Germany Scholarships for International Students

Germany is known worldwide for its top universities, high-quality education, and public universities’ free or low tuition fees. Even though the tuition fee is low, living expenses or other expenses can create a financial burden. Luckily, there are several scholarships for international students in Germany. If you are curious about scholarships in Germany for foreign students, let’s begin!

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Top 10 Scholarships in Germany for International Students 

Germany is known for its wide range of scholarships, which typically cover costs like accommodation, semester contribution fees, research funds, and more. Several of these scholarships are awarded to students based on their academic excellence, social engagement, research, personal achievements, and more.

Overview Table for Scholarships in Germany

Let’s learn about the top 10 scholarships for international students in Germany:

Scholarship	Level of Study	Amount
Expatrio Scholarship	All Levels	€9,000 – €15,000
DAAD Scholarship	Master’s, PhD, and Postdoctoral	€992 for Master’s and €1,300 for PhD and Postdoctoral (Monthly)
Heinrich Böll Foundation Scholarships	Master’s and PhD	€992 for Master’s and €1,400 for PhD and Postdoctoral (Monthly)
Deutschlandstipendium National Scholarship Program	All Levels	€3,600 per year
Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Scholarship	Master’s, PhD, and Research Program	€992 for Master’s (for 2 years) and €1,400 for PhD (for 3 years)
Friedrich Ebert Foundation Scholarships	All Levels	€992 for Master’s and €1,400 for PhD for 3 Years (Monthly)
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships	Postdoctoral	Variable Amount
Bayer Foundation Fellowships	Master’s and PhD	€10,000
University of Hamburg Merit Scholarships	All Levels	€930 (Monthly)
TUM Linde / MDSI Master Scholarship	Master’s	€1,000 for up to 12 Months

Detailed Breakdown of the Top 10 Germany Scholarships

Germany is known for its tuition-free system, especially at public universities; however, having a scholarship supports students with living and other expenses. With so many scholarships available, it is important to choose the right one. To make it simple, here are the top 10 scholarships to study abroad in Germany:

Expatrio Scholarship

The Expatrio Scholarship is offered by Expatrio. The scholarship is open to students from all the countries. Students are assessed based on their video submission answering the following question: “How will your studies in Germany help you make a positive impact for others?”.

Eligibility:

Must submit a max 2-minute video in MP4 format

Deadline:

Application closes in September

Amount / Benefits:

First prize is €15,000, second prize is €12,000, and the third prize is €9,000. For 4th to 10th winner the prize includes rent paid for 6 months, a new laptop, German language lessons, semester contribution fees.

DAAD Scholarship

The German Academic Exchange Service offers the DAAD Scholarship. It is awarded to students who are pursuing Master’s, PhD, and postdoctoral research in Germany. Students must display good academic performance and achievements and relevant internships or work experience.

Eligibility:

Must present a school leaving certificate, proof of language proficiency

Deadline:

Application varies by country

Amount / Benefits:

€992 for Master’s and €1,300 for PhD and Postdoctoral (Monthly)

Heinrich Böll Foundation Scholarships

Heinrich Böll Foundation Scholarships is offered by the Heinrich Böll Foundation. Students who are pursuing a Master’s and PhD at universities, universities of applied sciences, and universities of the arts in Germany are eligible to apply for the scholarship.

Eligibility:

Must have strong academics, social engagement, research, and motivation

Deadline:

March 1st and September 1st of each year

Amount / Benefits:

€992 for Master’s and €1,400 for PhD and Postdoctoral (Monthly)

Deutschlandstipendium National Scholarship Program

German universities offer the Deutschlandstipendium National Scholarship Program. To be eligible, students must be enrolled in partner universities of the scholarship.

Eligibility:

Based on the university, it often includes high academic performance, social engagement, and personal achievements

Deadline:

Application varies by university

Amount / Benefits:

€3,600 per year

Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Scholarship

Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Scholarship is offered by Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS). Students must have a university degree with strong academic performance, engage in voluntary work and B2-level German language skills to apply for the scholarship.

Eligibility:

Must be pursuing a Master’s, PhD, or Research Program

Deadline:

Application closes by July

Amount / Benefits:

€992 for Master’s (for 2 years) and €1,400 for PhD (for 3 years)

Friedrich Ebert Foundation Scholarships

Friedrich Ebert Foundation Scholarships are offered by Friedrich Ebert Foundation. The scholarship is for students and Doctoral candidates who are pursuing their program in a state or state-recognized German university. Student must have excellent school or academic merit and must be committed to the values of social democracy.

Eligibility:

Must share professional and family background, your motivation to become a FES scholarship holder, and information about your socio-political commitment

Deadline:

Application varies by program

Amount / Benefits:

€992 for Master’s and €1,400 for PhD for 3 Years (Monthly)

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships are offered by the European Commission. The scholarship is for students who hold a Doctoral degree and wish to pursue a 1 to 2-year research project. The students will be assessed by expert panel based on Excellence (50%), Impact (30%), and Implementation Quality (20%).

Eligibility:

Must have a maximum of 8 years of full-time post-graduate research experience

Deadline:

Application opens in May

Amount / Benefits:

Living, mobility, and if applicable, family, long-term leave, and special needs allowances; also covers funds for research, training, and networking activities

Bayer Foundation Fellowships

The Bayer Foundation offers Bayer Foundation Fellowships. Students who are pursuing a Master’s or PhD in medical studies or scientific disciplines (pharmacy, data science, medical engineering) are eligible to apply for the scholarship.

Eligibility:

Excellent academic records, innovation, relevance to their field, and awareness of the societal impact of their research

Deadline:

Application opens in February and closes in April

Amount / Benefits:

€10,000 (up to 6 months)

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University of Hamburg Merit Scholarships

University of Hamburg Merit Scholarships are offered by the University of Hamburg. Students must be enrolled in a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD program and must have completed at least 2 semesters at the university. Students will be assessed based on their academic performance, other skills, social engagement, and financial need.

Eligibility:

Must submit a CV, letter of motivation, proof of social/intercultural activities (if applicable), academic records, and evaluations from two professors or junior professors at the university

Deadline:

Application closes on April 15th and October 15th

Amount / Benefits:

€930 (Monthly)

TUM Linde / MDSI Master Scholarship

TUM Linde / MDSI Master Scholarship for the Technical University of Munich (TUM) is offered by Linde AG and the Munich Data Science Institute (MDSI). Students must be enrolled in the “Data Engineering and Analytics” or “Mathematics in Data Science” master’s program at the university to apply for the scholarship to study in Germany.

Eligibility:

Must provide personal and academic information, a motivation letter, CV, recommendation letter, transcripts (bachelor’s degree), and a current examination report for the TUM master’s program

Deadline:

Application opens each semester

Amount / Benefits:

€1,000 for up to 12 Months

Exploring Financial Support for Germany with Expert Support

Germany is known for its free tuition for international students and strong support system offering numerous scholarships. From government-funded programs like DAAD to foundation-specific grants, there is something for every student.

While scholarships are a great option, they may not cover your expenses thoroughly. You can also explore other financial options, such as study abroad education loan or guidance from study abroad experts. We at Nomad Credit can help you compare and find the best loan options tailored to your profile and goals, making your study abroad journey more affordable and stress-free.