Studying abroad Studying abroad

HAW Hamburg Bachelor's students who will be in at least their fourth semester at the time of the exchange can apply for a study semester in the USA.

You need to have good grades at the time you apply (and afterwards):
- Average grade of at least 2.3
- Average grade of at least 2.7 for engineering students
- Average grade of at least 2.5 for ISAP programmes with CSULB (Media Technology) and Virginia Tech (Aeronautical Engineering)
- Average grade of at least 2.0 for double degree programme at the University of Rhode Island  Additional criteria (in German only)

Where possible, you should study during the standard study period. If you still need to complete one or two exams, this is not necessarily a problem. Explain the reasons in your application. You also need to have very strong English skills.

A high degree of personal engagement at the university is also desirable – for example, in the WeBuddy programme, or as a tutor during an orientation unit.

You can download the information page (in German only) for more details.
You can download the language certificate here.

* Students with a US passport or who have dual German and US citizenship are unfortunately not eligible to apply.

A study semester in the USA always takes place in the winter semester. In the USA the semester runs from September to mid-December.

The exchanges with the partner universities are reciprocal, which means that student exchanges take place on a one-to-one basis. Exchanges as part of the Global E3 programme depend on the capacities of the 37 member universities. The decision about how many places will be offered and which departments will be included in the next round is made in early November.

The call for applications is announced at the beginning of November each year. The places are announced here, through posters around the university campus, and via email. The application deadline is 6 January. Selection interviews take place between mid-January and early February.

The information form (in German only) about the application process lists the documents you need to submit and what we look for in applicants. We definitely recommend that you organise an advising session with the student exchange coordinator (SEC) in your faculty.

The paper-free application submission process takes place via the Mobility Online application portal.

The demand is high, so you need to pick one US university and tailor your application to this university. However, you are welcome to list a second choice so that we know if you would consider another university if you aren't selected for your first choice.

IMPORTANT: You must also decide whether you want to go to a US university with which we have a bilateral agreement or whether you want to go to a US university under Global E3. It is not possible to apply for both programmes at the same time.

Yes. You can only apply for those US universities for which your department, your faculty or your degree course is listed.

The following opportunities are open to Master's students:

1. Master's students in Social Work can complete a semester at CSULB. However, they cannot attend Master's courses. Instead, they can participate in senior level-4 Bachelor's courses. Please check whether the selected courses will be recognised by HAW Hamburg. You can also apply for the spring semester (January–May) in Long Beach (application deadline: 15 June).

2. Master's students in Aeronautical Engineering can complete their Master's thesis at Virginia Tech as part of a J1 research scholar visa. Students from other departments can check whether it would be possible to complete their Master's thesis at a US partner university. This is decided on a case-by-case basis and has to be discussed with the partner university. The contact person is always the student exchange coordinator in your faculty.

3. Master's students from the Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science and the Faculty of Life Sciences (Engineering) can complete a research internship in a lab at Drexel University. Please see the page about Drexel University on the UAS7 website (in German only).

Applicants for the USA must have very good English skills. Please use the DAAD language certificate as proof of your language skills for the internal application process. You should have a rating of at least **** in each area. English native speakers do not have to submit a language certificate (just a letter explaining the situation). It is possible that the partner university will request a language certificate as part of the registration process. Note: Students with US nationality cannot participate in the 'HAW goes USA' programme.

Who can complete the DAAD language certificate:

You can complete a language test at the Hamburg School of English in Eppendorf. The test costs approximately €40 and can be completed at short notice (tel.: 040 480 2116). The language school then completes the DAAD certificate.

If your internal application is successful, a number of partners will accept the DAAD certificate. The following US partner universities require a TOEFL test in place of the DAAD certificate. You don't need to complete the TOEFL test until you have been accepted:

• Drexel University (79 points)
• University of Pittsburgh (80 points)
• SUNY - State University of New York (79 points)

Unfortunately not. The places are in high demand, and we want to give as many students as possible the chance to participate in the programme.

The only possibility to study for two semesters is through the double degree programme with the University of Rhode Island (International Business).

In order to complete the requirements for the exchange programme and the J1 visa you need to complete a minimum of 4 academic courses (12 US credits). You can complete a maximum of 15 US credits.

If you are receiving an ISAP scholarship you need to complete as many US courses as necessary to get credit transfer for 30 ECTS at HAW Hamburg.

There are a number of PROMOS scholarships awarded by HAW Hamburg as well as other funding opportunities through the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the Fulbright Commission. You can find more information on the Scholarships and funding page. You can also contact the International Office to arrange an advising session. Contact person: Marina Leß.

The CSULB-HAW Hamburg cooperation with the Department of Media Technology and with the Department of Business are funded by the DAAD ISAP programme. Full scholarships are available (Media Technology: 2021-2024; Business: 2021-2022*).

The cooperation between Virginia Tech and HAW Hamburg in the field of aeronautical engineering is funded by the DAAD ISAP programme. Full scholarships are available here (2022-2025).

*possible extension from 2023