HAW Hamburg Study Abroad

19/10/2026

15/10/2026

Look who’s back at HAW Hamburg! Benjamin Brobbey just started his master’s programme in renewable energy systems and popped into the International Office say hello.

Back in 2022, Benjamin came from Drexel University in Philadelphia with a Gilman-DAAD scholarship to complete a study and internship year in Germany. He took classes in English in information engineering and worked as a research intern at the R&T Centre for Sustainable Development & Climate Change Management: ‘I always wanted to study abroad, and as a co-op student my focus was to find a programme that would allow me to study and work in an international environment. In terms of personal development, I believe I grew to be more solution-oriented, adaptable and flexible through this experience.’

The focus of Benjamin’s Drexel electrical engineering degree was power and energy systems and after graduation he worked for two years as an electrical power systems engineer in the US before deciding to deepen his academic knowledge with a master’s degree.

Now, we could claim that his love of HAW Hamburg was the reason he came back (and he does love the university and the city), but the main reason is his fiancée Miriam, who he met in Hamburg during his exchange year. Coming back to Germany has always been the plan, so he was thrilled that he was offered a place in renewable energy systems. ‘The programme will give me a greater insight into the different renewable energies technologies and allow me to deepen my knowledge in power systems engineering. And studying in Hamburg obviously makes setting up life with Miriam a lot easier. I have just completed the orientation week and met my cohort and our professors, and my brain is buzzing with all the information, but I’m really looking forward to getting started.’

The serious and introverted young student from 2022 has become an outgoing and confident young man and it was lovely to catch up. Study abroad can change your life, and this is a wonderful example. Wishing you all the best for your studies!

12/10/2026

Bavarian Culture Night was a hit! 🥨💙 We had a great group (despite the rain), and the vibe was relaxed, creative and full of good conversations. Thank you for making it such a fun evening! 🎨✨
Which Bavarian fact surprised you the most? Tell us in the comments! 👇

See you at the next KulturCafé on the 22nd of October! 🌍☕👻 Sneak peak in the last photo.

09/10/2026

A little bit of golden October on campus Berliner Tor this week. 🍂🍁🍂

08/10/2026

Changing course for success: Many of you know Mashiur Mahin from the welcome weeks and the HAW Hamburg weBuddy programme, where he works hard to make our new international students feel welcome. But do you know his story?

In 2021 Mashiur came to Germany from Bangladesh to study information engineering. He was sure that he was following his dream. As the first semesters passed, his motivation slumped and the feeling of being on the wrong path grew stronger. He began to face the uncomfortable reality that he had earned fewer credits than he should have. ‘The situation became emotionally difficult because I was investing time and effort without feeling that I was moving forward in the way I wanted,” he remembers. “The problem wasn’t that information engineering was a poor programme. Rather, I began to realise that its technical focus did not match my interests and strengths.‘

Many international students find themselves in similar situations and, unable to face the thought of disappointing their parents or the idea that they are a failure, they neglect their studies until they have lost any possibility of catching up. Mashiur had the same doubts and feelings: ‘Part of me thought I should continue, simply because I had already invested so much time in engineering. But another part of me knew that spending even more time on a path that no longer felt right would not bring me closer to the future I wanted. I did not want to continue merely because I was afraid to start again. I wanted to study in a programme that matched both my abilities and my ambitions.’

At 24 years Mashiur made a brave decision and started over by switching to international business. With each semester he found himself more focussed and with a better balance between studies, work and life. ‘It genuinely felt like a new beginning. I rediscovered the enthusiastic and competitive side of myself that I felt I had lost. I found a new job, became more organised and approached my studies with greater determination.‘

read the full article: https://bit.ly/4yysiWp

01/10/2026

HAW Kulturcafé: We kicked things off with our International Pub Quiz with more than 40 international students! 🥳 Now the programme for the "cosy season" is online! From cultural nights and an autumn walk&talk to a book club, exploring Christmas traditions and an excursion to Hamburg’s Christmas market — there’s plenty to discover and enjoy together. 🎄📚✨

📝 Sign up for the events! https://bit.ly/4rPnJog We’d love to see you.

📲 And: Follow us on Instagram:
Let’s make this winter semester cosy, international & unforgettable!

01/10/2026

Learning about German Academia: Some of our new international degree-seeking students joined us for an information session to learn about studying in Germany, what is important to know and tips to being successful. It was lovely to meet you and hear your stories and we wish you a great start in your first semester at HAW Hamburg.

30/09/2026

"Nacht der Speicherstadt": Discover more about Hamburg's famous warehouse district (a UNESCO world heritage site). MiniaturWunderland and the Hamburg Dungeon are offering special guided tours, the spice and coffee museums are open later, and carpet traders are talking about their craft. There are also concerts, games, dance classes and CrossFit sessions.

Some of the events need a registration, due to limited spaces but all events are free. When: 3. October from 6:30 pm. More information: https://bit.ly/4rrIsOt