Special applications

A special application for preferred admission can be submitted in addition to the standard application for admission in the online application procedure.

Applicants who meet special criteria may qualify for preferred admission but not all cases can be deemed "special."

Please see the information sheet Sonderanträge für Studienbewerberinnen und -bewerber (PDF) for detailed information about valid and invalid special applications as well as formal requirements.

Please note that you have to submit a special application for preferred admission in a separate step, otherwise the special application for preferred admission will not be considered.

Hardship applications

In accordance with the Higher Education Act, there is a five percent quota for applicants for whom rejection would constitute an extraordinary hardship. A "hardship application" for applicants with serious health or personal problems may result in immediate admission.

Special admission requirements

Applicants with disabilities or chronic diseases who are at a disadvantage for programs with special requirements (e.g.language skills) or aptitude tests (e.g. sports) may submit a so-called "compensation application."

Improving grade point average

If you can prove that there were circumstances preventing you from obtaining a higher grade point average, you can submit an application requesting a higher grade point average. You will need to submit an evaluation from your school which confirms the reasons for the lower grade point average and contains the higher grade point average recommendation.

Improving waiting period status

For admission in accordance with a waiting period, you can apply to have your waiting period status improved if you can prove that there were circumstances which prevented you from obtaining your higher education entry qualifications earlier (e.g. longer periods of illness throughout your studies).

Quotas for top athletes

In accordance with the Hamburg higher education act, 2% of available places are allocated to top athletes (athletes who are members of the Olympiastützpunkt Hamburg/Schleswig-Holstein in the A, B, C or D/C squad of the German Olympic Sports Confederation and who for this reason are bound to Hamburg). Within this quota, university places will be granted first to top athletes who are members of a squad in the OSP (swimming, rowing, hockey, sailing, or beach volleyball); thereafter, remaining places will be granted to other top athletes.

Top athletes can also submit a special application for consideration of their status when applying for a higher semester or a master's program.

Preferential admission due to service or care duties

You are generally eligible for preferential admission if you have fully completed service or care duties, provided

you have successfully applied immediately before or during your service or care duties and could not accept your place due to your service or care obligation; or
if, before or during your service or care duties, admission numbers were not fixed for your desired degree program (“open admission” programs).

Find further information here.

Double degrees

In substantiated exceptional cases applicants may be enrolled in 2 degree programs simultaneously. You must submit the following documents to apply:

explanation of the need to pursue a double degree
confirmation from the involved institutions (faculties or universities) that both degree programs can feasibly be completed

Depending on application requirements, you must upload the documents either within the application deadline as a special application or as part of the enrollment procedure. For information on the respective application modalities see: www.uni-hamburg.de/doppelstudium