MSc Renewable Energy Systems Hamburg University of Applied Sciences

Classes are held in English. A2 German is required for safety reasons in the labs (see language requirements).

The Master's programme is made up of two semesters of theory and practice with the following modules:

• Mathematics: Numerical Mathematics
• Data Acquisition and Processing
• Wind Energy
• Bioenergy - Biofuels
• Solar Energy - Photovoltaic Systems Engineering
• Solar Energy Converter: Solar Cells, Solar Thermal Systems
• Plant Engineering & Project Management
• Energy Conversion: Fuel Cells & Batteries, Smart Grids
• Electrical Engineering: Advanced Electrical Engineering, Power Electronics and Grids
• Numerical Simulation for Renewable Energies: Computational Simulation Techniques, Wind Turbine Design with CFD or System Case Studies with CFD
• Advanced Control Systems: Methods & Tools
• Plant Engineering & Project Management
• Electives 1 & 2
• Project Work
• Energy Practice Lab
• Energy Policy & Finance: Project Finance & International Energy Policy

Students complete their Master's theses during the third semester.

This course is taught in person only. It is not possible to complete the programme online.

This course is taught in person only. It is not possible to study this programme online.

Application period:

1 April to 15 May (programme start: October)

Please have your school and Bachelor's certificates checked first by uni-assist (www.uni-assist.de) to get a VPD ("Vorprüfungsdokumentation") BEFORE applying to HAW Hamburg.

With your VPD, please apply using the myHAW online application portal: https://myhaw.haw-hamburg.de/qisserver/pages/cs/sys/portal/hisinoneStartPage.faces.

The HAW Hamburg online application portal is open during the application period only.

You do not need to send your documents with the postal mail to complete your application. 

The first two semesters are made up of lectures in small groups, seminars and lab work. Students will complete individual projects on different topics. Set research topics will be completed in the labs.
The Master's thesis is written in the third semester; in most cases in industry, with renewable energy-related companies.
Each semester is awarded a total of 30 credit points. This course is taught in person only. 

To see course content and module descriptions, please click on the PDF link below.

PDF Download

The programme does not include an integrated internship, but most students complete their Master's theses in industry.

No tuition fees

Each semester, students have to pay a semester contribution (379 EUR as of September 2025). This fee includes a semester ticket for unlimited use of Hamburg's public transport system (and currently also for regional trains). For more information about studying and living in Hamburg, see: https://www.haw-hamburg.de/en/international/international-students/.

Hamburg is a relatively expensive city. Depending on your lifestyle, you should expect living costs of 700 to 900 EUR for rent, food, and other expenses.

• Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in environmental engineering, process engineering or a similar field

NOTE: Applicants whose Bachelor's degree consists of 180 credit points (ECTS) must acquire another 30 credit points during the first semester of their studies. The faculty decides which courses must be completed. Applicants will receive a provisional enrolment for one semester in order to complete the missing 30 credit points. At the end of the first semester, the faculty will inform the Student Registrar's Office whether the missing credit points have been acquired, and students who have successfully acquired the missing credit points may continue with their studies.

• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) for applicants who do not have a Bachelor's qualification from an EU country
• Proof of English language ability (if English is not your first language) – see the language requirements
• German language certificate from Goethe Institute – see the language requirements
• Proof of professional experience in the field is appreciated and will lead to more points in the ranking of applicants. Proof of professional experience should be documented in the application by a CV and reference letters from employers.

Uni-assist (VPD) (www.uni-assist.de): Students who completed their school education outside Germany must have their high school and Bachelor's certificates checked by uni-assist and receive a VPD BEFORE applying to the HAW Hamburg. The VPD from uni-assist must be uploaded as part of the application process at HAW Hamburg. Please be advised that the uni-assist VPD process can take six to eight weeks, so please apply early.

For more information about academic requirements, see: https://bit.ly/348stMO.

All applicants whose first language is not English must provide one of the following language certificates:

• TOEFL min. score: 87 (Internet-based)
• IELTS min. score: band 5.5
• CAE (Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English) min. score: C
• CPE (Cambridge Certificate in Proficiency in English) min. score: C
• FCE (Cambridge First Certificate) min. score: C
• Lectures are in English.

Students must include an A2 level German language certificate with their application. This is required for safety as part of communication with lab technicians, etc.
The only accepted German language certificate is from Goethe Institute, the "Start Deutsch 2" certificate at level A2 (http://www.goethe.de/lrn/prj/pba/bes/sd2/enindex.htm).

Application period:

1 April to 15 May (programme start: October)

Please have your school and Bachelor's certificates checked first by uni-assist (www.uni-assist.de) to get a VPD ("Vorprüfungsdokumentation") BEFORE applying to HAW Hamburg.

With your VPD, please apply using the myHAW online application portal: https://myhaw.haw-hamburg.de/qisserver/pages/cs/sys/portal/hisinoneStartPage.faces.

The HAW Hamburg online application portal is open during the application period only.

You do not need to send your documents with the postal mail to complete your application. 

Students can apply for scholarships for academic excellence. They can also apply for an examination scholarship when they are in their final semester. This will serve as a financial support while students are completing their Master's theses. More information can be found here: https://www.haw-hamburg.de/en/international/international-students/

If you are coming to Germany on a visa, you will have to provide proof of your finances for the first year: 853 EUR per month to 10,236 EUR per year.

EU students can work 20 hours per week.

Students from non-EU countries are permitted to work 140 full days (280 half days) in one calendar year. Please be advised that part-time job opportunities are limited, especially for students who do not speak German. It is unlikely that we will be able to offer you a job on campus. Therefore, please make sure you have sufficient finances for your studies.

More information can be found here, under "Visa & Paperwork":
https://www.haw-hamburg.de/en/international/international-students/

"Studierendenwerk Hamburg" offers affordable accommodation for students under the age of 30. Generally, students have their own room in a shared apartment with a communal bathroom and kitchen. The monthly rent for a room in a student hall of residence is usually between 350 and 450 EUR (including amenities). New students can apply three months before the start of their degree programme.

Please be advised that it is unfortunately not easy to find accommodation in Hamburg; finding somewhere to live can take a while. The student halls of residences offered by the "Studierendenwerk Hamburg" often have long waiting lists.

Further information on accommodation can be found here: https://www.haw-hamburg.de/en/study/campus-life/accommodation/.

The HAW Hamburg has a career service office that offers advice on working in Germany, finding internships and successfully applying for jobs in Germany.

Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW Hamburg) is one of the largest of its kind in Germany and within our nine faculties we offer a wide range of Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes in engineering, IT, life sciences, design and media as well as business and social sciences.

We focus on applied sciences in our teaching, giving our students a practical insight into their fields of study through projects, lab work, internships and theses in industry. Our expertise is drawn from faculty members who have worked in industry before joining the university. In research, we are an important partner for the city of Hamburg’s companies and innovation clusters, developing new ideas from the synergies of this dynamic location.

Our fields of expertise reflect the technologies, industries and services that make Germany a leading economy, and our close collaboration with Hamburg's innovation clusters allows us to develop this knowledge in our teaching and research.

We are a very international university, with students from over 100 countries making up 16% of our students. Combined with the international nature of the city of Hamburg, you will feel very comfortable studying here.

Read more about the city and what our students say: https://bit.ly/3bq2rI3.

In the north of Germany and in the heart of Europe, Germany’s second largest city (1.8 million) offers excellent quality of life and international flair. If you like to spend your leisure time outdoors, then you will love Europe’s “greenest” city with its lake, canals and beautiful parks. For those of you who love culture, Hamburg’s museums, theatres and its world-famous concert hall, the Elbphilharmonie, will inspire you.

Hamburg is also one of the most dynamic commercial centres in Europe, placing its strategic focus on six innovative segments: aviation (Airbus), IT and media, the international port and logistics, life sciences (biotechnology, medical technology and health care), nanotechnology, and renewable energies. We are sure you will feel at home.