If you want to study in Germany, but do not have the funds to finance your studies, you can try your luck and try to get a scholarship! There is a lot of information on the Internet about various scholarship programs, but Deutsch WTF made a selection of the most popular scholarships for studying in Germany. Let’s see it together!
1. DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst)
Perhaps this is the most well-known fund, to which those wishing to go to study in Germany apply. It is possible to get a DAAD scholarship, because we are not talking about five or six, and not even about 30-50 scholarships given, as in some other funds. Every year, hundreds of people leave to study in Germany under various programs of this fund.
DAAD scholarships are aimed primarily at graduates, doctoral students and postdocs and are awarded for study and research visits to universities and non-university research institutions in Germany.
The DAAD scholarship to study in Germany is 750 euros per month and allows you to cover living and tuition costs.
2. Deutschlandstipendium
Whether it’s a Bachelor or Master program, a classical university or a university of applied sciences (Fachhochschule) – almost anyone can apply for the Deutschlandstipendium . This scholarship is funded half by the sponsoring enterprises (Robert Bosch, SAP, BASF) and half by the federal budget.
A big plus of this program is in close contact with enterprises that want to financially support future talented specialists in this way.
When selecting applications for the Deutschlandstipendium, the academic score, personal and marital status (orphans, students with children or close relatives with disabilities, foreign students), as well as the candidate’s active participation in the social and cultural life of the school / university / city are taken into account . A plus are various awards and prizes, for example, prizes for sports achievements or awards at the Olympics.
Detailed information can be found on the website of your German university (as a rule, the application is submitted not through the website of the scholarship fund, but through the coordinator at the university).
You can see if your university is among the universities participating in the program here. The amount of this scholarship is small, but also €300 a month will add up to your student budget and allow you to spend more time studying.
3. Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung
Who is this program aimed at: students and graduate students under the age of 30 who are going to study in Germany.
This group does not include students wishing to study at the medical and veterinary faculty, as well as students of creative specialties who did not pass the creative entrance exam.
Applications are accepted from April to July by mail, if the application arrives after the announced deadline, it will not be considered.
What is taken into account in the selection of candidates: excellent grades at school and university, plus active participation in the social life, life of the university and the city.
It is not for nothing that this foundation bears the name of a famous German politician, the former first Federal Chancellor of Germany. You are expected to have an active social and political life, as well as a desire to participate in seminars and trainings conducted by the foundation.
If you strive to take an active part in the political life of a country and are interested in international relations, this scholarship is ideal for you, no matter what specialty you are studying.
The main thing is to draw up a competent motivation letter and prepare documentary evidence of all your achievements, participation in party meetings and membership in public organizations. At the end of the program, you will have to sweat a little more and write a detailed report on how this program helped you continue to pursue your goal of being so politically and socially interested in the future.
You can read more about the terms and conditions of this scholarship program on the website.
4. Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung
Selection for the Heinrich Böll Foundation scholarship programs is held twice a year: depending on the start of studies in the fall or spring.
Within a certain time frame, all foreign students who have previously studied at a school or university in one of the countries outside the European Union can apply for a scholarship .
Only Master’s programs (Master) and postgraduate studies can be financed under this program. The Bachelor program, unfortunately, is not funded. It is important to have time to submit an application just before the start of training or, at the latest, during the first semester.
A prerequisite is a good level of proficiency in German (from B2), since the selection rounds for this scholarship will be held in German. It is also important to provide two letters of recommendation (for example, from a university teacher).
Those who share its ideas and are able to present their projects and ideas have high chances of becoming a scholar of this fund. You can read more about the fund and the conditions for accepting applications here (in German or English). On the same page you can also find all the information about the conditions for the selection of candidates and the necessary documents (in German).
The Foundation supports the internationality and integration of representatives of different cultures and social groups : students with children, students with disabilities, as well as those who are ready to work in a team, bring new innovative ideas, convince others of their value and benefit, and also supports policies and ideas the Green Party.
5. Rosa-Luxembourg-Stiftung
The Rosa Luxemburg Foundation supports young undergraduate and graduate students who take an active civic position in matters of political literacy, democratic values, social justice and solidarity, as well as equality regardless of gender, social background and origin. This foundation is close in its ideology to the party of the “left” and encourages about 150 active students and graduate students annually.
Important conditions for the selection of candidates: admission to study at a public higher educational institution in Germany, a diploma of completed higher education (Bachelor – bachelor’s degree, Diplom – diploma, Staatsexamen – state exam), excellent academic performance, a very good level of German language skills , as well as active participation in political life and in public organizations in accordance with the ideology of the foundation.
For whom this scholarship is not suitable: For senior students in the “pre-graduation” phase, as well as for anyone studying for an undergraduate degree or receiving their first degree in higher education. Having a semester abroad (not in Germany) or having a stay in your home country are not covered. The amount of the scholarship is 750 euros per month , an additional 20 euros can be allocated for books and teaching aids, as well as funds for paying for health insurance in the amount of a maximum of 65 euros.
Application deadline: deadline October 15 for those who wish to receive a scholarship from April next year and April 15 for those, who want to receive funding from October.
On their website page, you can find a list of all the documents required for filing an application , as well as read in more detail about the fund itself.
6. Alexander-von-Humboldt-Stiftung
One of the main tasks set by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation is to support and develop cultural interaction, dialogue between countries . This foundation supports active young people with brilliant academic merit who care about the fate and development of their country, as well as Germany.
A huge number of different scholarships, depending on the target audience, can be found on the foundation’s website here.
A very interesting scholarship, for example, is offered to young managers from various fields (politics, media and media, administration, socio-social or cultural activities) who have completed higher education and have work experience and are ready to carry out their project in cooperation with one or another organization from the German side for one year.
This program bears the name of the Federal Chancellor and provides not only funding of 2.150 to 2.750 euros per month, but also an individual mentor, as well as participation in seminars and projects, support for families and children, including language courses for them. More details here .
Also, this foundation has various scholarship programs. for postgraduate studies and research activities.
7. Copernicus Stipendium
This scholarship will be interesting to those who are thinking that it would be nice to study one semester in Germany in one of three German cities – Berlin, Hamburg or Munich.
The participants in this program will not only take a university course, but they also have a chance to intern in a German company or organization.
Students will live in a host family or student residences. The fund takes over the payment of housing and utilities, insurance, food and other expenses necessary for life, and also pays 220 euros for pocket expenses monthly.
What is expected of future participants? Willingness to actively participate in the Copernicus Foundation’s program and activities on-site.
An important prerequisite for participation in the program is also your knowledge of the German language (level B2-C1) and at least three successfully completed semesters at your university .
Applications are accepted from students of the following faculties: jurisprudence and law, political science and international relations, economics, humanities and sociological sciences. Unfortunately, applications from Master and PhD students are not considered. If you have already spent more than four months in Germany or are going to graduate in the next six months, this program, unfortunately, is not for you.
You can read about what documents will need to be attached to the application, terms and dates on their website.
8. Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung
This fund provides various scholarship programs to finance training. As part of the main selection, applicants with an average certificate score of at least 2.0 in the German grading system (equivalent to “good”), who are eligible to apply for BAFöG and already have a confirmation of admission to a German university.
Foreign students can receive a scholarship of up to 650 euros per month , plus an additional allowance for paying for health insurance. Students with children can look forward to €276 in addition to the basic scholarship amount. To receive a scholarship, it is important to prove a good level of German proficiency: at least DSH-2, Test DaF-4 or Zertifikat C1 of the Goethe Institute.
Application deadline :
- for bachelor students no later than three semesters before graduation (for example, if there are 7 semesters in total, then you need to apply in the 4th semester);
- for Master students until 30.05 if the studies start in the summer semester and until 30.11 if the studies start in the winter semester. You can apply only during the first semester;
- for graduate students (Diplom, as well as Magister or Staatsexamen) – at the latest by the end of the 6th semester.
More information about the foundation and its programs is available on the scholarship website .
In addition, if you wish to pursue postgraduate studies, you can receive a scholarship of up to € 1000 from this fund.
Unfortunately, this fund does not finance education in the specialty of “medicine”. If you have chosen any other direction and decided to gather your strength and still apply, then you can do this directly on the scholarship website.
9. Hans-Böckler-Stiftung
- If you graduated from high school and passed the final exams (Abitur) in Germany and belong to the so-called Bildungsinnländer, the amount of your scholarship will depend on the income of your parents. In this case, you can apply for any specialty in the direction of the Bachelor’s degree (Bachelor), at the latest in the third semester.
- Those who graduated high school outside of Germany can apply for funding of their Master’s studies at the latest during the first semester. The amount of the scholarship in this case does not depend on the income of the parents and is a maximum of 597 euros per month for citizens of the European Union and a maximum of 750 euros for everyone else. Additionally, you can get 300 euros for books and teaching aids.
Applications are accepted until March 1 for studies in the next winter semester, interviews with candidates are held in late March – early April, and qualifying rounds in June – July. In the second half of July, the lucky ones receive confirmation of the scholarship.
For those who wish to try their hand and receive this scholarship, we recommend reading additional information on the foundation’s website .
10. Other scholarships
Different federal states and cities have their own “local” programs and scholarships . The federal state of Baden-Württemberg allocates funds for promising undergraduate students at its universities and provides them with financial support of 300 euros per month (Baden-Württemberg-Stipendium). Scholarships for students of their universities are provided by the state of Nordrhein-Westfallen , as well as other federal states.
In Cologne they have scholarships for athletes in Berlin – for artists and performers , in Munich – for physicians and so on. In addition, the Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung provides a special program for medical students .
- There are many different scholarships designed for only one specific specialty: lawyers, economists, engineers.
- There are also scholarships designed only for a specific social group: orphans, young mothers, children from large families, people with disabilities.
- There are scholarships for which political activity and participation in social projects are important.
- There are scholarships in which scientific activity and research are important. All information, if searched in German and English, can be found on the Internet.
To get a scholarship, the following steps are important:
- start collecting information in advance (preferably a year in advance) and learn about the deadlines.
- learn as much as possible about the foundation and its activities: in accordance with the mission and goals of the foundation, write your motivation letter.
- An important point: the person whose name the scholarship fund bears can tell a lot about who has a great chance of getting a scholarship – who was Rosa Luxemburg, what contribution did Alexander von Humboldt make? If a foundation bears the name of a politician, then its fellows are expected to be interested in politics, etc.
- prepare and send all the necessary documents, resume and motivation letters, as well as collect all the certificates confirming your extracurricular activities.
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