Universität Hamburg in the Excellence Strategy
Universität Hamburg has achieved extraordinary success in the Excellence Strategy of the Federal and State Governments, a competition for top-level university research funding in Germany. Its results have confirmed its status as one of Germany's best universities. The University has been granted funding for 4 clusters of excellence:
- „CUI: Advanced Imaging of Matter“ (Photon and Nanosciences)
- „Climate, Climatic Change, and Society (CLICCS)“ (Climate Research)
- „Understanding Written Artefacts“ (Manuscript Cultures)
- „Quantum Universe“ (mathematics, particle physics, astrophysics, cosmology)
Universität Hamburg has also been selected as 1 of 10 German universities plus 1 university alliance to be awarded the status of University of Excellence for our flagship university concept. This status is tied to a large number of objectives and projects. The University has been granted funding to the tune of €15 million per year, initially until 2026.
The University president on the new status of the University:

What does the title “University of Excellence” mean for Universität Hamburg?
Measures and objectives
Universität Hamburg uses its funding to pursue 5 goals in its capacity as a University of Excellence. These are based on the performance areas set forth by the German Council of Science and Humanities:
- Research
- Research-based teaching
- Transfer
- Research infrastructure
- Internationalization (specific to Universität Hamburg’s application in the Excellence Strategy)
Each performance area consists of measures for which Universität Hamburg was granted funding in the Excellence Strategy. For the benefit of our students, we will expand the Studium Generale and continue to develop our 2 new degree programs: the bachelor’s degree in the liberal arts and the master’s degree programs in innovation, cooperation and transfer. Some of the funds awarded to the University within the scope of the Excellence Strategy will go towards scholarships for students going abroad and support for student research groups. The funding also supports the structures that underpin the University’s research.
Questions and answers
Universität Hamburg is grateful for the opportunity to continue enhancing its excellent research with the funds from the Excellence Strategy, which have been granted initially until 2026. They allow the University to contribute to the positioning of Hamburg as a center of research and academia. For more information about the Excellence Strategy, consult our Frequently Asked Questions.