Campus and Student Life

To help you settle into the ICSS program, get to know the University of Hamburg and its campus, and connect with fellow students, a range of orientation activities is offered at the beginning of your studies. For a detailed overview of important dates, orientation activities, and useful information to help you get off to a great start, please visit our Important Dates and Information for New Students page.

The Campus

Universität Hamburg is not located on a single campus. It has a main campus but its buildings are located throughout the Grindelviertel, a lively district close the center of the city and the Alster lakes. Between classes, you can grab a coffee in one of the many cafés on or near the campus or just take a stroll to the Alster or Planten un Blomen, a vast, lush park right next to the main campus.

Most of your classes will be held in the following three buildings:

Haus der Erde (House of the Earth): Bundesstraße 57, 20146 Hamburg
MIN Forum: Bundesstraße 56a, 20146 Hamburg
House of Informatics: Bundesstraße 56b, 20146 Hamburg

The MIN Forum consists of two sections. The first section of the building houses the lecture halls and seminar rooms, while the second section houses the library and the Academic Office.
The Academic Office is accessible only through the library. Use the stairs or the elevator in the foyer to enter the library on the first floor. Next, take the elevators at the end of the library hallway or the stairs next to them to the 6th floor, where you’ll find yourself right in the Earth System Sciences Academic Office.

You can find more information about the University of Hamburg's campuses, including a detailed campus map and building locator, on the university website.

What do students say about studying at SICSS in Hamburg?

Events Throughout The Year

In the ICSS-Program, we do not only offer you excellent education in Climate Sciences. As an ICSS student, you will find support by the office staff and have access to our alumni network and exciting events throughout the year.

Photo: UHH/SICSS

Orientation Week for new MSc ICSS students

The MICSS Student Council organizes the ICSS Orientation Week and is specifically aimed at new ICSS students. You will receive important information about your degree program and learn what you need to know for a successful start, including information on:

course registration and organizing your studies
the structure of the ICSS program
important academic and administrative procedures
university services and support opportunities
student life and the ICSS community

The program is currently being finalized. The detailed schedule will be published here as soon as it is available.

Photo: UHH/CEN/Kreis

Networking and socializing

We organize alumni events twice a year, usually prior to our annual summer and Christmas parties, thus enabling our students and doctoral candidates to network. During these events, MSc and doctoral graduates from various professional fields return to SICSS and talk about their careers. These evenings usually include food, drinks, and music.

The annual meetings held by AGU and EGU offer an additional opportunity for our alumni to stay in touch with SICSS and to get to know our current MSc students and doctoral candidates. We usually have a booth at these conferences and organize a SICSS & Friends evening.

Photo: UHH/CEN

CEN Graduation

We host an annual graduation celebration to honor master’s students and doctoral candidates who recently completed degrees in key research areas of the CEN. Every January, the year’s cohort of graduates and their families are cordially invited to join our festive ceremony.

Photo: UHH/SICSS

Excursion

We would like our students and doctoral candidates to get to know the scientific network in Hamburg. We organize short excursions to institutions such as the German Climate Computing Center, the Wind Channel, HZG, or DWD in random order.

SICSS Office Support

What we offer:

Step-in support for new MSc students and doctoral candidates
Counselling
Advice on how to plan your career
Coordination of events
Networking with other universities or study programs

Life in Hamburg

In 2017, Hamburg was ranked the most livable city in Germany and made it to the top 10 on the Economist Intelligence Unit's Global Livability Report.

The city offers beautiful parks, the Alster Lake in the city center, the river Elbe with its harbor and beaches - there are many places to spend your free time in the city of Hamburg. In addition, the nearby North- and Baltic Sea are worthwhile a visit.

At the same time, people lead an urban lifestyle: In nearly every part of the city you will find bars and cafés. If you are into sports or culture, you will find numerous sports clubs, museums, theatres, cinemas and concerts serving any musical taste.