With the start of the upcoming winter semester, Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH) is once again welcoming many new faces. At the kick-off event at Friedrich-Ebert-Halle in Harburg, around 900 first-year bachelor’s students got their first taste of university life. Before the event began, numerous information stands in the foyer gave the new students an opportunity to make contacts and find out more about life on campus. Among those represented were the Central Student Counselling Service, Startup Port, WorkINGLab and University Sports.
The university choir SingING then opened the official welcome ceremony with a performance of “You’re the Voice”. Miora Gerull, Chair of the Students’ Union (AStA), and Prof. Marcus Rutner, Head of the Institute for Metal and Composite Structures, hosted the event. Prof. Thorsten Kern, Vice President for Education, delivered the welcome address: “Exactly one year ago, I started as Vice President for Education, so I can relate, at least to some extent, to the excitement our first-year students are feeling. You are studying at a time when technology and the world of work are changing rapidly – artificial intelligence is just one example. We will prepare you to use new tools competently and critically, without losing sight of fundamental knowledge or the joy of experimenting and problem-solving. You are now part of TUHH, with access to all the opportunities we have to offer. You will seize the opportunities that come with this! I wish you a great start and the courage to ask questions.”
In total, almost 1,200 new bachelor’s students have enrolled at Hamburg University of Technology for the 2026/27 winter semester. More than 100 of them come from non-EU countries. The largest group of first-year students is enrolled in the bachelor’s degree programme Engineering and Management – Major in Logistics and Mobility, followed by Civil and Environmental Engineering and Mechanical Engineering.
From the Backstreet Boys to Mascots
Following the welcome address by the Vice President for Education, Antonia Gohr provided the new students with important guidance. As Head of the Student Education Department, she introduced the support and advisory services available at Hamburg University of Technology. These include the Central Student Counselling Service and the Career Center, both of which were also represented with information stands at the event. Christian Salzmann then offered insights into Startup Port, which supports student start-ups under the motto “From Campus to Company”. After the presentations, SingING once again created a genuine concert atmosphere with the Backstreet Boys classic “I Want It That Way”, earning enthusiastic applause from the audience.
Varun Arun, the Students’ Union Officer for Sustainability, introduced the Students’ Union and its working groups, including the theatre group and the cinema group, which screens a film every Tuesday during the semester. For the traditionally loud finale, the student councils took to the stage with their flags and mascots, dressed in their distinctive outfits.
