Step-by-step instructions and FAQ

In 2026, around 300 Germany scholarships will be available at the UHH (as of October 24, 2025).

Subject-specific scholarships (“gebundene”) are awarded in the respective study programs. "Ungebundene” scholarships go to the best applicants from all disciplines.

In the course of the application phase, additional scholarships may be added or scholarships that have not yet been confirmed (tbc) may be confirmed.

Prepare all required attachments for your online application in the following order, scanning them if necessary:

1.1    Enrollment certificate from the University of Hamburg (an admission letter is not sufficient)
1.2   Statement of motivation (up to 2 pages; to be addressed to the selection committee)
1.3   Tabular CV
1.4   Course certificates

Abitur certificate or school leaving certificate (if it is a foreign certificate: plus a certified translation into German or English for foreign certificates, along with a conversion into the German grading system). Be aware: Your application will be considered incomplete if you fail to attach your school leaving certificate (even if you are a master’s student).

Proof of higher education entrance qualification – if different from the high school diploma (if it is a foreign certificate: plus a certified translation into German or English for foreign certificates, along with a conversion into the German grading system, for example, from uni-assist).

For students beyond the first subject semester: your most recent course certificate or transcript of records from your examinations office. For University of Hamburg students, a STiNE/iMED extract with the current date will suffice. For foreign certificates, provide the foreign certificate plus a translation into German or English and a conversion into European credit points (ECTS).

Additional documents for master’s students: Bachelor’s degree, diploma, Staatsexamen, or other degree certificates from the first higher education course completed (if it is a foreign certificate: plus a certified translation into German or English for foreign certificates, along with a conversion into the German grading system).

This grade converter can be used to convert grades from abroad to the German grading system. The average grades transferred to the German grading system should be recognisable in the documents and must be filled in to the online application form. 

1.5 Optional: Additional proof of performance and aptitude, for example: awards, previous scholarships, professional qualifications and employer references, a diagnosis of giftedness, etc. Foreign documents require a certified translation into German or English and conversion into the German grading system.

1.6 Optional: If you believe that your school and university grades do not adequately demonstrate your aptitude, you can submit an IQ test as proof. This is voluntary and not required for a complete application.

1.7 If you will no longer be within the standard period of study in your current or upcoming semester, attach an informal request for funding beyond the regular period of study, providing an explanation. Scholarships beyond the regular period will only be granted with a strong justification.

You can include the following additional documents if applicable:

2.1   Proof of voluntary, societal, or family commitments This can include social commitments, engagement in (university) politics, or environmental work. Provide proof and specify how long you have been active in this field and the number of hours per week or month. If you have any relevant commitments for which you cannot provide evidence (e.g., caring for a family member), mention these and specify the relevant period and time commitment in your letter of motivation.

2.2   Proof of obstacles in your educational background “Obstacles” are circumstances which have made your educational trajectory more challenging, for example,  studying with children, own illness/disability, nonacademic family background, financial distress, migration or refugee background (if applicable and current, attach proof of your refugee status).

2.3   Aspects of your studies or activities that focus on sustainability in the broadest sense. Sustainability is defined independently of discipline in the sense of “shaping the future in ways that do not limit future possibilities.”

Combine all your documents into ONE single PDF file (max. 50 MB) in the order outlined in steps 1 and 2.

The file name should start with your last name.

Note that we cannot consider applications consisting of multiple individual documents instead of a single PDF.

Now that you have prepared all your documents, you can use the University of Hamburg application server to apply for a Deutschlandstipendium grant within the application period. Select the option “university-wide call for applications” for the relevant year. Applications are only accepted once a year during the specified period.

Read and accept the application agreement, including the declaration of participation and the privacy policy.

You can complete the application form on the University of Hamburg application server in German or English. You only need to summarize your voluntary work and obstacles briefly in the form. You can save and edit your application at any time within the application period. Before submitting, ensure that you have uploaded all required and optional documents in a single PDF file (max. 50 MB). We recommend that you save a copy of your application for your records. Now, you are ready to submit your application.

Do not wait until the last minute: uploading your files can take some time, and the server automatically closes at 11:59 pm on the final day of the application period. If your application has not been submitted by then, we will not be able to accept it.

After submitting, you will receive an automatic confirmation via email. This means that your application has been safely received. If you do not receive this email, something went wrong.

If, after submitting your application, you notice that you have forgotten some documents, you can submit them within the application period through the section “Adding additional appendices.”

The server automatically closes at the end of the application period. If your application was not accepted on time (for instance, because our server tends to be overloaded during the final few hours of the application period), we will not be able to help you. Refrain from contacting us and remember to avoid last-minute submissions next time.

If your contact details change between the submission of your application and our announcement of the selection outcome, let us know immediately by email.

We will inform you of the outcome in late January of the following year. Do not contact us about your application before then.

For more details, see our information about the selection process.

If your application is not successful, you will receive a rejection letter.

Submit a comparable school leaving certificate instead of the Abitur certificate. International certificates must be translated and certified. The final grade must be converted into the German grading system, for example, through a certificate from uni-assist.

Students newly enrolled at the University of Hamburg should request proof of their academic performance from their previous higher education institution.

University of Hamburg students can download a STiNE or iMED performance report. This report needs to show a current date.

International students without certificates from a German university should provide certified translations of their foreign certificates into German or English, along with a conversion of their results into the German grading system, for example, a certificate from uni-assist.

Your letter of motivation is an opportunity to convince the selection committee of your suitability for the scholarship. Use it to address the Deutschlandstipendium selection criteria and how you meet them:

• Your academic performance and aptitude
• Your voluntary commitment
• Your personal background and any factors that have made your studies more challenging (for example: migration or displacement, a nonacademic family background, disability, illness, caregiving responsibilities)
• Your interest in sustainability within or outside of your studies

Yes, you are required to disclose your receipt of BAföG loans in your application. If you do not know at the time of application whether you will receive any BAföG support, submit proof of the Studierendenwerk decision as soon as you receive it. This information will not affect your scholarship application. It is collected for statistical purposes only.

“University semesters” refers to the total number of semesters you have studied at any university. “Subject semesters” refers to the number of semesters you have studied in your current program. First-year students should enter “1” into both fields. Master’s applicants should bear in mind that their subject semester count starts again at “1,” while the university semester count includes any previous bachelor’s semesters. For programs divided into trimesters, indicate your respective trimester under “subject semester.”

Here are some useful links about other scholarships:

Overview of scholarships for students at Universität Hamburg:
https://www.uni-hamburg.de/en/forschung/nachwuchs/stipendien.html

Advising services run by Studierendenwerk Hamburg:
https://www.stwhh.de/en/study-financing/scholarships

Scholarship databases:
www.mystipendium.de

www.stipendiumplus.de

www.stipendienlotse.de

www.e-fellows.net/stipendien-datenbank