University of Hamburg Degree completion grants for international students 2025

Universität Hamburg assists its international students in successfully completing their degrees with degree completion grants.

Table of Content

• Summary
• Benefits
• Requirments
• Interview Process
• Application Documents
• Application Deadline
• How To Apply

Summary

• Application DeadlineDecember 1, 2025
• Study LevelPhD
• SponsorUniversity of Hamburg
• City to studyHamburg
• School to studyUniversity of Hamburg
• Eligible CountryAll Countries

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Benefits

The funding period for the degree completion grant is up to 6 months. The funding period for a degree completion grant for students in degree programs with a duration of two semesters is up to 5 months. The individual funding period depends on the degree exam period specified in the evaluation from the supervisor of your final thesis. The monthly funding sumranges from €200 to €855. Funding amounts are based on income.

If the final examination is not completed within the 6-month period, an extension may be requested. Information on how to apply for extension of the degree completion grant can be found in the FAQs. The maximum funding period is 12 months. The maximum funding periodor students in degree programs with a duration of two semesters is 5 months.

Requirements

You meet the application requirements if you

• are already enrolled at Universität Hamburg;
• are not a German citizen;
• are not eligible for the federal student loan scheme (BAföG);
• are preparing for or are in the final examination phase of your studies;
• have no financial support during this phase (proof required).

International students studying in fee-based degree programs will not have priority in the selection procedure and cannot always be considered.

Those not entitled to funding:

• international students who fulfill the requirements of Section 8 of the German federal training assistance act (Bundesgesetz über individuelle Förderung der Ausbildung, BAföG)
• doctoral candidates

Interview Dates and Process

• The selection criterion is the financial need of the applicant. The assessment of financial need is based on the respective requirements of our funding provider, the Ministry of Science, Research, Equalities and Districts (BWFGB).

Application Documents

You must upload the following documents to the online application portal:

• CV
• reason for your application
• schedule detailing all steps leading to your final examination
• Scan of your bank statements: For the 1 June application deadline, bank statements from 1 March-31 May are required; for the 1 December application deadline, bank statements from 1 September-30 November are required. The information on your financial situation must match the information on your bank statements. The last account balance you provided in the online-application form must match the last account balance on 31 May / 30 November as shown on the scan you submitted. Bank statements can be uploaded up to and including June 15, 2025 (if applying by the June 1, 2025 deadline). All other documents must be uploaded up to and including June 1, 2025.
• an evaluation from the supervisor of your final thesis. Evaluations can only be issued by professors and junior professors at Universität Hamburg. The form Evaluation for a Universität Hamburg Degree Completion Grant (PDF) must be used and your exact degree exam period (from dd/mm/yyyy to dd/mm/yyyy) must be specified in the evaluation. The evaluation must demonstrate that you are expected to complete your final examination within the period of funding for which you are applying. Ensure that the evaluation is submitted by the deadline.

Application Deadline

December 1, 2025

How To Apply

Are you qualified and interested in this opportunity? Kindly go to University of Hamburg on www.service4mobility.com to apply

1. Contact us by e-mail ([email protected]). Indicate on which of the above dates you would like to present your residence permit or, in the case of EU citizens, your ID and certificate of residence ("Meldebescheinigung") in Germany via Zoom. You will then receive the Zoom link for the relevant date from us.

2. Join the meeting room on the date for which you have received the link from us by e-mail. Wait in the waiting room of the meeting until you are being attended to.

For the relevant application periods, use the corresponding application link and log yourself in using your STiNE ID.

If you are applying for an extension, please follow the steps mentioned in the FAQs on our website.

Register with your student email address and enter your student email address, not your private email address, in your online application.

For more information, kindly visit University of Hamburg Grant webpage.