From 1 October 2024, qualification scholarships for doctoral researchers can be topped up in justified individual cases, whereby the sum of the scholarship and the increase may not exceed the amount of a qualification scholarship for postdoctoral researchers doing a Habilitation or a research scholarship for doctoral graduates.

This regulation applies to scholarships awarded in accordance with the University of Hamburg’s scholarship guidelines, unless otherwise specified by the funding provider. The basic amount of the qualification scholarships for doctoral researchers is based on the German Research Foundation (DFG) guidelines, as is the possibility to increase and the associated conditions. The current basic amount is €1,365 and can be increased to €1,750 in justified individual cases.

If you would like to make use of this regulation when awarding a scholarship, contact us so that we can examine the case and clarify the details.

Starting 1 October 2024, the monthly funding amounts awarded in accordance with the UHH guidelines will be increased to a binding rate of €992 for bachelor’s and master’s degree students (BA/MA).

This is based on the 29th German federal training assistance amendment act (BAföG-Änderungsgesetz), announced on 24 July 2024 in the Federal Law Gazette. The University of Hamburg provisions for the target group of students based on the highest BAföG funding amount, and the funding contributions will be updated accordingly from €934 to €992, starting in Winter Semester 2024/25.

For scholarships that have already been granted and to which only Universität Hamburg guidelines apply, the scholarship provider is free to decide, pursuant to a contractual amendment, to increase the basic amount of €992 established as of 1 October 2024.

The 29th BAföG amendment act also introduced a flexible semester. This allows qualification scholarships awarded in accordance with University of Hamburg guidelines to be extended by up to 6 months, starting 1 October 2024.

The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation has adjusted its rates for both postdoctoral researchers and for experienced researchers each by €200 for approvals granted from 1 April 2024.

As research grants at Universität Hamburg are based on the rates used by the DFG, this also applies to Universität Hamburg.

The range of research grants for postdoctoral researchers (doctorate completed 2–4 years prior) is now €1,751–€2,870.

Research grants for experienced researchers (doctorate completed more than 4 years prior) now have a range of €2,871–€3,370.

For scholarships that have already been granted and for which only Universität Hamburg guidelines apply, the scholarship provider is free to decide, pursuant to a contractual amendment, to increase the rates to within the ranges established as of 1 April 2024.

The minimum wage has been posted by the BGBI (Federal Law Gazette)—see the Vierte Verordnung zur Anpassung der Höhe des Mindestlohns (Vierte Mindestlohnanpassungsverordnung, MiLoV4). 2023 I No. 321 of 29 November 2023 raised as of 1 January 2024. Accordingly, the associated earning limitation for part-time employees pursuant to the Verdienstgrenze für Geringfügig Beschäftigte (Section 8 subsection 1 No. 1 and Section 8a of the German Social Security Code IV) will also be set higher.

The limitation for a so-called “mini job” will now be €538 per month.

Note:

If you earn money above and beyond the scholarship, see the requirements set forth in the respective directive. Earning more or the individual income situation of the scholarship recipient can have tax or social security consequences or impact the scholarship itself.

Part-time jobs may also be permissible within limits. You can find the regulations in the directive in question; some regulations may concern the duration and the hours of the part-time job.

The German Research Foundation (DFG) has adjusted its amounts for new grants starting on 1 January 2024. To date, doctoral scholarships amounted to a basic monthly grant between €1,000 and €1,365. The provider was permitted to determine the maximum amount within this range. For projects granted from 1 January 2024, the doctoral scholarship will now be fixed at a binding monthly €1,365. The €103 materials allowance remains the same.

Because the doctoral scholarships at Universität Hamburg are based on the amounts used by the DFG, the rule also applies for Universität Hamburg.

For doctoral scholarships granted from 1 January 2024, this means there will be a binding amount of €1,365 (basic amount), or €1,468 including the materials allowance.

For scholarships that have already been granted and for which only Universität Hamburg guidelines apply, the scholarship provider is free to decide, pursuant to a contractual amendment, to increase the basic amount of €1,365 (or €1,468 including the materials allowance) established as of 1 January 2024.

From 1 March 2023, revised sample contracts will be used.  This not only involves current scholarships but also the new short-term fellowships which are awarded according to the University directive.

There is a newly added information sheet for scholarship holders.

We have also improved the tax questionnaire for possible inquiries from the internal revenue office (Finanzamt) and the internal information to facilitate processing.

New scholarship directive and guideline

We can now provide revised versions of the Directive on the Awarding of Scholarships at Universität Hamburg (excluding UKE),the directive guidelines, and the appendix to the directive: Overview of Universität Hamburg scholarships (excluding UKE), valid from 5 December 2022.

The information sheets also include new information on short-term scholarships for equal opportunity and urgent assistance in emergency situations.

In its session of 5 December 2022, the Executive University Board resolved to offer short-term scholarhips to foster equal opportunity and as emergency aid. This allows doctoral researchers, students who recently received a doctorate, and researchers facing equal opportunity disadvantages or who through no fault of their own find themselves in an emergency situation to apply for a short-term scholarhip of up to 6 months. This will enable them to concentrate on their continuing education or research and to develop their academic potential.

More information to follow.

If you have questions, contact Ms. Todt at +49 40 42838-4111 or suenje.todt"AT"uni-hamburg.de.

The 27th BAföG amendment act, announced in the Federal Law Gazette on 21 July 2022, increased the maximum funding rate from €861 to €934, commencing Winter Semester 2022/23.

As the the monthly funding amount for qualification scholarships is set to the maximum rate under the German Federal Education and Training Assistance Act (BAföG), rates for qualification scholarships will also increase to €934 from 1 October 2022.