Erasmus / Study Abroad Erasmus / Study Abroad

The semester contribution is NOT a tuition fee. It must be paid by all students and includes small contributions to the Students' Union and the Students' Welfare Fund. Most importantly, this contribution provides you with a semester ticket which allows you unlimited travel on Hamburg's public transport system (bus, underground trains U-Bahn & S-Bahn) for the whole semester.

International guest students from EU countries, Norway and Switzerland are covered by their home health insurance. All you need to bring with you is the European Union Health Insurance Card, an E128 or your national health insurance card for Norway and Switzerland. You can get these directly from your health insurance company.

Students from Turkey can get a AT11 from their home health insurance company, which they must present to HAW Hamburg to receive a health insurance waiver.

Students from outside the EU are required to register for German health insurance. This costs approx. €130 per month and is mandatory for enrolment at a German university. Students can register before they get to Hamburg as part of the online application proccess. The process will be completed once you get to Hamburg. It is German law that the health insurance must be paid for the full semester (Oct.–March. or April–Sept.), even if you are not there for the entire time. The university unfortunately cannot influence this.

A. International students from EU countries, the European Economic Area and Switzerland

International students from European Union countries, the EEA and Switzerland do not need a visa to enter Germany. You need only complete 'Arrival – Step 1'.

B. International students from visa-waiver countries

International students from visa-waiver countries such as Australia, Brazil, Canada, Israel, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand and the USA can enter Germany for study purposes without a visa and stay for 90 days. During the 90 days you must apply for a residence permit in order to complete the study semester. You must complete 'Arrival – Step 1' and 'Arrival – Step 2'.

NOTE: Due to long waiting lists for appointments, we recommend that you apply for the residence permit when you register your address.

If you are planning to travel in Europe before the semester starts, then the 90-day period starts with the day you enter the European Union Schengen Zone (not with the start of the semester). Please remember this when you are applying for your residence permit.

The residence permit is valid for the full semester (i.e. until 30 September in the summer semester or 31 March in the winter semester).

Note: In 2025 the EU is planning to introduce the ETIAS, which will be required by all people entering from visa-waiver countries.

C. International students from other countries

International students from all other countries need a visa to enter Germany. Please do not enter the country with a tourist visa. A tourist visa cannot be converted into a study visa in Germany. You will need a visa for study purposes [Visum zu Studienzwecken].

When you apply for the visa for study purposes, you must provide proof of of your finances (€934/month, a total of €5,604/semester). Please apply early for your visa as this process can often take eight weeks or more.

If your visa expires before you leave Germany you will also have to complete 'Arrival – Step 2'. 

In some cases (e.g. China) the embassy will provide a visa for the full semester in Hamburg, so you do not need to extend your residence permit after 90 days.

Arrival Step 1:
At the beginning of the semester and within a period of two weeks, all students must register their German address with a local Einwohnermeldamt and get a Meldebestätigung. You will need an appointment (ask your buddy for help) and should take the following with you:

• your passport/photo ID
• registration form (download)
• confirmation by the landlord (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung)
• administration fee of €12

Arrival Step 2:
Students from visa-waiver and visa countries must also apply for a residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) within 90 days of arriving in Germany (or EU Schengen Zone). The residence permit is in the form of an electronic ID (eAT) and costs up to €110. Please apply early as it isn't always easy to get an appointment and the process can take four to six weeks.

In order to get a residence permit you will need to provide proof of your finances (€934/month). This can be either a letter from your home bank or a bank statement from your German bank account confirming that you have this money for the semester.

Students entering Germany on a visa will already have a blocked bank account as part of the visa process.

The application for a residence permit can be completed at the Hamburg Welcome Center or with a local Einwohnermeldamt. You will need an appointment.

To apply for a residence permit you will need:

• an application form (download) 
• your passport
• a biometric photo not older than six months
• a Meldebestätigung (from Step 1)
• proof of health insurance
• proof of enrolment as a student (Immatrikulationsbescheinigung – print off from myHAW account)
• proof of finances (bank statement or letter in euros – min. of €934/month for the semester
• administration fee for eAT: up to €110

HAW Hamburg is unfortunately unable to offer scholarships or funding to international guest students. Here are some ways of funding your study abroad semester:

1. EU students from partner universities can receive funding through the Erasmus Programme. Please speak to your International Office at your home university.

2. US students can apply for a deferment of their loan payments in the United States when studying abroad. HAW Hamburg is recognised by the US Department of Education. Our institution code is 02303000. 

You can also apply for the following scholarship options:

a) Gilman-DAAD Germany scholarship

b) UAS7 Travel Stipends
HAW Hamburg is a member of the UAS7 consortium and offers UAS7 Travel Stipends of 1,000 Euro to US students to study in Germany. In order to be considered for a travel stipend you need to apply to UAS7 for either the Study & Internship Program (SIP) or the Study Program (SP), depending on what you want to do at the HAW Hamburg.

c) 'HAW goes USA' travel stipends
Strategic US partner universities are offered a small number of 1,000 Euro travel stipends by HAW Hamburg. Please ask your International office to find out if this is the case for your university. This programme is subject to change based on available funding.

Application deadlines:
Winter semester (Oct.–March): 15 February (SIP and SP)
Summer semester (April–Sept.): 1 October (SP only)

3. Canadian students: HAW Hamburg participates in the British Columbia Student Assistance Program. Our institution code is QUXP. More information on the Student Aid BC website.

4. Australian students can often get a travel stipend or scholarship for study abroad from the International Office at their home university. In addition, the Australian Government offers loans of AUD 5,800 under the programme OS-HELP.