Hugo Gering was born in Lipienica, Prussia on 21 September 1847.

Since 1867, Gering studied philology, philosophy and history at the universities of Leipzig and Bonn.

He subsequently gained his Ph.D. at the University of Halle under the supervision of Julius Zacher.

[1] Gering completed his habilitation in German philology at Halle in 1876.

After several scholarly trips to Scandinavia, Gering was appointed an associate professor at the University of Halle in 1883.