TU Hamburg (TUHH)

TUHH at a glance

The Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH / Technische Universität Hamburg) is a public research university located in the Harburg borough of Hamburg, Germany. Indian students focus heavily on its English-taught Master of Science programs in computer science, data science, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering.

Four things Indian applicants should know first:

• No tuition fee. TUHH charges no general tuition fees for regular degree programs. You only pay a semester contribution of €400.00 for winter semester 2026/27, which includes the nationwide Deutschlandsemesterticket for local and regional transit.
• Direct online application with a mandatory pre-check. You apply directly through the TUHH portal, not uni-assist. Before accessing the application form, you must complete an online pre-check to receive an application code.
• Strict document policy (no GRE, no recommendation letters). TUHH explicitly states that only the mandatory listed documents are accepted; GRE scores and reference letters will neither be read nor considered. Indian applicants must provide a mandatory APS certificate.
• English proficiency is compulsory. TUHH requires an IELTS Academic score of at least 6.5 or a TOEFL iBT of at least 90. Medium of instruction letters from India are not accepted.

What it really costs

Tuition: none. TUHH charges zero tuition fees for standard consecutive Bachelor's and Master's degrees. Students pay only the compulsory semester contribution.

Semester contribution. For the winter semester 2026/2027 (1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027), the semester contribution is €400.00, broken down as follows:

TUHH notes that re-registration fees are due by 15 September for winter and 15 March for summer. First-semester students must wait for their official admission letter and payment request before transferring funds.

Living costs and the blocked account. For the German student visa, Indian students must deposit €11,904 a year into a blocked account, released at €992 a month. TUHH notes that costs in Hamburg are high, estimating a minimum requirement of €800 per month for rent, food, health insurance, and study materials. See our blocked account manual and total cost breakdown.

Health insurance is compulsory to enrol in Germany. See our health insurance guide.

Can you reduce the cost?

• Working while studying. Non-EU students in Germany are legally permitted to work up to 140 full days or 280 half days per calendar year. Academic student assistant (HiWi) positions at TUHH institutes and working student roles in Hamburg's industrial, logistics, and tech sectors are common ways to cover monthly living expenses. Read our guides on part-time work rules and securing Werkstudent jobs.
• Deutschlandstipendium. High-performing students at TUHH can apply for the Deutschlandstipendium, which provides €300 per month for one academic year (application window typically late October to mid-November).
• Graduation financial aid. TUHH offers graduation grants funded by the DAAD for international students who are completing their degree within six months and demonstrate good academic standing and financial need.
• DAAD scholarships. Prospective students can explore national competitive awards via the DAAD scholarships guide.

Getting in: what TUHH looks at

For international Master's degree programs at TUHH:

1. Bachelor's degree: A relevant Bachelor's degree (equivalent to at least 180 ECTS) in engineering, computer science, or natural sciences. If you have not yet graduated, you can apply by submitting a provisional degree certificate and official semester mark sheets detailing remaining modules and prospective grades. See our guides on academic fit & ECTS credit mapping and 3-year Bachelor acceptance.
2. Online pre-check: Before accessing the application portal, applicants must pass an online pre-check tool that screens basic degree alignment and grading eligibility. You receive a pre-check code required to create an application account.
3. English language tests: Mandatory for all applicants whose primary language is not English. TUHH requires:

- TOEFL iBT: Minimum score of 90 (TUHH code: 8165). TOEFL ITP and TOEFL Essentials are not accepted. - IELTS Academic: Minimum overall band score of 6.5. - Cambridge / telc: Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), C2 Proficiency (CPE), or telc English C1. - Note: Medium of instruction letters (English proficiency certificates from Indian universities) are strictly not accepted. See our English language tests guide.

1. APS certificate: Mandatory for all applicants holding academic qualifications from India, China, or Vietnam. The certificate must be uploaded with your online application. See our APS certificate manual.
2. No GRE / No reference letters: TUHH explicitly prohibits sending GRE scores, letters of recommendation, or extra certificates. The university states that non-requested documents will neither be read nor considered during evaluation.
3. Application limit: You may apply for only one international Master's degree course at TUHH per application intake.

How to apply

1. Complete the pre-check. During the open application period, complete the online pre-check on the TUHH website to generate your unique pre-check code.
2. Register on the TUHH portal. Access the online application facility using your code and upload required PDF documents (maximum 7 MB per file):

- Curriculum vitae (maximum 2 pages, free format) - Bachelor's degree certificate (or provisional letter with prospective grades) - Complete university transcripts of records / semester mark sheets - Official explanation of your university grading system (maximum, minimum passing, and graduation grades) - Valid English language test score report - APS certificate

1. Submit entirely online. Do not send paper documents or post mail to TUHH. Everything must be submitted via the online upload facility before the deadline.

Deadlines

TUHH sets strict application deadlines depending on the chosen program:

• General international Master's programs (winter intake only):

- Application and pre-check window: 1 December to 1 February

• M.Sc. Computer Science & M.Sc. Electrical Engineering and Information Technology:

- Winter semester: 1 June to 15 July - Summer semester: 1 December to 15 January

• M.Sc. Data Science:

- Standard non-EU window: 1 December to 1 February (EU residents/nationals window: 1 June to 15 July)

See our guide on German application deadlines: winter vs summer intakes.

Popular Master's programs for Indian students

TUHH offers 100% English-taught Master of Science degrees tailored for engineering and technology careers:

• M.Sc. Computer Science: Specializations in intelligent systems, software engineering, and secure systems, with admissions open in both winter and summer terms.
• M.Sc. Data Science: Focuses on machine learning, scalable data architectures, and statistical modelling.
• M.Sc. Information and Communication Systems: Combines communication networks, signal processing, and mobile systems engineering.
• M.Sc. Electrical Engineering and Information Technology: Spans microelectronics, automation, and energy systems.
• M.Sc. Mechanical Engineering and Management: Blends advanced mechanical engineering principles with industrial technology management.
• M.Sc. Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering: Focused on sustainable chemical synthesis and biochemical processing.

Compare technology and computing programs across Germany using our MS in Computer Science & AI directory and MS in Data Science directory.

Where you'll live

Student accommodation in Hamburg is operated by Studierendenwerk Hamburg (STWHH):

• Wohnanlage Harburg (Schüttstraße 1-5): Located in downtown Harburg, about a 15-minute walk from the TUHH campus. The complex houses 222 students in shared flatshares of 2 to 6 people (single furnished rooms around 12 m² with shared kitchen and bathrooms).
• Rent: Monthly rent is €360, including flat-rate utility costs (heating, electricity, water), internet access, and cable TV connections.

After you graduate

International graduates of a German university can get a residence permit of up to 18 months to look for a job, and may take any job during that time. Once you find qualified work you switch to a work permit or EU Blue Card. See our guides to the job seeker permit and the EU Blue Card.

Who TUHH is a good fit for

• A strong choice if you have a solid engineering or computer science undergraduate background, meet the strict IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 90 cutoffs, and prefer a modern technical university in a major port city without tuition fees.
• Think carefully if you rely on a Medium of Instruction (MOI) letter instead of standard test scores, want your GRE score to compensate for undergraduate GPA (TUHH disregards GRE scores completely), or find high living costs in Hamburg difficult to finance without immediate student jobs.

Sources

Every figure on this page comes from these official pages, checked on 23 October 2026:

• TUHH: Semesterbeitrag / semester contribution breakdown
• TUHH: International study programs & deadlines
• TUHH: Required application documents & language tests
• TUHH: Costs of living
• TUHH: Study financing & graduation aid
• TUHH: Deutschlandstipendium
• Studierendenwerk Hamburg: Wohnanlage Harburg
• Make it in Germany: prospects after graduation

Fees and rules change. Always confirm on TUHH's own pages before you pay or apply.