Hamburg may not be the top dog (er, bratwurst) of Germany, but it certainly packs a punch. With beautiful architecture, numerous museums, and numerous parks it is one of the most sought-after cities in Europe to be based in.

Popular subjects to study. Popular subjects to study in Hamburg include German Language, law, and management. In Hamburg, many of the study abroad options are in English, and they cover a range of levels from undergraduate to masters. Hamburg has a range of study abroad options to cover all subjects.

Short term and summer programs vs. long term programs. Hamburg is an ideal location for both short and long-term programs. A semester or summer in Hamburg will give you a taster of Northern-German culture, while a year program will allow you to immerse yourself fully into life in Germany. Throughout the year,Hamburg has a range of festivals and celebrations such as Hafengeburtstag (Hamburg habor birthday), Alster fair, and a Christmas market. No matter how long you end up staying in Hamburg, there will be some sort of celebration—make sure you don’t miss it.

Attending universities vs. other program type. There are several universities within Hamburg specializing in different subjects. By doing your study abroad in Hamburg at a local university, you will have access to free German language classes and local government benefits such as free entry to local museums. In addition, you will have more opportunity to interact with Germans—great for improving your language skills and learning about German student life.

There are other study abroad options in Hamburg instead of being based in a local university. You can do short-term or semester-long programs through your university back home, or through a third party provider (like the ones listed here). All program options have their pros and cons, but you can trust that they all want you to have a fantastisch time abroad.