Studying towards a degree

Make sure you inform yourself about the subject (e.g. German literature, mathematics, education, etc.) and degree (e.g. bachelor's, master's, Staatsexamen) you want to apply for before submitting your application. You can find more information about subjects and degrees in the guide to academic programs.

Universität Hamburg and the Studienkolleg Hamburg offer a pre-semester preparatory program every summer semester for international first-year students to help them prepare for their program.

The Center for Academic Advising offers academic advising on individual programs.

See application dates for application periods and deadlines.

Once you know what you want to study, you will need to have your foreign secondary school leaving degree reviewed in a preliminary review procedure by uni-assist, a service for international applicants.

Applicants must submit proof that they have sufficient German language skills at the latest by the beginning of the semester (1 October for winter semester, 1 April for summer semester of year in question). Proof of German language proficiency is an admission requirement. Please make sure that you prepare in good time for requisite German language exams.

For more information about this topic, see: Language skills.

Applicants do not need to submit proof of German language proficiency if they:

• have already acquired a first academic degree at a German university.
  
• have acquired their higher education entry qualification in Germany.
  
• have already studied for a minimum of one year in the same or comparable program at another German university.
  

At the start of the application period, please set up an applicant account at the Application Portal of Universität Hamburg. Read the information about applying online, put in your data and send your application electronically. Please remember to print out the online application.

After you have sent your online application, please submit the following documents to Universität Hamburg by the application deadline:

• signed copy of your online application
  
• proof of preliminary review documentation (please submit a copy only and keep the original!)
  
• if required, additional documents related to the respective program
  

Non-EU applicants to bachelor's or Staatsexamen programs can (but do not have to!) include the following documents:

• Proof of sufficient German language skills (uncertified copy)
  
• TestAS certificate (uncertified copy)

By submitting these documents, you can gain bonus points and improve your prospects in the admission procedure.

Where to submit your application

Universität Hamburg, Service für Studierende, Team Bewerbung und Zulassung (Application and Admissions Team), Alsterterrasse 1, 20354 Hamburg

There is a special selection procedure for non-EU applicants.

Internatonal higher education entry qualifications are only comparable to a limited extent due to varying national "grading cultures." For this reason, Universität Hamburg takes into account a so-called HZB grade (higher education entry qualification grade) which has been adapted to the German grading system, as well as other criteria. It is not mandatory to fulfill all criteria. Nonetheless, applicants who do fulfill all criteria can greatly improve their chances of success for admission to programs with admission restricitions.

Applications are evaluated according to a bonus point system (pdf). For the HZB grade, applicants receive a maximum of 30 points (for an HZB grade of 1,0). You can gain further bonus points if you meet the following criteria at the time you apply:

Ten bonus points if you fulfill one of the following criteria:

• Certificate from the Studienkolleg Hamburg
  
• Successful completion of the pre-semester preparatory program at Universität Hamburg
  
• Proof of excellent German language skills (please submit following exam certificates):
  
  • Deutschprüfung für den Hochschulzugang (DSH) with a result of DSH-3
  • Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache (TestDaF) with overall result of TDN 16 to 20

Up to 16 bonus points:

• TestAS certificate (core test and subject-specific modulel)

You can find out about the progress of your application on fixed dates by checking your online applicant account under "Dokumente" (documents).

For further details, please read our information about admission and enrollment.

Universität Hamburg offers over 100 master's programs at six schools. These include a number of international master's programs partially or entirely conducted in English. For more information about individual programs, please consult the guide to academic programs.

If you have questions about choosing a subject or the application process in general, please contact the Center for Academic Advising.

For subject-related questions, you can also contact the subject advisors in the individual schools.

Please inform yourself about the application requirements for the master's program of your choice and find out which documents you need for both the application and admission procedures.

All master's programs require the following:

• Certificate attesting to completion of a first-degree program (college or university diploma)
  

• proof of your higher education entry qualification (Abitur)
  
• proof of language skills
  
• resume
• transcript of records
• further documents depending upon program
  

You will need to prove that you have sufficient German language skills by the start of the semester (1 October for winter semesters, 1 April for summer semesters of the same year) at the latest. Proof of German language skills constitutes an admission requirement. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you prepare in good time for the mandatory German language exams.

You can find more information about this topic on the language skills page.

You do not need to submit proof of sufficient German language skills if you:

• are applying for a master's program conducted exclusively in English.
  
• have already acquired a degree from a German-language University.
  
• have acquired your higher education entry qualification in Germany.
  
• have been studying in the same or similar subject area at at German university for at least one year.
  

At the beginning of the application period, set up an applicant account in the application portal of Universität Hamburg. Please read the information about applying online, put in your data and send your application electronically. Don't forget to print out your online application!

Once you have submitted your online application, please send the following documents to Universität Hamburg by the application deadline at the latest:

• a signed print version of your online application
  
• proof of your first degree
  
• additional documents depending upon the program to which you are applying
  

You can check the progress of your application on fixed dates via your online applicant account under "Dokumente" (documents).

Please read our information about admission to master's programs and about und zur enrolling.

You will need to submit your foreign educational credentials (first university degree) to uni-assist, which evaluates international university applications, for preliminary review.

To be admitted to the pre-semester preparatory program, you will need to prove that you have sufficient German language skills.

You can submit a previously-acquired and recognized language certificate upon application or take the assessment test administered by the Studienkolleg Hamburg.

We recognize the following language certificates for admission to the pre-semester preparatory program (status: Feb 2013):

• Deutsche Sprachdiplom der Kultusministerkonferenz, level  I (DSD I)
  
• Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang level 1 (DSH-1)
• Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache, level 3 in all areas  (TestDaf-Niveau 3)
• Goethe certificate C1
• telc certificate C1

In cases of doubt, the Studienkolleg determines whether or not submitted proof of language skills is sufficient.

At the start of the application period, please set up an applicant account in the application portal of Universität Hamburg. Read the information about applying online, put in your data and send your application electronically. Don't forget to print out your online application!

Once you have sent your online application, please submit the following documents to Universität Hamburg by the application deadline:

• a signed print version of your online application
  
• proof of preliminary inspection documentation (please submit copies only and keep the original)
  
• if applicable, a language certificate attesting to sufficient German language skills
  
• a statement of motivation
  

Where to send your documents

Universität Hamburg, Service für Studierende, Team Bewerbung und Zulassung (Application and Admissions Team), Alsterterrasse 1, D-20354 Hamburg

At the end of January, we will inform you per email about whether you have to take the German assessment test at the Studienkolleg Hamburg or whether your documents lead to an exemption.

The German assessment test is scheduled to take place between the middle and end of February.

At the beginning of March, Universität Hamburg will inform you about the status of your application. You will receive a confirmation or rejection at your online applicant account under "Dokumente" (documents). Final course lists for the Studienkolleg Hamburg will also be issued.

Please note that the Studienkolleg begins in March (before the start of the summer semester!).

After you have enrolled, you will receive preliminary semester documents by mail as well as your semester public transportation ticket (valid for one year from the beginning of the semester on 1 April).