University in Germany
Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
University profile
Universität Hamburg (University of Hamburg) is a public university in the Hanseatic city of Hamburg and describes itself as northern Germany's largest research and educational institution and one of the largest universities in Germany. It was founded in 1919 and holds the title University of Excellence under the Excellence Strategy of the Federal and State Governments, awarded in 2019, with four funded clusters of excellence.
The central campus lies in the Eimsbüttel district around the Von-Melle-Park, with the Main Building and the Audimax, the university's largest lecture hall with room for 1,664 people. Further main sites are the Bundesstraße campus (Geomatikum, climate and earth system sciences), Klein Flottbek (plant science, microbiology and the Botanical Garden) and Science City Hamburg-Bahrenfeld in the west of the city. The faculties occupy 167 buildings with a usable area of 386,000 square metres.
Study and research are organised in eight faculties: Law; Business, Economics and Social Sciences; Medicine (at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, UKE); Education; Humanities; Psychology and Human Movement Science; Business Administration (Hamburg Business School); and Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences. The programme range covers 74 Bachelor's programmes, 96 Master's programmes (20 taught in English), 6 state and other examinations and 11 continuing education and graduate programmes (2024 figures).
Student life centres on the Eimsbüttel campus, with three dining halls and numerous cafes, a choir and orchestra, student theatre groups, more than 100 sporting groups through University Sports and many student initiatives. Student housing is provided by Studierendenwerk Hamburg, which runs 25 housing facilities for 4,400 residents with furnished rooms; private flats and shared flats (WG) are the other common options. The semester contribution includes the public transport pass for greater Hamburg.
In winter semester 2025/26, 43,134 students were enrolled including doctoral researchers and students on leave. Excluding doctoral researchers, 38,191 students were enrolled in 2025, of whom 12.5 per cent came from abroad; of the 5,771 doctoral researchers, 22.5 per cent were from abroad. The university is a member of the European University Alliance for Global Health (EUGLOH) and runs a network of strategic partnerships.
The University of Hamburg abolished tuition fees in October 2012; students pay only the semester contribution (Semesterbeitrag), which is not tuition. It is EUR 402 for winter semester 2026/27, made up of EUR 19.60 for the student body, EUR 226.80 for the semester public transport pass, EUR 4.60 for the transport pass hardship fund, EUR 101 for the Studierendenwerk and a EUR 50 administrative fee. The reduced rate is EUR 352 for students on consecutive academic leave and those in special programmes. Some continuing education programmes charge their own fees.
Paid in monthly instalments of EUR 300 as a non-repayable grant for one year (1 January to 31 December), funded equally by the Federal Government, the state of Hamburg and private sponsors. It is non-need-based and open to all enrolled students regardless of nationality, age or semester, but not to doctoral researchers. Selection considers good grades, voluntary engagement, personal challenges and interest in sustainability. Applications for the 2027 funding period run from 5 October to 25 October 2026. Official page.
For enrolled non-German students who are not BAföG-eligible and are preparing for or in their final examination phase without other financial support. Funding is EUR 200 to EUR 855 per month depending on income, for up to 6 months (up to 12 with extension). Deadlines are 1 June (funding from 1 July) and 1 December (funding from 1 January); doctoral candidates are excluded. Applications are made online with CV, schedule, residence permit, bank statements and a supervisor's confirmation of the exam period. Official page.
Up to EUR 992 per month for 2 semesters (maximum 2 years) for international students with at least two completed semesters and good to excellent grades; the programme currently has no further calls for applications. Official page.
The Studierendenwerk Hamburg offers free advice on study financing (BAföG, loans, scholarships), a EUR 1,000 study start-up aid for eligible first-year students under 25 receiving social benefits, and a social and international counselling centre (BeSI). Doctoral funding is described on the university's doctoral funding page. See the overall fees and funding page, which also lists student health insurance of roughly EUR 145 per month, housing of about EUR 400 to 700 per month and living expenses of about EUR 500 to 700 per month.
Deutschlandstipendium at Universität Hamburg →
Merit Scholarships for International Students (Leistungsstipendien), Universität Hamburg →
Degree Completion Grants for International Students (Examensstipendien), Universität Hamburg →
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View scholarships for Universität Hamburg →The main requirement is the Abitur or other recognised proof of higher education entrance eligibility. Applicants with foreign certificates generally have them recognised through a free procedure in the university's application portal (for winter semester 15 October to 30 June, or until 15 July if the qualification was obtained after the start of the year; for summer semester 15 October to 15 January). Graduates of a Studienkolleg in Germany with an assessment examination, holders of an Abitur from an international German school and holders of recognition endorsements from German authorities may apply directly. No paper documents are sent; documents are uploaded online. All Bachelor's programmes taken as a major are admission-restricted (NC).
Applicants with German equivalent status (EU/EEA citizens, family members, stateless persons, holders of a German entrance qualification) are selected by Abitur grade and waiting period. Other international applicants are selected in the non-EU quota through a bonus point system based on the converted grade of the entrance qualification, with bonus points for language skills or academic preparation. Medicine, dentistry and pharmacy follow separate rules via hochschulstart.de. The pre-semester preparatory course (Propädeutikum) of Studienkolleg Hamburg was offered for the last time in 2024; earlier completion still earns bonus points.
Winter semester: 1 June to 15 July for Bachelor and Staatsexamen programmes; 1 May to 15 June for Master's programmes; 15 February to 31 March for international Master's programmes. Summer semester: 1 December to 15 January. Winter semesters run from 1 October to 31 March and summer semesters from 1 April to 30 September. Applications are made through the online application portal; admission must be accepted by enrolling, usually within 7 days, with adequate health insurance proven at enrolment.
Applicants who did not gain their entrance qualification at a German-language institution must prove sufficient German within the enrolment deadline. Accepted proofs include DSH-2 or DSH-3, TestDaF with TDN 15 (at least level 4 in three parts and level 3 in one), Goethe-Zertifikat C1 or C2, telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule or C1/C2 variants, ÖSD C1 Oberstufe Deutsch or C2 Wirtschaftssprache, the KMK Sprachdiplom Stufe II and the Studienkolleg assessment certificate. Certificates must not be older than three years at the time of application (cut-off 1 June for winter semester, 1 December for summer semester). The DSH can be taken at the University Language Center; the fee for external candidates is EUR 150 and internal candidates pay nothing. Certain programmes require additional foreign-language prerequisites.
A first university degree is required for every Master's programme, and further requirements depend on the programme. Applicants in the final phase of their first degree can apply with proof of enrolment or a transcript with grade point average. Selection, where applications exceed places, is based on aptitude and motivation, using the grade point average of the first degree and previous academic achievements. Foreign first degrees are assessed within the faculty's application procedure, except for the Master's Innovation, Business and Sustainability, which requires recognition. German-taught and bilingual Master's programmes require proof of German; fully English-taught Master's programmes require proof of English instead, as set by each programme. Some programmes require additional documents.
The eight faculties handle admission to doctoral studies under their own doctoral regulations. Applications include the university degree certificate, a tabular CV, an exposé of the doctoral project and any further documents required by the faculty. After admission to doctoral studies, candidates enrol through the application portal; the full semester contribution is payable for the first semester. International doctoral candidates who need an entry visa should apply early, as processing may take two to three months, and a three-month Schengen tourist visa cannot be extended for study or research.
Study quiet areas are provided in the State and University Library and departmental libraries. All sites are close to S-Bahn or U-Bahn stations. Campus Eimsbüttel and the Ernst-Cassirer-Campus are future development projects for the central sites.
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