Faculty of
Business and Social Sciences Faculty of Business and Social Sciences

Study abroad for a semester and get credit points at an international partner university that count towards your degree at HAW Hamburg – this experience will enrich your studies and your life. You'll still be enrolled at HAW Hamburg while you are there. 

The Faculty of Business and Social Sciences has numerous cooperation agreements with international universities in Europe and further afield. To study at a partner university you need to apply for a place through the Student Exchange Office. If your application and the subsequent nomination at the partner university are successful, you can study there without having to pay tuition.

You can find detailed information about the partner universities and the programmes that are suited to your degree course in the EMIL student exchange – outgoings room.

How do I apply?

You can apply online via HAW Hamburg's Mobility Online portal. The portal is only open for new registrations during the application periods. Once you have registered successfully you have until the deadline to upload all of the required documents. You can access the Mobility Online portal via the International Office web page.

When do I need to apply?

• By 6 January for the subsequent winter semester at US partner universities.
• By 15 February for the subsequent winter semester and the following summer semester at partner universities in Europe and overseas (excluding the USA and Australia).
• By 15 June for the summer semester in the following year for partner universities in Australia, and any remaining spaces (see above).
• You must have uploaded all of the application documents by the deadline. This is followed by the selection process, after which you be notified about whether you have been given a space and been nominated at the partner university you wish to attend.

Can I apply to more than one university? What happens if I don't get a spot at the unversity that's my first choice?

Your application (letter of application, course selection, etc.) should be directed at one university, your first choice. You can also list a second and third choice and enter them after your first choice in the Mobility Online portal. If you fulfil all the prerequisites you have a good chance of getting a place at one of the universities. 

There is no partner university in the country where I would like to study. Can I still go there for a study semester abroad?

Yes. You can apply independently as a so-called 'free mover' to complete a semester abroad at any university. In this case, the application does not go through HAW Hamburg. You can generally find information about the deadlines, costs and prerequisities for an application where there is no cooperation agreement in place on the websites of the international universities. It is important to know that tuition fees are often charged. It is generally possible to have the credit points you acquire during a semester abroad as a free mover recognised towards your studies at HAW Hamburg, just as they would be if you went to a partner university. We strongly recommend that you discuss the courses and the possibility of having the credit points recognised with your department as early as possible. 

When is the best time to complete a study semester abroad?

That depends on your degree course and your own study organisation. However, the following applies to everyone:

• In the 3rd semester at the earliest and only if you successfully completed 60 credit points in your first year.
• The winter semester often works better in terms of timing because at many partner universities the summer semester start in January or February, when you are still completing your winter semester here at HAW Hamburg. Please be sure to check the semester dates at the partner universities you are interested in.

The following semesters are recommended for the various degree courses:

Department of Business
All Bachelor's degree courses: 4th–6th semester

Department of Social Work
Social work (BASA)): possibly already the 3rd semester, better would be the 5th semester (postponement of the internship to the 7th semester) or the 7th semester. In rare cases, the 6th semester is possible if you go to a university that starts late so that you can start the semester after your internship. Arrangements must be made with Prof Ulber and the internship office.
Education and upbringing in childhood (BABE): 5th semester (full recognition possible)
Master of Social Work: 3rd semester

Department of Nursing
Nursing cooperative degree programme (B.Sc.): 6th semester (the last practical placement of the 5th semester can be shortened or made up later in order to be at the partner university in time for the start of the semester)
Interdisciplinary Health Care and Management (B.Sc.): 5th or 6th semester

Summer schools are now established institutions and provide an opportunity to gain international study experience in the sun while simultaneously obtaining credit points (generally 3–5 credit points). Winter schools or international weeks are also based on the same idea: bringing students from different countries together for one to three weeks to work intensively together on a specific topic – with group and leisure activities on the side as an additional part of the programme. A unique feature of such short-term programmes is their interdisciplinary focus. This gives you the chance to work with students from different study areas on current societal challenges or learning new methods.

Most summer schools charge tuition. However, it is worth keeping an eye out for offers at our partner universities. There your tuition will be waived in most cases. You can find information about some of our partners' programmes, together with registration information, in the EMIL student exchange – outgoings room.

You can have the credit points you earn through participation in a short-term programme recognised by HAW Hamburg if they are relevant to your degree course. You need to discuss this beforehand with the academic coordinator responsible for international exchanges in your department. You can find this information on the Contact people page.