Health Sciences
Improving health at population level via preventive and health promotion measures is at the heart of health sciences, which seeks to analyse and gain insights into factors that influence sickness and health as well as determining and evaluating, on the basis of this analysis, needs-based healthcare for the population.
With these aims in mind, the discipline of health sciences spans a number of academic areas, including occupational studies, epidemiology, health promotion, health economics and health policy, building on foundational disciplines such as medicine, sociology, psychology, ethics, economics, management, education science and communication studies.
Our graduates are able and ready to take on and successfully and responsibly tackle a diverse range of project and management roles in health systems, health policy, and emerging health markets. The department works with numerous local, national and international partner organisations in the field.
Your future career
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Our graduates can choose from a varied range of careers. Some of the most common types of role include:
- Gathering, analysing and interpreting health-related data and information
- Developing, implementing and evaluating interventions for changing behaviours and structural conditions to the benefit of individual, group and population health
- Gathering, analysing and interpreting data on the take-up and performance of medical treatments and therapies
- Project-centred and management tasks in organisations in the health, social care, education and environmental sectors, and heading up small-scale research and policy units
- Occupational, environmental and consumer health; occupational and community health promotion
- Health reporting and monitoring, epidemiological analysis, teaching, training and research for public authorities, health and accident insurers and health-related professional associations or institutions
The course will teach you how to independently explore issues and tackle projects from various areas of health sciences and enable you to access the requisite methodological tools.
Course content and structure
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The course’s first year is occupied with fundamental principles in health sciences, health promotion, epidemiology, human sciences, nutrition, sociology, psychology and empirical research in the social sciences, alongside classes on good academic and scientific practice and study skills.
In your second and third years, you’ll study the following required modules: occupational studies, health-sector-specific business administration, medicine, epidemiology and statistics, health education, surveillance and health monitoring, project and quality management, health economics and health markets, occupational health and safety management, health systems and health policy, and evaluation in health systems. You’ll learn via topic-specific projects to apply your knowledge and skills in practical contexts.
Your choice of required electives includes the following: epidemiology, protecting consumer health, nutritional behaviours, providing advice and effective communication skills, research methods, health and the environment, methods in health management, and exercise, relaxation and health.
The six-semester course incorporates a sixteen-week professional placement and your Bachelor thesis. Our department works with a number of partner institutions abroad, giving you the opportunity to study or do your placement outside Germany.
Your interests and skills
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You should, of course, have a keen interest in all things to do with health – preventive and health-promoting interventions, the psychology, sociology and economics of health, health policy, health-related statistics, medicine, health management and health impacts of environmental factors. If you’ve ever wondered why we place more emphasis on what makes people sick than on what keeps them healthy, why socio-economically disadvantaged people die much earlier, on average, than wealthier ones, or why women suffer more with illnesses throughout life, but still live longer than men, then this course may be the one for you.
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 atAdmission requirements for a Bachelor's degree.
Pre-course experience
We do not require you to have completed pre-course experience for this 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 more information about HAW Hamburg’s application criteria at 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 and between 1 December and 15 January for the following summer semester. Before applying, applicants must register with www.hochschulstart.de.
You can find the online application system (available only during the application periods specified above) and details about the procedure at Applying for a Bachelor's degree course.
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.
International applicants should also submit their applications online during the relevant application period.
We’ve prepared a step-by-step checklist to guide you through the process: 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:
Prof. Dr. Wolf Polenz
Ulmenliet 20, room N 3.20, 21033 Hamburg
Tel.: +49.40.428 75-6360
wolf.polenz(@)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.