Faculty of
Life Sciences Faculty of Life Sciences

The Students' Union (AStA) is the political body that represents all students at the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences. It supports students in crisis and helps them with problems during their studies. It provides advice on topics such as seeking accommodation, finances, student financial aid (BAföG), and legal and general issues. The AStA also functions as a central point of contact for problems and difficulties concerning student life.

You can obtain information about spending a study semester abroad from the International Office.

You can find the contact person for matters related to student financial aid (BAföG) on your degree course page (see above) under 'Beauftragte'.

You can find the confirmation of studies (Studienbescheinigung) certificate as required under Section 9 BAföG in your myHAW account.

Detailed information, assistance and the necessary forms can be obtained from Studierendenwerk Hamburg.

You can find detailed information about advising offers and support regarding the following topics on the Student Counselling Office page:

• Student counselling and coaching
• Psychological counselling
• Starting your career
• Studying with a child
• Studying with a disability or chronic illness

The Chip Card Services Office takes care of matters related to your chip card.

On the Studierendenwerk Hamburg website you can find detailed information about financing your studies and who to contact for more information on the following topics:

• BAföG
• Scholarships
• Student loans

Maternity Protection Act

The Maternity Protection Act was amended on 1 January 2018 and now applies to students. The directions regarding implementation cover all occupational and health safety aspects necessary to provide expectant and nursing mothers with a safe, accident-free and healthy work environment.

Studying with a child

The Student Counselling Office advises students with children, pregnant students and students who wish to have children. It also provides information about special study arrangements at HAW Hamburg (semester on leave, specific arrangements in the different departments).

Alongside the advising on these practical issues, psychological counselling is also offered. Please contact our Family Office.

Additional services:

Studierendenwerk Family Service

Students' Union (AStA)

When your password has expired:

You can change your password using the self-service portal (once you have logged in you can change the language at the bottom of each page). 

If you've forgotten your password:

If you have saved your current mobile number in myHAW, you can use an mTAN to reset your password.

If you have difficulty changing your password, please contact the Chip Card Services Office. You will need to present valid picture ID.

Hamburg Higher Education Act (HmbHG) (in German only)

Registration regulations (in German only)

General Examination and Study Regulations for Bachelor and Master Degree Programmes in Engineering, Science, Life Sciences and Computer Science at Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (APSO-INGI)

You can find the examination regulations, module handbook, guidelines, etc. for your degree course on the specific degree course page.

At the Studierendenwerk Hamburg's Counselling Centre for Social and International Affairs, students can get support with social, personal and financial issues.

Starting your studies successfully

You can find an overview of all the relevant information on the Organising your studies page.

Orientation units

The orientation unit takes place in the first week of your degree and is headed by our orientation unit tutors. You can find detailed information (in German) on the Orientation unit page.

First-Year Orientation Team

To support students at the beginning of their studies and help them study successfully, HAW Hamburg's First-Year Orientation Team offers first-semester tutorials. Experienced students who are in an upper semester of the respective degree course provide new students with insights into their own daily student life. They share potential pitfalls and successful study strategies and offer tips and 'practical know-how'.

Regular tutorial dates over the course of the first semester provide the opportunity to discuss any pressing questions and topics. This ensures that even after the orientation unit, a forum and contact people are available for any matters that come up.

Additional information is available from the orientation units in the degree courses or on the First-Year Orientation Team page.

The students' councils (Fachschaftsräte) in the departments represent students' interests and are the central point of contact for matters affecting students. They are made up of students from different semesters, who are elected at the general assemblies.

The Students' Council for Health Sciences represents the interests of students in the Department of Health Sciences.

TheStudents' Council for Biotechnology, Biomedical Engineering, Environmental Engineering and Process Engineering represents the interests of students in those departments.

The Students' Council for Nutrition and Home Economics represents that departments' students.

You can find this information (in German) on our online Infoboard.

You can get detailed information about finding accommodation in Hamburg from Studierendenwerk Hamburg's Accommodation Counselling Centre. 

This includes topics such as last-minute rooms for new students or short-term rentals.