Scholarships and Programs
In Germany, there are numerous funding opportunities for students. In addition to financial support, many scholarships also offer non-material support – such as seminars, networks, mentoring, and personal development opportunities. For example, the Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes also offers its scholarship holders language courses throughout Europe.
A very good overview is provided by ApplicAid – a platform that offers free support for scholarship applications.
The Scholarship Foundations
These foundations support students financially and ideologically. Each foundation has its own focus (e.g. political, religious, trade union-related, or societal). The basic funding, usually around €300 per month, is generally independent of parental income. Many foundations also generously support study-abroad stays or research projects abroad.
Each foundation has different application deadlines (usually once or twice per year) and slightly different selection procedures. Applications are generally possible through three routes:
- Nomination by the examinations office
- Nomination by a professor
- Independent application
Politically and Ideologically Independent, Non-Denominational
- Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes – Germany’s largest and oldest scholarship foundation
- Max Weber-Programm – part of the Elite Network of Bavaria, administered by the Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes
Religious Scholarship Foundations
- Avicenna Studienwerk – Muslim
- Cusanuswerk – Catholic
- Ernst Ludwig Ehrlich Studienwerk – Jewish
- Evangelisches Studienwerk Villigst – Protestant
Party-Affiliated Foundations
- Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) – affiliated with the SPD
- Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung – affiliated with the FDP
- Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung – affiliated with the CSU
- Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung – affiliated with Bündnis 90/Die Grünen
- Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) – affiliated with the CDU
- Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung – affiliated with Die Linke
Other Scholarship Foundations
- Hans-Böckler-Stiftung – trade union-affiliated
- Stiftung der Deutschen Wirtschaft (SDW) – business-affiliated
Other Financial Support Opportunities
- The Deutschlandstipendium is an income-independent scholarship for committed and high-achieving students (€300/month, financed equally by the German government and private sponsors).
- The Hans-Rudolf-Stiftung is a small foundation supporting students particularly at the Technische Universität Münchenor Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (between €200 and €350/month).
DAAD Scholarships
The Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) scholarship database provides an excellent overview of available scholarships. These include scholarships for internships abroad, one- or two-year master’s degrees around the world, or funding to write a thesis at a foreign university.
Be sure to pay close attention to application deadlines! The application deadline is often one year before the start of studies.
Applications frequently take place without prior admission from the university.
Among the most popular programs are:
- Annual Scholarships for Study Abroad
- DAAD annual scholarship for master’s studies abroad
- For example, for top universities in the UK or the USA
- Up to €18,000 tuition support per year and €1,325/month (UK)
International Programs
- Open scholarship programs of the Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes such as the McCloy Scholarship Program for master’s studies at the Harvard Kennedy School and many others
- Carlo-Schmid-Programm by the Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes and the DAAD – internships at international organizations (e.g. the United Nations, NATO) and EU institutions
- European Parliament Schuman Traineeships – five-month paid internships at the European Parliament (Brussels, Luxembourg, Strasbourg, or liaison offices in member states; twice a year)
- European Commission Blue Book Traineeship – five-month paid internships at the European Commission (mainly in Brussels, but also Luxembourg and other EU locations; twice a year)
- Internships at German embassies – applications directly via the website of the Auswärtiges Amt; possible worldwide, e.g. in economic, cultural, or press departments
- Internships at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) – focus on development cooperation, sustainability, and international projects
China Programs
Be cautious if your future career requires security clearance (such as at the Federal Foreign Office or the Ministry of Defence). A long stay in China may become problematic in such contexts.
- Schwarzman Scholars – fully funded master’s program at Tsinghua University
- China Scholarship Program of the Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes
- Yenching Scholars – fully funded interdisciplinary master’s program in China Studies at Peking University