FAQ Hamburglobal
Here You will find answers to your questions:
What is Hamburglobal?
Hamburglobal is a University of Hamburg funding program to support students planning to study abroad. Funding comes from the DAAD PROMOS program.
Applications can be submitted twice yearly, in March and October, via the online portal. The Study Abroad Team reviews applications on the basis of valid PROMOS funding criteria and decides who will ultimately receive funding.
Are special life circumstances taken into consideration in the selection process?
Yes. To ensure equal opportunity, special individual circumstances are taken into account in the selection process, for example, situations that could be disadvantageous during studies or for volunteer work, such as:
- long-term or chronic health problems;
- taking care of your own children;
- caring for relatives;
- social or ethnic background.
All information is voluntary. Describe your situation clearly.
Can I apply for two separate stays abroad during one application period?
No, you can submit an application for one stay only per application round.
How is the funding period determined?
The funding period is based on the information provided by the host institution in the Confirmation of Host Institution. (Confirmation of Host Institution) . If you have not received confirmation from the host institution at the time you apply, indicate the prospective length of your stay in the online application form.
However, be aware that
- private trips before or after the stay do not count towards the funding period.
- For study abroad, provide the actual study period, including any orientation week or examination period, but not the entire semester.
- If the exact length is not yet clear, choose a slightly longer period. After you receive the Confirmation of Host Institution, the funding amount may be reduced but cannot be increased.
When the funding period ends, the final length of funding will be calculated based on the Final Confirmation of Stay. Even if the stay is longer than previously thought, there can be no increase in funding.
What is a letter of motivation?
You write a letter of motivation to explain why you want to go abroad. This is important to your application because it enables the selection committee to learn more about your personal and academic reasons for wanting to study abroad. Your stay abroad should relate to your area of specialization.
The letter of motivation can touch upon the following:
- who you are, your academic studies so far, and your interests, goals, and/or involvement in other activities;
- your goals for study abroad and their bearing on your studies generally;
- the reason you chose the host university/institution;
- the status of your preparations, for example, your current language skills;
the academic or personal perspectives you believe the stay will help you gain. Language acquisition alone is not usually an adequate reason for studying abroad (with the exception of stays abroad for language programs or for philology students). You are expected to already have good to very good language skills to master your studies abroad without any major linguistic obstacles.
Who may provide an evaluation?
University of Hamburg professors or permanent teaching staff with a doctorate can provide an evaluation. They must have also conducted at least one course (or currently conduct a course) of their own in your subject. Retired professors and professors emeriti can also provide an evaluation if they are still actively teaching at the University of Hamburg. Language teachers and non-postdoctoral instructors will be accepted as evaluators only in exceptional circumstances and only after consultation with the Study Abroad Team. In such cases, be sure to contact the Study Abroad Team(hamburglobal.pv"AT"uni-hamburg.de) well in advance. In medicine, senior (attending) physicians may also provide evaluations.
Use the form provided by Hamburglobal only—this is the only way to ensure that the selection committee has all of the information it requires. The evaluation must be signed and sent directly by professor or teaching staff member in question to the Study Abroad Team.
What needs to be included in the Learning Agreement?
The Learning Agreement for Hamburglobal indicates the courses you plan to take during your stay abroad, thus demonstrating that you have reviewed the courses offered by the host university and made plans that will enhance your understanding of your subject. The Learning Agreement is signed by the subject coordinator, academic office, or examinations office responsible and the applicant. No signature from the host university is required to apply to Hamburglobal. The host university’s course catalog for your semester abroad is not usually available by the application deadline. You should therefore choose appropriate courses from the current course catalog for the winter or summer semester, depending on the dates of your planned exchange semester. You do not need a binding course plan to receive funding.
What should I do if I have not received confirmation from the host institution at the time I apply?
If you have not yet received confirmation from the host institution or if the exact length of the stay is not clear when you apply, document the current state of your preparations, e.g., by sending an email from the host institution. Nominees should submit a declaration of acceptance used for the Central Student Exchange Program if they do not yet have confirmation. The thesis advisor issues the form for research stays (preparation for final theses) and the Final Confirmation of Stay if there is no fixed host institution.
May I use generative AI or ChatGPT for my application?
You may use AI support for the application documents you create yourself, such as the letter of motivation. If you use AI, we suggest you use UHHGPT to protect your data.
When will I find out if I have been chosen for Hamburglobal?
The selection committee evaluates all applications that have been completed and submitted by the deadline. It meets approx. 4–6 weeks after the application period ends. You will find out approx. 6–8 weeks after the application deadline whether you will receive Hamburglobal funding. You will also be notified if you have not been chosen for funding or have been put on a waiting list.
How and when will I receive the funding?
After receiving notification you have been granted funding, we request you send your declaration of acceptance. This is a requirement for receiving the funding. The amount of funding is calculated based on the information from your host institution about the length of your stay (see the confirmation from your host institution at Confirmation of Host Institution) As soon as the completed and signed Confirmation of Host Institution is submitted, the funding can be paid out. Payment will be made at the earliest 6-to-8 weeks before the stay begins. Inform the Study Abroad Team immediately if
- you do not commence your stay,
- you shorten your stay, or
- the dates of your stay change.
Should I formally withdraw from the University of Hamburg during my stay abroad?
No. We can only fund you through Hamburglobal if you are enrolled at the University of Hamburg for the entirety of your stay! If you withdraw, you must return the funding. Be sure to inform yourself of the option of taking academic leave.
When and why do I need to submit the Final Confirmation of Stay?
Immediately following the funding period (note: not the duration of your stay!), you are obligated to submit the Final Confirmation of Stay. Based on this document, we will determine whether the actual stay corresponded to the dates provided in the Confirmation of Host Institution. If your stay was shorter than planned, you might have to return part of the funding. Inform the Study Abroad Team immediately if you change the dates of your stay.
The thesis advisor issues the form for research stays (preparation for final theses) and the Final Confirmation of Stay if there is no fixed host institution.