Applications Applications

Knowledge of English

English language skills are required for some degree programmes. If you are unable to provide proof of this when applying, you will not be able to take part in the selection process. You should therefore take care of the required proof in good time.

Please refer to the information on the respective degree programme page to find out whether English language skills are a prerequisite for admission to your chosen degree programme. 

Recognised language certificates for English at level C1

• A German Zeugnis der allgemeinen Hochschulreife (colloquially Abitur) or Fachhochschulreife (colloquially Fachabitur), showing a grade of gut (at least 11 points) or better in the subject of English, taken as a Leistungskurs or as an Erweiterungskurs
• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), ITP or iBT
• IELTS (International English Language Testing System - Academic Training)
• Cambridge Certificate:
  - CAE (Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English)
  - CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English)
• TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication)
• BEC (Business English Certificates)
• Linguaskill General
• PTE (Pearson Test of English) Academic
• telc English
• A higher education entrance qualification attained at a school in an English-speaking country, as defined by the German Federal Agency for Civic Education, or an English-medium school
• A formal document/official transcript issued by a higher education institution confirming the applicant has studied successfully for at least two years on a degree course taught through the medium of English or in an English-speaking country, as defined by the German Federal Agency for Civic Education
• Evidence of professional/work experience, attained after graduation from a degree course, of at least two years’ duration, attained in an English-speaking country, as defined by the German Federal Agency for Civic Education, or in a business or organisation which works in English. 

Recognised language certificates for English at level B2

• A German Zeugnis der allgemeinen Hochschulreife (colloquially Abitur) or Fachhochschulreife (colloquially Fachabitur), showing a grade of ausreichend (4.0, or at least 5 points) or better in the subject of English. Should the applicant’s Zeugnis der allgemeinen Hochschulreife or Fachhochschulreife contain no final grade in the subject of English, the equivalent grade shall be calculated by forming the average (expressed in points) of the partial grades in the subject of English listed in the document for the final two years of schooling.
• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language, iBT or ITP)
• IELTS (International English Language Testing System – Academic Training)
• CAE (Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English)
• CPE (Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English)
• FCE (Cambridge First Certificate)
• BEC (Higher Business English Certificate)
• Linguaskill General
• A higher education entrance qualification attained at a school in an English-speaking country, as defined by the German Federal Agency for Civic Education, or an English-medium school
• Official confirmation of admission to a degree course in an English-speaking country, as defined by the German Federal Agency for Civic Education, or to a degree course taught through the medium of English
• A formal document/official transcript issued by a higher education institution confirming the applicant has studied successfully for at least one year on a degree course taught through the medium of English or in an English-speaking country, as defined by the German Federal Agency for Civic Education
• Evidence of professional/work experience, attained after graduation from a degree course, of at least six months’ duration, or of a semester of student work experience, in a business or organisation which works in English 
• Evidence of professional/work experience of at least six months’ duration or of a semester of student work experience in an English-speaking country, as defined by the German Federal Agency for Civic Education. 

Recognised language certificates for English at level B1

• A German Zeugnis der allgemeinen Hochschulreife (colloquially Abitur) showing English as one of the subjects taken, or a Zeugnis über die Hochschulzugangsberechtigung confirming the applicant’s proficiency in English at level B 1
• A certificate confirming completion of mandatory secondary education in Germany (Mittlerer Schulabschluss; Realschulabschluss or similar), showing the subject of English with a grade of 4 (ausreichend) or better
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic Test
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) iBT or ITP
• Linguaskill General
• A higher education entrance qualification attained at a school in an English-speaking country, as defined by the German Federal Agency for Civic Education, or an English-medium school
• Confirmation of admission to a degree course in an English-speaking country, as defined by the German Federal Agency for Civic Education, or to a degree course taught through the medium of English
• A document issued by a higher education institution confirming the applicant has studied successfully for at least one year on a degree course taught through the medium of English
• Evidence of successfully gained professional/work experience of at least six months’ duration or a semester of student work experience in an English-speaking country, as defined by the German Federal Agency for Civic Education, or in a business or organisation which works in English.

Below you will find information on applying for a higher semester in degree programmes at HAW Hamburg. If you have any questions, please contact the Student Admission and Registration Office

1. application 

Applications must be submitted via the HAW Hamburg application portal: myHAW. 
Online registration and application is only possible via this portal within the regular application deadlines. 

If you are not yet studying at HAW Hamburg, please create a new application account. If you are already studying here, please log in with your student account and do not create a new application account. 

2. general application deadline 

In the summer semester: 15 January 
In the winter semester: 15 July 

By the end of the application deadline (receipt of the application in the applicant portal), the application form must be complete and include all required documents. 
You will need a placement certificate (see point 6.) from the receiving degree programme confirming that you can be admitted and to which higher semester. 

3. documents required for the application 

For a complete application you will need 
- University entrance qualification
- Certificate of placement
- Language certificate if applicable (for applications with a foreign HZB) 
- If applicable, preliminary examination documentation from uni-assist (for applications with a foreign HZB) 

You can upload all documents to myHAW during the application phase and submit them later if necessary. No documents need to be sent to the Registrar's Office by post. 

4 Admission capacities and selection criteria 

The number of available study places in degree programmes with restricted admission is calculated for the respective subject-related semester within the standard period of study from the difference between the set number of admissions and the number of enrolled students assigned to this subject-related semester. The university determines the number of available study places. An application is only possible up to the penultimate semester of the standard period of study (example: for a Bachelor's degree programme with a standard period of study of 7 semesters, an application is possible up to a maximum of 6 semesters).  
When applying, all previous achievements in the desired degree programme must be taken into account. 

Insofar as there are admission restrictions for the 2nd and further semesters, §§ 13 to 15, § 17 and §19 HAWAZO  apply accordingly for the allocation of study places, whereby the selection criteria are regulated in the corresponding admission and selection regulations. 

Students who were enrolled at the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW Hamburg) in the past and have been exmatriculated for the purpose of temporarily studying abroad, caring for a child, completing a period of service in accordance with Article 12a of the Basic Law or for a comparable purpose will be given preferential admission to the relevant degree programme in the semester corresponding to the level of performance achieved.

5 Notifications for applicants 

In order to be informed about the current status of your application, please log in to the application portal with your account. If, for example, your application is incomplete and has therefore been ruled out, you will be provided with more detailed information in the application portal. You will also receive an e-mail notification to the e-mail address you entered in your application as soon as the status of your application changes. 

6 Recognition of previous academic achievements in the individual degree programmes 

As a rule, the chair of the examination board/study counselling of the relevant department at HAW Hamburg is responsible for the recognition of previous academic achievements. Contact details can be found in the respective degree course information. Please use the required form  to apply for categorisation.  

Please also submit the following documents to the responsible department: 
- current transcript of records / transcript of records 
- module handbook 
- Proof of registered achievements, if applicable 

7. application with a foreign university entrance qualification 

Applications from the 2nd semester onwards are also made via uni-assist for applicants with a foreign university entrance qualification. 

Applicants with a foreign university entrance qualification must also provide proof of German language skills at level C1. Information on this can be found on our website ‘Language skills’.

Why is there no second degree quota in Hamburg?

In Hamburg - in contrast to many other federal states - there is no separate quota for second degree applicants. This means that people who have already completed a university degree and would like to take up a further undergraduate degree programme (e.g. a second Bachelor's degree) are considered in the regular selection procedure.

Most federal states reserve a certain percentage of study places for second degree applicants (the so-called second degree quota). Hamburg does not do this in order to ensure that all study places are allocated equally. Instead, the same admission rules apply to all applicants, regardless of whether they have already completed a degree programme or not.

What does this mean for second degree applicants?

• Applications are made via the regular procedure, based on A-level grades, waiting time or other selection criteria for the respective degree programme
• There is no separate allocation of points for second degree programmes, as is often the case in other federal states
• This can make it more difficult to obtain a study place, particularly in degree programmes with restricted admissions and high demand

Important information in the application process

During your online application, you will be asked whether you have already completed a degree programme. Behind this question is the second degree quota. However, as this is not relevant in Hamburg, this question will be set to ‘no’ by the application clerk. You can also see this on your control sheet. Do not let this unsettle you, it has no influence on your application! 

International students are very welcome at Hamburg universities! To ensure that your application is successful, you should note a few special requirements.

University entrance qualification 

In order to study in Hamburg, you need a recognised higher education entrance qualification (e.g. Abitur, International Baccalaureate or an equivalent qualification). You must have the recognition of your qualification checked by uni-assist.

Language skills 

For German-language degree programmes, proof of sufficient German language skills is required (e.g. TestDaF, DSH or telc C1 Hochschule). Information on accepted English language certificates can be found on this page under ‘Foreign language skills’. 

Further information on the application procedure, visa and funding can be found here.

Study places are also allocated to international students according to certain selection criteria. The following applies: 10% of the available study places are reserved for applicants from non-EU countries. Applicants from EU countries, on the other hand, are treated in the same way as German applicants in the application process.