We advise against studying at the University of Hamburg!

12 February 2026

We, the AStA of the University of Hamburg, advise prospective students against studying at the University of Hamburg. How did we come to this conclusion? This year alone, the University of Hamburg has recorded a financial deficit in the double-digit millions. As a result, the faculties have already been asked to make savings of 4.5% this semester. Given the current underfunding, a worst-case deficit and thus cuts of 18.5% to 24.5% are forecast for each faculty. Although the University of Hamburg is known for its excellent teaching, we cannot assume that it will be able to maintain this standard in view of its financial situation. It must be emphasised that, contrary to what is often claimed, the university is not to blame for its financial situation. Instead, the inaction of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg is the source of the underfunding.

What does it take to have a good education?

Outstanding education, which is the goal of both the FHH and the university itself, requires long-term, sustainable and comprehensive funding for education and research. Only this can provide the foundation necessary for a university education: the provision of teaching materials, an adequate number of tutorials, the necessary personnel support for professorships, scientific equipment, open libraries with up-to-date teaching materials and much more. Unfortunately, this foundation is already crumbling: more and more tutorials are being cancelled, while the ceiling is leaking. The departments can no longer provide all the necessary teaching materials, which means that students who are already at risk of poverty have to cover these costs themselves. At the same time, positions for student employees are being cut or kept vacant, even though these often represent the first step in an academic career. Working groups, tutorials and exercises are being eliminated, making it dramatically more difficult to pass courses. At the same time, the range of courses on offer is being reduced, which is extending the length of study. These examples from a long list of symptoms of cutbacks show how the current cutbacks are already massively worsening study conditions. It remains questionable how the diverse range of courses that make up the university's broad profile can be guaranteed to remain viable when cuts of up to 24.5% are being made. The future prospects for prospective students are looking bleak, as they are built on shaky foundations.

General financial situation of students:

The financial plight of the University of Hamburg is not the only hurdle to studying in Hamburg. Rents, living costs and transport prices are at an all-time high in Hamburg, while student jobs in academia are disappearing. It is well known that many students are at risk of poverty. Nevertheless, canteen prices are rising and the waiting lists for a place in a student hall of residence remain long. This situation is further exacerbated by an increase in the semester fee. For the 2025/26 winter semester, the semester fee has risen by around 12%. This is mainly due to the price increase for the Deutschlandticket and the student services contribution.

Reaction of the university:

The University Executive Board has responded to the financial difficulties with an urgent letter. We welcome this letter because it sets out in detail and impressively the conditions under which teaching at the University of Hamburg is currently struggling. In addition, this letter formulates clear demands on the city, which we as student representatives share and support.

What is the risk in the debate about the funding of education and research?

It is important to emphasise that a large number of different groups in the Hamburg academic community are affected by austerity measures. Mutual solidarity is therefore essential. Financial constraints must not lead to different groups being played off against each other. Whether it be students against employees, faculties against each other, the University of Hamburg against smaller universities, or universities against libraries and student services. The future prospects for students at the University of Hamburg are at risk due to the university's underfunding, but also because the entire Hamburg academic community is struggling with underfunding.

Future prospects:

It is important to us to contribute to responsible, permanently secure and high-quality teaching. We make our contribution to this, for example, through ongoing (committee) work on the organisation of examinations and studies, our own courses such as the Klimaring lecture series, and our regular demands for the university to be fully funded. We are joined by staff councils, TVStud, and most recently also publicly by the university presidency and many others in opposing the underfunding of science in Hamburg. Despite these efforts, stable funding for science in Hamburg, and in particular for the University of Hamburg, has not yet been achieved. Without adequate funding for the University of Hamburg, there can be no first-class teaching there. Without first-class teaching, we feel obliged to warn (future) students against studying at the University of Hamburg. We would love to promote studying at the University of Hamburg. However, we can only do so again once such a degree programme offers students secure prospects.