About the university
HAW Hamburg (Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften Hamburg) is a public university of applied sciences. It was founded in 1970 as Fachhochschule Hamburg, when four engineering schools and six vocational schools were merged. Today it has about 16,700 students, 386 professors, and 39 bachelor's and 37 master's programmes.
HAW is known for practical, industry-linked courses in engineering, computer science, life sciences, business, media, design, health and social work. Hamburg's aviation, port, logistics, renewable energy and media industries give it many partners for projects, internships and theses.
For Indian students the main appeal is no tuition fee, a set of English-taught master's in engineering, life sciences and international business, and life in one of Germany's richest cities. Many of its master's expect a 210-credit bachelor's; with a three-year (180-credit) degree you are usually admitted on condition that you earn 30 extra credits, which can add a semester.
Hamburg is Germany's second-largest city and a major port. It is green and international, but rents are high, so apply to student halls early.
- Founded
- 1970, as Fachhochschule Hamburg
- Type
- Public university of applied sciences
- Students
- 16,675 (HAW Hamburg website)
- International students
- More than 2,500 (HAW Hamburg website)
- Professors
- 386
- Programmes
- 39 bachelor's and 37 master's
- Semester contribution
- €397 for winter 2026/27, including the semester ticket; no tuition for most courses
Rankings
Popular courses with Indian students
- Postgraduate
MSc Information and Communications Engineering
- Fee / year
- €794
- Duration
- 1.5 years (3 semesters); longer with a 180-credit bachelor's
- Intakes
- October (apply 1 June–15 July); April (apply 1 December–15 January)
- English
- Taught in English. English at CEFR B2; the page does not list test scores. A 180-credit bachelor's must add 30 credits in the first two semesters.
- Postgraduate
MSc Renewable Energy Systems – Environmental and Process Engineering
- Fee / year
- €794
- Duration
- 1.5 years (3 semesters); longer with a 180-credit bachelor's
- Intakes
- October (apply 1 April–15 May)
- English
- Taught in English. TOEFL iBT 87, IELTS 5.5 or Cambridge FCE/CAE/CPE grade C; German at A2. GRE needed if your first degree is from outside the EU.
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €794
- Duration
- 1.5 years (3 semesters, 90 ECTS)
- Intakes
- October (apply 1 May–15 June)
- English
- Taught in English. English at CEFR C1; no test scores listed. Needs a 210 ECTS business degree (180 ECTS admitted on condition of 30 extra credits).
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €794
- Duration
- 1.5 years (3 semesters); longer with a 180-credit bachelor's
- Intakes
- October at HAW Hamburg (apply 1 June–15 July); April at FH Westküste
- English
- Taught in English. English at CEFR B2; no test scores listed.
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €794
- Duration
- 1.5 years (3 semesters); longer with a 180-credit bachelor's
- Intakes
- October (apply 1 June–15 July); April (apply 1 December–15 January)
- English
- Taught in English. English at CEFR B2; German at A2. GRE needed if your first degree is from outside the EU.
- Postgraduate
MSc Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
- Fee / year
- €794
- Duration
- 1.5 years (3 semesters); longer with a 180-credit bachelor's
- Intakes
- October (apply 1 June–15 July); April (apply 1 December–15 January)
- English
- Taught and assessed in English, but labs run in German. English at B2 and German at A2 with the application; GRE needed for non-EU first degrees.
Fees for international students
| Course | Duration | Fee / year (EUR) | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSc Information and Communications Engineering | 1.5 years (3 semesters); longer with a 180-credit bachelor's | €794 | ≈ ₹84,164 |
| MSc Renewable Energy Systems – Environmental and Process Engineering | 1.5 years (3 semesters); longer with a 180-credit bachelor's | €794 | ≈ ₹84,164 |
| MSc International Business | 1.5 years (3 semesters, 90 ECTS) | €794 | ≈ ₹84,164 |
| MSc Microelectronic Systems | 1.5 years (3 semesters); longer with a 180-credit bachelor's | €794 | ≈ ₹84,164 |
| MSc Biomedical Engineering | 1.5 years (3 semesters); longer with a 180-credit bachelor's | €794 | ≈ ₹84,164 |
| MSc Pharmaceutical Biotechnology | 1.5 years (3 semesters); longer with a 180-credit bachelor's | €794 | ≈ ₹84,164 |
Fees are for international students for the entry year shown on each course page and can rise each year. Approximate exchange rates (based on ECB reference rates, March 2026). Actual rates on your payment date will differ.
Want a course shortlist with fees?Our counsellor will compare courses at Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW Hamburg) with similar universities in Germany.
Scholarships
- Enrolled international students
HAW Hamburg scholarships for international students
Value: Varies; HAW does not publish amounts on its overview page
Eligibility: Includes excellence scholarships, awards for social commitment on campus, Studierendenwerk final-year scholarships and the annual DAAD Prize.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Enrolled students
Deutschlandstipendium at HAW Hamburg
Value: Set by the national programme; HAW's page does not state it
Eligibility: HAW sets its own selection criteria; check its page when the round opens.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Master's students
DAAD scholarships
Value: Monthly stipend; amount depends on the programme
Eligibility: Competitive awards; search the database for awards open to Indian applicants.
Official page (opens in a new tab)
Admission requirements
Undergraduate
- HAW's bachelor's programmes are mostly taught in German, so you need German at the level the course sets.
- An Indian Class 12 certificate on its own usually does not qualify you; uni-assist checks your entrance qualification.
- Indian applicants need an APS certificate.
Postgraduate
- A related bachelor's degree. Many HAW master's expect 210 credits; with a 180-credit (three-year) degree you are admitted on condition that you earn 30 more credits.
- International applicants first get a VPD (preliminary review documentation) from uni-assist, then apply on myHAW during the course's application window.
- Applicants from India must submit an APS certificate to uni-assist when applying for the VPD.
- Several engineering and life science master's ask for a GRE score if your first degree is from outside the EU.
- Start at least three months before the application period: the uni-assist check can take up to eight weeks.
Documents
- Valid passport
- APS certificate
- VPD from uni-assist
- Bachelor's degree certificate and transcript of records
- Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets
- English certificate (and German A2 where the course asks for it)
- GRE score, where required
- CV and motivation letter, where the course asks for them
Check if you are eligibleShare your marks and test scores and our counsellor will tell you which courses you can apply for.
English language requirements
| Test or route | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| Level needed | B2 for most English-taught master's; C1 for International Business |
| IELTS Academic | 5.5 for Renewable Energy Systems (the only course page that lists a score) |
| TOEFL iBT | 87 for Renewable Energy Systems |
| German | A2 needed for Renewable Energy Systems, Biomedical Engineering and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology |
Accommodation and living costs
HAW does not run its own housing. The Studierendenwerk Hamburg runs halls of residence with shared kitchens and bathrooms; demand peaks at the start of each semester, so apply to all its residences, not only those near your campus, and keep confirming your place on the waiting list. Many students live in shared flats. Never send money before you have signed a contract.
| Item | In EUR | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Studierendenwerk hall roomAbout €300 including utilities for a standard furnished room (HAW Hamburg) | €300per month | ≈ ₹31,800 |
| Short-term hall room (1–6 months)Starting price for students | €319per month | ≈ ₹33,814 |
| Semester contributionWinter 2026/27, including the semester ticket | €397per semester | ≈ ₹42,082 |
| Statutory student health insurance2026 figure from our Germany guide | €135–150per month | ≈ ₹14,310 – ₹15,900 |
Campus and location
HAW Hamburg teaches at several sites across the city, grouped by faculty. Check which site your course uses before you look for a room.
- The semester ticket includes a Germany-wide rail pass (Deutschlandticket).
- Hamburg's aviation, port and logistics, renewable energy and media sectors offer many project and internship partners.
- Some master's are run with partner universities, such as Microelectronic Systems with FH Westküste.
- More than 2,500 international students are enrolled.
Careers and graduate outcomes
HAW's courses are built around practice, and many master's theses are written with companies. Hamburg is one of Germany's strongest job markets, but German widens your options a lot. HAW does not publish graduate employment figures on the pages we checked.
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|
Studying in Germany
Visa rules, work rights and living costs apply to every university in Germany. Our country guide covers them in detail:
Other universities in Germany
- Public
Often chosen for Engineering, Computer Science & IT, Data Science & AI
- Public
Often chosen for Engineering, Computer Science & IT
Photo: juhotski, CC BY-SA 3.0 PublicOften chosen for Engineering, Computer Science & IT, Life Sciences
Photo: TU Berlin/Pressestelle/Ulrich Dahl, Copyrighted free use PublicOften chosen for Engineering, Computer Science & IT, Business & Management
Photo: Seeott, CC BY-SA 4.0 PublicLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU Munich) (official website, opens in a new tab)
Munich, GermanyOften chosen for Life Sciences, Medicine & Health Sciences, Law
Photo: Hermann Luyken, CC0 PublicHeidelberg University (official website, opens in a new tab)
Heidelberg, GermanyOften chosen for Medicine & Health Sciences, Life Sciences
FAQs
Does HAW Hamburg charge tuition to Indian students?
No, not for most degree courses. You pay a semester contribution of €397 (winter 2026/27), which includes a public transport ticket.
Can I apply with a three-year Indian bachelor's?
Usually yes, but many master's expect 210 credits. With 180 credits you are admitted on condition that you earn 30 more, which can add a semester.
How do I apply?
Get your APS certificate, then a VPD from uni-assist, then apply on myHAW within the course's application window.
Which master's are taught in English?
Information and Communications Engineering, Renewable Energy Systems, International Business, Microelectronic Systems, Biomedical Engineering and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, among others. Several still ask for basic German (A2).
Do I need the GRE?
Some engineering and life science master's ask for it if your first degree is from outside the EU, for example Renewable Energy Systems and Biomedical Engineering.
Sources
- HAW Hamburg: home page (facts) (opens in a new tab)
- HAW Hamburg: tuition fees, living expenses and scholarships (opens in a new tab)
- HAW Hamburg: degree courses A–Z (opens in a new tab)
- HAW Hamburg: applying as an international student (opens in a new tab)
- HAW Hamburg: Master Renewable Energy Systems (opens in a new tab)
- HAW Hamburg: Master International Business (opens in a new tab)
- HAW Hamburg: accommodation (opens in a new tab)
- HAW Hamburg: scholarships for international students (opens in a new tab)
- Wikipedia: Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (history) (opens in a new tab)
Official website: www.haw-hamburg.de/en (opens in a new tab)
Check the latest details