Part-time study

Pursuant to Section 8 of Universität Hamburg's enrollment regulations, students who can prove that they have compelling reasons for being unable to pursue full-time study but can devote at least half of their time to their studies can apply to enroll as part-time students. Part-time study is only relevant in a few cases.

In part-time study, dates and deadlines established in university exam regulations are generally extended such that one subject semester is equivalent to two university semesters. Since the exam regulations of the degree programs of Universität Hamburg in most cases do not comprise deadlines that would be extended in the case of part-time study anymore, applying for part-time study is significant only for the degree programs in Law (Staatsexamen), Business Administration (B.Sc. and M.Sc.) and Teacher Training in Vocational Education specializing in Economics (B.Sc. and M.Sc.).

Part-time status is also not required with regard to the obligation to participate in subject-specific advising if the regular period of study is exceeded by more than two semesters pursuant to § 51 HmbHG, since exceeding the regular period of study does not have any consequences besides the obligation to participate in subject-specific advising. But please note that not participating in subject-specific advising after being prompted to do so may result in forced withdrawal.

Finally, the later explanation of the curriculum vitae, e.g. in a job interview, usually does not draw upon the formal status of part-time study, but rather on a comprehensible explanation of the reasons for the longer study period. Degree certificates issued by Univeraität Hamburg neither show the part-time status nor the number of semesters studied.

Application dates and deadlines

The application for part-time study must be submitted via STiNE before the following deadlines:

by 31 January for a summer semester
by 30 June for a winter semester

In addition, you have to upload proof of eligibility in the application form.

For the summer semester 2021, applications may be submitted until the start of the semester (1 April 2021).

Applications submitted thereafter will only be processed for a fee of 30 Euro. This does not apply to first-year students. For the first semester, the application can also be submitted after the semester begins.

The fee must be paid via bank transfer using the following payment details:

Recipient: Universität Hamburg
Bank: Deutsche Bundesbank
Reference number: 100022322
IBAN: DE68200000000020101531
BIC: MARKDEF1200
Purpose: First name, last name, student ID number, TZ

Submitting an application

Applications are submitted online via STiNE within the above-named deadlines. Applications submitted thereafter will only be processed for a fee of 30 Euro. You will need to submit the requisite supporting documents (see examples below) to prove compelling reasons. Please upload these documents in the application form. The form cannot be submitted without uploaded documents.

Applications are authorized for two consecutive semesters. If your application has been authorized, notification will be sent to your STiNE account (under "Dokumente"). A rejection notice will be sent by regular mail.

Please note: If there is any overlap between your application submission and payment of the semester contribution, it may be that your semester documents have not been updated accordingly. Once they have, you will automatically receive a new semester certificate in your STiNE account confirming your part-time status.

If you do not submit another application after completing your two authorized semesters, you will be re-enrolled as a full-time student upon receipt of your semester contribution.

If a compelling reason ceases to be valid, you need to inform us immediately. If you fail to notify us in due time, your enrollment as a part-time student will be revoked retroactively.

Reasons for part-time study

Employment consisting of at least 15 working hours per week (proof required, e.g., written confirmation from employer)
Childcare (for children under 18) or nursing care for other family members (proof required, e.g., birth certificate, residence permit)
Disability or chronic disease which prevents students from devoting full time to their studies (proof required, e.g., medical attest)

Part-time study and semester contribution

Part-time students are still required to pay the semester contribution in full. Please pay the semester contribution at the earliest 14 days after submitting your application for part-time study. You must pay the semester contribution at the latest on receiving authorization for part-time study.

Working students

Working students may apply for part-time study if they can prove that they work regularly for at least 15 hours per week. There is no cap on the total hours per week. If, however, you work more than 20 hours weekly, you are responsible for organizing your studies accordingly. Furthermore, if you regularly work more than 20 hours per week you no longer enjoy student status with regard to social benefits and thus you must pay into social security accordingly.

Working and studying concomitantly

Please note that part-time study is not designed for those who wish to work full time and study concomitantly. Universität Hamburg offers the latter option in just a few master programs (generally for a fee). These programs take the needs of people in full-time jobs into consideration—for example, by offering evening or weekend classes or block seminars. The majority of academic programs are not designed, however, for people in full-time employment. Part-time students attend regular classes alongside their full-time counterparts but devote less time per semester.

Exceptions

Part-time study is not possible (see conditions explained above) if university exam regulations do not provide for it. Currently, part-time study is only possible on BA/MA programs (with a few exceptions such as law).

Please note that in most programs, part-time study is not possible for the semester in which a final thesis or project is due.