For many students, a scholarship is a great opportunity to achieve their academic dreams without financial stress. However, scholarships are often disputed and have strict criteria that must be met to be eligible. This article highlights everything you need to know about scholarships for international students in Germany.
What is a scholarship?
Scholarships are usually granted to support students (or sometimes interns) on their further educational journey. Most scholarships are monetary grants at their core. However, some also offer additional, non-material support, such as access to networking events or student consulting.
In most cases, scholarships are granted based on previous academic achievements or special activities that qualify the students for financial support.
Who offers scholarships?
Many institutions offer scholarships for different fields of study, degree programmes, and purposes. These scholarships are available to people from all over the world who wish to study in Germany. The main sponsors of these scholarships are political organisations, businesses, religious institutions, and academic institutions such as the DAAD.
More information about the different patrons of scholarships can be found below.
What are the requirements for a scholarship?
As mentioned above, there are certain requirements to be granted a scholarship. Because each scholarship provider has unique requirements, it is not feasible to provide a definitive guide to applying for them. However, we can give you recommendations on what is usually expected of scholarship holders. This may increase your chances of being awarded a scholarship.
Firstly, it strongly depends on the scholarships that you choose to apply for. There are scholarships that are awarded strictly based on past academic successes. One example of such a scholarship is the Deutschlandstipendium.
Certain scholarships also prioritise socially, culturally, or financially disadvantaged students. The main objective is to help them make their dreams come true. The following are the most common requirements for scholarship applicants:
- Involvement in associations, political parties, initiatives, youth organisations, or university groups
- Above-average performance in previous studies or work experience
- A high level of motivation to achieve your goal, often expressed through a letter of motivation
Tip: A well-thought-through motivation letter as well as letters of recommendation will increase your chances!
In a letter of motivation, you have the unique opportunity to explain why you are suitable for the scholarship. Here is some inspiration for what you could include in your letter:
- The reason why you chose your field of study
- Your vision for your future career
- Previous achievements
- Previous jobs or internships
- Your involvement in a club, a political party or a social project
- How the grant would advance your career
- What you would attempt to change in the world
You may also mention that greater financial freedom would help you concentrate more on your studies. But most importantly, be creative and genuine when writing your letter. Always remember that you want to stand out from the crowd.
Even though a letter of recommendation is often not explicitly required, it is powerful during the application process. This is because it emphasises your eligibility for a scholarship from a professional point of view as well. Be sure to ask a professor or teacher who knows you closely if they can issue this letter for you.
Where and how can I apply for a scholarship?
Due to the variety of scholarships offered, there are countless places where you can apply for scholarships in Germany.
The quickest solution is to go to a portal that offers an overview of available scholarships in Germany. You would then be able to filter the scholarships that are applicable to you.
Websites that offer such services are the DAAD, Stipendiumplus, scholars4dev, and Begabungslotse (here you also find other sponsorship offers). These websites offer the functionality to filter and search for specific types of scholarships. Please note that only the DAAD and Scholars4Dev have English websites.
Established scholarship patrons
Some widely recognised organisations offer scholarships to many individuals in popular fields. Below is a list of these providers and their target groups.
DAAD
With around 100,000 supported students and researchers every year, the DAAD is one of the biggest funding organisations. DAAD scholarships are awarded to talented people from all around the world.
Graduates, doctoral students, and postdocs are the main target groups for DAAD grants. Nevertheless, language students can also find support from the DAAD. There are even scholarships available for people attending an academic programme or doing research in their home country.
The funding at DAAD usually consists of € 934.00 per month for graduates or € 1,200.00 for doctoral students. It is often supplemented by free or reduced rates for elemental insurance and other benefits, depending on the scholarship. More information about the scholarships can be found in the DAAD database.
Deutschlandstipendium
The Deutschlandstipendium is granted to students with outstanding academic performances. Applicants should be able to show responsibility and overcome challenges in both their daily lives and education.
The Deutschlandstipendium grants €300.00 per month. Half of the grant is sponsored by the state, while the other half is sponsored by diverse private institutions.
You can ascertain your university’s participation in this programme by viewing this map.
Apply for the Fintiba Scholarship until September 15, 2023
At Fintiba, we aim to support international students on their journey to Germany. We do this not only through our reputable digital services but also through the Fintiba Scholarship Programme.
The scholarship is awarded to Fintiba customers who have their main residence in Germany. Applicants stand a chance of being awarded up to € 3,000 among other monetary awards. Additional prizes include a year of free health insurance and free access to German-language courses.
Read more about the application process and evaluation criteria here.
Stiftung der Deutschen Wirtschaft – Klaus Murmann Stipendium
The Stiftung der Deutschen Wirtschaft currently supports more than 4,500 scholars from different societal backgrounds. As with most other scholarships, good academic performance is a basic requirement for this one.
The financial support offered is based on the income of the holder. A flat amount of €300.00 per month is paid to every student, while the maximum amount is €812.00 per month. Doctoral students are awarded a maximum, income-dependent scholarship of €1,450.00 per month. Additionally, they receive €100.00 per month for research costs.
Scholarship holders receive additional support for direct interaction with companies and participants in the German economy. Furthermore, you can train and test your skills in competitions organised by the foundation’s members.
There are fixed deadlines for the application process for this scholarship. More information about the whole application process can be found here.
Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung
The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung currently supports over 2,800 students in their academic endeavours. The main values include personality, socio-political commitment, and outstanding performance. The foundation supports responsible young talents advocating for a free democracy.
The amount of financial support offered depends on a multitude of factors, including the parents’ income. The maximum amount is around €1,200.00 per month, while the general flat support is around €300.00 per month.
During the application process, it will be evaluated whether your personality and values align with those of the foundation. More information about the application process can be found here.
Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung
The focus of the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung lies on individuals who demonstrate high levels of social and political engagement. A special focus is put on applications from:
- Women
- Students from non-academic families and migrant backgrounds
- Socially needy students
- People with disabilities
- Students in science and technology fields
The scholarship is not awarded to bachelor’s students.
The foundation supports its scholarship holders with €850.00 per month, with some additional lump sums to be attained. Doctoral students receive €1,200.00 per month; additional lump sums can be requested.
More information about the application process can be found here.
Konrad Adenauer Stiftung
The Konrad Adenauer Stiftung specifically grants scholarships for international students who have finished their bachelor’s education. The foundation aims to support international exchange. Some of the requirements for applicants include:
- Above-average academic results
- B2 German language level or higher
- Active engagement in voluntary work
- Broad general education and a strong interest in political issues
Master’s students receive monthly support of €812,00. Doctoral students receive a monthly grant of €1,350.00. In addition to those stipends, multiple other subsidies are offered depending on your family situation.
Scholars also profit from membership in a large network of former and current scholars and access to mentors.
All necessary information regarding the application process can be found here.
Heinrich Böll Stiftung
Heinrich Böll Stiftung specifically grants scholarships for international students. Prerequisites are a good knowledge of German (B2 level or higher) and impressive personal and academic skills.
The support offered is dependent on your parents’ income as well as other personal factors. However, an exact estimate cannot be given for international students due to the volatility of the amount.
To apply, simply follow the steps listed on their website.
Get proof of financial resources for your studies in Germany
Once you have sufficient funds to study in Germany, you can apply for a visa. This requires proof of financial resources. The most convenient way to provide this proof is by opening a digital blocked account.
Fintiba offers a fast, secure solution that is accepted with a 100% guarantee by all German authorities.
Despite the challenge, it is worth it to look for a scholarship that suits you and your studies. Applications are free and only require your time, offering a chance to ease financial burdens while studying in Germany.
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Last update: August 9, 2023