Smith in Hamburg
Located near the North Sea, Hamburg is known as both gateway to the world and one of Europe’s most sustainable cities. Study in German at the Universität Hamburg with options for either the full year or spring semester, or opt for the Practicum Program in the fall semester.
Application Deadline
Smith student applications for the 2025–26 academic year, fall 2025, and for spring 2026 are due by Monday, February 3, 2025. Smith Programs Abroad accept applications from students of any gender identity. Guest student applications will be accepted until the second Monday in March (March 10, 2025) on a space-available, rolling basis; applying by the February deadline is encouraged. For Smith in Hamburg, we will accept applications for Spring 2026 until the first Monday in October (October 6, 2025).
The Curriculum
The Smith in Hamburg program offers two tracks: University Studies and Practicum Program
Choose Your Curricular Track
Track A: University Studies Program (academic year or spring semester)
The program begins with a cultural orientation, intensive language study and excursions. Students enroll in four 4-credit courses each semester based on their language ability, including a German language course, university courses taught in German or English, and optional program courses in German history and culture.
Students take courses at the Smith Center in addition to courses at the Universität Hamburg with German and international students studying humanities, social sciences and history, mathematics and the natural sciences. For more than 60 years, the Universität Hamburg has been welcoming students studying through Smith, the only U.S. program in Hamburg. Students are required to take at least one of their courses at the Universität Hamburg.
Note: If academic year students want to combine their academic work with practical experience, they can pursue a Practicum Project and join the Practicum Course in the fall (see below).
Track B: Practicum Program (fall semester only)
Students in this track pursue a practicum project (which may be either an internship, voluntary work, or a research project). Students earn credit through a practicum course, a German language course and two additional courses at the Smith Center.
Note: Track B students may decide to return to Hamburg in March and attend the Track A University Studies Program in the spring semester.
Director: Jutta Gutzeit
Smith Faculty Liaison: Joel Westerdale, Associate Professor of German and Italian
Local program staff: Kathrin Kämpfer (formerly Beletti Mata), Associate Director
Track A: University Studies Program (academic year or spring semester)
Both the year-long and spring programs begin with a four-week orientation session in Hamburg. The orientation program provides intensive language preparation, cultural courses and introductions to everyday and academic life in Hamburg. Topics covered in classes include the German university system, the press and politics. They are supplemented by daily instruction in the German language. The group takes several excursions to north German towns and typically spends a four-day stay in Berlin. Scheduled events include tours of the city, visits to museums and monuments and several evenings at concerts, the opera or the theater.
Track B: Practicum Program (fall semester only)
The orientation (which is tied to the practicum project) will start online prior to students’ arrival in Germany. After students arrive in Hamburg, the orientation program will continue with a brief introduction to aspects of daily life in Germany, like public transportation, health care, etc.
Track A: University Studies Program (academic year or spring semester)
Students enroll in four courses per semester, with the following requirements:
- German language courses taught at the Smith Center
- One to three university courses in German or English
- One to two Smith courses in German or English
Track B: Practicum Course (fall semester only)
Students enroll in four courses, with the following requirements:
- German language courses taught at the Smith Center
- Practicum course (taught in English)
- Two Smith Center courses (taught in German or English)
For students participating in Track A: University Studies Program, all university courses taken in a student's major may be supplemented by tutorials arranged especially for Smith and conducted by advanced graduate students. The tutorial sessions meet two hours each week to clarify and elaborate upon the lecture material, and give you the chance to explore topics in greater depth. Students also receive writing assistance when preparing semester papers in German for university courses.
Program Dates
Life in Hamburg
Applying
Accepted Students
For resources and information about the German visa application process, please visit the Hamburg Accepted Students website.