About the Service

Hamburg University Press is an Open Access publishing service and a non-profit operation (Betrieb gewerblicher Art, BgA) of the Hamburg State and University Library (SUB Hamburg). The service offers researchers at the University of Hamburg, other universities and higher education institutions in Hamburg, as well as other research institutions in Hamburg, the opportunity to publish their work for the first time. Hamburg University Press reserves the right to decide which publications are accepted.

Books are published simultaneously in print and digital formats according to the Gold Open Access model. They are released under an open Creative Commons license (preferably CC BY 4.0, see Rights). The digital Open Access version is made freely available through the Hamburg University Press catalogue.

All publications are typeset according to professional standards, with the publishing service's design standards and in-house guidelines to ensure linguistic and formal consistency. Professional proofreading (spelling, grammar, and punctuation) is provided. Separate conditions apply to the publication of dissertations.

The print edition is produced using digital printing (Print on Demand), allowing flexible small print runs. For publications with particularly high requirements regarding print quality and materials, offset printing is available. Printed editions are distributed through both traditional bookshops and online retailers.

Please also consult information on Author support, where you will find guidance on manuscript preparation, rights clearance, and other aspects of the publishing process.

Standard Services at a Glance

Project Management

  • Project support and advice from initial contact to publication
  • Coordination with the printing company and other service providers

Typesetting and Design

  • Preparation of the publication template
  • Typesetting in the publishing service’s standard layout (format: 15.5 × 22 cm)
  • Creation of the front matter and imprint page 
  • Cover design

Review and Quality Assurance

  • Proofreading (spelling, grammar, punctuation) (separate conditions apply to dissertations)
  • Technical and formal quality assurance
  • Optimisation of the publication template for both print and digital editions

Open Access Publication and Dissemination

  • Publication of the complete document and, where applicable,  individual contributions (for edited volumes) as reusable PDF files (Open Access) 
  • Assignment of Persistent Identifiers
    • DOI for the complete publication and individual chapters/contributions
    • ORCID integration for authors and editors
  • Hosting on the Hamburg University Press platform
  • Long-term preservation through deposit of both the print and digital editions with the German National Library 
  • Distribution via academic search engines and platforms such as OAPEN/DOAB, BASE, and Google Scholar
  • Indexing in library catalogues

Print Production and Dissemination

  • One proof copy (digital print) with one round of author/editor corrections
  • Production of print copies using digital printing (Print on Demand)
  • ISBN assignment 
  • Registration with the Directory of Available Books (VLB)
  • Distribution through traditional bookshops and online retailers.
  • Direct ordering via the Hamburg University Press website
  • Dispatch of all required legal deposit copies
  • Twenty complimentary copies, including shipping to one delivery address
  • Author and editor discounts on additional print copies of their own publications

We look forward to hearing from you. Please contact us.