European Computer Science
An increasingly global economy needs computing specialists with internationally transferable skills. Major corporate players have complex structures and divergent, nuanced IT landscapes, but still need their IT infrastructure, software and systems to work smoothly and without incident at all their offices and facilities around the world and in every department within these.
Our Bachelor’s degree course in European Computer Science provides the optimum preparation for success in meeting these challenges: a solid grounding in IT, targeted study for language proficiency, and engagement with the culture of another European country. Students spend a year at a partner institution in Europe, which usually enables them to gain an additional European degree qualification.
Your future career
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European Computer Scientists work wherever a combination of IT expertise, language ability and cultural competencies is called for. They may be involved in international projects around IT systems for organisations, or work in sales or PR, or undertake IT project assignments abroad for a company based in their home country.
Specific roles might include:
- Project management
- R&D
- Production and system implementation
- Maintenance, system adaptation, sales
- Training, PR
Course content and structure
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The first four semesters of the course are spent acquiring foundational knowledge and skills in mathematics, theoretical principles of computer science, databases, technical aspects of computer science and programming. Alongside this, you’ll study a foreign language and complete some social science modules.
You’ll spend semesters 5 and 6 at one of our European partner institutions, and complete your Bachelor thesis during this period. You’ll be taught and examined in English or the language of the country you are in.
Your interests and skills
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The Bachelor’s degree course in European Computer Science is particularly suited to people with a strong interest in IT and in working internationally. Useful personal qualities and interpersonal skills include abstract and analytical thinking abilities, an aptitude for working in small groups, and cultural open-mindedness. You should enjoy interacting with people from a range of nations and be willing to spend time abroad. You don’t need to have any previous knowledge or experience in programming; we’ll teach you all you need to know during the course.
Interested – but not quite sure yet whether this is the right course for you? Our self-assessment test can help you make up your mind. Take it here: HAW Navigator.
Admission requirements
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Higher education entrance qualification
You can apply directly for this course if you hold one of the following qualifications:
- Fachhochschulreife
- Allgemeine Hochschulreife
- Fachgebundene Hochschulreife (subject-specific HE entrance qualification)
- Meister_in (vocational qualification – master tradesperson)
- Fachwirt_in (certified specialist)
Applicants who do not hold a higher education entrance qualification but have completed vocational training (Berufsausbildung) and at least three years of subsequent work experience can apply under Section 38 of the Hamburg Higher Education Act, which sets out special provisions for these applicants (Besonderer Hochschulzugang für Berufstätige).
Find out more at Applications / Admission requirements.
Pre-course experience
You are not required to have completed pre-course experience for this course.
Language proficiency.
You should be able to demonstrate a minimum proficiency level of B2 in English and A2 in French, Italian or Spanish.
You may not be able to acquire this level via the mandatory language courses in your first two years of study. If this is the case for you, you may find it difficult to obtain a place at your institution of choice for your third year at a European partner university and/or to complete the year at the partner institution successfully. We therefore strongly recommend that you acquire the requisite language proficiency in advance of beginning the degree course.
International applicants
If you completed your schooling outside Germany and want to study here for a Bachelor’s degree, you need to hold an academic school-leaving qualification which entitles you to admission to higher education; that is, it needs to be comparable to a German Abitur or Fachhochschulreife. The organisation uni assist will check your certificates from school and any degree-level studies to establish comparability.
You can find details of HAW Hamburg’s application criteria here: International applicants
Application process
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We only accept online applications. Applications can be submitted between 1 June and 15 July for the following winter semester. This course does not have a summer semester intake.
If you are applying with a higher education entrance qualification from Germany or an EU country, you can find the online application system and details about the process on the Applying for a Bachelor's degree course web page. More information (in German) about the numerus clausus process and the minimum grades accepted for admission in recent semesters is provided at Applying for a Bachelor's degree course / Selection criteria.
We advise international applicants to use our step-by-step checklist at International applicants.
Questions about selecting a course, applications, admissions and degree courses
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Applications and admissions
Student Admissions and Registration Office (Studierendensekretariat)
Stiftstraße 69, 20099 Hamburg (ground floor)
T +49.40.428 75-9898
Contact us with your questions about applications and admissions
Drop-in hours: Monday/Tuesday: 11:00 am–1:00 pm; Thursday: 2:00–5:00 pm
Infothek opening hours: Monday–Thursday: 10:00 am–4:00 pm; Friday: 10:00 am–1:00 pm
Advice and information by phone: Monday/Tuesday: 9:00–10:00 am; Thursday: 9:00–11:00 am
Due to the restrictions resulting from the corona pandemic, drop-in office hours are not being offered at the moment. You can reach us by telephone during these times. The Infothek is closed until further notice.
For general queries on HAW Hamburg degree courses and course choice
Student Counselling Team (Zentrale Studienberatung)
Stiftstraße 69, 20099 Hamburg, rooms 121/122
T +49.40.428 75-9110
studienberatung(@)haw-hamburg.de
Advice and information by phone: Monday/Tuesday: 10:00 am–1:00 pm; Thursday: 1:00–5:00 pm
Contact person for applicants with disabilities or chronic health conditions
Meike Butenob
Alexanderstraße 1, 20099 Hamburg, room 4.10
T +49.40.428 75-7220
meike.butenob(@)haw-hamburg.de
Current office hours
Contact the department
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Specifically subject-related queries:
Degree Course Coordinator
Prof. Dr. Thomas Lehmann
Berliner Tor 7, room 07.80, 20099 Hamburg
Tel.: + 49.40.428 75-8335
thomas.lehmann((@))haw-hamburg.de
and
Prof. Dr. Stefan Sarstedt
Berliner Tor 7, room 1085, 20099 Hamburg
Tel.: + 49.40.428 75-8327
stefan.sarstedt((@))haw-hamburg.de
At a glance
Degree
No. of semesters
Applications accepted
Selective / restricted entry
Language of instruction
Fees/charges
Full-/part-time
Location
Information about this degree course is available in German only.