Scholarships in Germany for International Students 2023

Prominent Scholarships in Germany for International Students

DAAD Scholarship Programs

Key Features

• The scholarships are generally given as monthly payments, currently set at 861 Euros for graduates and 1200 Euros for doctoral students.

• The duration of the scholarship varies according to your study program.

• The scholarship period for Master's courses usually starts on October 1st of the following year, but it can start earlier if you have to complete a German language course before your actual program starts.

• A fixed travel allowance is also provided.

• The scholarship also covers personal liability insurance and allocates payments towards health and accident coverage.

• Research scholarships include a one-off research allowance.

• Some scholarships facilitate family benefits or provide funds for language courses.

Eligibility Criteria

• DAAD scholarships are mostly focused on graduates and doctoral students.

• DAAD scholarships are awarded to international students who aspire to pursue a full-time course in Germany, which mandates in-person attendance.

• You should have completed your Bachelor's degree within the last six years.

• If you are pursuing your Bachelor's degree at the time of application, you are still eligible to apply, but you should have completed the degree by the time the funding begins.

• You can also apply if you are already in your first year of a two-year course in Germany.

• The language requirements are specific to each program; however, the minimum language requirement for a DAAD scholarship is a band score of 6 in IELTS or 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based), and 80 (internet-based) in TOEFL. In some cases, a medium of instruction certificate from your university might be accepted in place of IELTS or TOEFL scores.

Popular DAAD Scholarships for International Students

How to Apply?

• Application procedures will be different depending on the scholarship program you are applying for.

• For applying online, you have to register in the DAAD portal www.funding-guide.de

• The Application Procedure section under the Call for Applications in the scholarship database portal will guide you on how to apply.

• Select the Scholarship program you wish to apply for.

• Click on the tab Submit Application.

• Fill the application and submit it.

Deutsch land Stipendium National Scholarship Program (Germany Scholarship)

Key Features

• The Germany Scholarship is awarded to eligible students, regardless of their nationality and income.

• Private organizations and individual contributors sponsor 150 Euros per month, and the Federal government contributes 150 Euros more, resulting in a total of 300 Euros as a monthly payment to the selected students.

• The scholarship is generally awarded for two semesters, but the university may extend it later for the entire period of study.

• This scholarship provides additional benefits such as mentoring programs, internships, and networking events.

Eligibility Criteria

• The scholarship is awarded by participating universities. Hence, you must meet the requirements of the individual university to qualify for the grant.

• After the initial grant period of two semesters, the university will review your eligibility to ensure you still meet the scholarship requirements. This is necessary for private funding to continue.

• Doctoral candidates and students enrolled in federal universities are not eligible to apply for this scholarship.

• Besides academic performance, personal achievements, resilience, social awareness, and commitment are essential considerations for qualifying.

• Any student who is already receiving a monthly grant of 30 Euros through another scholarship program is ineligible to apply for the Germany Scholarship.

How to Apply?

• Since the scholarship is handled by individual institutions, you must contact the relevant authorities at the particular university to apply.

• The infographic map in the link below illustrates all the German universities participating in the Deutschlandstipendium National Scholarship Program.

Erasmus+ Scholarships in Germany

Key Features

• The Erasmus Scholarships will cover your travel, living allowance, and study costs in the program.

• The Scholarships fund the one-year period that you spend in Germany as part of the student exchange.

• Most major universities in Europe participate in the Erasmus program.

Eligibility Criteria

• Students seeking to pursue a Master’s course can apply for Erasmus scholarships.

• You can apply if you are still in the final year of your Bachelor’s degree and will be able to complete your degree before your Master’s program commences.

• Your program must include two study periods in two countries that are different from your country of residence.

• The universities in both countries should have signed the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education.

How to Apply?

1. Create an EU login account before filling the application.

2. Register in the Organisation Registration System and obtain an Organisation ID.

3. Fill out and submit the application form.

4. The National Agencies will evaluate the applications, and the results will be communicated.

• You can get step-by-step information about the application process here.

• You can get a complete list of EMJMD scholarships from this EMJMD catalogue.

Heinrich Boll Foundation Scholarships

Key Features

• Non-EU students pursuing a Master's program are eligible for a monthly stipend of 861 Euros along with other individual allowances.

• Doctoral students receive a monthly stipend of 1200 Euros and a mobility allowance of 100 Euros per month. They are also eligible for additional individual allowances.

• The funding period for Master's programs is the regular period of study, which can be extended by a semester. For PhD programs, the funding period is 3 years (2 years plus a 1-year extension if required).

• Scholarship holders can also receive funding for a limited period of study abroad.

• The application deadlines are on March 1st and September 1st.

• The scholarship screening process consists of two rounds of interviews.

Eligibility Criteria

• Students from all countries are eligible to apply for this foundation's scholarships. However, students from non-EU countries can only apply for scholarships in master's degrees.

• Students studying in state or state-recognized universities, universities of applied sciences (Fachhochschule), and universities of arts are all eligible to apply.

• The foundation considers excellent academic records, social commitment, political interest, and convincing reasons for applying for this scholarship while evaluating your application.

• Proficiency in the German language is mandatory. You should have completed at least level B2 or DSH 2 in German and provide a certificate for the same.

• You can apply for the scholarship before your program starts, but you should send proof of enrollment along with your application.

• The latest you can apply is during the first semester of your program.

How to Apply?

• Register in the online portal.

• Upload the required documents and provide the necessary information.

• Submit the application before the deadline.

Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Scholarship Program

Key Features

• The scholarship program provides financial assistance, personal guidance and mentoring, access to a worldwide KAS network, and a seminar program.

• Students pursuing Master’s programs receive a monthly scholarship of 861 Euros for a period of two years.

• PhD students are eligible for a monthly scholarship of 1200 Euros for a period of three years.

• The fees of courses directly related to the recipient’s studies at a German university will be refunded up to 1500 Euros per semester. However, enrollment and annual re-registration fees will not be refunded.

• In addition to the monthly allowance, the scholarship offers options for subsidized health care insurance, family allowance, and children’s allowance, provided the recipients meet certain conditions.

• The foundation has local university groups (Hochschulgruppen) managed by the representatives of the foundation (Vertrauensdozenten). They help the recipients settle down in the new environment and plan diverse programs every semester.

Eligibility Criteria

• International students aspiring to pursue a Master’s degree or PhD and stay for at least four semesters at a German university can apply for this scholarship.

• You must have above-average academic performance.

• Proficiency in the German language is mandatory. You must have completed at least B1 level in German.

• You should be actively involved in voluntary work in your home country and have distinct political views.

How to Apply?

• There are two ways to apply for this scholarship.

• International students living in their home country must apply through the KAS Foundation office in their country or region. Check out the foundation office India website for instructions on how to apply.

• If you are already living and studying in Germany, you can apply for a scholarship through the domestic selection program. This procedure is completely online. You have to register in their portal and upload the required documents.

Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Scholarship Program

Key Features

• International FES scholarship holders receive 830 Euros per month for Bachelor’s programs and 850 Euros per month for Master’s programs during their regular period of study.

• Doctoral students receive 1200 Euros per month for two years, which can be extended up to a maximum of three years.

• Recipients are also eligible for a family allowance of 276 Euros and a refund of healthcare costs.

• Any income exceeding 400 Euros will be credited against the scholarship.

• The application process takes four to seven months.

• FES expects scholarship holders to demonstrate above-average performance in their study programs. At the end of each semester, a report must be submitted detailing the scholarship holder’s academic performance and social engagement.

Eligibility Criteria

• Students pursuing their Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD from public or state-approved universities and polytechnic colleges (FH) are eligible to apply for this scholarship. All academic subjects are considered.

• Proficiency in German language is mandatory. You must fulfill one of the requirements mentioned below:
• German language test for university entrance passed with at least DSH-2
• Test German as a Foreign Language passed with at least level 4
• Telc C1 Hochschule
• German Language Diploma of the Standing Conference Level II
• Certificate C1 of the Goethe-Institut

• You can apply before or at the beginning of the first semester.

• Applications for Bachelor’s scholarships can be sent until 3 semesters before finishing the standard period of study. For Master’s programs, the applications have to be sent by the end of the first semester.

• Your social and personal attitudes will play a significant role in your selection.

How to Apply?

• To apply for the scholarship, you must use the online application.

• After the initial screening, there will be two rounds of interviews. The first round will be with an FES liaison lecturer from your department, and the second round will be with a member of the scholarship committee.

University-Specific Scholarships

Hamburg University Merit Scholarship Program

Key Features

• The scholarship provides a monthly funding sum of 850 Euros.

• It covers a funding period of two semesters, and students can re-apply for the scholarship once the funding period ends.

• The application deadlines fall on April 15th and October 15th for the subsequent semesters.

• The entire application process generally takes 6 to 8 weeks.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must be pursuing an academic degree program at Hamburg University that lasts for at least two semesters. They can apply after completing one semester.

• Social and financial needs are also considered in awarding the scholarship.

How to Apply?

• Interested applicants can apply online using the application forms for the respective semesters.

• For more information about this scholarship program, please visit

Porsche and RWTH Aachen Scholarship

Key Features

• Scholarship recipients receive a monthly stipend of 356 Euros for one year.

• Students can reapply for the scholarship after the initial scholarship period ends.

• The program offers opportunities to make contacts with Porsche through internships and placements.

Eligibility Criteria

• This scholarship program is exclusively for students pursuing a Master's in Data Science, Media Informatics, or Software Systems Engineering, or a Bachelor's or Master's in Computer Science at RWTH Aachen University.

How to Apply

• You can apply for the scholarship by completing an online application form during the application period.

• The university will assist you with the application process.

• For complete information about the scholarship program, please read the details provided here.

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