back

Back to HAW Hamburg in a roundabout way

Salfa Aulia Nabila from Indonesia started her master’s in biomedical engineering at HAW Hamburg in winter semester 2025/26. But she isn’t new to HAW Hamburg, as she completed her bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering here too and is now building on that knowledge. But she came back to HAW Hamburg in a roundabout way.

Female student sitting in university building© HAW Hamburg/I. Weatherall

Salfa Aulia Nabila

‘My bachelor’s degree gave me a solid foundation for my master’s because I learned the fundamentals of physics, electronics, signal processing, and programming. These subjects are very important for the advanced topics I am studying now, which focus more on areas such as medical imaging, biosignal processing, and control systems. It feels like a next big step, moving from learning the basics to designing, simulating, and evaluating medical technologies at a higher level.’

From an early age Salfa’s dream was to be a scientist because she thought it would be interesting to invent something. But for a long time she didn’t know what kind. That changed when she watched the series “Team Medical Dragon”. ‘It opened my eyes to the medical field and how technology plays such an important role. As an Asian, medicine is always one of the top chosen majors. However, since I have always been interested in physics and IT as well, I decided to study biomedical engineering.

What I like about this field is that it is interdisciplinary. I’m really interested in IT, control systems, and how artificial intelligence can be applied in medical technology. I find it exciting how AI can help improve medical imaging, diagnostics, and patient care by analysing biomedical signals and physiological data. I’m hoping this master’s programme will let me dive deeper into technical areas, while also giving me hands-on experience with things like simulation and virtual reality.

Studying at a university of applied sciences has also been a really great experience. Besides learning the theory, I like that we get to apply what we learn in a practical way in most of the subjects. It makes studying a lot more meaningful for me.

Salfa’s life in Germany started back in 2016, when she arrived in Berlin to complete her preparatory year at the Studienkolleg. After getting her Feststellungsprüfung she moved to Hamburg. ‘I’m really glad that I chose Hamburg to live in. It’s such a big yet quiet, and well-organized city, especially when it comes to public transportation. I grew up in a city surrounded by mountains, but I was born in a city near the ocean. So, living in a city built so close to the water feels like home.’

‘Studying at a university of applied sciences has also been a really great experience. Besides learning the theory, I like that we get to apply what we learn in a practical way in most of the subjects. It makes studying a lot more meaningful for me. I’d say I’m the kind of person who likes having freedom, but at the same time, I also appreciate having some guidance. HAW Hamburg offers a clear study plan from the first semester to the last, but it’s not mandatory. So, I can follow it, but I also have the flexibility to choose what works best for me.’

After finishing her bachelor’s degree at HAW Hamburg, Salfa enrolled in the master’s programme in Biomedizintechnik at Leibniz University Hannover. The following semester, she moved to Hamburg University of Technology to study Mediziningenieurwesen. But she found herself missing the HAW Hamburg. ‘I think universities offer a lot in terms of study opportunities and research, but sometimes what you’re interested in doesn’t fully match what you’re skilled at. I found myself missing what I had at HAW; the projects and especially the programming parts. I remember how much I enjoyed working on those projects, even though they felt overwhelming at times, which I guess is normal when you’re facing something new. That’s why I decided to return to HAW to do my master’s here.’

Despite knowing HAW Hamburg and its structures and systems, Salfa is expecting new challenges in her master’s programme: ‘I think one of the main challenges will be keeping up with the more advanced coursework and balancing multiple projects simultaneously. I am also still looking for a working student position, so I plan to stay organized and set clear goals. I will make use of the university’s resources, such as tutoring sessions, workshops, and the support of professors and peers. And I really enjoyed the welcome weeks that the International Office organised. It was a fun way to get back into life at HAW Hamburg after being away for more than a year.’

Contact

Ingrid Weatherall
International Office
HAW Hamburg

x