Architecture at the HCU has broad interdisciplinary links with the degree programmes Urban Planning, Metropolitan Culture, Civil Engineering, REAP, Urban Design and Geomatics as well as external cooperation partners. This promotes the transfer of knowledge and practical relevance, it provides the space to work on socially relevant and higher-level issues, and it promotes strategic thinking, reasoning and action. The HCU strives to provide intensive support in small student groups with a high degree of professorial supervision.

Opportunity to study at one of the 80 partner universities in more than 20 countries for 3-12 months, support of incoming + outgoing students by the International Dept. (individual guidance, mediation and support). Regular summer schools in cooperation with internat. universities (Nantes, Gdansk). Prof. responsible for interfaces organises joint, internat. courses (e.g.: Transatlantic and interdisciplinary cooperation project IIT Chicago+HCU "urban waters: CHICAGO-HAMBURG" between lecturers, students and cooperation partners of both big cities on the water)

The HCU is conceived as a profile university with a focus on metropolitan development and building culture. In addition to discipline-specific research questions, topics are also dealt with from an inter- and transdisciplinary viewpoint. Insights are gained through natural sciences and engineering, planning, design and artistic as well as cultural and social science approaches. The HCU is part of a wide network of universities and research institutions and promotes young scientists with a variety of funding programmes and grants.

The HCU occupies a prominent location in the HafenCity district of the Hanseatic City of Hamburg. The public sees it as a source of cultural inspiration for urban design issues. The institution hosts numerous events and exhibitions for the general public. The professors are involved in public debates and serve as building law consultants.