Skip to main content
A student reading a scholarship award letter at her desk

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
Advertisement

All 1,316 scholarships, 18 national and foundation programmes plus 1,298 run by 243 universities

NatureLife Nachhaltigkeitspreis

NatureLife / Universität Hohenheim

Sustainability award for student projects/initiatives. Awarded at Dies academicus.

Prize money (varies)
Bachelor, Master, Doctorate
Single award
Deadline: Per annual call
Hohenheim students
Prize money

Institutional need-based aid in the form of tuition waivers contributing toward tuition and fees, awarded regardless of nationality. Approximately 80-85% of BCB...

Tuition waivers covering from 10% to 100% of the comprehensive fee
Bachelor, Academy Year (one-year program)
Per academic year; renewable up to four consecutive years (adjusted per projected graduation semester for transfers)
Deadline: With the admission round: Early Action 1 November; Regular Decision 10-15 January; Late Admission 1 May (eligible nationalities); Spring Transfer 15 October; Fall Transfer 15 February
None - available regardless of nationality; not available to applicants who already hold a prior degree
Tuition

Supports architects in gaining experience abroad by awarding scholarships for Master's degree programmes at international universities. One-off grant of EUR 2,5...

EUR 2,500 (one-off)
Master
One-off for Master's abroad
Deadline: Annually 1 March - 15 May
Study abroad

Niedersachsen-Technikum

Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kultur via Hochschule Emden/Leer

Six-month paid internship combined with university orientation for female high-school graduates interested in STEM fields. Participants receive EUR 600/month du...

EUR 600 per month
Pre-Bachelor (school leavers)
6 months
Women only; German university entrance qualification required
Living costs

Niedersachsenstipendium (Landesstipendium Niedersachsen)

Land Niedersachsen via Hochschule Emden/Leer

State scholarship of Lower Saxony awarded through the university in addition to the Deutschlandstipendium. It is a one-off grant towards study costs financed by...

EUR 500 one-time
Bachelor, Master
Single payment
Not specified on the published page
General funding

Niedersachsenstipendium (Lower Saxony Scholarship) - Universitaet Goettingen

Land Niedersachsen administered by Georg-August-Universitaet Goettingen

State scholarship applied for via the same online portal and the same September window as the Deutschlandstipendium, but requiring a separate application. It sp...

bachelor, master, state examination, diploma
Deadline: Annually 1 - 30 September
Not stated on the reviewed pages
Living costs

Niedersachsenstipendium (state scholarship)

State of Lower Saxony, administered by TU Clausthal

Lower Saxony state scholarship listed among TU Clausthal's scholarship offers alongside the Deutschlandstipendium and company/foundation scholarships. Consult t...

Per current state call
Bachelor, Master
Per state guidelines
Deadline: Per annual call on the scholarships pages
Per Lower Saxony state scholarship rules
General funding

Nomination to the state Begabtenfoerderungswerke (13 gifted-education foundations) and Aufstiegsstipendium guidance

Hochschule Coburg / Stipendium Plus foundations / SBB Stiftung Begabtenfoerderung berufliche Bildung

Hochschule Coburg regularly nominates the best students of each cohort to Germany's 13 state gifted-education foundations (Stipendium Plus), which provide schol...

Per foundation regulations
bachelor, master
Per foundation regulations
Deadline: Nominations ongoing per academic year; Aufstiegsstipendium per SBB calls
Per foundation rules
Living costs

Notfall-Beihilfe (Emergency Grant for International Students)

Leibniz Universität Hannover International Office

For international students (non-EU, residence permit §16.1) at LUH who face an acute financial emergency through no fault of their own. Can usually only be gran...

Varies by emergency type and available funds
bachelor, master
One-time
Deadline: Available from 11 August 2025 (check current availability)
International students (non-EU, residence permit §16.1)
Emergency aid

Einmalige finanzielle Hilfe für Studierende in akuten Notlagen (z. B. Krankheit, familiäre Krisen, Jobverlust, Wohnungsnot). Zweckgebunden (Miete, Krankenkasse,...

Einzelfallabhängig (z. B. 1 Monatsmiete, Krankenkassenbeitrag)
Bachelor, Master
Einmalig
Deadline: Laufend
Keine
Living costs Insurance Books & materials Emergency aid

Students who find themselves in a financial emergency situation - for example due to the significant increase in energy and living costs - can apply for a hards...

Not specified (emergency support)
Bachelor, Master
As needed
Deadline: Any time (rolling applications)
Enrolled FH Münster students
Emergency aid

Notfonds

KHG Offenburg (Katholische Hochschulgemeinde)

Emergency fund by the Catholic University Community Offenburg for students in acute financial distress. Simple application, no fixed deadline.

Bachelor, Master
Single payment
Deadline: Rolling
Enrolled students at HS Offenburg
Living costs Emergency aid

Nothilfefonds

Studentenwerk Oldenburg

Emergency interest-free loan up to EUR 1,000 for students at HSEL in acute financial crisis. Administered by Studentenwerk Oldenburg.

Up to EUR 1,000 (interest-free loan)
Bachelor, Master
Repayable per agreement
Enrolled students at HSEL in acute financial crisis
Living costs Emergency aid

Emergency financial aid for international students at JGU Mainz in acute financial distress. Simple application process; provides up to EUR 950.

Up to EUR 950
Bachelor, Master, Doctorate
One-off emergency support
Deadline: Rolling applications
International students at JGU Mainz
Emergency aid

Notlagenhilfe / Kurzfristige Darlehen (Emergency Aid)

Leuphana Universitaet Lueneburg / AStA / Studierendenwerk

Emergency interest-free loans for students in acute financial distress. Offered via AStA and Studierendenwerk. Also Kurzfristiges Darlehen (500 EUR one-time) an...

Kurzfristiges Darlehen: 500 EUR one-time; Studienabschlussdarlehen: 700 EUR over 8 months
bachelor, master
Short-term / 8 months
Deadline: On demand
Enrolled Leuphana students
Living costs Research & thesis Emergency aid

NRW-Sportstiftungs-Stipendium

Sportstiftung NRW together with Deutsche Sporthochschule Koeln

Support for top athletes combining elite sport and study: aimed at federal junior squad (Bundesnachwuchskader) athletes enrolled at the DSHS, strengthening dual...

EUR 300 per month
Bachelor, Master
Two semesters
Living costs Mentoring & network

NRW-Stipendienprogramm at FH Münster

State of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) via FH Münster

The NRW Scholarship Programme supports talented students at FH Münster with a grant of EUR 300 per month. The scholarship is initially awarded for two semesters...

EUR 300 per month
Bachelor, Master
Initially 2 semesters, extendable to end of standard period of study
Deadline: 1 March and 1 September annually
Enrolled FH Münster students
Living costs

NRW-Stipendienprogramm at HSRW

State of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) via HSRW

The NRW Scholarship Programme supports talented students at HSRW with a grant of EUR 300 per month. The scholarship is initially awarded for two semesters and c...

EUR 300 per month
Bachelor, Master
Initially 2 semesters, extendable to end of standard period of study
Deadline: 1 March and 1 September annually
Enrolled HSRW students
Living costs

NRWege ins Studium - Stipendium für Geflüchtete

Fachhochschule Dortmund International Office (MKW NRW funds)

Scholarships for students with refugee background who have good to very good academic performance. Open to all disciplines, for students who obtained their univ...

bachelor, master
Regular award periods
Students with refugee background (university entrance qualification obtained abroad)
Living costs

NRWege ins Studium – Scholarships for Refugees

RWTH Aachen University / DAAD (NRWege programme)

Scholarship programme for refugees and displaced persons to access higher education at RWTH Aachen, funded through the DAAD NRWege programme.

not stated on page
Bachelor, Master
varies
Deadline: varies
refugees and displaced persons
Living costs

NRWege ins Studium (Scholarships for Students with Refugee Background)

University of Cologne, financed by the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRWege programme)

The 'NRWege ins Studium' programme at the University of Cologne supports students with refugee status. Referenced on the prospective students financing page as...

Not specified (per NRWege programme guidelines)
Bachelor, Master
Per programme period
Students with refugee status / refugee background
General funding

NRWege ins Studium scholarships for students with refugee background

University of Bonn (NRWege ins Studium program, NRW funded)

NRWege ins Studium supports University of Bonn students with a refugee history through monthly scholarships and counselling on the way to a degree. Complementar...

EUR 300 per month top-up; up to EUR 992 per month for full scholarships
Bachelor, Master, State Examination
October 2025 to September 2026 with extension option (subject to ministry approval)
Deadline: 15 August (annual call; last published deadline 15 August 2025)
Refugees per program specifications (BAMF decision, temporary or humanitarian protection, admission-from-abroad residence permit); arrived in Germany within past 5 years (extendable to 7 years in defined cases)
Living costs Mentoring & network

NRWege Scholarships of the International Office (for International Students with Refugee Background)

International Office of HHU, financed by the Ministry of Culture and Science (MKW) of North Rhine-Westphalia ('NRWege ins Studium' programme)

The NRWege scholarship programme supports international students with a refugee background and prospects of remaining in Germany so they can complete their stud...

up to EUR 300 per month (study entry / performance lines); up to EUR 1,000 per month (annual scholarship line)
Bachelor, Master
Per funding period granted; conversion into an annual scholarship possible
International students with refugee background and prospect of remaining in Germany
Living costs

NRWege-Stipendien fuer Studierende mit Fluchthintergrund

Hochschule Duesseldorf - International Office (NRWege ins Studium programme)

Scholarship programme for talented international students with a refugee background, aiming to enable continuation of their educational path and support study s...

Per current call (see International Office page)
Bachelor, Master
Per current call
Deadline: See International Office announcements
International students with refugee background
General funding

Want our guides higher up in Google?

Mark GradGermany as a preferred source and Google gives our pages more room when you search about studying in Germany. Takes one tap, and you can undo it any time from the same screen.

Add as preferred source
Need Help?

Not Sure Which Scholarship You Qualify For?

Get a free profile evaluation. Our experts assess your eligibility for scholarships, recommend the best options, and help you apply with maximum chances of success.