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Scholarships in Germany for International Students

Germany offers generous scholarships from the government, political foundations, and universities. While most public universities charge no tuition, these scholarships cover living costs, insurance, and more, making studying in Germany virtually free.

1316
Scholarships Available
€0
Tuition at Public Unis
€934
Avg Monthly Stipend
400+
Public Universities
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All 1,316 scholarships, 18 national and foundation programmes plus 1,298 run by 243 universities

Deutschlandstipendium der Hochschule fuer Musik Karlsruhe

Hochschule fuer Musik Karlsruhe (BMBF national scholarship programme)

14 scholarships per winter semester for particularly gifted and high-performing students enrolled in a Bachelor or Master programme; 3,600 EUR per year paid in...

3,600 EUR/year (300 EUR/month)
bachelor, master
usually 1 year
Deadline: annual: expression of interest by email (subject 'Deutschlandstipendium') by 18 June; full documents via drop folder by 23 June
Living costs

Deutschlandstipendium der Hochschule Heilbronn

Hochschule Heilbronn (funded half by private sponsors, half by the federal government)

National merit scholarship supporting talented and high-achieving HHN students; awarded independently of income and without effect on BAföG. 115 scholarships we...

EUR 300 per month
Bachelor, Master
One academic funding year (renewable per call)
Deadline: Announced annually via the HHN scholarship pages
None stated
Living costs

Deutschlandstipendium der Hochschule Landshut

Hochschule Landshut / HAW Landshut (public-private Deutschlandstipendium programme)

Merit scholarship supporting enrolled students of Hochschule Landshut; selection weighs excellent grades plus civic engagement and personal/family circumstances...

EUR 300 per month
Bachelor, Master
One year; renewable up to the end of the standard period of study
Deadline: Announced by the university (database entry cites a March deadline historically - confirm current dates)
Not stated in the reviewed sources
Living costs Mentoring & network Prize money

Deutschlandstipendium der Hochschule Merseburg

Hochschule Merseburg (BMBF national scholarship programme with private funders)

300 EUR/month (150 private sponsors, 150 federal government) for talented, engaged students including first-year entrants; independent of income, not offset aga...

300 EUR/month
bachelor, master
two semesters, starting each 1 October; re-application possible
Deadline: 30 June annually (exclusion deadline; call usually opens around end of April)
Living costs

Deutschlandstipendium der Hochschule Schmalkalden

Hochschule Schmalkalden (private sponsors incl. Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung, funded half by federal government)

Merit scholarship awarded since 2011 to talented students whose record promises outstanding performance in study and career, recognising social and civic engage...

EUR 300 per month (150 EUR federal government + 150 EUR private sponsors), non-repayable
Bachelor, Master
Initially two semesters (one funding year starting 1 October); renewable annually up to the standard period of study
Deadline: Annual call for winter semester; application phase for WS 2026/27 runs 1 April - 15 May 2026
None - explicitly open to students of all nationalities
Living costs Mentoring & network

Deutschlandstipendium der HSZG

Hochschule Zittau/Gorlitz (federal government + private sponsors)

Supports gifted and engaged students of the HSZG. Besides grades, societal engagement and special personal achievements (e.g. overcoming educational barriers) c...

EUR 300 per month
bachelor, master, diploma
at least two semesters
Deadline: Annual digital application window in early summer (example 2025 round: 12 May - 14 July)
Living costs

Deutschlandstipendium der Humboldt-Universitaet zu Berlin

Humboldt-Universitaet zu Berlin with federal government and private funders (companies, foundations, private individuals)

The HU Deutschlandstipendium supports students of ALL nationalities with EUR 300 per month for at least two semesters, financed half by the federal government a...

EUR 300 per month
bachelor, master
At least two semesters (funding year April to March)
Deadline: Application phase announced each October; previous round deadline was 14 December (28 December for themed class)
Living costs Mentoring & network

Deutschlandstipendium der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin with federal government and private funders (companies, foundations, private individuals)

The HU Deutschlandstipendium supports students of ALL nationalities with EUR 300 per month for at least two semesters, financed half by the federal government a...

EUR 300 per month
bachelor, master
At least two semesters (funding year April to March)
Deadline: Application phase announced each October; previous round deadline was 14 December (28 December for themed class)
Living costs Mentoring & network

Deutschlandstipendium der Jade Hochschule

Jade Hochschule Wilhelmshaven/Oldenburg/Elsfleth (half private sponsors incl. E.W. Kuhlmann-Stiftung, half federal government)

Merit scholarship for particularly talented, high-performing students; decisive criteria are achieved and expected academic performance plus special achievement...

EUR 300 per month
Bachelor, Master
Up to one year (funding year 1 September - 31 August); extension possible with good academic performance up to the end of the standard period of study
Deadline: Annual spring application window; for funding year 2026/27 the Stipendien page announces 26 April - 11 May 2026 (the Deutschlandstipendium page states 4 - 18 May 2026 - check current dates before applying)
None - open to students of all nationalities enrolled in a fundamental Bachelor or Master programme at Jade Hochschule
Living costs Mentoring & network

Deutschlandstipendium der SDI Muenchen

Internationale Hochschule SDI Muenchen (federal government + private sponsors)

Income-independent monthly grant co-funded equally by private sponsors and the federal government; the SDI is entitled to award six Deutschlandstipendien. Selec...

EUR 300 per month
bachelor, master
at least two semesters, up to the end of the standard period of study
Living costs

Deutschlandstipendium der SRH Fernhochschule

SRH Fernhochschule with BMBF and private sponsors

300 EUR per month for one year, financed half publicly and half by private sponsors; awarded on the basis of very good school or academic records plus societal...

300 EUR/month
bachelor, master
1 year
Deadline: awarded exclusively to start 1 January each year (apply in advance)
Living costs

Deutschlandstipendium der Stiftung Universitaet Hildesheim

Stiftung Universitaet Hildesheim (federal government + private donors)

Awarded to particularly high-achieving students of the foundation university; recipients may join the Minerva College accompanying programme. Approx. 100 schola...

EUR 300 per month
bachelor, master
initially two semesters
Deadline: Annual application window (portal opens mid-year for the following funding period)
Living costs

Deutschlandstipendium der Universitaet Rostock

Universitaet Rostock (federal government + private promoters)

National scholarship programme supporting high-potential students; 98-101 scholarships awarded recently (101 in Oct 2025). Selection criteria: excellent academi...

EUR 300 per month
bachelor, master
initially two semesters (extension possible by re-application until 31 July)
Deadline: Mid-July - 31 August for the following winter semester (online portal; e.g. 14 July - 31 August 2026); no summer-semester applications
Living costs

Deutschlandstipendium der Universitaet zu Koeln

Private sponsors, companies, foundations and associations with federal top-up, administered by the University of Cologne scholarship programme

Together with committed sponsors, the University of Cologne supports students with above-average performance through its Deutschlandstipendium. Particularly qua...

EUR 300 per month
Bachelor, Master, State examination
At least two semesters per award period
Deadline: Next application phase: 3 - 28 August 2026
Living costs Mentoring & network

Partial scholarships funding the first year of study specifically for graduates of German schools abroad holding DSD, DPS or DAS diplomas. Administered by the T...

bachelor
First year of study
Graduates of German schools abroad (DSD/DPS/DAS)
Living costs

Short scholarships for preparation of final theses (Bachelor/Master) in France. Application via DFJW forms; deadline at least one month before stay. Covers rese...

Not specified
Bachelor, Master
Short-term (thesis preparation period)
Deadline: At least 1 month before start of stay in France
Research & thesis

DHL Scholarship

DHL in partnership with University of Europe for Applied Sciences

In partnership with DHL, UE offers scholarships for students in selected programmes. Details on the UE scholarships page.

Not specified
Bachelor, Master
Not specified
Deadline: Before signing the study agreement
None stated
Tuition

Dialog-Stipendium (Solidaris gGmbH)

Solidaris gGmbH / KSH München

Stipendium für Studierende, die sich in der Altenpflege aktiv um ältere Menschen kümmern. Monatliche Förderung als Anerkennung für Engagement. Erwähnt auf KSH-W...

Monatliche Förderung (Höhe auf Anfrage)
Bachelor, Master
Studienbegleitend
Deadline: Laufend / nach Ausschreibung
Keine
Living costs

Dieter Schwarz Stiftung MBA Stipendium (GGS Heilbronn)

Dieter Schwarz Stiftung / German Graduate School of Management and Law

The Dieter Schwarz Stiftung awarded scholarships covering 40-75% of tuition fees for all students admitted to MBA and Master programmes at GGS Heilbronn. For MB...

40-75% of tuition fees (EUR 11,800+ savings for MBA; up to EUR 22,000+ for full programme)
master (MBA, MSc, LL.M.)
Full standard period of study
Deadline: Programme application deadlines (varies by intake)
None; all admitted students
Tuition

Digital Pioneers Scholarship

University of Europe for Applied Sciences

A scholarship for digital pioneers at the UE Innovation Hub in Potsdam. Open to applicants for selected tech master programmes: Generative Design & AI M.A., Dig...

up to EUR 1,000
Master
One-off
Deadline: Before signing the study agreement
None stated
Tuition

Doctoral Funding Opportunities at RPTU

RPTU Referat für Forschung / Stipendien AG

Overview of funding opportunities for doctoral candidates and postdocs at RPTU, including state graduate scholarships, DAAD programmes, Alexander von Humboldt F...

Varies by programme
Doctorate
Varies by programme
Deadline: Varies by programme
Varies by programme
Research & thesis

Doctoral Programme Funding

Frankfurt School of Finance & Management

Monthly financial support of up to EUR 2,320 tax-exempt from the first year onwards and a generous budget for travel and research expenditures. Doctoral student...

Up to EUR 2,320/month tax-exempt + travel/research budget
doctorate
Up to 5 years
Living costs Travel Research & thesis

Doctoral Track-Stipendium (Master-PhD Fast Track)

Leuphana Universitaet Lueneburg (Graduate School)

For Master students at Leuphana already admitted to PhD track (parallel). Supports swift Master completion. Monthly 300 EUR (study cost rate). Duration = Master...

300 EUR per month
master (with PhD track admission)
Master regular study period (max)
Deadline: Per advertised call
Not stated
Living costs

Dortmunder-Volksbank-Foundation semester-abroad scholarship

Dortmunder-Volksbank-Foundation with ISM funding committee

One-off scholarship of EUR 2,500 for one term abroad, awarded each spring and fall term to ISM Dortmund campus students: 4th-term bachelor or 3rd-term master st...

EUR 2,500 one-off
bachelor, master
One semester abroad
None stated; restricted to ISM Dortmund campus students
Study abroad

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