Germany is one of the most affordable countries in Europe for international students when it comes to education. Germany is recognized for its credible and affordable education system, top universities and excellent infrastructure. Every year, Germany attracts around 3,50,000 international students who wish to study in the country. The cost of studying in Germany is quite affordable. However, international students find it a bit challenging to cover the cost of living in Germany which can go around EUR 1200 per month. Hence, there are plenty of financial aids for international students through which they can cover their living costs, scholarships being one of them. In this blog, we help you explore your options for study in Germany scholarships.

Types of Scholarships in Germany

There are various scholarships for international students in Germany. These scholarships can be really beneficial for students with financial hardships and can ease their financial burden. The two major types of study in Germany scholarships are:

• Germany Government Scholarships
• Non-government Scholarships

List of Fully Funded Scholarships in Germany for International Students

• DAAD Scholarship Germany
• Erasmus Scholarship Programs in Germany
• Heinrich Boll Scholarships for International Students
• Bayer Foundations
• Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Scholarships
• The Friedrich Ebert Stiftung
• Mawista Scholarship
• Marie Curie International Incoming Fellowships (IIF) For Developing Countries
• Heidelberg University Scholarships
• Hamburg University of Applied Sciences Scholarships
• RWTH Aachen University Scholarships
• Humboldt University International Research Fellowship
• Leipzig Graduate School of Management Scholarship
• Frankfurt School of Finance and Management Doctoral Tuition Waivers

Now let’s lear about each of these scholarships for Germany in detail:

Germany Government Scholarships

These Scholarships are basically funded by the Government of Germany. Government scholarships are easily available and the amount of a grant is generally decided after considering the student’s financial condition. It ranges from 150 Euros to 800 Euros per month for a period of 12 months.

Here are some of the popular Germany Government scholarship programs:

1.  DAAD Scholarship Germany

DAAD Scholarship Germany is offered by The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) for international students to study in Germany. DAAD Scholarships are very popular and the organization offers 215 scholarships and funding opportunities to international students. These scholarships aid more than 100,000 German and international students as well as researchers. DAAD scholarships are among the fully funded scholarship in Germany.

2.  Erasmus Scholarship Programs in Germany

Erasmus Scholarship Germany is the largest scholarship provider in the EU and it is funded by the European Commission. Under Erasmus scholarship, the average monthly grant offered to a student can go  up to 350 EUR.  Erasmus scholarship Germany provides funding to international students to study in the countries that come under the European Union.

Non-Government Scholarships in Germany

Non-government funded scholarships simply mean that such scholarships are not funded by the government, but other entities. Here is a list of some the popular non-governmental scholarships for Germany :

1.  Heinrich Boll Scholarships for International Students

The Heinrich Boll Foundation provides scholarships to international students, including refugees, at all the degree levels. The foundation mainly awards scholarships to students who plan to study STEM fields (Science, technology, engineering, mathematics) and especially programs focusing on Environmental sciences. Other scholarships are awarded to students planning to study journalism, economic or legal studies and art degrees.

2.  Bayer Foundations

Bayer Foundation awards scholarships to students who are planning to undertake various research projects. The scholarship is given to both German and international students. The only requirement for students is that they must provide excellent academic results and the research project must focus on an innovative topic and approach.

3.  Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Scholarships

International students who plan to study masters or PhD in Germany are eligible for the scholarship. The applicant must be under 30 years of age and must have completed a university degree in their home country. The applicants must also provide extraordinary academic scores and should be actively involved in voluntary work that benefits the society in their home country. 

4.  The Friedrich Ebert Stiftung

This organization awards scholarships to German and international students having an inclination towards social and political matters. The applicants must have above average academic results and must show a sense of civil responsibility. Students can receive upto 1000 EUR per month which can cover their enrolment fees, health insurance and monthly required books and other study materials.

5.  Mawista Scholarship

These scholarships are offered to applicants who are planning to study abroad while taking care of a child. The amount granted is around EUR 500 per month.

6.  Marie Curie International Incoming Fellowships (IIF) For Developing Countries

These scholarships are open to researchers moving within Europe from other parts of the world. These are provided to international students planning to pursue postdoctoral research in Germany. Amount granted can reach up to EUR 15,000 per year.

Apart from the non-governmental scholarships available for international students as stated above, there are several other scholarships available.

Scholarships Provided By German Universities

Students can find various Germany University scholarships which can provide them a little financial support. Take a look at some of the scholarships offered by universities in Germany:

1.  Heidelberg University Scholarships

Heidelberg University is one of the most popular universities in Germany. It offers various scholarships to international students from various fields. Examples include international ambassador scholarship for undergraduate students. This scholarship is awarded upon admission and is based on the student’s academic performance in high school.

2.  Hamburg University of Applied Sciences Scholarships

Hamburg University offers scholarships to international students of upto EUR 400 per month, four months or semester.

3.  RWTH Aachen University Scholarships

The RWTH University offers many scholarships to students which can provide various financial benefits. The university will cover upto 50% of tuition fees of the selected students who get the scholarship.

4.  Humboldt University International Research Fellowship

Humboldt University offers fellowship for international students pursuing research in history, anthropology, law, sociology, political science, geography, economics or area studies.

5.  Leipzig Graduate School of Management Scholarship

Leipzig Graduate School of Management offers scholarships or financial aids for students enrolled in various MSc courses

6.  Frankfurt School of Finance and Management Doctoral Tuition Waivers

This scholarship at Frankfurt School of Finance is offered to doctoral students studying an English-taught program at the University. It is applicable for students studying mathematics, finance, accounting, and business administration.

Degree-Specific Scholarships in Germany

Scholarships for Germany are available for every type of degree be it bachelors, masters or doctorate degrees. Take a look at some of the common scholarships for every type of degree:

1.  Scholarship For Bachelor Degree in Germany

Bachelors degrees in Germany are offered for free i.e students do not have to pay tuition fees, except in the state of Baden-Wurttemberg.  However, students do have to pay semester fees after completion of every semester. The semester fee may vary depending on the university.

Here are some of the scholarship in Germany for undergraduate students :

• Technical University of Munich – Oskar Karl Foster Scholarship for Books and Learning materials in Germany 2021
• Ambedkar Overseas Vidya Nidhi Scholarship for SC 2021 (For Indian nationals)
• Domestic and International state grants at Munich Business School
• DAAD Bavarian Government Scholarship at Hochschule Hof, Germany
• KAS Foundation Scholarship, Germany
• Leaky Foundation : Joan Cogswell Donner Scholarship for Students worldwide

You can find various other scholarship for bachelor degree in Germany. These scholarships offer partial funding or full funding. You may apply for any scholarship in Germany for undergraduates that you find helpful. The scholarships will definitely help you bring down your living costs as an undergraduate student in Germany.

Recommended: Here’s Your Bachelors Study Guide in Germany

2.  Scholarships for Master in Germany

Students are required to pay some tuition fees for masters degree courses in Germany. The tuition fees plus the cost of living in Germany can be difficult to manage for some international students. Hence there are various scholarships for master in Germany. The scholarships may be fully funded or partially funded.

Here are some of the available scholarship for MS in Germany :

• DAAD Scholarships for Development-related postgraduate courses
• DAAD Helmut-Schmidt-Programme (Master’s scholarship for public policy and good governance)
• Heinrich Boll Scholarships in Germany for international students
• Goethe Goes Global – masters scholarships

These were some of the scholarship for MS in Germany. The DAAD Scholarships are among the fully funded masters scholarships in Germany for international students. You can apply for DAAD scholarships by referring to the official DAAD website.

3.  PhD Scholarships in Germany

Among plenty of funding options, fellowships and scholarships, take a look at the well known PhD scholarships in Germany for international students.

• DAAD Scholarships for research studies
• Stipendienlotse scholarships for students opting for doctoral studies
• University of Cologne International Doctoral Scholarships

Students can find various scholarships available by searching online, checking out official websites of the universities or checking out the DAAD database for scholarships.