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University of Hamburg

Ranked
sdgs/sdg overall
Sustainability Impact Rated
Hamburg, Germany
=125th in World University Rankings 2026
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About the University of Hamburg

Basic information and contact details for the University of Hamburg

institution

The University of Hamburg is one of Germany's youngest universities, having been founded in 1919. The main campus is located in the central district of Rotherbaum, with another 180 affiliated institutes and research centres scattered around the city.

Hamburg is also known as the "city on the water," with the Alster Lake, the Elbe River and the harbor contributing to the city's distinctive maritime flair while theatre, opera, musicals, movies, festivals, museums, and galleries offer students an all round experience.

Initially there were four faculties including: law, political science, medicine, and natural sciences. There are now 18 separate faculties, alongside seven senate institutions, eight interdisciplinary degree programs and four joint university programs.

The University of Hamburg is the largest research and educational institution in northern Germany, and has established an extensive network of academic corperation’s with leading institutions on both a national and international scale.

Moreover, in spite of its relatively short history, five Nobel Prize Winners are affiliated to the university.

The University of Hamburg sees itself as a family-friendly university and aims to make family life compatible with university life. A broad spectrum of sports classes are offered – including fencing, soccer, argentine tango and yoga – seven days a week.

Established by the Department of English and American Studies in 1980, the university offers a theatre opportunity, called the University Players. The group is famous for entertaining audiences with stage productions for both students and visitors.

The Hamburg State and University Library Carl von Ossietzky, founded in 1479, contains over five million volumes and is the biggest academic library in the Hamburg metropolitan area.

Notable alumni include Ezriel Carlebach, an Israeli journalist and editorial writer, J. Hans D. Jensen, winner of Nobel Prize in Physics in 1963, and Gerd Bucerius, a politician and the namesake of the Bucerius Law School.

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Key Student Statistics

A breakdown of student statistics at the University of Hamburg

gender ratio
Student gender ratio
58 F : 42 M (1)
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International student percentage
13% (1)
student per staff
Students per staff
55.3 (1)
student
Student total
28389 (1)

Based on data collected for the (1) World University Rankings 2026

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Subjects Taught at the University of Hamburg

See below for a range of subjects taught at the University of Hamburg

Arts and Humanities

  • Art, Performing Art and Design
  • History, Philosophy and Theology
  • Languages, Literature and Linguistics

Business and Economics

  • Accounting and Finance
  • Business and Management
  • Economics and Econometrics

Computer Science

  • Computer Science

Education Studies

  • Education

Law

  • Law

Life Sciences

  • Agriculture and Forestry
  • Biological Sciences
  • Sport Science

Medical and Health

  • Medicine and Dentistry
  • Other Health

Physical Sciences

  • Chemistry
  • Geology, Environmental, Earth and Marine Sciences
  • Mathematics and Statistics
  • Physics and Astronomy

Psychology

  • Psychology

Social Sciences

  • Communication and Media Studies
  • Geography
  • Politics and International Studies
  • Sociology