Summer School 2026: 80 international students. 18 nations.
HWR Berlin’s Summer School once again brought together students from around the world for an unforgettable experience. Alongside academic learning and new friendships life in Berlin took centre stage.
This summer, we welcomed 80 international students, including 75 participants from 25 partner universities. Together, they represented 14 countries and 18 different nationalities. The largest cohort came from Australia, with 24 students from four partner institutions.
Students could choose from five courses ranging from two to four weeks in length, covering Business, Business Law, Entrepreneurship and Sustainability. Alongside their academic courses, all participants completed the Intercultural Perspectives module, reflecting each week on their experiences in Germany and comparing them with their home cultures. Their reflections explored topics such as Germany’s approach to history, higher education, life in Berlin, food culture, stereotypes and everyday cultural differences.
New perspectives
One student from South Korea reflected: “Overall this summer school changed my perspective. I no longer think of Germany as simply a country with strict rules. I now see it as a society where rules exist to protect people’s freedom safety and respect for others. That is probably the most meaningful lesson I will take home from my time in Berlin.”
A participant from Serbia captured another aspect of the experience: “Thank you, HWR Berlin, for this beautiful journey and the unforgettable memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life. This definitely wasn’t the last time you saw me — you deserve much more attention than the two weeks I spent at your university.”
The atmosphere throughout the programme was exceptional. The international group brought new energy to campus, and even Berlin’s unusually hot summer became part of the experience. Temperatures approaching 40°C without air conditioning surprised many students.
A special thank you goes to all lecturers who made this year’s Summer School possible. Balancing the regular semester with intensive summer courses is no small task, and we greatly appreciate their dedication and enthusiasm. It was especially rewarding to hear how much they enjoyed teaching such an engaged and international group.