[1] The design makes reference to the changing colors typical to the HafenCity, caused by reflections throughout the day by the wharf buildings' red brick and the ship hulls' iron and steel.

Groundbreaking on the branch of the U2 from Jungfernstieg to HafenCity, now known as the U4, took place on 23 August 2007, with construction beginning in February 2008.

The station structure was completed on 11 May 2010 and interior work took place until its opening on 29 November 2012.

[3] Until 10 August 2013, HafenCity Universität station was open only on weekends and public holidays; since then it is served regularly.

HafenCity Universität is served by Hamburg U-Bahn line U4; departures are every 10 minutes.