University in Germany
Hannover, Niedersachsen, Germany
University profile
The University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (Stiftung Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover, TiHo) is a specialist university for veterinary medicine and the animal-related life sciences in Hannover, Lower Saxony. Founded in 1778 as the Roß-Arzney-Schule, it has kept its independent status ever since, which gives it a special position among German universities. Since the beginning of 2003 it has been a foundation university (Stiftungshochschule) of the State of Lower Saxony, with greater autonomy in financial management and in appointing professors.
The TiHo has no conventional faculties. Teaching and research are organised in six clinics (Klinik für Geflügel; Klinik für Heimtiere, Reptilien und Vögel; Klinik für Kleintiere; Nutztierklinikum; Klinik für Pferde; and the Reproduktionsmedizinische Einheit der Kliniken), 17 institutes, the Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses and one specialist unit, supplemented by six interdisciplinary centres. The institutes include Anatomy, Biochemistry, Biometry, Epidemiology and Information Processing, Immunology, Food Quality and Food Safety, Microbiology, Parasitology, Pathology, Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacy, Physiology and Cell Biology, Animal Nutrition, Animal Genomics, Animal Hygiene, Animal Welfare and Farm Animal Behaviour (ITTN), Animal Ecology, Virology, Zoology and the Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research (ITAW).
The main degree is the Staatsexamen course in veterinary medicine (Tiermedizin), with about 250 places for new students each year and 1,446 veterinary students in winter semester 2025/26. Alongside it the TiHo offers the English-medium international M.Sc. Animal Biology and Biomedical Sciences, a Bachelor of Science in Biology run jointly with Leibniz Universität Hannover and Hannover Medical School, doctoral degrees (Dr. med. vet., Dr. rer. nat.) and three structured PhD programmes under the Hannover Graduate School for Neurosciences, Infection Medicine and Veterinary Sciences (HGNI). The PhD programme Veterinary Research and Animal Biology, founded in 1998, was the first PhD programme at a German university of its kind. The joint M.Sc. Food Process and Product Engineering with the German Institute of Food Technologies (DIL) takes no new students from winter semester 2026/27.
Student life includes the student council (AStA), a student parliament, the TiHo theatre group, choir, the band Rocking Vets, the football team 1. FC Euter, the TiHo Tigers and university sport. The Studentenwerk Hannover provides counselling, canteens and BAföG advice. Partnerships and cooperation agreements exist with 37 foreign universities and veterinary faculties in 29 countries, and the International Academic Office supports exchange students, interns, visiting researchers and international degree students. The TiHo has held the right to award doctorates since 1910 and habilitations since 1918.
The Semesterbeitrag for winter semester 2026/27 is EUR 443.20, made up of EUR 130.00 Studentenwerk, EUR 75.00 administrative fee, EUR 226.80 Deutschland-Semesterticket, EUR 9.00 AStA contribution, EUR 0.40 bicycle workshop and EUR 2.00 cultural ticket. This is a semester contribution, not tuition. Doctoral students with a publicly funded scholarship are exempt from the administrative fee. Long-term study fees under section 12 of the Lower Saxony Higher Education Act are not charged while a study credit (Studienguthaben) remains: 17 semesters for veterinary medicine (11 plus 6).
EUR 300 per month for twelve months, half funded by companies, foundations, associations and private donors and half by the federal government. The TiHo expects to award 15 to 20 for October 2026 to September 2027 to students with above-average academic performance, considering social and political commitment and personal or family circumstances. Open to students of veterinary medicine and the consecutive Masters Animal Biology and Biomedical Sciences and Food Process and Product Engineering; doctoral students are not funded. Awarded irrespective of income and combinable with BAföG. Application window for 2026/27: 20 July to 16 September 2026 for enrolled students and until 30 September 2026 for new students. Official page.
One-off payments of EUR 500 from a Lower Saxony state programme (MWK) for students of veterinary medicine and consecutive Master programmes who come from non-academic backgrounds, have refugee-related difficult starting conditions, care for a child under 14, or have a disability or chronic illness. Requires enrolment and a transcript of the last twelve months; cannot be combined with the Deutschlandstipendium. Official page.
The Studienstarthilfe of the federal government (one-off EUR 1,000 for first-year students under 25 receiving social benefits; apply via BAföG Digital by the end of the month after the start of studies), Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes (EUR 300 monthly study cost allowance plus means-tested basic scholarship), and the MSD Animal Health and FVE scholarship (USD 5,000 each) are listed on the TiHo scholarships page. The Society of Friends (Gesellschaft der Freunde der TiHo, founded 1926) supports students and researchers financially. Studentenwerk Hannover provides BAföG, social counselling and a hardship fund for students with special needs.
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View scholarships for University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover →Veterinary medicine is a nationwide admission-restricted course with about 250 places a year. Admission requires a higher education entrance qualification under section 18 of the Lower Saxony Higher Education Act: the general Abitur, subject-related access, or vocational routes such as Meister, state-certified technician or business administrator, or a Fachschule qualification. Applicants with a three-year recognised training in a related occupation (for example farmer, animal keeper, VMTA) and at least three years of full-time work in it must first submit an informal application to the TiHo for recognition and a grade. Latin is not required, although proof of the Kleines Latinum or a medical terminology course is needed before the first preliminary examination. The standard period of study is 11 semesters (5.5 years) under the TAppV.
Applicants from Germany, EU/EEA countries and holders of a German entrance qualification apply online through hochschulstart.de (Stiftung für Hochschulzulassung), for the winter semester only. The deadline is 31 May for those who obtained the qualification by 16 January of that year, and 15 July for those who obtained it between 17 January and 15 July. 2 per cent of places are reserved for exceptional hardship cases and 3 per cent for second-degree applicants. The Test für medizinische Studiengänge (TMS, fee EUR 100) is voluntary but improves chances; the TiHo plans to accept both TMS and the successor TMSnat in the transition for winter semester 2027/28 and only TMSnat from 2028/29.
A quota of 5 per cent of places is available for non-EU and stateless applicants without a German entrance qualification. Applications are made only through uni-assist, which checks whether the school-leaving certificate is sufficient; otherwise the Feststellungsprüfung at a Studienkolleg is required. Application for winter semester 2026/27 opened on 1 May 2026 and closed on 15 July 2026. Documents are officially certified copies of certificates with German translations, evidence of German skills, a passport copy and proof of payment of the uni-assist fee (EUR 75 for the first choice, EUR 30 for each further choice). Accepted German proof: DSH-2, KMK German Language Diploma level 2, Goethe-Zertifikat C1/C2, TestDaF level 4 in all four parts, the Munich language institute's Deutsche Sprachprüfung II, or the Feststellungsprüfung of a Studienkolleg. Entrance qualifications can be checked in the anabin database.
The four-semester M.Sc. is open to graduates with a Bachelor in biology, biochemistry or a comparable natural science (not to graduates of German veterinary Staatsexamen); the Master commission decides on suitability after the deadline. There are 20 places a year, allocated by the university's own selection procedure, with a start in winter semester. For non-EU applicants applying through uni-assist there is a prior quota of 40 per cent of places and the application period runs from 15 November to 31 January. EU and German applicants apply through the TiHo portal from 1 May to 15 July. Required documents: CV, highest school certificate, Bachelor certificate or a statement of at least 150 credit points with average grade, transcript of records, proof of German A2 (Goethe, telc or ÖSD) and English B2 (for example IELTS 5.5/6.0/6.5, TOEFL iBT, TOEFL ITP, Cambridge, Pearson PTE, TOEIC, telc B2, UNIcert II). Certificates must not be older than five years. An APS certificate is required for degrees from India, Vietnam and China, and HEC attestation for degrees from Pakistan. Applicants with school or university qualifications from Australia, Canada (except Quebec and New Brunswick), the USA, the United Kingdom and New Zealand need no further language certificate. Incomplete applications are excluded.
Doctoral candidates must be enrolled throughout the doctorate. For the Dr. med. vet. and Dr. rer. nat. the regulations are the Promotionsordnung and a Dissertationsanzeige is submitted to the Promotionsbüro (Dr. med. vet. by 31 March or 30 September; Dr. rer. nat. by 15 January or 15 June). The structured PhD programmes of the HGNI (Veterinary Research and Animal Biology; Systems Neuroscience; Animal and Zoonotic Infections) require a potential supervisor from the TiHo, a project description of up to 10 pages and an application sent by email to the PhD office; the programme starts each year on 1 October and applications are possible until 1 September. Enrolment for the winter semester 2026/27 runs from 13 July to 1 October 2026.
Non-EU students need a residence title under section 16 of the Residence Act and proof of funds of EUR 992 per month (EUR 11,904 per year) through a blocked account, a declaration of commitment by a third party, or a recognised public scholarship. Residence registration with the city of Hannover is required within 14 days of arrival.
The TiHo also operates a library, the Clinical Skills Lab with learning stations, simulators and models, and a Veterinary History Museum with about 6,000 objects (1973) that is currently reorganising and offers visits by arrangement.
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