International Students Stefan Malzkorn

Exchange Semester or Free Mover Semester at HSBA

International

Exchange Students and Free Mover at HSBA

Welcome!

Exchange Students and Free Movers at HSBA in Hamburg

Located in the heart of Hamburg, HSBA offers a world-class education in the fields of business, management and digitalisation. Founded in 2004 by the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce, we now cooperate with more than 300 companies and have around 45 institutional partnerships in Europe, Asia and the Americas.

Become part of the HSBA family and our growing Alumni network and apply for a study period abroad at HSBA. Study together with HSBA degree seekers, learn about business informatics of logistics management and take advantage of the many networking opportunities HSBA and its connection to the Hamburg economy presents you with. 

Our campus is located in the center of Hamburg's vibrant central area, surrounded by some of the city's best restaurants, shops and cultural attractions. The Landungsbrücken, Elphi and the UNESCO Heritage Speicherstadt as well as the Town Hall and the Innenalster are just a short walk away. And with HSBA's lively student community you will have plenty of opportunities to explore all that Hamburg has to offer.

HSBA Hamburg School of Business Administration

Our programmes, and hence also the modules for our international exchange or free mover students, are designed to provide students with a unique combination of theoretical knowledge and practical skills that prepare them for success in today's global marketplace. At HSBA you will learn from experienced teaching staff who bring their real-world expertise to the classroom.

HSBA's teaching content is generally very demanding and designed for high-achieving students. Therefore, we ensure that our visiting students are of a very good or good academic standing and not afraid of some academic challenges. 

If you're ready to take your education to the next level and experience all that Hamburg has to offer, apply to HSBA today. We cannot wait to welcome you to our community of passionate learners and innovators.

Explanation: What does "dual" studies actually mean?

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HSBA is a "dual" higher education institute. This means that all degree-seeking students work and study. At undergraduate level, the system is "dual" so students are at the university for three months, then work at their company for three months, then study again, and so forth. At postgraduate level, students study part-time and work part-time. All students therefore have two places of learning: the institution and the company. This, in turn, means that the education overall is intertwined and industry knowldge is applied in the classromm and vice versa. 

Exchange and Free Mover students at HSBA visit HSBA for the academic learning experience. Therefore, the above-descripted dual system is not applicable to visiting students. Nonetheless, the idea of "duality" should be understood as it influences the way HSBA operates and how study content is delivered. 

Our Course Offering

Undergraduate Studies

HSBA offers these following Bachelor’s programmes:

Students are welcome to choose and mix courses from all study programmes and years – depending on the prerequisites.

Please be aware that when mixing programmes and years, courses may overlap. Schedules will be available approximately two weeks before arrival. Here you can find the module descriptions.

Postgraduate Studies

Master’s students interested in an exchange at HSBA: Please be aware that HSBA only offers part-time Master’s programmes and that the institution does not follow a typical  exchange semester structure. Please contact HSBA’s International Office for more details.

 


Top Position in CHE University Ranking

The HSBA undergraduate students have rated our institution above average and are very satisfied with their studies. The CHE- Ranking shows HSBA at the top in 12 of 12 categories. check out the outcome of the ranking here. 

The CHE University Ranking is the most comprehensive and detailed ranking of German universities and higher education institutions.

Semester Dates and Academic Calendar

HSBA's dual structure divides the academic year into four terms. Each term lasts around three months. Exams take place during the last week of each term. Students may come on exchange or attend as Free Mover for one, two, three of four terms. 
The start of your stay may be October, January, April or July. 

Mandatory Induction Days take place at the beginning of each term.

IMPORTANT: We recommend students to stay for two terms (equals a typical semester) to manage a workload of 30 ECTS.

Nomination deadline: four months prior to term start 
Application deadline: three months prior to term start

Undergraduate exchange terms for 2022/23
  • 21 July – 30 September 2022
  • 4 October – 16 December 2022
  • 9 January – 24 March 2023
  • 5 April – 16 June 2023
Undergraduate exchange terms for 2023/24:
  • 27 July – 6 October 2023
  • 9 October – 22 December 2023
  • 8 January – 22 March 2024
  • 4 April – 14 June 2024

Academic Calendar for Exchange Students

  Summer '23 Autumn '23 Winter '24 Spring '24
Induction days/week 27 - 28 Jul 2023 9 - 13 Oct 2023 8 - 12 Jan 2024 4 - 5 Apr 2024
Course start 31 Jul 2023 9 Oct 2023 8 Jan 2024 8 Apr 2024
Exam preparation and exam weeks 25 Sep - 6 Oct 2023 11 - 22 Dec 2023 11 - 22 Mar 2024 3 - 14 Jun 2024

Free Mover

Free Movers Welcome!

Your home university is not part of HSBA’s partner network? No problem at all! If you wish to take a semester at HSBA or to study in selected courses, do not hesitate to contact us and check all information on this website. There may be restrictions when it comes to select courses, please see “Course Offer for Exchange Students” above.

Tuition Fees 


Bachelor: EUR 100 per credit or EUR 3.000 per semester (2 terms). 
You can choose courses from all undergraduate programmes – depending on prerequisites.
Please contact the international office to book your selection.

Master: courses and fees on request

Application Process

Students from partner institutions need to be officially nominated by their home university. After the nomination students apply online and provide supporting application documents. Free Movers apply directly.  

  • Learning agreement (you may use either the HSBA’s or your university's form) 
  • Current Transcript of Records in English 
  • Passport sized photograph (JPG for student ID) 
  • Proof of English and/or German proficiency at B2 level (required from ALL students except native speakers). 
  • Proof of English proficiency: TOEFL (90 pts.), IELTS (6.0), Cambridge Certificates: FCE with Grade A, CAE with Grade A, B or C, CPE with Grade A, B, or C or academic tutor’s statement of competence in English.  
  • Proofof of German proficiency: DSH-Test (DSH2 level), TestDaF (TDN 4 or higher), Goethe-Zertifikat C2: Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom (GDS) or academic tutor’s statement of competence in German. Other certificates upon request.

Apply now online

Erasmus+ at HSBA

HSBA takes part in the Erasmus+ Programm, financed by the European Commission. 

If there is the option to benefit from EU-funding for a stay abroad, you should certainly take it! Erasmus+ has been promoting student mobility within Europe (and beyond) for over 35 years already. 
More information on Erasmus+ is available here. 

Incoming students of HSBA's European partner institutions receive, after consultation with their home universities, a (partial) scholarship to help with the usually high living costs in Hamburg. Not sure if your home institution and HSBA have signed an Erasmus+ contract? Please check our partner list here and in case of doubt, contact the International Office of your home university - there you will also find further information on applying for a scholarship

Tips for planning your semester at HSBA

For information on visa regulations, residence permits, registering in Hamburg, accommodation and many more tips for living in Hamburg, please check the page “Plan Your Stay”.

The below downloadable "International Student Guide" summs up all relevant steps  from the application process to the arrival at HSBA and in Hamburg.

Get a Buddy!

Buddies – A Great Way to Connect to HSBA

A new country, a new city and a new university might cause confusion. No reason to despair! HSBA’s Buddies will help you off to a smooth start. Their support ranges from issues realted to study and academia to Hamburg life and German culture. They might pick you up at the airport, show you the nearest supermarket to your apartment, help to register as a Hamburg citizen or take you to the next party and best bar in Hamburg. How much time you spend with your buddy is, in the end, up to you and your buddy.

A Buddy for inbound exchange students

All inbound exchange and guest students are automatically matched with an HSBA Buddy. There is no need to register separately. In due time before your semester at HSBA, your Buddy will get in touch with you. 

 

 

A Buddy for HSBA degree seekers

Are you a degree seeker in one of the undergraduate or postgraduate programmes? You are not from Germany/ Hamburg and would like to be buddied up to explore Hamburg and HSBA life with a new friend? Contact us via email and we will try and find a buddy for you. Get in touch at least three months prior to your arrival in Hamburg. You can either contact us or the  International Committee directly. 

 

Questions?

We are happy to help!

Iris Heine, HSBA
Iris Heine
Senior Manager International Office
+49 40 822160-959
iris.heine(at)hsba.de
Questions?Iris Heine, HSBA
Iris Heine, HSBA

Iris Heine

Senior Manager International Office
+49 40 822160-959
iris.heine(at)hsba.de

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