Hamburg is known as “the gateway to the world” thanks to its harbour, the second-largest in Europe. Its multi-cultural setting and more than 20 universities make the city a great place to study.
Hamburg is Germany’s second-largest city with a population of about 1.8 million. Its harbour is the second-largest in Europe and earned the city the nickname “gateway to the world”. The traditional exposure to global trade have made Hamburg a truly cosmopolitan metropolis which is popular amongst international students: Out of the 75,000 students who study in Hamburg, almost 10,000 are from abroad.
Hamburg is home to almost two dozen institutions of higher education. The largest institution is the internationally renowned Universität Hamburg with about 40,000 students. Other large universities include the Technische Universität Hamburg-Harburg and the HAW Hamburg. There are also a number of interesting universities and colleges in the greater metropolitan region, including Lüneburg, Lübeck and Kiel.
While the predominant teaching language has been German, Bachelor and Master programs in English are becoming more and more common. This is especially true for Master programs at the larger universities. That means you do not need to speak German to study in Hamburg.
Hamburg’s by far largest industry is shipping and logistics. It is estimated that one out of eight jobs is directly or indirectly dependent on the city’s harbour. That also means there are plenty of job opportunities for international graduates with valuable language skills. If you decide to study in Hamburg and fall in love with the city, there is a good chance you will find a job.
Hamburg offers a relatively high quality of life. The city offers everything you can imagine in terms of shopping and entertainment. Around the harbour, particularly on around the infamous Reeperbahn, there are plenty of pubs, bars and clubs to go out.
Housing may be a bit of a tricky affair, but there are many student housing facilities you are eligible for. As in other German cities, it is also very common to share a rental flat with other students.
The cost of living is relatively high when compared to other German cities, but rather low when compared to other European metropoles of similar sizes.
Thanks to its size and its role as an international trade hub, Hamburg is well-connected. Aside from the harbour, Hamburg has a large international airport with more than a hundred direct connections. The train station connects Hamburg to other cities throughout Germany and Europe. And with the train, Berlin is one and a half hours away.