Master's programs: international prospective students
Would you like to apply to a master's program at Universität Hamburg and have you completed your first degree or higher education entry qualification (Abitur) outside of Germany?
For more information, see application procedure for master's programs and please observe the following procedural steps and tips:
Information about the subject of your choice
Universität Hamburg offers over 100 master's programs at eight faculties. 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.
Clarifying application requirements
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 the completion of a first-degree program (college or university diploma)
Please check to see whether or not you fulfill admission requirements (e.g. whether your first degree fits the profile of the master's program you want to apply for or whether you can submit your transcript of records in the original language).
If you are still completing your first degree and are unable to submit a certificate or diploma, please submit an authorized statement to this effect as well as your transcript of records (bearing an institutional seal or stamp) and your current grade point average. Your final certificate or diploma must be submitted as soon as you have received it.
You may also need to submit the following documents to apply for a master's program:
- proof of your higher education entry qualification (Abitur)
- proof of language skills
- resume
- transcript of records
- further documents depending upon program
Please submit all application documents as uncertified copies. You only need to submit authorized copies of your transcript of records when you enroll.
Please read the information on applying online to a master's program (PDF).
If you have further questions, please contact the responsible person in the program you wish to apply to. You can find contact information in the guide to academic programs.
German language certificates
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 German language proficiency 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 or
- have already acquired a degree from a German-language University or
- have acquired your higher education entry qualification in Germany or
- have been studying successfully in the same or similar subject area at at German university for at least one year.
Sending your online application
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 completed online application!
Submitting your application documents
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
Where to send your documents?
You will receive mailing information when you apply online
Information about admission and enrollment
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 enrolling.