The international office advises HCU students who are interested in an international experience, such as a semester at a foreign university or an internship abroad. In addition, it maintains ties with numerous universities and organisations, which provide information about international study or internship opportunities, as well as financing a stay abroad. Last but not least, we can also put you in touch with students who have already been to your desired destination or provide you with experience reports. They will then provide you with important tips, advice and authentic impressions of universities, study conditions or internships abroad.
You will receive a comprehensive overview at the start of the annual application phase (mid-December to January 31) at our information event "Go Out - Deine Chance im Ausland" in November / December 2024.
Don't want to wait until the event? You can also find answers to many questions about your stay abroad in our FAQs!
Which partner universities does HCU have? Take a look at the list of current partner universities.
Even if you don't want to go abroad next year yet: Take the opportunity to obtain preliminary information at our general information events as soon as possible so you can plan your studies accordingly. In addition, the information you find on our website is no substitute for individual advice - come along and talk to us! We offer you detailed initial advice on the subject of studying abroad as well as specific assistance with your application to one of our partner universities.
Most HCU students complete their stay abroad via the EU's ERASMUS+ program. The following countries participate in ERASMUS+: all 27 EU member states, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, the Republic of North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia and Turkey. Exchanges with Switzerland do not run via the Erasmus+ program, but are funded entirely by Switzerland via the SEMP program. Nevertheless, the application runs at the same time and in the same form as ERASMUS+.
Within the framework of ERASMUS+ and SEMP, HCU students have the opportunity to study at one of the HCU's more than 40 partner universities in 19 countries for a minimum of 2 to a maximum of 12 months within a study phase (Bachelor, Master or PhD). Students are placed at an ERASMUS+ partner university by the HCU International Office, which also organizes the application process and the selection of scholarship holders.
- Your ERASMUS+ stay must last between 3 and 12 months
- You are at least in the 3rd semester of your Bachelor's degree and regularly enrolled at HCU at the time of application
- You have sufficient language skills in the host country
- There is an inter-institutional ERASMUS+ agreement with the degree program of the partner university
- A combination of studies and traineeship is possible
- if you have already received ERASMUS+ funding for more than 9 months during the same study period
- if you have already been abroad with ERASMUS+ during your Bachelor's degree program, a new funding phase with a maximum of 12 months will begin as soon as you move on to the Master's program
- The same applies to phd students in the third study phase
- You can apply for ERASMUS+ /SEMP exchange places and semester scholarships online at the HCU International Office. The link to apply for ERASMUS+ / SEMP for the winter semester 2025/26 or summer semester 2026 will be activated in mid/end of December 2024.
- Your application documents must be received by the HCU International Office exclusively digitally via the Mobilty Online platform by January 31, 2025. Unfortunately, incomplete application documents cannot be considered.
- We will inform all students about the start of the 2025/26 application phase and the information event by e-mail and social media.
- Signed application form (Mobility Online)
- Letter of motivation (briefly describe (max. 1 page) the reasons for choosing the host university)
- Annotated list of desired courses (indicate which academic achievements (examinations / coursework / thesis) you would like to complete at the host university and how this project fits into your HCU studies.
- Curriculum vitae (max. 2 pages)
- Current certificate of enrollment (winter semester)
- Language certificate for English (language certificates such as TOEFL, IELTS, VHS language course certificate, DAAD language certificate, high school diploma, etc. are accepted)
- Language certificate for the language of your host country (if you have one)
- Printout of your academic achievements to date (Ahoi Studienergebnisse)
- Printout of the courses of the current semester (Ahoy Veranstaltungsliste)
- Master's students: Copy of your Bachelor's certificate (does not have to be notarized)
- Applications to art academies: Portfolio
- Applications are checked for completeness by the International Office
- Subject-related criteria: academic qualification, academic performance (grade and number of ECTS), duration of studies
- Language skills (English language skills or knowledge of the language of instruction (if other)
- Motivation and reasons for the stay abroad and study objectives
- Choice of university (available places and annotated course selection list)
- Recognizably well-planned, realistic study plan
- Extracurricular criteria such as involvement in university politics (student council, senate, Asta etc.), international buddy program and other political, social and cultural interests
At present, HCU maintains cooperation agreements for student mobility with the following partner universities (outside of ERASMUS+ / SEMP)
- FAMU, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, USA (Architecture)
- IAU, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil (Architecture, Urban Planning, Urban Design, REAP)
- FADU, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina (Architecture, Urban Planning, Urban Design, REAP)
- SKKU, Sungkyunkwan University, Korea (Architecture, REAP, Civil Engineering, Urban Planning, Urban Design)
Your application for a place at one of these universities will be considered together with the award of a PROMOS scholarship. PROMOS is a mobility program of the DAAD, which promotes stays abroad for students worldwide. As part of the PROMOS program, HafenCity University Hamburg awards semester scholarships for study stays of up to six months at the above-mentioned partner universities.
Funding
For the semester scholarships, monthly partial scholarships of 450€/550€ plus travel expenses can be awarded. However, the actual funding period depends on the total number of approved applications.
- possibly if you receive other financial support for your stay abroad from public or private foundations. If you are a scholarship holder of a foundation (also for your studies in Germany), please contact your scholarship provider directly to find out whether they would support your stay abroad. Most public and private foundations and organizations will also fund study-related projects abroad for their scholarship holders upon application.
- if you are enrolled for a phd, but you can still apply directly to the DAAD.
- if you have already been funded via PROMOS.
- if you are being funded for the same stay via ERASMUS+.
- online via Mobility Online
- the application deadline for a semester abroad in the summer semester 2026 (ends on January 31, 2025)
- Signed application form (Mobility Online)
- Letter of motivation (briefly describe (max. 1 page) the reasons for choosing the host university)
- Annotated list of desired courses (indicate which academic achievements (examinations / coursework / thesis) you would like to complete at the host university and how this project fits in with your HCU studies.
- Curriculum vitae (max. 2 pages)
- Current certificate of enrollment (winter semester)
- Proof of English language proficiency (language certificates such as TOEFL, IELTS, VHS language course certificate, DAAD language certificate, high school diploma, etc. are accepted)
- Language certificate for the language of your host country (if you have one)
- Printout of your academic achievements to date (Ahoi Studienergebnisse)
- Printout of the courses of the current semester (Ahoi Veranstaltungsliste)
- Master's students: Copy of your Bachelor's certificate (does not have to be notarized)
- Applications to art academies: Portfolio
- Applications are checked for completeness at the International Office
- Subject-related criteria: academic qualification, academic performance (grade and number of ECTS), duration of studies
- Language skills (English language skills or knowledge of the language of instruction (if different)
- Motivation and reasons for the stay abroad and study objectives
- Choice of university (annotated course selection list)
- Recognizably well-planned, realistic study plan
- extracurricular criteria such as involvement in university politics (student council, senate, AStA etc.), international buddy program and other political, social and cultural interests
Please attend one of the information events "Go Out - Deine Chance im Ausland" before applying.
An Erasmus+ traineeship abroad is just right for students or recent graduates who want to learn in a practical way and get to know the host country from the perspective of the working world. It doesn't matter whether the traineeship provider is a small family business or a large corporation.
- Your ERASMUS+ traineeship must last between 2 and 12 months
- Graduate traineeships must be completed within 12 months of graduation
- You are at least in the 3rd semester of your Bachelor's degree and regularly enrolled at HCU at the time of application
- You have sufficient language skills in the host country
- You are aiming for an traineeship in one of the 33 participating program countries (in very well-founded exceptional cases, an traineeship outside the so-called partner countries can be permitted)
- You are responsible for finding an placement yourself
- when applying, you should preferably already have a confirmation from an internship provider
- if you have already received ERASMUS+ funding for more than 10 months during the same study period
- if you have already been abroad with ERASMUS+ during your Bachelor's degree, a new funding phase with a maximum of 12 months again begins as soon as you are enrolled in a Master's degree
- the same applies to phd students in the third study phase
- if you are looking for an internship at an EU institution and other EU bodies, including specialized agencies and bodies managing EU programmes.
- to apply for ERASMUS+ funding for an traineeship abroad, please apply online at the HCU International Office. The link to apply for an ERASMUS+ traineeship for the summer semester 2025 and/or winter semester 2025/26 will be activated in mid/end of December 2024.
- For traineeships that take place ealier, please contact the International Office directly.
- Your application documents must be received by the HCU International Office exclusively digitally via the Mobilty Online platform by January 31, 2025. Unfortunately, incomplete application documents cannot be considered.
- We will inform all students about the start of the 2025/26 application phase and the information event by e-mail and social media.
- Signed application form (Mobility Online)
- Letter of motivation (briefly describe (max. 1 page) the reasons for choosing an internship abroad)
- Curriculum vitae (max. 2 pages)
- Current certificate of enrollment
- Language certificate for English (language certificates such as TOEFL, IELTS, VHS language course certificate, DAAD language certificate, high school diploma, etc. are accepted)
- Language certificate for the language of your host country (if you have one)
- Printout of your academic achievements to date (Ahoi Studienergebnisse)
- Printout of the courses of the current semester (Ahoi Veranstaltungsliste)
- Master's students: Copy of your Bachelor's certificate (does not have to be notarized)
- Applications are checked for completeness at the International Office
- Subject-related criteria: academic qualification, academic performance (grade and number of ECTS), duration of studies
- Language skills (English language skills or knowledge of the language of instruction (if different))
- Motivation and justification for the stay abroad or internship objectives
- Recognizably well-planned, realistic project
- Extracurricular criteria such as involvement in university policy matters (student council, senate, AStA etc.), international buddy program and other political, social and cultural interests
International Office
Lothar Dessilla (he/him) HafenCity University Hamburg tel. +49 (0)40 42827 - 5209 | Gotlind Birkle HafenCity University Hamburg tel. +49 (0)40 42827 - 2724 |
