Campus-Center Forum

Dear Admissions Team,

I am interested in applying for the Master’s programme in African Languages and Cultures, specialising in Applied African Linguistics (Language Education and Language Planning), at the University of Hamburg.

As a prospective international applicant from Ghana, I would appreciate some clarification regarding the admission timeline and the university’s policies on potential student visa delays.

In particular, I would like to know:

1. Are admission decisions for international applicants typically communicated before the application deadline, or are all applications assessed after the deadline has passed?
2. Does the university consider the visa processing timelines of international students to ensure that successful applicants have sufficient time to obtain their visas before the semester begins?
3. Are international students permitted to arrive late if their student visa processing is delayed?
4. Can the university issue an official late arrival confirmation letter where necessary?
5. If a student is unable to arrive in time due to visa delays, is it possible to defer admission to the following semester?

I would be grateful for your guidance, as this information will help me plan my application and make the necessary arrangements for my studies in Germany.

Thank you for your time and assistance. I look forward to your response.

Kind regards,
Prospective Master’s Student

Hello Amorkor,

1. Are admission decisions for international applicants typically communicated before the application deadline, or are all applications assessed after the deadline has passed?

The admission decisions for summer semester will be published in February, after the application deadline has passed. The exact dates will be published here: https://www.stine.uni-hamburg.de/script ... -A100101e


2. Does the university consider the visa processing timelines of international students to ensure that successful applicants have sufficient time to obtain their visas before the semester begins?

Applicants receive an application confirmation document for visa application right after the end of the application deadline. Detailed information on visa issues can be found at https://www.uni-hamburg.de/en/campuscen ... visum.html

3. Are international students permitted to arrive late if their student visa processing is delayed?

Please contact in this case the corresponding academic office of the program.

4. Can the university issue an official late arrival confirmation letter where necessary?

Yes, we do.

5. If a student is unable to arrive in time due to visa delays, is it possible to defer admission to the following semester?

No, a deferment of admission is not possible. But in case the visa procedure takes much more time tham expected you can apply for academic leave in the first semester. You will need therefore a confirmation from the academic office as proof.
In this case you can also apply for exemption for the semesterticket.

Application/ admission requirements: https://www.uni-hamburg.de/onTEAM/studi ... ltures.pdf

Best regards,
BK