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.
Photo: UHH/Schöttmer
Confetti shower: Staff and guests cheer the announcement that Universität Hamburg is now officially a University of Excellence.
Photo: UHH/Werner
Dr. Peter Tschentscher, Hamburg’s first mayor, and Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Dieter Lenzen, the University’s president, toast the University’s achievement.
Photo: UHH/Ohme
A round of applause: attendees burst into joy after hours of suspense.
Photo: UHH
Anja Karliczek, federal minister of education and research, announces which universities get to bear the title of “University of Excellence.”
Photo: UHH/Schöttmer
Rejoicing at decision to grant clusters in the Excellence Strategy
Photo: UHH/Ohme
We are excellent—celebrating in gold at the Main Building
Photo: UHH/Schöttmer
Universität Hamburg’s president, Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Lenzen, toasts Hamburg’s mayor Peter Tschentscher after the DFG announces that Universität Hamburg has been granted 4 out of 4 clusters.
Photo: UHH/Schöttmer
Group photo of cluster spokespersons with President Lenzen and First Mayor Tschentscher: (from left) Prof. Dr. Michael Friedrich, Prof. Dr. Klaus Sengstock, First Mayor Peter Tschentscher, University President Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Dieter Lenzen, Prof. Dr. Detlef Stammer, and Prof. Dr. Jan Louis
Photo: Claudia Höhne
Cluster of Excellence Advanced Imaging of Matter (photon and nanosciences): Cluster spokesmen Prof. Dr. Horst Weller (physical chemistry, Universität Hamburg), Prof. Dr. Klaus Sengstock (laser physics, Universität Hamburg), and Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Henry Chapman (Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Universität Hamburg, DESY) (from left) are delighted about the decision.
Photo: Claudia Höhne
Cluster of Excellence Climate, Climatic Change, and Society (CliCCS): Cluster co-spokespersons Prof. Dr. Anita Engels (Center for Globalisation and Governance, Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability, Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences), CliCCS spokesperson Prof. Dr. Detlef Stammer (Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability, Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences), and co-spokesperson Prof. Dr. Jochem Marotzke (Max-Planck Institute for Meteorology) (from left) are delighted that their cluster proposal was successful.
Photo: Claudia Höhne
Cluster of Excellence Understanding Written Artifacts: Cluster spokesperson Prof. Dr. Alessandro Bausi (Asien-Afrika-Institut, Department of African and Ethiopian Studies), Prof. Dr. Kaja Harter-Uibopuu (Department of History, ancient history) and Prof. Dr. Michael Friedrich (Asien-Afrika-Institut, Department of the Language and Culture of China) (from left) are delighted that their cluster proposal, one of the few in the humanities, was successful.
Photo: Claudia Höhne
Cluster of Excellence Quantum Universe (mathematics, particle physics, astrophysics, cosmology): Spokespersons Prof. Dr. Jan Louis (theoretical physics, Universität Hamburg), Prof. Dr. Géraldine Servant (theoretical physics, Universität Hamburg und DESY), and Prof. Dr. Peter Schleper (experimental physics, Universität Hamburg) (from left) are delighted that their cluster proposal was successful.
Universität Hamburg is a University of Excellence. It gained the title in 2019 within the scope of the Excellence Strategy of the Federal and State Governments.