International Students

On these pages, international degree-seeking students as well as exchange students will find information on the services and possibilities that facilitate the beginning of their studies, support them during their studies and promote social and cultural acclimatisation in Germany and at their study location.

We are happy to provide you with assistance on the following topics:

Organisational information on enrolment
Orientation weeks organised by the International Office at the beginning of each semester
Finding acommodation
Health insurance
Language courses at HAWK (and more offers from the HAWK language centre)
Excursion and event program offered by the International Office during the semester
Buddy-Program “Say Hi”

Information on studying at HAWK

General Information/Downloads

Accommodation

The offer of available accommodation is very different at the three HAWK study locations. Students have the possibility to rent rooms in a private shared flat or a flat on their own or at one of the dormitories that are operated by the Studentenwerk, the church or private real estate agencies at the locations of Hildesheim and Göttingen. There are no dormitories in Holzminden.

The monthly rent (in the standard category) lies between € 300 and € 450, including utilities. Most of the rooms have internet access. Dormitory rooms are usually furnished, on the private housing market only rooms for sublet are furnished. In addition, you must pay a deposit of one month's rent when you move into your room. This deposit will be refunded when you move out, provided that nothing is damaged in the room.

Accommodation Service

The International Office offers an accommodation service for exchange and programme students.
You can indicate on your application form whether you would like an accommodation offer and which type of accommodation – in a dormitory or a shared flat – you prefer. The International Office will try to find a room in the preferred category at a reasonable price and send you a rental agreement which must be signed and returned by you.

The International Office also supports all other international students and guests as far as possible in their search for a room.

Scholarships for international students (degree seeking)

For the winter semester 2024/25, the International Office is offering 3 scholarships for 3 months each in the following programme lines:

1. STIBET Graduation Scholarships
2. STIBET scholarships for special commitment
3. STIBET scholarships for equal opportunities

Applications are open to international students (foreign citizenship and foreign university entrance qualification) who are regularly enrolled on a Bachelor's or Master's degree programme at the HAWK. The monthly rate is € 400.00. Application deadline is 30.09.2024.

The DAAD-STIBET scholarships are funded by the Federal Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany via the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

Details on the application requirements for the individual programme lines and the documents to be submitted can be found here:

Information on scholarships 2024 for international students (PDF) and
Application form 2024 STIBET international students (PDF)

Further funding opportunities for foreign students and graduates can be found in the DAAD’s scholarship database.

The HAWK International Office has compiled information on the requirements, funding amounts and application deadlines of some selected funding organisations in the document: Scholarship Overview for Foreign Students (in German).

For more information on the topic of study financing, please also visit our page on Funding your studies as an international student.

Contact scholarships for international exchange students (non-ERASMUS)

For the winter semester 2024/25, the International Office is awarding 3 contact scholarships (duration 01.10.2024 to 31.12.2024) with a monthly stipend of €340.00.

International students (students with foreign nationality and foreign university entrance qualification) in Bachelor’s and Master’s programs who are enrolled as exchange students without Erasmus+ funding for one or two semesters can apply.

The application deadline is 15.09.2024.

Further information can be found in the information sheet on contact scholarships for international exchange students (non-ERASMUS).

Application form for the contact Scholarships

Orientation events, excursions and other offers

The International Office organises orientation events in German and English for international degree-seeking students and exchange students, including city tours at all three HAWK locations. In addition, the International Office offers a wide range of events and excursions for international students, such as hikes in the Harz mountains, country-themed evenings and trips to other cities. For information about the current excursion program, please inquire at the International Office or check the group "Internationals@HAWK" in Stud.IP.

To facilitate settling in and orientation in their new environment, the International Office also arranges "Say Hi" buddies for exchange students. "Say Hi" buddies are volunteer students who support individual international students during the often challenging initial period and throughout the semester in their university routine.

International students are also invited to participate in Café International as well as the language centre's tandem program.