FAQs - Questions concerning the application

How do I apply?

Please register via ahoi.

• If you do not have an application or user account yet, please create an account by pressing the menu item 'Create Account'. After registration you will receive the login details for your application account by email. After you have received your login data, please log into the ahoi internet portal. You are asked to change your initial password.
• If you are a current student at the HCU, please use your HCU user name and password.
• After successful registration, select the degree programme you would like to apply for. Please complete the application form and submit it electronically to HafenCity Universität. Once your application you submitted successfully, you will receive a confirmation by email.

Which account do I have to use for my online application?

There are two different types of accounts:

• Application accounts: Your email address is your user name.
  Please use the application account for your online application if you do not have an ahoi-account yet.
• Accounts for HCU students: Please use your HCU user name and passwort. The user name for example is htl123.
  


• If you are enrolled at HafenCity Universität Hamburg and/or already have an ahoi-account, it is essential that you apply via the existing ahoi-account. To reactivate your account as a former student, please contact the Infothek.

How many degree programmes can I apply for at the HCU?

• You can only apply for one degree programme at the HCU.

Why can’t I log in?

• If you are unable to log in, then please check your login details and/or request a new password. Please note that after changing your temporary password, it will only be possible to log in with your new password. It is also not possible to log into an applicant account after you have been successfully enrolled at the university.
• You will receive your HCU user ID for your HCU user account, your provisional student card as well as your temporary HVV Semester ticket by post. Please note that it can take up to 14 days to print and send you the provisional semester documents.
• If none of these help, please check if you use the correct user ID and password. If necessary ask for a new password.

How do I reset my password?

• Applicants who forgot their password can request a new one under 'Forgot Password' (link next to the log in input box). For any further problems please contact the ahoi-Support via the contact form.
• For a new password students have to present a valid ID at the Infothek or library. In exceptional cases (e.g. being abroad) you can also use our contact form to ask for an individual solution.

Why don't I get an email?

• Depending on your email provider, it may take up to 2 hours to deliver your account details. Please check your spam filter setting as well.
• If you are already enrolled at HafenCity Universität and you have an hcu email address (first name.last name@hcu-hamburg.de), the HCU will only use this email address for correspondence.

How do I print my application?

• After successfully submitting your ahoi online application electronically, you will also have the option to print out your completed application. Click on 'Print' on the online application form homepage to switch to the print view. Please use your browser’s print function to print out your application (File>Print or 'Ctrl+P').

When will I receive the upload link to upload my application documents to the HCU cloud?

• You will receive the link to upload your application documents by email after submitting the ahoi online application. So please make sure that you entered your email address correctly when your registered.

Where can I review that my application and/or enrolment documents have been received?

• If you have to upload documents to the HCU cloud in the course of the application process, the receipt of the documents will be confirmed in your ahoi applicant account in the application overview on the next working day. The receipt of your application documents is confirmed by a ticked box.
• If you have received admission and want to enrol, you must send your enrolment documents to the HCU by post. If the enrolment documents have been received the HCU, the receipt of the documents will be confirmed in your ahoi applicant account in the application overview. The receipt of your enrolment documents is confirmed by a ticked box.

How and when do I receive the official notification?

• Your admission or rejection letter will be available in your ahoi-account under the menu item 'My Documents'. Please make sure that your access data are available.
• If you have applied for a DoSV study programme, the admission letter will be available in your ahoi-account under the menu item 'My Documents'. The notification will be posted in your ahoi account on the next working day, if you have actively accepted the course offer through Hochschulstart or you have been granted automatic admission. Hochschulstart will issue the rejection letter after the coordination process has been completed. The rejection letter will be available in the Hochschulstart user account.
• Note: Please save the admission or rejection letter on your personal computer. As your application account in ahoi will be deleted after the end of the enrolment period, it will not be available anymore for download and cannot be generated again. In some cases, public authorities need this notification for different purposes like grants or child benefits.

How many days do I have to accept the study place?

• After receiving the notification of admission, you have seven days to accept the study place. You can find the deadline in your admission letter.