Additional information for international applicants

No tuition fees, cost of living

Studying at public universities like the HAW Hamburg is subsidised by the government in Germany. Hence, we do not charge tuition fees for national and international students. (We know, this might sound like some sort of dream or even scam to most international students. It isn’t.)

All you gotta pay for is a “semester contribution” fee of around EUR 345 per semester (including the ticket for public transport) and your cost of living. More info about finances and scholarships

Language proficiency: Some German is required, 

The HAW Hamburg requires some reasonably decent German reading and writing capabilities as a prerequisite to your application. You’ll need skills comparable to the “B1 language certificate”. And yes, only B1, not C1. Detailed info about the language requirements can be found here.

While large portions of our literature is in English, many of the our courses are still taught in German. We can and will switch to English as soon as there are more than only a few international students attending. You can write any assignment in English.

Credential evaluation

As an international applicant you’ll need to verify – well in advance of your application! – that your university and your degree will be recognized in Germany. To do so, go to Uni Assist, which is available in many languages. There’s a fee to be paid.

Visa information

Please read this first: Visas & Residency Permits

We advise to get in contact with the International Office well in advance of your planned application. Ideally a year or even more in advance.

Guide to applying

A guide to applying to a master’s degree can be found here.

And a brochure with tips about living in Hamburg and Germany can be found here.