned start date. The application deadlines for a study stay abroad and for the scholarships are usually a year in advance of departure. The application and selection processes require quite a bit of time to prepare. You can use the following checklist (available in German only) to get ready. Please note that you must submit a language proficiency certificate in order to apply for a study place abroad or a scholarship. You will need to organise this well ahead of time.

1. Recommended semester by degree programme: In most Bachelor’s degree programmes, the 4th to 6th semesters are particularly well suited for a semester abroad. In Master’s degree programmes, this is usually the 3rd semester. Different or more specific recommendations apply to some degree programmes. It is best to speak to your Student Exchange Coordinator.

2. International semester dates: Regardless of your degree programme, a semester abroad often fits in better with the winter semester than with the summer semester. This is due to the semester dates at many international universities, which differ from those in Germany. Abroad, the lecture period for the winter semester usually begins as early as the start of August in some countries, and in most cases in September. The summer semester, or ‘spring term’, in turn, sometimes begins as early as the start of January or the start of February. In some countries the semester doesn't start until February/March.

Please bear this in mind when making your plans and check the academic calendar. It can often be found under the heading ‘Academic Calendar’ on the websites of partner universities.

3. Exchange programmes: Not all programmes are offered in both semesters. This is either because HAW Hamburg only sends students abroad in a specific semester (USA, Australia) or because the partner university only facilitates exchanges during the winter or summer semester. Please therefore check our information pages and speak to your Student Exchange Coordinator.

Yes, you can. If you would like to complete a study stay at a university external to HAW Hamburg's existing partnerships, this is possible in principle. You are then a so-called 'freemover'. In this case, you organise your semester completely independently and are sometimes required to pay very high tuition fees, which are not charged by our partner universities. As a freemover you will not, for example, benefit from the Erasmus programme, as some scholarships are only available for stays at partner universities.

If you do study abroad as a freemover, please let us know via email about your planned stay: support_outgoings (at) haw-hamburg (dot) de.

German students and students from EU member states usually do not require a visa for a stay within Europe/the Erasmus area. Students who want to study outside the EU need to organise visas themselves well in advance of their stay abroad. You can find information about entry requirements and residency regulations for German citizens on the Federal Foreign Office website.
Once you have been selected for a place at one of our partner universities, the university will also provide you with more detailed information about applying for a visa.

Note for non-EU citizens: Please contact your destination country's embassy well ahead of time to find out if you need to apply for a visa. Under the German residency act (Aufenthaltsgesetz, section 51, para 1, no 7) a German residency permit expires automatically 'when the foreign citizen leaves Germany and does not return within six months or the later alternative deadline set by the Immigration Office'. It is your responsibility to apply on time for a visa for your study stay abroad.

If you go to another country to study, you need to have adequate health insurance that is valid for the entire length of your stay in the destination country. Holiday medical insurance is not enough! You should also check whether you have sufficient liability coverage.

Students who receive funding through German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) programmes (e.g. Erasmus+, PROMOS) can purchase additional private insurance through DAAD (combined health, liability and accident insurance).

If you are an EU citizen with state health insurance, the European Health Insurance Card provides you with basic health insurance coverage in another EU country. However, this coverage or that provided by private health insurance may not be sufficient, especially if you require a medical transport back to Germany or special medical procedures. In this case it can be a good idea to purchase supplementary private medical insurance.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you are adequately insured for the duration of your stay abroad. HAW Hamburg is not liable for the consequences of a lack of insurance or insufficient coverage.

A study semester abroad can be a reason to take a leave of absence (Urlaubssemester) from HAW Hamburg. Your application for leave needs to be submitted to the Studierendensekretariat by the necessary deadline. You can find information about the process here. Please note that you cannot take any exams at HAW Hamburg during the semester in which you are on leave.

If you go abroad for a study stay, you will still need to be enrolled at HAW Hamburg and pay your semester contribution – even for the semester you are away. However, you can apply to Studierendensekretariat to get a refund for the portion that goes towards the HVV semester ticket.
You can find more information here.

Deadlines for submitting your refund application: up to four weeks after the start of the semester. 

Yes, of course you can! The Erasmus programme offers special funding for students who go abroad with their children.

If you want to study abroad with your child or children, this naturally requires a substantial amount of planning (organising childcare or school, etc.). Unfortunately, we and the partner university are only able to provide limited assistance in this regard. You can find helpful information, tips and reports (in German) at https://www.auslandsstudium-mit-kind.de/. Feel free to contact us to find the right stay abroad/partner university for you.

You can find information about obtaining a language proficiency certificate here.

You will generally need to arrange your own room/accommodation if there are no dormitory rooms available to exchange students that you can apply for. Our partner universities will provide you with tips and assistance well in advance. In some cases 'buddy students' at the partner universities will also be able to give you tips. You can read the reports  from our previous study abroad students to get tips on looking for places to live.