🎓 World rank #191Updated June 2026

University of Hamburg

📍 Hamburg, Hamburg

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A large 'University of Excellence' in Germany's wealthy port city, strong in climate research, economics and the natural sciences. The semester fee includes a transport ticket.

Fields of study

Natural SciencesEconomicsLawHumanitiesClimate Research

Popular programmes

  • 🎓MSc Economics
  • 🎓MSc Marine Ecosystem & Fishery Science
  • 🎓MSc Computer Science
  • 🎓MSc Atmospheric Sciences

Admission requirements

Programme-specific minimums vary — confirm on the official programme page before applying.

Academic / GPA
Bachelor's with ~70%+ (German 2.5 or higher)
English (IELTS / TOEFL)
IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL iBT 95+
German language
DSH 2 / TestDaF 4×4 for German-taught programmes
Other documents & expectations
  • Subject-relevant Bachelor's
  • Letter of Motivation
  • Some Master's require an interview or aptitude test

Application deadlines

Deadlines change yearly — always verify on the official programme page.

🍂 Winter intake (starts October)

Master's: 15 July. Bachelor's: 15 July.

🌸 Summer intake (starts April)

15 January for selected programmes.

â„šī¸ Hamburg semester fee (â‚Ŧ335) includes the city Semesterticket.

How to apply

Apply via uni-assist

Centralised application service for international applicants. Pay ~â‚Ŧ75 for first application, â‚Ŧ30 each additional.

Open the application portal →
Next stepsAfter admission — the visa pipeline

Got admission? Here's what to do next.

Every international student needs the same three things to study at this university: an offer letter, a blocked account, and health insurance. Here's the honest order.

📋 How to apply — step by step

Tailored for this university's application route.

  1. 1Create a uni-assist account at uni-assist.de (free, English).
  2. 2Upload certified copies of your degree, transcripts and language test.
  3. 3Pay the application fee (~â‚Ŧ75 for the first programme, ~â‚Ŧ30 for each additional).
  4. 4uni-assist verifies your documents and forwards them to the university (4–6 weeks).
  5. 5The university makes the final admission decision and sends an offer letter.
  6. 6Accept the offer and enrol (Immatrikulation) to receive your enrolment letter.

đŸŠē Health insurance

You need pre-arrival travel + health insurance for your visa appointment. Once you arrive and enrol, switch to public insurance (TK / DAK) if you are under 30.

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📋 Student visa process

With your offer letter, blocked account, and insurance in hand, you're ready to apply for the student visa at your German embassy. Plan 4–12 weeks for the visa decision.

Frequently asked questions

Answers based on the most-asked questions about Uni Hamburg.

Is Uni Hamburg tuition-free for international students?+

Yes. University of Hamburg is a public university in Hamburg where tuition is â‚Ŧ0 per semester for international students. You still pay a semester contribution (Semesterbeitrag) of about â‚Ŧ335, which typically includes a public-transport ticket.

What English language score does Uni Hamburg require?+

For English-taught programmes, University of Hamburg typically requires IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL iBT 95+. Programme-specific minimums can vary — always confirm on the official programme page.

When is the application deadline for Uni Hamburg?+

For winter intake (programmes starting in October), the deadline is typically: Master's: 15 July. Bachelor's: 15 July. For summer intake: 15 January for selected programmes.

How do I apply to Uni Hamburg?+

International applications go through uni-assist (uni-assist.de). You upload certified copies of your degree, transcripts and language test, and uni-assist verifies them before forwarding to Uni Hamburg. The application fee is approximately â‚Ŧ75 for the first programme.

Is Uni Hamburg a good university?+

Yes. University of Hamburg is consistently ranked among the top universities in the world — currently around #191 globally. It is particularly strong in Natural Sciences, Economics, Law.

đŸ™ī¸

Living in Hamburg

Average ~â‚Ŧ1,150/month, rent ~â‚Ŧ650/month.

City guide →

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Find a scholarship

DAAD, Deutschlandstipendium and university-specific awards.

Browse scholarships →

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Visa walkthrough

Step-by-step from offer letter to embassy appointment.

Read the visa guide →