Bachelor's programs / Staatsexamen: international prospective students

Generally, you need to have your foreign education certificates recognized in order to apply to Universität Hamburg. You can apply to have your certificates recognized for free in the Universität Hamburg application portal. 

Make sure you inform yourself about the subject (e.g. German literature, mathematics, education, etc.) and degree (e.g. bachelor'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.

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

See application dates for application periods and deadlines.

For international prospective students, there are group advising sessions on topics such as recognition of certificates and application processes, online consultation hours, as well as options for written contact and scheduling individual appointments. More information can be found under Study Orientation for International Students.

Students with a nationality other than German have two different procedures for applying for a university place at Universität Hamburg. Which process you need to use depends on the applicant group to which you belong.

Applicant group for international students with German equivalent status.
This group includes all applicants who:
1. are citizens of another Member State of the European Union or another state that is party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA);
2. have a family member who is a citizen of a Member State of the European Union or another state that is party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA);
3. are Stateless persons as defined by the Gesetz über die Rechtstellung heimatloser Ausländer im Bundesgebiet (law on the legal status of foreign citizens in the federal territory);
4. have a German higher education entrance eligibility, who are thus foreign nationals with German higher education entrance qualification. You also have a German higher education entrance eligibility if you have taken the German Abitur at a German school abroad.

The selection procedure for this group is governed by the grades obtained in the secondary school leaving certificate, the NC value. More information on NC values is available here.

When applying for medicine, dentistry, or pharmacy please note that other conditions apply to determining German equivalent status. More detailed information is available at https://www.hochschulstart.de/informieren-planen/internationale-bewerbende.

* Family members are defined herein as spouses or civil partners, direct descendants who are under the age of 21 or are dependents, or relatives in ascending line who provide support.

Applicant group for international applicants.
This group includes all applicants to whom the above does not apply.

The selection procedure for this group is governed by a bonus point system; for more information see below under “Tips for applications from non-EU countries”.

If you are admitted to study at Universität Hamburg, you must prove sufficient knowledge of the German language within the enrollment deadline. It is not possible to submit the proof of German language proficiency later after the end of the enrollment deadline.

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: German language proficiency.

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 or at a German-speaking institution.
• have already studied for a minimum of one year in the same or comparable program at another German university.

The criteria for the selection process for Bachelor's and State Examination programs are established in the bonus points system.

In the admission process for applicants from non-EU countries, the grade of your foreign higher education entrance qualification (recognition of foreign educational credentials), converted into the German system, is translated into a point value.

Additionally, you can earn bonus points through particularly good language skills or by academically preparing for studies at the University of Hamburg. This improves your chances of obtaining a place in highly demanded programs.

Information about the bonus points system and an overview of the point values that have led to admission in the past six years can be found at the following links:

Erläuterungen Bonuspunktesystem
Point values for selecting applicants from non-EU countries

An FAQ list with answers to the most common questions about the bonus points system can be found at FAQs bonus points.

At the beginning of the application period, you should create an applicant account in the University of Hamburg's application portal. Read the information about the online application, enter your data, and then submit your application electronically. 

Please note our detailed instructions regarding the format and the list of documents to be submitted under Application Documents.

You can view the result of your application at fixed dates in your online application account under the section "Documents."

An admission is an offer to study a program at the University of Hamburg. To accept this offer, you must register/enroll in the program. There is usually a deadline of 7 days for this! All information about the process and the link to the enrollment portal can be found in the admission letter—please read it carefully.

When enrolling, you must also upload all documents that confirm the information provided in your online application—such as your higher education entrance qualification with your grade, proof of German language proficiency, etc. Additionally, you need to demonstrate that you have adequate health insurance for enrollment.

Please see our further information on Admission and Enrollment.