International students International students

You can apply to Studierendenwerk Hamburg for a degree completion grant if you fulfil the following criteria:

• You are an international Bachelor's or Master's student at HAW Hamburg.
• You are planning to complete your studies no more than 12 months after submitting your application.
• You are financing your studies yourself and can demonstrate financial need. (You must prove that you cannot finance your monthly expenses during the final phase of your studies with your own income or savings.)
• You are not receiving BAföG or other state funding. 

The amount of funding is based on your financial situation and the overall funds available. It is awarded for one semester. You must apply again to receive an extension.

Summer semester:  31 March each year

Winter semester:  30 September each year

Unfortunately, applications received after these deadlines cannot be considered.

The application documents are available at Studierendenwerk Hamburg: 

mailto:examensfoerderung (at) studierendenwerk-hamburg (dot) de

Studierendenwerk Hamburg

Grindelallee 9, sixth floor, room 605
20146 Hamburg
(near Dammtor train station)
T. +49 / 40 / 42 815 - 5144, - 5145
Email: examensfoerderung@studierendenwerk-hamburg.de

Which residency permit do I need to have in order to apply for a degree completion grant?

Students with residency status pursuant to section 16 of the federal residency act (residency for the purpose of study) and EU citizens are eligible to apply for the grants issued by the International Office, if they are not eligible for BAföG or other state funding. International students who are refugees cannot apply. International students with a different residency status can only apply in exceptional cases and following clarification of their individual situation.

I currently have only a temporary residence permit (Fiktionsbescheinigung). Can I still apply?

Yes. 

Am I eligible for a degree completion grant if I am receiving BAföG (student financial aid)?

No.

When are international students eligible to receive BAföG?

You are eligible to receive BAföG if you fulfil the criteria listed in  section 8 of the federal law on student financial assistance (BAföG) . If you are uncertain whether you meet these criteria, please contact the Student Financial Aid Advising Centre before submitting your application. You should be sure to do this in the following cases:

• You do not have a residency permit under section 16 of the Aufenthaltsgesetz (the federal residency act).
• You are an EU citizen and you have a student job or worked in Germany before your studies.
• You are married to a German citizen who is working in Germany.

I am studying for a Master of Public Health or the European Master of Medical Technology and Healthcare Business. Can I apply for a scholarship?

Students in these degree courses are generally not eligible to receive funding. In rare cases applications from students in these courses can be considered in the winter semester, provided that additional funds are still available, the applicant can clearly demonstrate urgent financial need and other suitable applicants have already been funded.

Why do I need to provide so much detail about my financial situation in my application?

Your financial situation is the most important factor in the decision about whether you should receive a degree completion grant.

Which time period is relevant for the questions about my financial situation?

Please provide information about how your financial situation will be during the period for which you are applying for funding. For example, if you are currently working in a job which you will no longer be doing during the grant period, or if you are planning to reduce your hours so that you can focus on your thesis, be sure to state this in your application. You should also indicate the wages that you would have earned during the funding period.

Is there a maximum income?

If your own funds (your own income and your savings divided by the number of months until graduation) total more than the BAföG limit (currently €853) you are not eligible to receive a degree completion grant.

How does having a job impact my chances of receiving a degree completion grant?

Your earnings will be calculated against the funding amount. This means that it is worthwhile to reduce your hours during the final phase of your studies so that you can focus completely on graduation. It is a good idea to discuss reducing your hours with your employer. Of course, there is no guarantee that you will receive a degree completion grant. However, the less money you have to finance your studies, the higher your grant will be (dependent on the funds available).

How many times can I receive a degree completion grant?

You can receive degree completion grants for a maximum of one year, however, you have to apply again each semester.