Information for Prospective Students and on Student Mobility Programs

Hamburg Welcome Center (HWC) provides you with comprehensive and free information and advice services. Contact a service advisor by telephone or e-mail prior to or after your arrival in Hamburg if you need any information on the topic “New in Hamburg”. You can also ask a HWC service advisor for a “Welcome Package“, which you need to collect from the HWC. This package contains useful flyers and brochures such as a city map, information on public transport, activities, important adresses in Hamburg and much more.

In the following, you will find lots of useful information provided by Universität Hamburg to point you in the direction of people and advisory centers that may help you, should you need any help.

• First Steps for New Students (PDF) helps all new students to get started in Hamburg.
• International Students' Guide  gives international students an overview about Universität Hamburg, its degree programs, schools and departments, study abroad and exchange programs as well as international student support
• #UHHhilft - University to help refugees  contains information for people forced to flee their homelands and discontinue their studies by paving their way towards regular university study. 
• Scholarship data base of the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) provides nformation on various kinds of DAAD funding for national and foreign students, graduates and postdocs as well as on funding offered by other selected organisations.
• The online portal International Guide takes you through the application process and first phase of your studies at Universität Hamburg step by step. To each application period, the portal provides a time line of all steps in the application process and relevant information, allowing you to prepare in an organized fashion.

We recommend that you start looking for a place to live in good time, if possible from your home town or your home country, as finding accommodation in Hamburg is not only difficult and pricey but also time-consuming. You may choose short-term rentals for the first weeks of your stay in Hamburg until you find a suitable accommodation.

You will have to conclude a binding rental contract to rent a room or an apartment. You also have to pay a deposit, "Kaution" before moving in which is a security payment the landlord can retain in case you cause damage in the rented room or apartment. Note that aside the net rent, further costs called "Betriebskosten" including heating, water, electricity, TV, telephone and other are incurred.

You will need a rental agreement or a confirmation of student residence hall to register with the Hamburg Welcome Center  and apply for a resident permit after arrival.

Broadcasting contribution fees: Each household has to pay one basic flat rate to cover all devices. Each residence pays €17.50 monthly (stand September 2015), regardless of which devices the residence uses, and whether or not any devices are even present in the residence.

How to find an apartment for rent?
You can make an appointment at the Hamburg Welcome to get further information on apartment-hunting. Please check out the Info Sheet 'How to find an apartment in Hamburg' for general information.

• Student residences administrated by the "Studierendenwerk" (Student Union)
  The Accommodation Information Center offers assistance with general housing information for students. The DAAD provides an overview of all residences in Hamburg as well.
  The "Studierendenwerk" may offer international students a furnished room in student residences at an affordable price of around 233 € monthly. To be eligible for a room at a student residence, you must be under the age of 30 and enrolled as a student. Applications from students over the age of 30 will be considered separately. Applications from students over the age of 35 will not be accepted. Apply for a room at: online application. Apartments offered by the Studierendenwerk are scarce. Applications for a room at a student residence should be submitted in good time as you should expect a waiting time between 3 and 6 months for a room.

• Shared flats
  Shared flats are the most common way of living for German students. Check the platform "WG gesucht" for offers on shared flats. You can also post your profile and your own ad there.

• Student residences administrated by private operators
  There is a long waiting list for student residences, thus, an application is not a guarantee for a place. We would therefore advise you to contact a few Student Residences administered by the private operators.

• University run apartment house

• Hotels and hostels
  If you prefer to stay at hotels or hostels at a favorable price for the first few days in Hamburg, check out the Hamburg Booking Website or other platforms such as Hostelworld or Booking.com.

Make sure your health insurance covers sufficient treatment in case of sickness or an emergency. Health insurance is mandatory for every student or employee in Germany.

There are two health insurance systems in Germany: A public health insurance which is governed by the state. For most people (citizens and foreigners) this public health insurance is mandatory. The private health insurance can only be taken out in special cases. Please check beforehand whether you are eligible to choose between the two systems. For more information on both health insurance systems see the Health Insurance Guide. The Yellow Pages (Gelbe Seiten) provide a List of various health insurance companies.

Make sure you obtain a confirmation of health insurance, “Krankenversicherungsnachweis” from the health insurance provider. You will also receive a Health Insurance Card, “Krankenversicherungskarte” which you always need to carry with you. If you become ill, you can directly go to a doctor. Addresses and telephone numbers of doctors are available in the telephone directories of the Yellow Pages (in German). You just need to enter the type of doctor or specialist (for example "Hausarzt") you are looking for in the search field “Arzt" (doctor) and your postal code in the search field "Wo" (where).

List of a few types of doctors

If you need urgent medical care at the weekend or at night, report to the outpatient department, „Ambulanz“ or Accident and Emergency, „Notaufnahme“ in hospital or call a doctor. Emergency doctors are listed in local newspapers under the heading of “Ärztlicher Notdienst” (Medical Emergency Service) or „Notdienst“ (Emergency Service).

Opening a bank account in Germany is straightforward. To obtain a current account (Girokonto) you need to supply the following documents: Required documents:

• Registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung)
• Passport

• Student Identification: confirmation of admission or enrollment certificate as a student.

• A proof of income would make the opening of a bank account easier (pay slip, bank statement or proof of scholarship).

Take the documents to your chosen bank or branch. Ask at the bank or the branch if you could get information from an English speaking customer adviser. Addresses and telephone numbers of banks or branches are available at Yellow Pages Hamburg Banks. “Bank und Sparkassen” (banks and saving banks) has already been entered in the search field „was" (what), then enter the place name or postcode in the search field „wo" (where). Click on „suchen" (search) to look for addresses of a bank near your place.

Once at the local branch, always ask for any potential service charges as they may differ from bank to bank. You may be charged for: opening an account, yearly administrative costs, credit card costs, withdrawal costs from other banks, bank statements printouts.

Depending on the bank and the account details bank card should normally be sent by post within a few days.

Bank Terminology Guide

A lot of people speak English here but in your daily life, being able to speak German is valuable, when shopping, when dealing with the authorities, when talking with your neighbors, landlord or future employer. Check out for German language courses in the language institutions named below.

Language courses are generally offered at six different levels from A1 to C2, following the Common European Reference Framework for Languages. The six levels A1 and A2 for basic users, B1 and B2 for independent users and C1 and C2 for proficient users are an interpretation of the classic division into basic (A), intermediate (B) and advanced (C).

In-Class courses

EU nationals who have completed their studies can look for and accept employment in Germany without any restrictions.

They can apply for an 18-month residence permit from the local foreign nationals’ registration office to look for a job that corresponds to their qualifications after earning the master's degree.

Non-EU nationals can apply for an 18-month residence permit from the local foreign nationals’ registration office to look for a job that corresponds to your qualifications. During these 18 months, they may take up any kind of employment to support themselves and fund their job search. If they already found a job that corresponds to their qualifications, they can apply for your residence permit as soon as they have passed their exam.

Read about the rights of residence applicable for graduates and postgraduates here.