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University of Hamburg

Hamburg, Germany

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university Grade A+ Intakes: Oct 2026, Apr 2027 Study in Germany →
Official site ↗
World rank #124
Tuition from ₹9.4 L per year, 3 courses
Courses 32
Founded 1919

About University of Hamburg

The University of Hamburg is a public research university based in Hamburg, Germany. Indian students who want to study at this university must note that there is no tuition fee. Only semester fee is charged. Besides this the students can expect to have EUR 400 - 700 per month for housing and EUR 500 - EUR 700 for other living expenses.

Few facts about University of Hamburg are given below-

  • Research Category - Also, the University of Hamburg falls under the category of Research Excellence category. It was awarded this research title in 2026 again. Currently, Hamburg University receives funding for 4 Clusters of Excellence, that conduct research in the areas like Astronomy, Written Artifacts, Climate, and Quantum Technologies.
  • Scholarships - International students who want to study at this university must note that merit scholarships of EUR 992 are offered by Hamburg University.
  • Large intensive research university - The University of Hamburg is home to 42,707+ students, out of which 14% are international students from all over the world.
  • Acceptance rate - The University of Hamburg acceptance rate is around 18%. This means that this university is very selective at the time of admission. Along with entry requirements, students are required to meet the language requirements too. While for Bachelor's courses, German language proficiency is required, for English-taught courses, students can submit just the English language proficiency scores.
  • Placements: The placement rate of Hamburg is between 74% - 88%, within 3 - 6 months. The Business School graduates of the University of Hamburg work with the organizations Deloitte, Boston Consulting Group, Airbus, Warner Bros, etc.

Hamburg University Information

As per Hamburg University reviews posted by students on Shiksha, the university is ranked at 3.7/5. A few of the component rankings given over Shiksha Study Abroad portal are 4 for quality of faculty, 5 for value for money, 4 for post-study jobs, 5 for public transportation and 5 for safety. Some of the facts about Hamburg University are given below-

Fact

Stats

Founded

1919

Location

Mittelweg 177, 20148 Hamburg, Germany

Total no. of students

42,707
Popular Courses among Indian Students

Economics, Business Administration & Management, Law, Physics

Check out the videos below to know more about studies at the University of Hamburg:

  • For Master's courses, the University of Hamburg applications can be submitted from Oct 15, 2026 for Master of Innovation, Business and Sustainability course. 

Courses and fees

Tuition as published by the source, converted to rupees. Per year unless the course page says otherwise.

Bachelor's (40)

CourseDurationTuition
B.Ed in Teacher Training at Vocational Schools (In German) 3 years
B.Ed in Teacher Training for Special Education-Secondary Education Profile 3 years
B.Ed in Teaching Qualification for Primary and Secondary Level I (In German) 3 years
B.Ed in Teaching Qualification for Secondary Level I and II (In German) 3 years
B.Ed in Teaching Qualification for Special Needs Education (Elementary School) (In German) 3 years
BA in African Languages and Cultures - Language-Intensive (In German) 4 years
BA in African Languages and Cultures in Comparison (In German) 3 years
BA in Art History (In German) 3 years
BA in Byzantine studies and modern Greek philology 3 years
BA in Classical Archeology (In German) 3 years
BA in Classical Philology (In German) 42 months
BA in Comparative Studies of African Languages and Cultures 3 years
BA in East Asia / Focus on Japanology (In German) 4 years
BA in East Asia / Focus on Korean Studies (In German) 4 years
BA in East Asia / Focus on Sinology (In German) 4 years
BA in East Asian Studies, specialisation in Japanese Studies 4 years
BA in East Asian Studies, specialisation in Sinology 4 years
BA in Eastern European Studies (In German) 3 years
BA in Education and Training Studies 3 years
BA in Educational Science (In German) 3 years
BA in Empirical Cultural Studies (In German) 3 years
BA in English / American Studies (In German) 3 years
BA in English and American Language, Literature and Culture 3 years
BA in Ethnology (In German) 3 years
BA in Finno-Ugric Studies (In German) 42 months
BA in French (In German) 3 years
BA in General Linguistics (In German) 3 years
BA in Historical Musicology (In German) 3 years
BA in History (In German) 3 years
BA in History, Languages and Cultures of the Middle East/Focus on Iranian Studies (In German) 4 years
BA in History, Languages and Cultures of the Middle East/Focus on Islamic Studies (In German) 4 years
BA in History, Languages and Cultures of the Middle East/Focus on Turkic Studies (In German) 4 years
BA in Italian (In German) 3 years
BA in Languages and Cultures of India and Tibet (In German) 4 years
BA in Languages and Cultures of Southeast Asia (In German) 4 years
BA in Media and Communication Studies (In German) 3 years
BA in Movement Science (In German) 3 years
BA in Neo-Greek and Byzantine Studies (In German) 3 years
BA in Old Hebrew (In German) 3 years
BA in Philosophy (In German) 3 years

Master's (40)

CourseDurationTuition
Executive Master of Arts in Journalism in Archaeology and Cultural History of the Antique Mediterranean 2 years
Executive Master of Arts in Journalism in Eastern European Studies 2 years
Executive Master of Arts in Journalism in English as a World Language (ENGAGE) 2 years
Executive Master of Arts in Journalism in General Linguistics 2 years
Executive Master of Arts in Journalism in German Literature 2 years
Executive Master of Arts in Journalism in History 2 years
Executive Master of Arts in Journalism in Indian and Tibetan Studies 2 years
Executive Master of Arts in Journalism in International Criminology 2 years
Executive Master of Arts in Journalism in Japanese Studies 2 years
Executive Master of Arts in Journalism in Korean Studies 2 years
Executive Master of Arts in Journalism in Media Studies 2 years
Executive Master of Arts in Journalism in Movement and Sports Science 2 years
Executive Master of Arts in Journalism in Philosophy 2 years
Executive Master of Arts in Journalism in Romance Linguistics 2 years
Executive Master of Arts in Journalism in Sign language 2 years
Executive Master of Arts in Journalism in Sign language interpreting 2 years
Executive Master of Arts in Journalism in Sinology 2 years
Executive Master of Arts in Journalism in Sociology 2 years
LLM in European and International Law (MEIL) 1 year
M.Ed in Teacher Training in Primary and Lower Secondary Education (In German) 2 years
M.Ed in Teacher Training in Secondary Education (In German) 2 years
M.Ed in Teacher Training in Special Needs Education (In German) 2 years
M.Ed in Teacher Training in Vocational Education (In German) 2 years
MA in African Languages and Cultures (In German/English) 2 years
MA in Archeology and Cultural History of the Ancient Mediterranean (In German) 2 years
MA in Art history (In German) 2 years
MA in British and American Cultures: Texts and Media (In German/English) 2 years
MA in Buddhist Studies 2 years
MA in Eastern European Studies (In German) 2 years
MA in Education and Training Studies 2 years
MA in Educational and Educational Science (In German) 2 years
MA in Empirical Cultural Studies (In German) 2 years
MA in English as a World Language (In German/English) 2 years
MA in Ethnolinguistics of endangered languages - Uralic languages and cultures 2 years
MA in European Master in Classical Cultures (In German) 2 years
MA in General Linguistics (In German) 2 years
MA in German Linguistics (In German) 2 years
MA in German-Language Literatures (In German) 2 years
MA in Greek and Latin Philology (In German) 2 years
MA in Higher Education (In German) 2 years

At a glance

Type
Public
Work experience
12 Months
Course duration
2 years
Campuses
1
Student rating
4.3/5 (2 reviews)

Rankings

World rank#124
In Germany#9
Overall gradeA+
SubjectGradeRankOther tables
Physics A+ #6 QS #76 · ARWU #76
Politics B+ #8 QS #101
Biology A #13 QS #167 · THE #151
Mathematics B++ #13 QS #251 · ARWU #101
Computer Science Engineering B+ #31 THE #301

Admission requirements

Documents

  • SOPNot required
  • LORNeeded for few courses
  • EssaysNot required
  • CVNeeded for few courses
  • Additional documentsRequired

Application fees

  • No Fees

Type of deadline

  • Depends on course

Intake Season & Deadlines

  • Summer15ᵗʰ Jan 2027
  • Winter15ᵗʰ Jul 2024 - 15ᵗʰ Jun 2026

Placements and recruiters

Internships: Available for some courses.

Careers service ↗

Campuses

University of Hamburg Campus Main

20146 Hamburg, Germany

Campus page ↗

Scholarships at University of Hamburg

Merit Scholarships for International Students merit

Amount: ₹1.07 L · Deadline: 2027-04-15

K.C. Mahindra Scholarships For Post-Graduate Studies Abroad merit

Amount: ₹10 L · Deadline: 2026-04-30

Unimoni Student Stars 2023 merit

5 awards

Amount: ₹3 L ·

J.N. Tata Endowment Loan Scholarship merit

Deadline: 2026-03-29

Young Women in Public Affairs Awards merit

37 awards

Amount: ₹4.72 L ·

Robert S. McNamara Fellowships Program merit

Amount: ₹42.37 L ·

GlobalScholarships.com $3,000 Scholarship both

1 awards

Amount: ₹2.83 L ·

Amberscholar Scholarship both

Amount: ₹47.13 L · Deadline: 2026-08-31

Imported from public sources. Confirm amounts and deadlines with the university.

Why choose University of Hamburg?

The University of Hamburg is a public research university based in Hamburg, Germany. Indian students who want to study at this university must note that there is no tuition fee. Only semester fee is charged. Besides this the students can expect to have EUR 400 - 700 per month for housing and EUR 500 - EUR 700 for other living expenses.

Few facts about University of Hamburg are given below-

  • Research Category - Also, the University of Hamburg falls under the category of Research Excellence category. It was awarded this research title in 2026 again. Currently, Hamburg University receives funding for 4 Clusters of Excellence, that conduct research in the areas like Astronomy, Written Artifacts, Climate, and Quantum Technologies.
  • Scholarships - International students who want to study at this university must note that merit scholarships of EUR 992 are offered by Hamburg University.
  • Large intensive research university - The University of Hamburg is home to 42,707+ students, out of which 14% are international students from all over the world.
  • Acceptance rate - The University of Hamburg acceptance rate is around 18%. This means that this university is very selective at the time of admission. Along with entry requirements, students are required to meet the language requirements too. While for Bachelor's courses, German language proficiency is required, for English-taught courses, students can submit just the English language proficiency scores.
  • Placements: The placement rate of Hamburg is between 74% - 88%, within 3 - 6 months. The Business School graduates of the University of Hamburg work with the organizations Deloitte, Boston Consulting Group, Airbus, Warner Bros, etc.

Hamburg University Information

As per Hamburg University reviews posted by students on Shiksha, the university is ranked at 3.7/5. A few of the component rankings given over Shiksha Study Abroad portal are 4 for quality of faculty, 5 for value for money, 4 for post-study jobs, 5 for public transportation and 5 for safety. Some of the facts about Hamburg University are given below-

Fact

Stats

Founded

1919

Location

Mittelweg 177, 20148 Hamburg, Germany

Total no. of students

42,707
Popular Courses among Indian Students

Economics, Business Administration & Management, Law, Physics

Check out the videos below to know more about studies at the University of Hamburg:

University of Hamburg Scholarships for Indian Students

Hamburg Uni offers several merit-based aid programs to Indian students. A maximum of EUR 992 (INR 1.10 L) is awarded to students on a monthly basis, and one scholarship remains valid for a period of up to 2 semesters.

Scholarship Name Financial Award Course Level
University of Hamburg Merit Scholarships EUR 992 (INR 1.10` L) UG and Master's
Degree Completion Grant Varies UG and Master's
Hilde Domin Program Varies UG, Master's, and Doctoral Research

How to get a Scholarship at Hamburg University?

The eligibility requirements vary for different financial aid programs. The general requirements to be eligible for most Hamburg University scholarships are displaying excellent academic performance and providing any additional subject-related academic achievements

Check Top Scholarships in Germany for Indian students

University of Hamburg Programs for Indian Students

The University of Hamburg offers more than 180 degree programs. Majority of the English taught courses are offered at the Master's level. Study areas of the Master's degree courses are Economics, Mathematics, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, etc. Bachelor's courses are also available at this university.

University of Hamburg Popular Courses

Of the big pool of University of Hamburg Courses available to students, programs in Business, Computer Science, Economics, and Psychology generally see more interest from Indian students as compared to other University of Hamburg programs. The top programs opted by Indian students at University of Hamburg are listed below-

Online Courses at Hamburg University

The University of Hamburg also offers courses in an online format via its Uni Live! portal, in the fields of Economics and Medicine, among others. Students can exchange course materials, take tests, and collaborate with each other via online platforms such as-

  • OpenOlat
  • CommSy
  • Zoom
  • MS Teams
  • Lecture2g

University of Hamburg Notable Alumni

The University has educated several thousand individuals, including multiple German and European Politicians, Authors, Media Personalities, and government professionals, over the duration of its nearly 100-year history. Olaf Scholz, Annalena Baerbock, Klaus Hasselmann, and Ole von Beust are some of the prominent names to have studied at the university.

Mentioned below is some more information about these individuals, and some others who form part of the University of Hamburg Notable Alumni Network:

Name Known For Alumni
Olaf Scholz

German Politician

Former Chancellor of Germany

Graduated with a law degree from the University in 1985

Annalena Baerbock

German Diplomat and Politician

Serving as the President of the United Nations General Assembly

Got a pre-diploma in Political Science and Public Law from the University

Ole Von Beust

Former German Politician and President of the Bundesrat

Graduated with a law degree in 1983 from Hamburg University

Richard Sorge

Former Journalist and German-Russian Detective

Led a Spy Ring in Japan during World War II

Operated under the codename: "Ramsay".

Graduated with a doctorate in Political Science

University of Hamburg Placements: Top Recruiters, Placement Rate

Is it free to study at University of Hamburg?

Being a public university in Germany, the University of Hamburg Fees do not apply to Indian students. But, for the 2026-27 academic session students have to pay a semester fee worth EUR 402 (INR 44.1 K). The actual semester fee is EUR 352 (Around INR 39k). Given below is a breakdown of the per-semester fees students would be expected to pay at the Hamburg University:

Fee Component Cost in EUR Cost in INR
Semester Public Transport Pass EUR 226.80 INR 25 K
Semester Public Transport Pass Hardship fund EUR 4.60 INR 505
Administrative Fee EUR 50 INR 5.4 K
Studierendenwerk EUR 101 INR 11 K

University of Hamburg Cost of Living

On average, the monthly cost of living in Hamburg for Indian students is around EUR 900 - EUR 1,400 (INR 81.8 K - 1.2 L). Mentioned below is the breakdown of the same:

Personal Expense

Monthly Cost of Living

Cost in INR

Rent

EUR 300 - EUR 650

INR 27.2 K - 59 K

Food

EUR 120 - EUR 250

INR 10.9 K - 22.7 K

Mobile Bills

EUR 10 - EUR 40

INR 909 - 3.6 K

Statutory Health Insurance

EUR 105

INR 9.4 K

Personal Liability Insurance

EUR 5

INR 454

Books, Stationery, and Study Supplies

EUR 50

INR 4.5 K

Exercise and Sports

EUR 10 - EUR 30

INR 909 - INR 2.7 K

Personal Expenses

EUR 100

INR 9 K

TOTAL

EUR 700 - EUR 1,225

INR 63.6 K - INR 1.1 L

Introduction

  • For Master's courses, the University of Hamburg applications can be submitted from Oct 15, 2026 for Master of Innovation, Business and Sustainability course. 

How to get into University of Hamburg from India?

For University of Hamburg admissions, international students must meet all the admission requirements. Indian students can apply for both UG and PG programs through Hamburg University Portal. University of Hamburg application fee is EUR 75 (INR 8,031), for UG and PG program.

University of Hamburg Application Deadline

University of Hamburg application deadline for international students are listed below-

Particulars

Deadline

Summer semester

Jan 15, 2027

University of Hamburg Eligibility of Indian students

Indian students have to submit an APS Certificate as a mandatory document for admission to Hamburg University. For admission to the Master's courses of the University of Hamburg, Indian students have to submit a Bachelor's degree. Whereas, for admission to UG courses, the students have to provide a proof of German Secondary Leaving Certificate equivalent.

A few of the documents required to apply to the University of Hamburg are-

  • Proof of German / English language skills (Wherever required)
  • Resume
  • Transcripts of records
  • Course-specific documents

Language Requirements - For UG courses, enough German language proficiency is required. For the Master's courses taught in English, students are not required to submit the German language proficiency. For this, students can submit TestDAF, DSH-2 or DSH-3, Geothe Certificate C1 or C2, etc.

University of Hamburg Ranking 2026

If we see University of Hamburg rankings, top ranking bodies all over the globe rank it. According to Shiksha Popularity Rankings 2026, University of Hamburg is ranked at #9 in the Germany. Whereas, in the world rankings, University of Hamburg ranks at #124 in 2026.

By Other Ranking Bodies

Apart from Shiksha Popularity ranking, QS has also ranked the university globally. The University of Hamburg QS ranking in 2027 is #209. It was ranked at #193 in 2026. University of Hamburg ranking stood at #146 as per US News in 2026 and #125 by THE in 2026, globally. The QS subject rankings for 2026 are-

  • Communication and Studies: #51-100
  • Physics and Astronomy: #76
  • Sociology: #101-150
  • Politics: #101-150

University of Hamburg Campus

The uni aims to offer an all round student life via its campus services that include sports, music, theater, student politics, academic support and professional guidance among other services.

Campus Location

The Von Melle Park campus is the main University of Hamburg Campus . However it's not the only campus that the university has with additional campuses available in the form of the Science City Hamburg-Bahrenfeld, Bundesstraße, and Klein Flottbek.

Campus Life

  • The university allows students the chance to take up a sport and be part of the inter-school competitions, with some major options including football, fencing, yoga, and Argentinian Tango, among others.
  • Those interested in Music can join the orchestra, jazz, or choir groups, while theater enthusiasts can show their skills as part of the Kalliope University Theater.
  • For housing, the Studierendenwerk maintains around 25 facilities that can accommodate around 4,400 individuals.

Common questions

Is Hamburg University free for international students?

Yes, the University of Hamburg does not charge any tuition fees from international students. But, it does charge the semester fees which could be around EUR 384 (Around INR 41k). Students have to manage the living expenses which coul be-

  • Housing: EUR 400-700 per month
  • Living expenses: EUR 500 - 700 per month
Is the University of Hamburg hard to get into for international students?

The acceptance rate of the University of Hamburg is 18%. This shows that the university is very selective in admissions. So, Indian students should have an outstanding academic record. For admission to the Master's courses of Hamburg Uni, a Bachelor's degree is required. Whereas for admission to the Bachelor's courses, Secondary school education must be completed. 

(Source of acceptance rate: Unofficial)

Do I have to submit German language proof for courses taught in English at University of Hamburg?

As most of the Bachelor's courses at the University of Hamburg are taught in German, a German language proficiency score is required. For Master's courses that are taught in English, no German language proficiency score is required. Each Hamburg Uni course has different score requirement, so refer to the official website. 

Can a student work while studying in Germany?

Yes, international students are allowed to work for a total of 120 hours or 240 half days in a year. Usually, the university allows students to work for more than 20 hours a week during the term. However, to work more than that, international students would need to pay for:

  • Their Health Insurance
  • Unemployment
  • Nursing Care Insurance
What is the placement rate for the University of Hamburg?

The University of Hamburg placement rate for the Master's graduates is 74% within 3 months and 89% within 6 months. The top recruiters for the graduates of Hamburg Uni are-

  • Deloitte
  • Boston Consulting Group
  • Airbus
  • Warner Bros
  • Unilever
How can I get into the University of Hamburg from India?

The University of Hamburg welcome thousands of students from India each year. The University of Hamburg offers a number of undergraduate and postgraduate programs. Students from India can apply to undergraduate and postgraduate programs online through the University of Hamburg’s central online application platform ‘STiNE’. 

How can I apply to the Master's courses of the University of Hamburg?

For admission the University of Hamburg, Indian students can apply online through the university's portal. The students do not have to submit German language proficiency score for the courses that are taught in English. A few documents required to apply are-

  • Transcripts
  • APS Certificate
  • Language score (English)
  • Any other programme document
How much is University of Hamburg application fee for international students?

The University of Hamburg does not charge any application fee from international students while applying online for admissions. However, international students are required to send only verified academic transcripts, which is done through uni-assist. The uni-assist charges EUR 75 per application each semester. This fee is subject to vary each year. The University of Hamburg offers over 71 undergraduate, 88 graduate, and vocational programs. The application fee of the University of Hamburg is non-refundable. The process for the application fee can take up to 4 weeks. International students facing financial difficulties can request for application waiver. 

How can international students get Merit Scholarships at the University of Hamburg?

The merit scholarships of the University of Hamburg is given to international students if:

  • You are enrolled in your subject at the University of Hamburg for at least 2 semesters and pursuing a degree
  • You do not hold German citizenship, i.e., an international student
  • You are not eligible for the federal student loan scheme

While applying for this scholarship, international students are required to submit the following documents:

  • CV/Resume
  • Letter of motivation
  • Proof of social and/or intercultural activities (if applicable)
  • Records of achievements; STiNE printout or list of course certificates
  • Evaluations from 2 professors or junior professors at the University of Hamburg
How can I get admission to the University of Hamburg?

The university offers a number of programs for international students. To get into the university, international students are required to meet both program-specific and general admission requirements. The general admission requirements are:

  • Proof of higher education
  • Proof of language skills
  • Resume
  • Transcript Record
  • Further documents depending on the program
Does University of Hamburg require SAT for Indian students?

SAT is not required for Indian students to take admissions to the University. The university instead requires students to satisfy the requirements given below:

  • Qualify for exams such as IELTS/TOEFL
  • Prove proficiency in German
Is it really free to study at the University of Hamburg?

While there is no tuition fee at the University of Hamburg, the Indian students have to pay a semester fee and cost of living. For the Winter semester 2026/27, the semester fee is EUR 402 (Around INR 44k). Other expenses that students have to take care are-

  • Housing: EUR 400 - EUR 700 per month (Around INR 44k - INR 77k) 
  • Living Expenses: EUR 500 - EUR 700 per month (Around INR 55k - INR 77k)
Does the University of Hamburg teach in English?

Yes, the University of Hamburg offers courses in English. Most of the Master's courses at this university have English as the language of instruction. 180+ degree courses are available at this university. Study areas at the University of Hambirg are-

  • Psychology
  • Physics
  • Mathematics
  • South Asian Studies
  • Political Science
What is the duration of MBA programme for Indian students at University of Hamburg?

University of Hamburg is among the top choice of Indian students to pursue MBA programme in Germany. University of Hamburg offers MBA programme for the duration of 1 year to 2 years for its Indian students. Hamburg University also offers various programs at both UG and PG levels for its Indian students.

How long is the MSc in Cosmetic Science course of the University of Hamburg?

The <a href="https://www.shiksha.com/studyabroad/germany/universities/university-of-hamburg/msc-in-cosmetic-science-in-german" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MSc in Cosmetic Science at Hamburg Uni</a> is a 4-semester long course. Students have to submit Master's thesis as well while studying this course.

For admission to Hamburg Uni MSc in Cosmetic Science course, students are required to have a Bachelor's degree in a Vocational Education is Cosmetic Science or in the subjects like Chemistry, Pharmacy, Biochemistry or Food Chemistry. 

What is the ranking of University of Hamburg in the world?

University of Hamburg is one of the most prominent universities for higher education in the world. Hamburg University has an overall ranking of #9 in Germany by Shiksha Popularity Rankings. Top ranking bodies worldwide ranks Hamburg University that are listed below-

Ranking Authorities

Rank

Times Higher Education 2026

#125 in World University Rankings

QS Rankings 2027

#209 in QS World University Rankings

US News and World Report 2026

#141 in Best Global Universities

Where does the University of Hamburg rank in Times Higher Education rankings?

The University of Hamburg ranking is #125 in the 2026 World University Rankings by Times Higher Education. A few of the subject rankings for this university are-

  • Law: #73
  • Arts and Humanities: #77
  • Education: #96
  • Psychology: #101-125

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