Every child in Germany has the right and the obligation to go to school. This applies to the children of refugees and to children without papers, as well. There is no charge for going to school.

Many careers require additional education. You can get this at a college or university after you graduate from high school. Alternatively, you can learn a job through an How can I prepare for a profession or trade other than by studying? (Ausbildung).

School

How does the school system in Hamburg work?

When does one go to which school type in Hamburg?

In Hamburg, children over the age of 6 go to a Grundschule (primary school). After 4 years, pupils change to a secondary school (weiterführende Schule): a Gymnasium or a Stadtteilschule. In a Stadtteilschule, students take the “Abitur” (A levels: entrance qualification for higher education) after 9 years. At a Gymnasium, students take this exam after 8 years. In both secondary schools (weiterführende Schulen), pupils can obtain the “ersten allgemeinbildenden Schulabschluss” (general education school leaving certificate) after the 9th grade, and the “mittleren Schulabschluss” (intermediate school leaving certificate, qualification for an apprenticeship) after the 10th grade.

School attendance is compulsory in Germany. This means that children have to go to school from the age of 6 to 18. If young people already have a qualification (first general school-leaving certificate or intermediate school-leaving certificate) before they turn 18, they must complete vocational training. Homeschooling, to say that children are permanently taught at home, is not permitted.

Note for Ukrainian refugees: Even if your child continues to take advantage of online programmes at their home school, they are obliged to go to school in Hamburg.

Information for parents can be found here (German, English, Arabic, Farsi, Russian): https://www.hamburg.de/625042!search?query=Elterninformation

You can find an overview of the schools in Hamburg here. There you can also find out which school is responsible for you and how to find your way to the school: https://www.hamburg.de/schulinfosystem/

Information on the school organisation schedule for the next school year and the distribution process can be found here: Gerrit von Wissel, +49 40 42863-4070 (Monday – Friday 8 am – 3 pm), gerrit.vonwissel@bsb.hamburg.de

What kind of school class will my child be in?

At the schools, children who cannot speak German yet generally attend international classes („Internationale Vorbereitungsklassen“ or „Basisklassen“) first. Here they receive specialised teaching and take German lessons.

The transition from an international preparatory class (internationale Vorbereitungsklasse, IVK) to a regular German school class depends on the child’s performance level, but takes place after 12 months in the IVK at the latest. The decisive factors are the child’s German language skills and learning level in the individual subjects. You can find out the learning level through learning development discussions and performance records. If a child transfers to a regular German class, this should be a class at the same school, unless the school has no more capacity. You can find detailed information on transferring to a mainstream class here (German): https://www.hamburg.de/resource/blob/145758/21a51915d3208a97ed29899520c11810/broschuere-uebergang-data.pdf.

You can find more information on the language skills required for the German school and the different classes here: https://welcome.hamburg.de/schule/7041194/sprachkenntnisse/ (German), https://www.hamburg.com/welcome/living/school/11864938/language-skills/ (English)

How and at which school will my child get placed?

Information on compulsory schooling and the allocation of school places can be found on the following information sheet of the City of Hamburg (German, Ukrainian): https://www.hamburg.de/resource/blob/145954/ebfc089192b1c6bff1b6cfe5b9230e79/informationen-zum-schulbesuch-fuer-ukrainische-kinder-und-jugendliche-data.pdf

In order for your child to be put into the right class, please seek advice first:

Can my child get extra help with learning? (Nachhilfe (tutoring))

If your child has difficulties following lessons, for example because he or she suffers from dyslexia or ADHD or is traumatised, please contact your child’s school (teacher and/or school management) directly. They will then endeavour to arrange special educational support for your child.

This means that, in addition to lessons at school, they will receive tutoring from professional or private tutors, either alone or in small groups, so that they receive better support.

If your child needs help with learning, first enquire about free tutoring services at your child’s school. Many schools offer free tutoring by older students, for example.

  • You can register online for a free tutor via the initiative Studenten bilden Schüler (undergraduates educate students). Lessons take place digitally or on site.
  • You can register via this e-mail address: hamburg@studenten-bilden-schueler.de
  • You can find further information here: https://studytutors.de/standorte/hamburg>
  • The Kids Welcome association (Kids Welcome) advises parents on questions relating to school (German/Arabic/Farsi/Dari) and arranges tutors for the child. Tutoring and homework help is also offered in several accommodation centres and centrally in the association’s own rooms (Thursday, 5 – 7 pm): Kids Welcome, Turnerstraße 7, Hamburg, info@kids-welcome.org
    • Special learning opportunities for Ukrainian refugees

    You can download Ukrainian textbooks free of charge from the following website: https://shkola.in.ua/pidruchnyky/.

    Bücherhallen (Libraries)
    In the Bücherhallen (libraries) you can use books, CDs , DVDs and eBooks for free and borrow books and other media. For this, you must have an employee of the Bücherhalle issue you a customer card. With this you can also use the Wi-Fi in all Hamburg Bücherhallen.With a day ticket you can borrow 3 items. This costs 3 €. An annual ticket for adults costs between 15 € and 45 €; an annual ticket for children costs between 3 € and 8 €.
    If you bring proof that you receive benefits as an asylum seeker (Leistungen als Asylbewerber), from the Jobcenter (Jobcenter team.arbeit.hamburg, job centre) or from the Grundsicherungsamt (Fachamt für Grundsicherung und Soziales, Office for needs-based pension supplement in old age and in the event of reduced earning capacity and for social affairs), the customer card is free for children and costs only 5 € for the first 6 months for adults and 20 € per year afterwards.

    You can also use the online catalogue of the Bücherhallen: https://www.buecherhallen.de/ebuecherhalle.html. You need to enter the number of your customer card and a password that you receive together with the card.
    If you borrow a book or other items, you will have to return it until a specific date. If you do not return it in time, you will have to pay a late fee (Versäumnisgebühren). This can soon be very expensive.
    The Bücherhallen (book halls) offer a discussion group ‘Dialog in Deutsch’ (Dialogue in German) for beginners with and without German language skills.
    Note for Ukrainian refugees: On some dates, a group leader who speaks Ukrainian is present.
    You can find more information here:
    • https://www.buecherhallen.de/zentralbibliothek-dialog-in-deutsch.html (German)
    • https://www.buecherhallen.de/ehrenamt-dialog-in-deutsch.html (German)
    Plenty of information about the locations, prices, opening hours and events is available here.

    How can I have my school certificates recognised?

    In order to go to a secondary school (Stadtteilschule or a Gymnasium), you must have your school certificates recognised. In order to attend a higher education institution, you need to have your school leaving certificate recognised. This means that your original certificate must be translated by an authorised translator. The certificate must then be translated and assessed by a German authority. If the original certificate was issued in English, a translation is not necessary for the moment.
    You can also submit the application by e-mail or post from abroad. The following two offices in Hamburg can help you with the recognition process. The precondition is that you live and are registered in Hamburg or can prove that you are undergoing training or are working in Hamburg:

    • Schulinformationszentrum (SIZ) (school information centre): Hamburger Straße 125a, please make an appointment in advance: schulinformationszentrum@bsb.hamburg.de, , +49 40 42863 3065 (Tuesday 2 pm – 4 pm, Wednesday and Thursday 10 am – 12 pm (noon)),

      Diakonisches Werk Hamburg: Zentrale Anlaufstelle Anerkennung (ZAA) Süderstraße 32 B, zaa@diakonie-hamburg.de, +49 40 306 20 396 (Moday and Thursday 10 am – 12 pm (noon), Wednesday 1 pm – 2:30 pm), http://www.anlaufstelle-anerkennung.de/.

    • If you are looking to begin your studies, it is best to contact your preferred higher education institution directly.
    When and how do I study at a university?

    Certain careers in Germany require higher education – becoming a teacher or lawyer, for example. The prerequisite for higher education is usually the highest school leaving certificate possible in a country (in Germany, for example, the Abitur). You can usually apply to higher education programmes in January and July.

    Another prerequisite for studying is a language level of C1 in German.

    You can find information on studying in Germany here: https://www.study-in-germany.de/fluechtlinge/

    An overview of the application process:

    1. Application to a university
      Studying in Hamburg
      There are more than 20 universities in Hamburg (www.metropolregion.hamburg.de/hochschulen/272070/hochschulen-hamburg/). The three largest are the Universität Hamburg (University of Hamburg) (UHH, www.uni-hamburg.de), the Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften Hamburg (Hamburg University of Applied Sciences) (HAW, www.haw-hamburg.de) and the Technische Universität Hamburg (Hamburg University of Technology) (TUHH, www.tuhh.de)
    1. Recognition of university entrance qualifications
    • Your certificates from home may entitle you to study in Germany. Recognition is required for this (ZAA Hamburg, zaa@diakonie-hamburg.de, www.anlaufstelle-anerkennung.de, you can find more in the section “How can I have my school reports recognised?”).
    • If your certificates do not entitle you to study in Germany, you can for example go to a Studienkolleg (take foundation courses) that enables you to obtain a higher education entrance qualification through lessons and an assessment test (Feststellungsprüfung) (www.studienkolleg-hamburg.de/feststellung/).

    Tip: In case you do not have any of your certificates, you can prove your qualification in an examination. This happens at the institution where you would like to study (for example at the University of Hamburg, https://www.uni-hamburg.de/campuscenter/bewerbung/international/plausibilitaetspruefung.html).

    1. Proof of German language skills
      Universities in Germany require a German language level of C1.
    • A test can determine if your language level is sufficient to study in German (for example, the TestDaF, TELC).
    • You can apply for financial support for preparatory language courses. Get advice on this from “Bildungsberatung CJD” (see below).
    • You can find more information on how to learn German here: https://we-inform.de/portal/en/learning-german/
    Where can I find help with my university application in Hamburg?

    Bildungsberatung CJD
    Advice for people interested in studying (on topics like recognition, planning your time at university, financial support and preparing for your studies through additional education and language courses)
    Further information in German: www.cjd-hamburg.de/angebote/bildungsberatung-garantiefonds-hochschule/
    Further information in English, Arabic, Farsi and Russian: https://bildungsberatung-gfh.de/wde/ueber-uns/informationen.php

    Advice in German, English and Russian. You are welcome to bring an interpreter. Please make an appointment:

    Advisory centres for refugees at the universities

    • #UHHhilft – Studienorientierung für Geflüchtete: The University of Hamburg offers an orientation programme specifically for refugees: uhhhilft@uni-hamburg.de, +49 40 42838 4547 (Monday 10 am – 12 pm (noon)Tuesday to Thursday 10 am – 12 pm and 1 pm to 4 pm), Zoom: Meeting-ID: 981 6496 4227, password: 615237 (Monday to Thursday 1 pm – 4 pm), www.uni-hamburg.de/uhhhilft.html

    Special information and offers for Ukrainian refugees:

    1. Programmes offered by the University of Hamburg (UHH)

    The UHH orientation programme (#UHHhilft) is also open to Ukrainian refugees. There are English FAQs in which questions by Ukrainian refugees about the UHH assistance programme are answered: https://www.uni-hamburg.de/en/uhhhilft-ukraine/faq.html

    As a Ukrainian citizen, you can also apply for a free library card from the Hamburg State and University Library. The only requirement is that you present Ukrainian identity documents: Staats- und Universitätsbibliothek Hamburg, Carl von Ossietzky, Von-Melle-Park 3 (Monday to Friday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.), e-mail: auskunft@sub-hamburg.de.

    2. Programmes offered by the Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften (University of Applied Sciences, HAW)

    The Arbeitsstelle Migration der HAW (HAW Migration Office) also offers various support programmes for students and academics who have fled from Ukraine.

    The services for Ukrainian students include weekly online information events in English. The events are on study orientation, study financing and study applications, a preparatory course that enables students to start their studies (even before they have the required language certificate) as well as various counselling and psychological support programmes. Ukrainian students are also accepted onto the English master programmes “Biomedical Engineering”, “Process Engineering”, “Renewable Energy Systems” and “Pharmaceutical Biotechnology”. Interested parties can send an email to lectures-ukraine(@)haw-hamburg.de. Further information can be found here: https://www.haw-hamburg.de/detail/news/news/show/offer-to-host-teachers-and-students-at-our-faculty-in-hamburg/

    The Fakultät Life Sciences (faculty of life sciences) at HAW offers Ukrainian scientists the opportunity for teaching assignments. Interested parties can send an e-mail to lectures-ukraine(@)haw-hamburg.de. Further information can be found here: https://www.haw-hamburg.de/detail/news/news/show/offer-to-host-teachers-and-students-at-our-faculty-in-hamburg/.

    https://www.haw-hamburg.de/hochschule/solidaritaet-mit-der-ukraine/

    3. Offers of the Technische Universität Hamburg (Hamburg University of Technology, TUHH):

    The following presentation provides information of applying for a place at TUHH in English: https://www.tuhh.de/tuhh/en/international/incoming-and-integration-services/support-for-students-and-scientists-of-ukraine/support-services-by-tuhh/

    All support services offered by the TUHH for Ukrainian refugees, including various counselling services, can be found on the following website: https://www.tuhh.de/tuhh/en/international/incoming-international-students/support-for-students-scientists-from-ukraine/support-services-by-tuhh.

    In particular, there are free preparatory courses for studying at the TUHH. For further information on the mathematics preparation course, please contact Dr Prashant Batra: by telephone on +49 40 42878 34 78 (Thursdays 1 – 3 pm3), or by email batra@tuhh.de. In addition, a programme of subject-specific German preparatory courses is being developed. For further information, please contact Kathrin Heuking: kathrin.heuking@tuhh.de.

    As a visiting student, you can also take part in TUHH events free of charge. Simply contact the STUDIS department at study@tuhh.de.

    4. Provisional admission to art degree programmes at the Hochschule für bildende Künste (University of Fine Arts, HFBK)

    Students of fine arts who have fled from Ukraine (including refugees without Ukrainian citizenship!) can be provisionally admitted to the Bachelor’s or Master’s programme at the Hochschule für bildende Künste (HFBK), but the costs must be borne independently. You can find the application form here: https://www.hfbk-hamburg.de/de/aktuelles/ukrainische-kunststudierende-willkommen/außerordentliche-aufnahme-ukrainischer-kunststudierender/. If you have any questions, please contact ukraine@hfbk.hamburg.de. Further information in English can be found at: https://hfbk-hamburg.de/en/aktuelles/ukrainische-kunststudierende-willkommen/

    5. Programmes offered by the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (German Academic Exchange Service, DAAD)

    The Nationiale Akademische Kontaktstelle Ukraine (National Academic Contact Point Ukraine) offers an overview of the German higher education and research system in Ukrainian and presents various offers of assistance in the academic field (German/English/Ukrainian): https://www.daad-ukraine.org/de/.

    How can I prepare for a profession or trade other than by studying?(Ausbildung)

    An apprenticeship (Ausbildung) is an alternative to studying at a university which means you learn a profession or trade. An Abitur is not required. In two to three years, you will learn a trade such as baker, nurse or salesperson through a combination of school and work. The required language level depends on the people responsible for your training.

    In order to find out if you are interested in a specific apprenticeship (Ausbildung), an internship (Praktikum) can be helpful.

    There are also various other ways to prepare for an apprenticeship:

    Training preparation for adults
    You can take part in a vocational orientation programme for immigrants (Beruflichen Orientierung für Zugewanderte, BOF). The prerequisite is that you are of legal age, have completed an integration course and have sufficient basic school knowledge. You also need a residence permit that authorises you to work. The BOF prepares you step by step for an apprenticeship and gives you an insight into up to three training occupations. The course teaches language skills, basic school knowledge and personal, social and methodological skills.
    Submit your application to the Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung (BIBB) online and also by letter:
    Application forms are available in the electronic application system “easy-online”. (https://foerderportal.bund.de/easyonline/formularassistent.jsf). Select the funding measure “Vocational orientation programme for refugees” of the BMBF. The electronic application system will then guide you through the rest of the application process. Then submit a signed paper version of the application submitted via “easy-online”. This includes the project description stored in easy-online and a “Declaration on the acquisition of internship places”. You submit the paper version to the Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung (address: Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung, Arbeitsbereich 4.5, Programmstelle Berufsorientierung, Postfach 20 12 64, 53142 Bonn).

    You can find more information here:
    https://www.bmbf.de/bmbf/de/bildung/integration-durch-bildung-und-qualifizierung/berufliche-orientierung-fuer-zugewanderte/berufliche-orientierung-fuer-zugewanderte_node.html
    https://www.bibb.de/de/62186.php

    Training preparation for young people

    Adolescents who are between 16 and 18 old and do not have sufficient language skills for an apprenticeship (Ausbildung), can take part in a preparatory course program (Ausbildungsvorbereitung):

    Hamburger Institut für Berufliche Bildung, informationszentrum@hibb.hamburg.de,  + 49 40 42863 4236 (Monday and Tuesday 9 am – 5 pm, Wednesday 9 am – 1 pm, Thursday 10 am – 6 pm, Friday 9 am – 1 pm), www.hibb.hamburg.de/bildungsangebote/berufsvorbereitung/berufsvorbereitung 
    sschule/bildungsangebote-fuer-migrantinnen-und-migranten/

    More information on an apprenticeship (Ausbildung) and a potential right to stay due to this (in German, English, Arabic, Farsi, Sorani and Tigrinya): www.hamburg.de/yourchance/

    You can also find additional information on an apprenticeship (Ausbildung), on internships (Praktikum) and work here: www.we-inform.de/portal/en/work/

    How do I have my professional qualifications recognised?

    If you have completed your studies, an apprenticeship (Ausbildung) or a comparable course, you can also get these recognised. Get advice on this from the following institutions:

    • Diakonisches Werk Hamburg: Zentrale Anlaufstelle Anerkennung (ZAA), ), Süderstraße 32 Badvice in German, English, Arabic, Farsi, Russian, if needed interpreters for further languages are available. Please make an appointment:
    • Advice regarding recognition specifically for African women:
      • African-German Information Center (AGIC): Frauen aus Afrika erfolgreich im Anerkennungsverfahren (Successful recognition for African women):Wendenstraße 29, info@agic-hamburg.de, hamburg.de hamburg.de”>kenneth.gbandi@agic-hamburg.de, +49 40 88307280 (Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 10 am – 4 pm), www.agic-hamburg.de/frauen-aus-afrika-erfolgreich-im-anerkennungsverfahren/

     

    You can find further information on advice on recognition here: www.diakonie-hamburg.de/de/visitenkarte/zaa/So-helfen-wir-Ihnen

    https://www.diakonie-hamburg.de/de/rat-und-hilfe/auslaendische-abschluesse/

    Information on whether, how and where you can have your qualification recognised can be found on the website of the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training: Information portal “Anerkennung in Deutschland” (German, English, Arabic, Ukrainian, Russian): All information under the top left menu item “For professionals” is translated. You can change the language at the top right.
    There is also specific information for many professions in the “Recognition Finder”. This information is only available in German and English.
    https://www.anerkennung-in-deutschland.de/html/de/fachkraefte.php.
    v    .

    How can I continue with the study programme I have started or with my profession? (Weiterbildung)

    If you have already started or completed your studies in your home country, further education can give you additional qualifications for your job search.

    Sometimes your job qualification is different than the German qualification although it has a similar name. When you get your qualification recognised it might be evaluated as ‘partly equal’ (“teilweise gleichwertig”). Then, you can participate in a course for adaptation of your qualification (Anpassungsqualifizierung). Afterwards, your qualification is recognised as equal to a German qualification.

    Here you can find courses for adaptation of your qualification (Anpassungsqualifizierung) for craftsmanship, the trade and services sector, for physiotherapists, educators and teachers:

     

    You can find an overview on courses in Hamburg here:

    Further education scholarship (Weiterbildungsstipendium)
    You may be able to apply for a scholarship that will provide you with up to three years of funding for your further professional training.
    The prerequisite is that you are under 25 years of age, have already completed your vocational training in Germany and are either working at least 15 hours a week or are registered as a jobseeker at the time of application. Specialised further training that can theoretically be funded includes, for example, measures to acquire professional qualifications, seminars to acquire interdisciplinary (e.g. software courses) and social skills and part-time degree courses that build on your training or professional activity.
    You can qualify for the scholarship if you either
    have passed your final vocational examination with at least 87 points or better than “good”, or
    you have come among the top three in a supra-regional professional performance competition or
    you can provide evidence of your special qualifications in the form of a well-founded proposal from your employer or vocational school.
    Please send your application to the organisation responsible for your vocational training, for example a Chamber of Industry and Commerce or Chamber of Crafts. You can find out which organisation this is for you in your vocational training contract. This office will inform you which documents you need for your application.
    For healthcare professions regulated by federal law, the SBB is the organisation responsible for implementing the continuing education scholarship. In this case, please call the applicant hotline (+49 228 629 31 37, Monday to Friday 9 am – 12 pm)
    Further information
    For dual professions: https://www.sbb-stipendien.de/fileadmin/user_upload/downloads/Downloads_WS/Stipendieninformation_Duale_Berufe_ab2023.pdf
    For professions in the healthcare sector: https://www.sbb-stipendien.de/fileadmin/user_upload/downloads/Downloads_WS/Stipendieninformation_GFB_ab2023.pdf

    You can get advice on further education here (in German):

    How can I finance my studies?

    Financing your studies

    You can find general information on financing your studies here: www.studierendenwerk-hamburg.de/studienfinanzierung

    Information for refugees: www.studierendenwerk-hamburg.de/internationales/studierende-aus-dem-ausland#c9345

    Advice on financing your studies for refugees:

    Studierendenwerk Hamburg, Beratungszentrum Soziales & Internationales – BeSI, Grindelallee 9, 3. OG, consultation currently via phone and email: besi@studierendenwerk-hamburg.de, +49 40 41902 155 (Monday 12 pm (noon) – 3 pm, Tuesday 1 pm – 4 pm, Wednesday 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm and Thursday 10 am – 12 pm (noon)).

    Personal consultation without appointment: Monday 1 pm – 3 pm, Tuesday 1 pm – 4 pm, Thursday 10 am – 12 pm (noon);
    https://www.stwhh.de/beratung/beratungszentrum-soziales-internationales-besi

    Scholarship (Stipendium) 

    You need to apply to be able to receive a scholarship. It allows you to (partly) finance your studies or further education.

    You can find information on scholarships here: www.stipendiumplus.de/startseite.html https://www.daad.de/de/studieren-und-forschen-in-deutschland/stipendien-finden/
    /

    The organization ApplicAid helps you find a mentor who supports you with the application for a specific scholarship: www.applicaid.org/mentee https://www.applicaid.org/mentee
    https://www.applicaid.org/mentoring

    Further offers for Ukrainian refugees and funding programmes for Ukrainian scientists

    Financial support for refugee Ukrainian students

    As a Ukrainian refugee, you can also apply for financial support for students (e.g. BAföG). You can find more information here: https://www.bafög.de/bafoeg/de/das-bafoeg-alle-infos-auf-einen-blick/hinweise-fuer-gefluechtete-aus-der-ukraine.html (Deutsch).

    Please note that if you are still studying digitally at your university in Ukraine or are only enrolled as a guest or exchange student at a Hamburg university, you cannot apply for BAföG. However, you may be able to apply for Arbeitslosengeld II (unemployment benefit II)/Grundsicherung (basic income support). You can find more information here: https://we-inform.de/portal/de/finanzielle-unterstuetzung/.

    The Studierendenwerk Hamburg (Student Union Hamburg) has set up an emergency fund “Beihilfe Ukraine” (Ais Ukraine) and awards aid payments to students affected by the war in Ukraine (both refugee students and students who have previously studied in Hamburg but whose financial support has been cancelled due to the war). The aid can be applied for at the Beratungszentrum Soziales und Internationales (Counselling Centre for Social and International Affairs – BeSI) and should be paid as a one-off payment or for a limited period of two months. The extent to which the receipt of other state benefits (e.g. BAföG) will be offset against the payment will be decided on a case-by-case basis.

    Please make an appointment on site, by telephone or by video conference at BeSI: Grindelallee 9, 3rd floor, +49 40 419 02 155 Monday 12 – 3 pm, Tuesday 1 pm – 4 pm, Wednesday 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm and Thursday 10 am – 12 pm (noon)). Further information can be found at https://www.stwhh.de/internationales/studierende-aus-dem-ausland#c21910.

    The Nationale Akademische Kontaktstelle Ukraine (National Academic Contact Point Ukraine) offers research and study scholarships for Ukrainian students and academics. Apply here: https://www.daad-ukraine.org/uk/propozitsiyi-finansovoyi-pidtrimki/stipendialna-baza-danih-daad/stipendien-datenbank-uk/

    Integration of Ukrainian researchers and research scholarships in Hamburg

    The Hamburg universites and the Behörde für Wissenschaft, Forschung, Gleichstellung und Bezirke (Hamburg Ministry of Science, Research, Equalities and Districts, BWFGB) have established a science bridge for Ukrainian researchers who have already completed their doctorates, the so-called Hamburg Programme for Scholars at Risk. The aim of the programme is the professional integration of at-risk researchers or cultural and artistic professionals into a working group or department at the university under the host mentorship of an academic supervisor.

    The programme awards research grants for 1-12 months to at-risk doctoral researchers from Ukraine at Hamburg’s state-funded universities (including UHH, HAW, TUH). For this purpose, 2,000 euros per month will be paid to the scientists. Further information on the programme and the application process can be found under the following link (German, English):

    https://www.uni-hamburg.de/en/internationales/mitarbeitende/mitarbeitende-wissenschaft/gefaehrdete-forschende/funding/hpsar-ukraine.html

    https://www.uni-hamburg.de/internationales/mitarbeitende/mitarbeitende-wissenschaft/gefaehrdete-forschende/funding/hpsar-ukraine.html

    Research opportunities for Ukrainian scientists via Baltic partner universities
    The Baltic University Programme (BUP) of HAW also offers assistance to researchers through the Baltic Science Bridge programme. The programme will try to establish contact between you, as a Ukrainian scientist, and a Baltic university so that you can continue your scientific work there.

    Contact the secretariat of the BUP at ukraine-science-bridge@Is.haw-hamburg.de. Address: HAW Hamburg, Ulmenliet 20.

    Further information can be found here: https://www.haw-hamburg.de/en/university/newsroom/news-details/news/news/show/support-ukrainian-scientists-abroad/.

    Nationwide initiatives for research scholarships

    The Nationale Akademische Kontaktstelle Ukraine (National Academic Contact Point Ukraine) offers research and study scholarships for Ukrainian students and academics. You can apply here: https://www.daad-ukraine.org/uk/propozitsiyi-finansovoyi-pidtrimki/stipendialna-baza-danih-daad/stipendien-datenbank-uk/

    The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation) supports refugees who have been outside their home country for less than 3 years by facilitating participation in research projects and applications to the Walter-Benjamin-Programm. This programme enables refugee researchers to independently implement their own Post-Doc-Forschungsvorhaben (post-doctoral research project) in Germany. Successful applicants are offered employment at a research institute. The funding also includes a general material cost allowance of 250 euros per month, as well as subsidies for any increased publication costs. The funding period is up to 2 years. The funding guidelines can be found here: https://www.dfg.de/formulare/55_06/55_06_en.pdf.

    You can find an overview of the contact persons in the various departments here:  https://www.dfg.de/en/dfg_profile/head_office/structure/programme_contacts/index.jsp.

    The Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (German Federal Environmental Foundation) awards fellowships to Ukrainian citizens. The OE Fellowship (OE Fellowship) includes monthly payments of 1,250 euros, various insurance benefits, German language courses and participation in seminars and events. Prerequisites are a good to very good university degree and good knowledge of English and/or German. Further information can be found here: https://www.dbu.de/foerderung/moe-fellowship/ukraine//

    Last Updated: 26.02.2025