Hochschule Bremen (HSB) is the region's academic training centre for maritime specialists: HSB's programmes in nautical science, shipping & chartering and naval architecture and ocean engineering are internationally positioned.
With its research and teaching programmes, the "Blue Sciences" research cluster at HSB makes an important contribution to the further development of the maritime economy and technology, taking the maritime environment into account.
Maritime education has a long tradition in Bremen: it was the time when Bremen merchants set sail for the wide world. Bremen's shipping industry developed rapidly after the end of the American War of Independence and even more so after the French Revolution. As a result, maritime trade continued to expand from the coasts of Europe to the rest of the world and, of course, primarily to America. However, there was a shortage of skippers and helmsmen, especially those who were able to cope with the increased demands of the long voyages. So a group of 150 Bremen notables around the captain, merchant and shipowner Carl Phillip Cassel and the physician and astronomer Heinrich Wilhelm Olbers joined forces to establish a navigation school for the next generation of sailors. It was opened on 25 April 1799. It later became a nautical school and, in 1970, the Hochschule für Nautik Bremen, which laid the foundation stone for today's HSB in 1982 together with three other universities. Today, the Department of Nautical Science and Maritime Transport is part of the School of Nature and Engineering
"For 225 years, Hochschule Bremen and its predecessor, the Bremische Navigationsschule, have actively contributed to ensuring that the maritime traditions of Bremen and Germany and their competitiveness on the global markets continue to flourish. Hochschule Bremen prepares future managers from Europe, Asia, Africa and America on board and ashore for the challenges of the German maritime industry and global shipping," says Prof. Dr Ilknur Colmorn, head of the International Degree Programme in Ship Management – Nautical Sciences B.Sc. (ISMN) degree programme.
„The exceptional programmes, such as the training trip on the sailing ship Alexander von Humboldt 2, convinced me to study at HSB. But I also really enjoy studying at HSB thanks to the modern classrooms, simulators and an excellently trained team of professors, and I'm looking forward to the coming semesters.“
Rayna Heupel Germany, 4. semester ISMN
„I am very excited to celebrate the 225 years of the nautical education in Bremen, as it shows how this long tradition has endured over time, updating and training the future maritime professionals. As a fresh newcomer in Germany, the HSB was the only university allowing me to start my dream immediately without having a deep knowledge of the German language. For my luck, and at the same time, it was one of the most prestigious places to study Nautical Sciences not only in Germany but in Europe.“
Bruno Molina Stagi Uruguay, 8. Semester ISMN, DAAD award winner 2022
