General Tuition Fees

Under the Financing of Studies Act (HmbGVBl. No. 32 p. 376), from the summer semester 2007 all students must pay tuition fees to study in Hamburg. These are in addition to the semester fee, which must also be paid. With effect from the winter semester 2008/09, the general tuition fee has been reduced from €500 to €375 per semester. It will continue to be payable for all degree programs at the Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH). In principle, all students must pay fees if they are enrolled on an undergraduate course. The following groups are exempt from the obligation to pay fees for individual semesters:

1. Those enrolled as PhD students,
2. Those granted leave of absence,
3. Those undertaking a one-year internship as part of their course (not provided for in TUHH courses),
4. Those enrolled as exchange or program students under agreements that guarantee reciprocal exemption from fees.

Along with the new law on fees, a deferral model was introduced whereby students can opt to defer payment of fees or to pay them immediately. As a rule, payment is deferred for the standard duration of the course of studies for which the student enrolls, plus two additional semesters. Periods of study at a German state university or a state institution of equal rank are taken into account in ascertaining entitlement to defer payment.
Along with the notification of fees you will be informed whether you are entitled to defer payment and, if so, for how many semesters. If you claim entitlement to defer by submitting a deferral declaration the debt is transferred to the Hamburgische Wohnungsbaukreditanstalt. The debt incurred for deferring payment of fees is interest-free for the duration of the deferral entitlement.
Click on the following links for information about deferral, the possibilities for exemption from tuition fees, and the procedures to be followed.

• Deferral of Payment of Tuition Fees Pursuant to § 6c of the Hamburg Higher Education Act (HmbHG)
• Exemption from payment of fees pursuant to § 6b Paragraph 5 item 2 of the Hamburg Higher Education Act (Hamburgisches Hochschulgesetz) due to a disability or chronic illness that impedes studies
• Exemption from Payment of Fees Pursuant to § 6b Paragraph 5 item 1 of the Hamburg Higher Education Act (Hamburgisches Hochschulgesetz) on Grounds of Care and Upbringing of a Child
• Information for International Students on Tuition Fees and the Possibility to Defer Payment
• Deferral of or Exemption from Tuition Fees Pursuant to the State Budget Regulations (LHO) on grounds of hardship

TUHH would like to point out that as a matter of principle all students are required to pay the tuition fee. If, once you have been notified that you must pay, you fail to remit the fee in full to the TUHH's bank account by the due date, the University will deregister you as a student.

Please note: The removal from the student's register means also losing the student's status and the right to take exams. You'll compromise your claim for BAföG and child benefit, too. International students are dependent on the student's status due to their residence permit.