Information for enrolled students

Everything from registration to submission of the thesis can be found on the master’s thesis page.

The University of Hamburg Business School organizes a graduation ceremony twice a year. Go to the following website to see the current dates.

After completing your studies, you need to apply for the following graduation documents to be issued:

• Master’s degree diploma (German and English)
• Master’s degree diploma (German and English)
• Transcript of Records (final) (German and English)
• Diploma Supplement (German and English)

You are welcome to use the form to apply for the issue of your final documents [PDF] (in German only). It usually takes 6–8 weeks for the issue of final documents.

Study and examination achievements completed at another university (e.g., achievements from a previous degree program or course(s) completed abroad) can be recognized. 

Applications for recognition can only be made electronically via STiNE under the heading “Studium” > “Anträge.” You can find more detailed information on the “Recognition of study and examination achievements” page. Contact your study coordinator with any questions on the process.

Note that it may take up to 8 weeks to review your documents. Work completed before the start of the degree program can only be recognized during the first semester.

The University of Hamburg promotes global thinking and networking via international cooperation, exchange at home and abroad, and extensive supervision and guidance. Information on the various options for studying abroad can be found on the websites of the International Office of the Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences and the University of Hamburg Business School (especially for ERASMUS+ for universities in Europe, Norway and Turkey, the faculty exchange for study visits outside Europe or SEMP for universities in Switzerland) and the Department of International Affairs at the University of Hamburg (other exchange opportunities).

The University of Hamburg Business School academic office is the central point of contact if you want to apply for recognition of examinations taken abroad and for any advance recognition. You can find further information on the topic of recognition under “Recognition of study and examination achievements” (the (English translation will follow soon).

You require certified copies of your transcripts and certificates (certificate, final record of grades, transcript of records, or diploma supplement) or other documents you have received in the course of your studies?

For this, you need to contact the responsible registration office. Which local registration office is responsible in your case depends on your address of residence. In Hamburg, you can obtain certified copies of your documents at the City’s customer service centers (Kundenzentren).

Further information:

• Municipal authority search engine 
• Information on document certification in municipal customer service centers (Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg)
• Information on prior document certification or apostilles for international documents, Ministry of the Interior and Sports (Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg)

Be aware that the University of Hamburg Business School academic office does not certify documents.

Application for the first semester

You can apply for any winter semester. Applications must be submitted online within the application period (1 May–15 June) via STiNE. Detailed information on the application and admission procedure for the master’s degree program can be found on the page Information for prospective students .

Applying for a higher-subject semester (continuing your studies)

Applications for a higher semester are currently not possible for the Master of Science in Business Administration.

You can withdraw from your studies/disenroll effective immediately (i.e., same day), at a desired date in the future, or at the end of the semester. You can apply to withdraw from your studies via STiNE. See the Campus Center website for more information.

If you successfully complete your studies and do not explicitly apply to disenroll, you will be disenrolled at the end of the semester in which you complete your studies (i.e., on 31 March or 30 September).

Modules amounting to 24 ECTS credits must be completed in the free elective area and graded as “passed”, as the grades from the free elective area are not included in the overall grade. The program includes modules from the entire Master of Science in Business Administration (MSc), with the exception of seminars.

In addition, language courses from the Language Center can be credited in the free elective area, provided that they demonstrate achievement of at least a C1 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. German cannot generally be credited. Register your language courses under “Extracurricular courses.”

In addition, there is a rotating catalog of modules from other faculties, such as the Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences or the Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences, which can be accessed via STiNE during the registration phase.

The master’s degree program consists of various elective and compulsory elective modules, which must be completed within the standard 4-semester period of study. If you fail an examination during these 4 semesters, you can repeat the module within 2 further semesters. However, this requires at least 1 examination attempt in all compulsory elective and elective modules within the standard period of study. Note the provisions of the examination regulations (Section 10 subsections 4 and 7).

This means: There is no regulation on examination attempts. Instead, you have a deadline (the standard period of study) to take the examinations in the elective and compulsory elective modules— the maximum period is 6 subject semesters. Within this time, you can take advantage of any examination date offered. How often you repeat an exam is not relevant until the end of the sixth semester.

Students who do not meet the requirements for an extension of the study period in accordance with Section 10 subsection 4 of the examination regulations must submit a written application for an extension, providing justification, to the chairperson of the examination board via the University of Hamburg Business School academic office at the end of their fourth semester. In the application, you must state the modules for which the extension is required, and explain how the failure to retake at least one failed examination attempt was for reasons beyond your control. If the application is not granted, the deadline for taking the module examinations is deemed definitively expired and your studies have been unsuccessfully completed.

If you would like to inspect the reviews of your thesis, send an email to the Office of Student Affairs from your student email address ( . . .@studium.uni-hamburg.de). You will then receive an access link to the reports, which you can download as a PDF. To do this, log in with your uni username and, if necessary, a second factor authorization.

Be aware that the activation is only valid for 7 days. After this time, you will no longer be able to use the link.

If you no longer have access to STiNE, you must make an appointment to view your documents in person at the academic office. You also have the opportunity to pick up a copy of the reports at the academic office service point. Note the opening hours of the service point.

In cooperation with the international office of the Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences, the University of Hamburg Business School academic office also supports international incoming students studying at the University of Hamburg for 1–2 semesters. 

The University of Hamburg Business School academic office is responsible for registering students for courses and examinations and issues a transcript of records (TOR) at the end of their stay.  

International students can find more information on the Campus Center pages.

Further helpful tips can be found on the Department of International Affairs of the University of Hamburg and PIASTA web pages.

The Master of Science in Business Administration is subject to a time limitation pursuant to Section 10 of the examination regulations. Accordingly, doctor’s notes / certificates for module examinations do not result in an extension of the study period, and are thus not administered by the University of Hamburg Business School academic office. Retain any doctor’s notes in your documents.

Periods of sick leave are relevant for the duration of your master’s thesis.If you wish to apply for an extension of the processing time for your thesis due to illness, you will need a qualified medical certificate. The easiest way to do this is to have your doctor fill out the form Proof of Inability and Request for Extension of Thesis Deadline [PDF].

The form must be completed in full. Alternatively, the examining doctor can issue an independent report, which must contain the information required on the form.  See the information on master’s theses. 

The registration deadlines for the courses and seminars can be found on the University of Hamburg Business School academic office’s Dates and Deadlines page.

You must register via STiNE within the registration period to take part in a course. You must register for the module, the course, and the examination. Issues with registration can only be reported and considered within the registration deadline.

Information on the seminars as well as an overview of the courses with limited attendance in the current semester can also be found on the academic office page.

The module handbook sets out the content, qualification objectives, and details of the modules. The current module handbook can be found under Regulations, Module Handbooks, and Examination Board.

Students with long-term or permanent impairments are entitled to reasonable accommodations in examinations.

The Office for Students with Disabilities can help with all matters related to impairments. Should reasonable accommodations be recommended, contact your degree program coordinator immediately. The chairperson of your examination board decides the details of the reasonable accommodations.

If you are eligible for reasonable accommodations, please contact your examiners as early as possible (at least 4 weeks before the examination date) and inform them directly that you would like reasonable accommodations for their examination. Submit your certificate of reasonable accommodations so that your examiners know which accommodations you have been granted. You can then discuss the individual design of your reasonable accommodations directly.

If you have any questions or uncertainties, contact us: studienbuero.bwl[at]uni-hamburg.de.

The current opening hours can be found on the University of Hamburg Business School academic office web page.

Two examination dates are offered for every exam at the end of the courses. The first examination date is at the end of the lecture period, and the second examination date is at the end of the reading period, shortly before the beginning of the following semester.

In order to participate in classes and examinations, you must register through STiNE. Registration for exams or take-home exams is possible up to 8 days and deregistration up to 4 days before the respective exam date. This means that there must be at least 7 full days between your registration and the examination date and 3 full days before your deregistration and the examination date.

Example: The examination will take place on 24 March 2025. Registration for this exam is then possible up to and including 11:59 pm, 16 March 2025. Deregistration is possible until 11:59 pm, 20 March 2025.

For oral examinations, this is determined according to the first possible examination date of the respective examination phase (not your individual date).

It is not possible to deregister from term papers and seminar papers. Registration is binding together with the course registration.

Important: You can only register for examinations if you have registered for the corresponding modules and courses before the deadline! The deadlines are announced by the academic office under on under news and dates.

In order to keep to the standard period of study, we recommend that you take the first examination date so that you can retake the second examination date if you fail. A third appointment usually takes place 1 year later.

All legal principles relevant to your degree program can be found under Regulations, Module Handbooks, and Examination Board.

Students select 2 specializations at the beginning of the master’s degree program.

There are 7 specializations available in the general track to choose from, 2 of which can be combined freely in the individual study program.

In the English track, only 4 specializations are available in English.

Students can change their specialization at any time during the semester, but must first take part in a study counseling session. If you have any questions regarding study planning or a possible change of specialization, contact your degree program coordinator. 

The staff members of the course and examination team are responsible for the following matters:

• management of your STiNE course account
• support with registration, changing registration, and withdrawal from courses and examinations
• preparation of all documents for your studies (e.g., Transcript of Records, graduation documents, and BAföG certificates)
• correcting errors in the course account

In case of technical problems with STiNE, contact the computing center (via the support form in STiNE).

The Campus Center website provides detailed information on student support, funding opportunities and available scholarships.

Module or course examinations for compulsory elective modules (in business administration specializations and in the methods area) and elective modules (in the free elective area) should be completed within the standard 4-semester period of study.

Any repeat examinations can still be taken within 2 further semesters. An extension of the study period is granted after 4 semesters without application if:

• all outstanding modules (lectures/exercises, seminars) have been registered and an examination attempt (5.0) has been made.
  • The master’s thesis is not covered by this regulation!
• your STiNE account shows the necessary 15 modules (including seminar) have been completed in the correct subject structure

The study period is extended for the fifth and sixth subject semester. Elective and compulsory elective modules can still be changed in the extension semester. However, a module or course examination that has already been passed cannot be repeated.

Students can apply for part-time study via STiNE. Detailed information is available on the Campus Center web page.

Part-time students must inform the academic office of their changed student status immediately. Creating an individual study plan with the responsible degree program coordinator in a timely manner is recommended.

Every student at the University has a student email address. This video (also available in English) explains why it is so important, and the advantages it offers, and how you can integrate it into a range of email programs:

Semesters of academic leave do not count as subject semesters.  The Campus Center is responsible for semesters of academic leave.

Creating an individual study plan with the responsible degree program coordinator in a timely manner is recommended.

The current course catalog for the Master of Science in Business Administration can be found on STiNE.

The new course catalogs are released annually on 1 February for the summer semester and on 1 August for the winter semester.