Information for International Students on Tuition Fees and the Possibility to Defer Payment
The Main Points in brief:
1. The tuition fee of €375 must be paid promptly (by the date on the tuition fee notification that you will receive by post.
2. The universities have specified a special deferral option (interest-free) for international students who do not qualify for the general deferral entitlement*. (This deferral means that you do not have to pay your fees at the Hamburg University of Technology [TUHH] immediately, but only after the end of the period of deferral.) You can obtain an application for deferral of payment from the Admissions Office.
3. The fee is payable immediately on expiry of the approved period of deferral. This means that after the end of the standard course duration plus two semesters you must pay the entire sum of which payment was deferred, regardless whether you have finished your studies or not. This also applies if you reach age 46 or discontinue your studies.
1. How much will the tuition fee be?
The general tuition fee is €375 per semester. It will be payable as hitherto for all undergraduate courses at public state universities in Hamburg.
2. Must all students pay fees?
In principle, all students who use university teaching services in the context of their studies are liable to pay fees. However, there are exemptions from the obligation to pay fees for
- Enrolled PhD students
- Students granted leave of absence
- Exchange or program students enrolled under agreements that guarantee reciprocal exemption from fees.
3. Can all international students defer payment?
No, deferral is dependent on income. You must declare and provide evidence that your disposable income is not more than €732.50 per month. Income means any money that you earn or receive (jobs, scholarships, allowances, parents, etc.). The sum could be higher under certain circumstances. Please contact admissions office to check.
4. For how long will I be able to defer payment of fees?
Payment can be deferred for the duration of a first course of study in Hamburg, at a maximum for the standard course duration plus two semesters, provided that students have not reached the age of 45. Periods of study at another German university or an institution of equal rank are taken into account. The TUHH grants deferral for one or two semesters, then checks whether the conditions for deferral are still fulfilled.
5. Who will approach me when the time comes for me to pay the fee?
The Hamburg University of Technology.
6. Do I definitely have to pay the deferred debts immediately after the end of the period of deferral?
Yes, in principle. If the end of the period of deferral also marks the end of your studies at the Hamburg University of Technology, you must pay the deferred debts immediately, regardless of your income.
However, if at that time there are reasons signifying special hardship there is a possibility of further deferral. In that case, however, interest will be charged.
7. What if I am unable to pay the deferred debts when I finish my studies?
Here, too, if at that time there are reasons signifying special hardship, there is a possibility of further deferral. In this case, interest will also be charged.
* The following qualify for the general deferral entitlement under § 6c Paragraph 1 of the Hamburg Higher Education Act (HmbHG): German nationals, citizens of another European Union member state or of another state that is a signatory of the Treaty on the European Economic Area (and in certain circumstances their family members), and foreign nationals and stateless persons who obtained their university admission entitlement in Germany.