Apply now for the International Class 2027.
A semester of documentary photography in Hannover, taught entirely in English. Applications and nominations are open until 15 October.
Hannover, 2023. Photo: Kristina Kaysen
Magnum photographer Bieke Depoorter with participants of the International Class in the 2023 summer semester.
Photo: Maximilian von Lachner
Photographer Mads Nissen with a student of the International Class.
The International Class is an intensive one-semester programme. From early March to early July, young photographers from around the world study full-time in Hannover, with all courses taught in English. Applications and nominations for 2027 are open until 15 October. It will be the eleventh edition of the programme, which is part of our Visual Journalism and Documentary Photography degree.
At the heart of the semester is each participant’s own photo project. They develop it over the full four months, supported by lecturers from Hannover University of Applied Sciences and Arts and by guests from the international photography scene. Past lecturers include Bieke Depoorter, Mads Nissen, Andrea Gjestvang, Edmund Clark, Tanzim Wahab, Dominic Nahr and Mustafah Abdulaziz. Further seminars cover documentary narratives, the politics of representation and exhibition curating.
Seminars are shared with students from our own degree programme. In the 2026 summer semester, seven participants from six countries joined the class, including students from Texas State University, the Pathshala South Asian Media Institute in Dhaka and the Politecnico di Milano. Their lecturers included Aliona Kardash, herself a former member of the International Class, and alumnus Daniel Chatard.
What starts here often leaves a lasting mark. In 2025, former participant Giovanni De Mojana won over the jury of the Sony World Photography Awards with ‘Khatoon’, his project on women in Pakistan. Tatsiana Tkachova, class of 2022, went on to join the TruePicture mentoring programme. Egyptian photojournalist Ahmed Abd El-Gawad says of his time in Hannover: ‘It opened my eyes. I found the freedom to try everything.’
For a first impression, watch our latest reel on Instagram. It features Daniel Habeland, who coordinates the International Class together with Tom Kölling. Please share it with photography students who might be a good fit for the programme.
How to apply
Students at our partner universities
Ask your home university to nominate you by 15 October. The International Office at your university will handle the nomination.
Freemovers
Is your university not one of our partners? Then email hsh-incoming@hs-hannover.de by 15 October.
Documents
After the deadline, we will email you with the next steps. You will be asked for a portfolio of two to three series (12 to 15 photos each), a 500-word letter of motivation, a letter of recommendation and a CV.
Requirements
Enrolment in a bachelor’s programme, English at CEFR level B2 or higher, health insurance. The semester fee is 360 euros; the programme is worth 30 ECTS credits.
Contact
Coordination: Tom Kölling and Daniel Habeland
Questions about the application process: hsh-incoming@hs-hannover.de
Full details: International Class
Your contact partners will be happy to assist you with your personal concerns. However, due to the large number of enquiries, we ask you to first check our FAQ to see if your question may already have been answered.
Dean of Studies, Design and Media department
Programme representative
Application and admission procedure
Hochschule Hannover
Faculty III – Media, Information and Design
Expo Plaza 2
D-30539 Hanover