Program Overview

Hamburg International Summer School

The Hamburg International Summer School (HISS) is an international summer program that has been offered annually at the University of Hamburg since 2017. The program aims to position the University of Hamburg on the international education market and attract qualified international students and doctoral candidates. It also promotes intercultural exchange on current research and expands international research cooperation.

Overview

• Target Group: Students of all student groups (bachelor's, master's, state examination, doctoral) from the University of Hamburg and universities worldwide; open to all fields.
• Eligibility: University of Hamburg faculty members are eligible to apply.
• Program Goals: Intercultural exchange on current research, expansion of new research cooperation, and attraction of qualified international students and doctoral candidates.
• Funding: Up to EUR 8,000 for the implementation of a summer school within the HISS framework.
• Application Deadline: September 16, 2025.

Program Details

The responsibility for planning, implementation, and follow-up of the HISS lies with the applicants. The International Office supports applicants as needed. A guideline with various templates and hints is provided in the KUS portal to facilitate the organization of a summer school.

Application Requirements

To apply, the following conditions must be met:

• The applicant is employed at the University of Hamburg and actively involved in teaching (regularly as a professor). For applications by postdocs or research assistants, sponsorship by a professor is required.
• The summer school should take place during the lecture-free period between the summer semester 2026 and the winter semester 2026/27.
• The duration of the summer school must be at least two weeks.
• The number of participants must be at least eight (including University of Hamburg students).
• The scope of the teaching events should be approximately 30 academic hours per week.
• The program language is English.
• The program is open to all fields.
• Participation fees are not mandatory but are allowed.
• The summer school must take place in person at the University of Hamburg.

The application must include:

• A cover sheet (.pdf)
• A cost estimate (.xlsx)
• The format of the subject-specific program, its relation to the University of Hamburg's research focuses and potential areas
• Implementation and organization within the faculty/department
• Involvement in the faculty (can lecturers be named? Is there the possibility of using faculty rooms? How does the summer school promote the internationalization of the research area?)
• Possible cooperation partners and supporting research institutions outside the university (e.g., DESY, Max Planck Institute)
• Maximum page limit: 8 pages

Selection Criteria

The following criteria are considered in the decision:

• Adherence to the application deadline
• Relevance of the planned activities to the funding line
• Cost estimate

Funding and Use of Funds

The maximum funding amount per summer school is EUR 8,000. The goal of the funding is to keep participation fees low to enable many people to participate. The funds can be used for:

• Travel and accommodation costs of participating students
• Partially for excursions, welcome/farewell events, or other costs incurred in the organization (up to 20% of the total funding amount)
• Funding can be used (partially) for personnel costs, such as:
  • Fees
  • Student employees/assistants up to usually EUR 2,000 per summer school

Reporting Requirements

A detailed report must be submitted to the International Office within six weeks after the project.

Export Control, Academic Freedom, and In-Depth Examination Procedure

The International Office supports researchers at the University of Hamburg in minimizing risks in international cooperation and placing collaborations on a secure basis. The University of Hamburg's presidential board decided on a review process for international collaborations in 2020. Funding applications and cooperation agreements with international partners are reviewed regarding compliance with academic freedom and the requirements of the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA). If cooperation topics have control relevance and the cooperating institution is located in a country with restrictions on academic freedom according to the Academic Freedom Index (AFI), an in-depth examination procedure is initiated.