Founded in 1919, the University of Hamburg is a Germany-based public research university located in Hamburg. It offers more than 170 degree programs and is considered one of the most highly regarded universities in Germany, making it a great choice for students looking to study in Germany.
When it comes to the university’s rankings, it was ranked #141 in Best Global Universities, #50 in Best Global Universities in Europe, and Best Global Universities in Germany by U.S. News. Moreover, it ranked #193 in QS World University Rankings 2026. Some other notable University of Hamburg Ranking and achievements include having ranked 1st nationwide and 29th worldwide in the QS Sustainability Rankings for several years, being listed amongst the top 150 universities in the world and 7th nationally in the NTU World University Rankings, and being titled as one of the 5 universities in Germany with the most publications with a standing of #4.
University of Hamburg Acceptance Rate 2025
The University of Hamburg received 43,107 applications as per the data sourced from the annual report 2023. Of these, a total of 9,880 students were admitted for their first semester, joining a student crowd of almost 42,400
The University of Hamburg acceptance rate stands around 25-35%, meaning that out of every 100 students who apply to the Hamburg admissions, the university is likely to offer the opportunity to enroll on the university’s campus to just about 25-35 students. This makes the admission criteria of the university rather selective, as only about one-fourth of the students are admitted.
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Particulars
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Headcount
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|---|
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Student Population
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42,397
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Bachelor Students
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20,116
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Master Students
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8,624
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Doctoral Candidates
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4,882
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Other degrees
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7,628
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Acceptance Rate
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Around 25 – 35%
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University of Hamburg Acceptance Rate for International Students
The University of Hamburg campus houses 5,870 international students and doctoral candidates. They account for 14% of the total enrollment. Moreover, India has been listed amongst the top countries of origin consistently for the past years.
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Particulars
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Headcount
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|---|
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Total Students
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42,397
|
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Total International Students & Doctoral Candidates
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5,870
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International %
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14%
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Countries Represented
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144
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The Indian-origin crowd at the University of Hamburg accounted for 260+ of the total student body. The enrollment statistics for the top 10 countries of origin in Hamburg are given below:
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Particulars
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Headcount
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|---|
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China (PRC)
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704
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Iran
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302
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India
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263
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Russia
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254
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Turkey
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246
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Syria
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210
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Ukraine
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178
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Italy
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169
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Vietnam
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126
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Austria
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109
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Total International Enrollment
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5,870
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University of Hamburg Acceptance Rate Trends
The University of Hamburg has been enrolling over 40,000 students consistently for the last five years. The international crowd’s concentration has also been gradually increasing, currently standing at 14% as per the latest data, with the number of nationalities represented also staying over 140 over the years. The data from 2019-2023 is given below for a comparative analysis:
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Academic session
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Total Students
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International Percentage
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Countries Represented
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|---|
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2023
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42,397
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14%
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144
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2022
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42,819
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12%
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147
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2021
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43,587
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12%
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147
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2020
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44,185
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13%
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143
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2019
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43,957
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13%
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141
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Of the total student body of 42.4k+, international students account for more than 5,800 this year. The enrollment statistics for the international student body, as well as the Indian origin students over the years, are given below for students’ evaluation:
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Academic session
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Total International Students
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Total Indian Students
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|---|
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2023
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5,870
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263
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2022
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5,949
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238
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2021
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5,949
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200
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2020
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5,689
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154
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2019
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5,400
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130
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University of Hamburg Requirements for International Students
With a 25-35% University of Hamburg acceptance rate for international students, In order to secure admission, all Indian students must fulfill certain University of Hamburg admission requirements listed below:
- Official academic transcripts (APS certificate, list of subjects and grades for Standard X and XII for UG students, and APS certificate along with bachelor’s degree for PG students)
- Proof of German language proficiency and English language proficiency (Latter is mandatory for PG students in the case of enrolling in an English program)
- Other course-specific requirements
Students can refer to the official university website for more program-specific requirements.
Also check the course-specific University of Hamburg tuition fees for international students
Tips to get selected at the University of Hamburg
- Cross-check admission requirements: The University of Hamburg states different programs for each one of its courses, varying according to the field, degree level, and language of instruction. Students must check these requirements with care and ensure they meet the same before applying.
- Adhere to deadlines: The application deadlines stated on the university’s official website are to be followed diligently so as to avoid any last-minute confusion or slip-ups. Students are recommended to apply as early as possible.
- Build an all-rounder profile: Although the university follows a holistic approach in its admission criteria, it is recommended to have a good academic record, as students will also be evaluated based on their grades of Standard X and XII in the relevant subject areas. Moreover, be an active participant in co-curricular activities and try to gain as much hands-on experience as possible alongside studies.
University of Hamburg Acceptance Rate vs University of Cologne Acceptance Rate
The Hamburg University acceptance rate stands around 25-35%, making the admission criteria of the university rather selective, as only about one-fourth of the candidates are likely to be admitted. On the other hand, the University of Cologne acceptance rate is also around 20-30%, making the selection criteria just as stringent.
Securing a seat at both universities can be termed rather competitive; thus, it is recommended for the students to build an all-rounder profile and work on the required language skill set.
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