Foreign trade in Hamburg
Start your vocational training now
Introduction:
Imagine a container ship leaving the port of Hamburg heading towards Shanghai – on board: highly specialized machinery, industrial robots, and medical technology "Made in Germany." What has been designed, produced, and tested in Germany is used worldwide – in Asian production lines, in American research laboratories, or in African infrastructure projects. On the way back, the ship brings electronic components, textiles, or solar modules that German companies need for their products. That's how international trade works – daily, globally, and indispensably.
In 2023 alone, Germany exported goods worth over 1.6 trillion euros – this corresponds to more than 45% of the total gross domestic product. Exports are thus one of the pillars of the German economy – and a guarantee for growth, employment, and innovation.
Without foreign trade, there would be no German wind turbines on the Pacific coast of Chile, no machine tools from Baden-Württemberg in Mexican automobile factories, and no pharmaceutical preparations from North Rhine-Westphalia in Scandinavian hospitals. Products from Germany are in demand worldwide – for their quality, efficiency, and reliability.
At the same time, foreign trade shows how closely we are globally interconnected: Without raw materials from South America, chips from Asia, or packaging technologies from Italy, many German products could not be produced at all. International division of labor and specialization enable the prosperity we know today – and they make knowledge of foreign trade a key competence for the future.
Welcome to the Vocational School for Business and International Studies – your vocational school for foreign trade in Hamburg.
Since 1952, we have been training qualified young professionals for foreign trade in Hamburg. As a vocational school for wholesale and foreign trade management (specialization in foreign trade), we offer a practical and future-oriented education in close cooperation with renowned training companies in the Hamburg metropolitan region. More than 40,000 graduates have laid the foundation for their international careers here.
Foreign trade as a growth engine – Hamburg is Germany's gateway to the world.
Foreign trade is a central pillar of the German economy – dynamic, international, and future-oriented. Whether it's machinery, vehicles, chemical products, or high-tech – 'Made in Germany' is in demand worldwide. Behind this global success are excellently trained specialists in foreign trade who understand, shape, and are responsible for international business processes.
Fit for the future – scoring with interdisciplinary competencies
In an internationally connected world, in addition to professional knowledge, soft skills are crucial. Communication strength, foreign language skills, digital competence, intercultural sensitivity, and solution-oriented thinking are key qualifications that are specifically promoted in education. The training prepares young people for a work environment that is constantly changing – and never loses relevance.
Those who choose foreign trade select a profession with a global perspective, real future opportunities, and plenty of room for creativity. With solid knowledge, cultural sensitivity, and economic understanding, foreign trade experts make a crucial contribution to the success of German exports – and thus to the strength of our economic location.
What distinguishes us
Our vocational school stands for a solid, modern, and globally oriented education. As a certified Europeschool with long-standing international partnerships, we not only promote linguistic and intercultural skills but also actively live diversity and tolerance. As a School without Racism – School with Courage, we advocate for respect, openness, and solidarity. Since 2023, we have been Erasmus accredited – this certification provides our trainees with the opportunity to gain important professional and personal experiences in Europe through study abroad programs. The promotion of mobility, internationality, and intercultural exchange is a central part of our educational profile.
Contact persons:
Maren Gratopp (Department head)
T +49 40 428 861 715
Vicky Weisser (School office)
T +49 40 428 861 715
F +49 40 428 861 744
About the vocational training
Exciting insights into the world of foreign trade
Lesson organization:
Dual training
Part-time vocational school instruction - on two days a week with 6-8 instructional hours each; final examination before the Handelskammer Hamburg.
Dual Study: Business Economist in Foreign Trade
- Vocational school lessons in part-time form – on two days a week with 6–7 lessons each; alongside evening classes or studies at the European College of Business and Management (ECBM).
- Duration of training: 6 semesters as part of the dual vocational training for merchants in wholesale and foreign trade management, alongside 3 semesters of study at the European College of Business and Management (London), leading to the title 'Bachelor Business Management'. An internationally recognized bachelor's degree can be obtained after a total of 7 semesters of training.
Training content:
Exciting insights into the world of foreign trade - educational contents of the training
The training in large-scale and foreign trade management with a focus on foreign trade opens the door to a fascinating international career world. In a varied and practice-oriented teaching environment, trainees acquire solid specialized knowledge about the complex processes of cross-border goods trade – while simultaneously developing key competencies that make them sought-after professionals in the global economy.
The instruction is based on the nationwide valid curriculum and conveys content from the following fields of learning:
- Professionally handle import and export: Planning, organization, and execution of international goods flows, including customs clearance, proof of origin and preferences, as well as delivery and payment terms.
- Analyze international markets: market observation, target market analysis, customer structure, and competitive comparisons – practically prepared for direct use in the company.
- Know the legal and economic frameworks: international contracts, foreign trade law, delivery delay regulations, and country-specific peculiarities.
- Foreign languages and intercultural competence: Particularly in foreign trade, the ability to express oneself confidently in English – often also in another foreign language – is indispensable. Intercultural sensitivity and communication are also central teaching contents.
- Sustainability and ethical action: Evaluating global supply chains under social and ecological aspects and designing them responsibly is part of modern education.
Transdisciplinary skills – strong for the future
In addition to the technical expertise, the lessons specifically promote cross-disciplinary competencies that are crucial for a successful career in foreign trade:
- Communication skills and teamwork: Through practice-oriented teaching arrangements, trainees learn to express themselves convincingly, listen, and develop solutions together – even across cultural boundaries.
- Self-organization and problem-solving skills: International business processes are complex – those who think structured and react flexibly have a clear advantage. This is specifically trained in many lessons.
- Media and IT competence: The secure use of digital tools for communication, data analysis, and business transactions is an essential part of today's world – whether ERP systems, digital customs platforms, or office tools.
- Sense of responsibility and initiative: By working independently on learning projects or presentations, entrepreneurial thinking is promoted – in line with a future-oriented vocational training.
Foreign Trade+ – The Special Advantage
With our Foreign Trade+ Class, we appeal to high-performing and particularly interested trainees with a training duration of two and a half years. In addition to regular lessons, we specifically promote international competencies through:
- Job-related field trips abroad – e.g. to Shanghai – with intensive preparation and follow-up,
- Bilingual teaching units (English) in the fields of procurement, sales, financing, and logistics,
- Module on foreign trade formalities and compliance, e.g. customs import and export processing, export control,
- International accounting within the framework of controlling and cost accounting.
- Teaching organization: As in dual education
Dual Study: Business Economist in Foreign Trade
As a special offer, we provide the opportunity to obtain the State Certified Business Economist in Foreign Trade at the Institute for Foreign Trade.
This training provides a solid qualification for leadership positions in international trade and enables our graduates to systematically advance their careers – with a focus on foreign trade, management, and international markets.
Exam:
- Final Examination: Three written exams and an oral subject discussion before the Handelskammer Hamburg
- More information on this: hk24.de
Vocational training companies:
Die Anmeldeunterlagen für die Berufsschule stehen auf unserer Homepage zur Verfügung.
Einen Überblick über mögliche Ausbildungsbetriebe finden Sie im Onlineverzeichnis unter: FOLGT
News of the BS:WI
You can find everything about our school life, news, and articles here.
Follow us on our social media channels as well.
