Aljawaz Your guide to study abroad There are many types of scholarships in Germany that give international students the chance to study in Germany at a lower cost. However, you’ll need a German international student visa, which states where you arrived from and how long you intend to stay. For more information on visa requirements, contact the German embassy or consulate in your country.
In most cases, public universities in Germany don’t charge tuition fees. But to cover some of your living cost as an international student in Germany, here is a list of scholarships in Germany you can apply for.
Read here our overview of the living cost in Germany for international students.
Government-funded scholarships in Germany
DAAD scholarships in Germany
The German academic exchange service (DAAD) offers many scholarships to international students at different levels. Partnering with German universities, this organization has a whole database of scholarships international students can check out. You can find funding and scholarships for foreign students, graduate students, as well as researchers in Germany. Usually, DAAD scholarships are for students who want to earn a degree in a full-time study program. Also, students receive a monthly stipend of €850 at postgraduate level and €1,200 at doctorate level.
Check here to get to DAAD scholarships database.
Erasmus Scholarships in Germany
Erasmus is also a great choice for international students who plan to study full time in Germany and in need of a scholarship. It is an EU-grant program funded by the country members of the EU and offers various types of scholarships you can check out.
For example, there is a one-year financial assistance for international students at German universities. There is also the Erasmus Mundus program, where you can receive funding for your master studies. And the Erasmus+ scholarships also cover the cost for university application, travel and basic living cost for students in Germany.
Non-governmental scholarships in Germany
Einstein Postdoctoral Fellowships
Firstly, this fellowship is sponsored by the Einstein Foundation for postdoctoral research in Berlin. The program also aims to attract international postdoctoral researchers by offering them funding opportunity to work in the city for up to five years. To be eligible, the researcher must be recruited from abroad by the applicant, who in turn must be a junior research group leader from a university in Berlin.
Heinrich Böll Scholarships for International Students
Heinrich Böll Foundation offers every year around 1,200 scholarships for students of all subjects, at all levels, and from any countries in the world. To benefit from these scholarships, they should be pursuing a degree at a state-recognized university in Germany.
The scholarship amounts €850 per month along with individual allowances. The funding lasts for the duration of the study, plus the possibility to extend it by one more semester. PhD’s students, on the other hand, will receive €1,200 per month plus €100 mobility allowance per month.
Learn more about the scholarship program.
Humboldt Research Fellowships for Postdoctoral Researchers
This is a postdoctoral fellowship for researchers in any subject and of any nationality. Besides, students from developing countries have more chance if they apply for the Georg Forster Research Fellowship, an equivalent to Humboldt Research Fellowship. The monthly amount for this scholarship is €2,670 and students receive funding for a stay duration of 6 to 24 months in Germany.
Deutschland Stipendium
The fourth scholarship program we recommend is the Deutschlandstipendium. This is a merit-based scholarship that offers up to €300 a month to talented university students in Germany. Nationality and personal income do not affect the student’s chance of acceptance.
Moreover, the scholarship duration is for two semesters. And after this period of time, the university checks if the student still meets the scholarship criteria, allowing other private funding to proceed. Eligibility for this scholarship depend on the university where the student is enrolled in.
The Helmholtz Association scholarships in Germany
Finally, this association offers annual scholarships for doctoral and postdoctoral students from all over the world. The scholarship also gives students the opportunity to conduct paid research at the Helmholtz Center in Germany. To be able to apply, students must have excellent academic grades, equivalent to a Master’s degree in Germany. They also need a relevant research proposal along with a good command of the English language.
Learn here how to earn a master’s in Germany.
University Scholarships
FRIAS Cofund International Research Fellowships
Firstly, this scholarship program gives international students the opportunity to study in one of Freiburg University’s research programs.
Heidelberg University Scholarships
Secondly, this program features a number of programs for international students. Additionally, it gives students from developing countries the opportunity to medicine and dentistry at the university.
Humboldt International Research Fellowships
Thirdly, this program presents the opportunity for international students to study many academic subjects at the University of Humboldt. Those include history, biology, law, sociology, politics, geography, economy.
Ulm University Scholarships for International Students
Finally, this program is based on the needs of international students and future graduates of Ulm university. Funding is offered per semester.
Germany is one of the least expensive study destination in Europe. It also has an excellent reputation when it comes to education. In fact, Germany has a number of universities featured in the QS World University Ranking. The country also features some of the best medical universities in Germany, where you may need to search for scholarships to finance your studies. We hope this list we made have helped you get the funding you need for your studies in Germany.
