European Computer Science

European Computer Scientists work wherever a combination of IT expertise, language ability and cultural competencies is called for. They may be involved in international projects around IT systems for organisations, or work in sales or PR, or undertake IT project assignments abroad for a company based in their home country.

Specific roles might include:

• Project management
• R&D
• Production and system implementation
• Maintenance, system adaptation, sales
• Training, PR

The first four semesters of the course are spent acquiring foundational knowledge and skills in mathematics, theoretical principles of computer science, databases, technical aspects of computer science and programming. Alongside this, you’ll study a foreign language and complete some social science modules.

You’ll spend semesters 5 and 6 at one of our European partner institutions, and complete your Bachelor thesis during this period. You’ll be taught and examined in English or the language of the country you are in.

The Bachelor’s degree course in European Computer Science is particularly suited to people with a strong interest in IT and in working internationally. Useful personal qualities and interpersonal skills include abstract and analytical thinking abilities, an aptitude for working in small groups, and cultural open-mindedness. You should enjoy interacting with people from a range of nations and be willing to spend time abroad. You don’t need to have any previous knowledge or experience in programming; we’ll teach you all you need to know during the course.

Interested – but not quite sure yet whether this is the right course for you? Our self-assessment test can help you make up your mind. Take it here: HAW Navigator.

Higher education entrance qualification
You can apply directly for this course if you hold one of the following qualifications:

• Fachhochschulreife
• Allgemeine Hochschulreife  
• Fachgebundene Hochschulreife (subject-specific HE entrance qualification)
• Meister_in (vocational qualification – master tradesperson)
• Fachwirt_in (certified specialist)

Applicants who do not hold a higher education entrance qualification but have completed vocational training (Berufsausbildung) and at least three years of subsequent work experience can apply under Section 38 of the Hamburg Higher Education Act, which sets out special provisions for these applicants (Besonderer Hochschulzugang für Berufstätige).
Find out more at Applications / Admission requirements.

Pre-course experience
You are not required to have completed pre-course experience for this course.

Language proficiency.
You should be able to demonstrate a minimum proficiency level of B2 in English and A2 in French, Italian or Spanish.
You may not be able to acquire this level via the mandatory language courses in your first two years of study. If this is the case for you, you may find it difficult to obtain a place at your institution of choice for your third year at a European partner university and/or to complete the year at the partner institution successfully. We therefore strongly recommend that you acquire the requisite language proficiency in advance of beginning the degree course.

International applicants
If you completed your schooling outside Germany and want to study here for a Bachelor’s degree, you need to hold an academic school-leaving qualification which entitles you to admission to higher education; that is, it needs to be comparable to a German Abitur or Fachhochschulreife. The organisation uni assist will check your certificates from school and any degree-level studies to establish comparability. Please note that you are also required to have proof of German at level C1 – for example, in the form of a TestDaF certificate – in order to apply for all Bachelor's degree courses (except Information Engineering).

You can find more information about HAW Hamburg’s application criteria here: International applicants