Not true. In order for something to bring forth, as an cause and effect, it must have the necessary preconditions. For example, suppose i want to move a rock. For me to move a huge rock, the necessary preconditions requires my existence, and i must have enough strength to move the rock. When these conditions are met, only then the rock can be moved. I am a personal being and i have the free-will to decides if i am going to move a rock or not to move a rock.

So how can the universe as an impersonal cause itself into existence? If it could, then that would mean the preconditions must have enough strength to will it into existence. Otherwise, an impersonal universe cannot perform actions. For there to be something, it must perform an action. But performing the action is a personal cause. Not only that, Hawking presupposes the law of gravity as necessary for the universe to create itself out of nothing. That's logically impossible. If what i said is not enough, then let a scientist speak:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1308599/Stephen-Hawking-wrong-...

Note that the confusion is between the law of Physics and the universe. The law of Physics can help us to explain certain natural phenomenon in ways that we can get work around things that we want to accomplish. That's why engineers were able to built and design jets/747. However, to make a jet/747 to fly as stated in the above article, someone had to put the fuel in to the engine to make it start up. The jet cannot be built without a designer, but it can't fly if people are not able to work around the laws of physics.

Similarly, the law of gravity as stated by Hawking cannot create the universe, but rather a designer is involved. It is illogical to say that because of the law of gravity, therefore, we have the creation of the universe from nothing. It would be logical to conclude that because of the universe is here, therefore, is best explain by an intelligent designer, not the laws itself.