There are many fully funded scholarships in Germany. As you know, studying in Germany is a good investment as Germany remains one of the most affordable countries in Europe for international students when it comes to education.
Note: DO NOT be in a haste to read and go! Take your time. The information that can help you secure the scholarship may just be in a paragraphy you might have skipped. Alternatively, you can check around for more scholarship opportunities here.
At least 3 million international students gain admission to study in Germany every year.this is largely because Germany has a credible and affordable education system. With top universities, excellent infrastructure, and a great learning environment.
The cost of studying in Germany is quite affordable, but students from other countries might find it challenging to cover the cost of living in Germany which is around EUR 1200 per month. But with the many financial aids available for international students, they can easily cover their tuition fees and living expenses, here are a list of fully funded scholarships in Germany.
List of Fully Funded Scholarships in Germany for International Students
There are various scholarships available for international students in Germany. Some are government funded, Institution funded, and Non-Government scholarships. The amount offered can range from 150 Euros to 800 Euros per month for a period of 12 months.
DAAD Scholarship Germany
The DAAD Scholarship Germany is offered by The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) for international students to study in Germany. DAAD scholarships are primarily for graduate and doctoral programmes. Students can also be awarded this scholarship for study and research visits to universities and non-university research institutions in Germany. Students who are at risk of being denied educational rights in their country of origin can apply for this scholarship from the Hilde Domin Programme. DAAD Scholarships offers 215 scholarships and funding opportunities to international students.
Students cannot apply for this scholarship programme by themselves, they have to be nominated by an institution that is a legal entity domiciled in Germany. DAAD will then contact qualified candidates to submit their applications via the DAAD application portal.
An independent selection committee consisting of specialist scientists will review the applications based on these selection criteria:
- Excellent academic qualification
- Knowledge of the language of instruction or working language.
- Relevant internships and work experience
- Quality of the study project
- Integration of the project into the academic career path
- A strong letter of motivation detailing academic and personal reasons for studying in Germany.
- Extracurricular commitment.
The Scholarship is valued at 934 euros a month which covers health insurance, travel allowance, rent, study allowance. monthly allowance for dependents, subsidy for additional costs resulting from disability or chronic illness, Green Mobility Top Up.
Also, the award covers; Payment of course fees for an online language course to enable recipients of the award to improve on their language skills in preparation for their stay in Germany.
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.
Hamburg University of Applied Sciences Scholarships
Hamburg University offers scholarships to international students of upto EUR 400 per month, four months or semester.
Erasmus Scholarship Programs in Germany
The Erasmus Scholarship Germany holds the record for the largest scholarship provider in the EU as it is sponsored by the European Commission. Erasmus scholarship provides funding to international students to study, at least an average of 350 EUR to cover their necessary needs like monthly allowance, traveling costs, and insurance costs.
The general requirements for this scholarship includes;
- Prospective students must have a bachelor’s level education from their respective countries before applying for this scholarship, the scholarship is only open for masters and doctoral studies.
- Students in their first year of study can apply provided they graduate before the Masters program starts.
- English language proficiency test scores mostly IELTS.
- Recommendation letter.
Applicants are advised to read the entry requirements, and apply in time before the deadlines.
Apply for a path that suits your interest by filling out the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship application form with correct information. Include the relevant documents in your application to prove their candidature.
Applicants will be selected based on Merit and how well they do in the evaluation interview.
Heinrich Boll Scholarships for International Students
The Heinrich Boll Foundation provides scholarships to international students to sponsor their Masters/PHD program. This particular scholarship is mostly for students who plan to study STEM fields (Science, technology, engineering, mathematics) and programs focusing on Environmental sciences.
Before applying you must provide proof of first degree qualification, and proficiency in German language, level B2 or DSH2.
The scholarship is valued at
- Students from Non-European countries get £934 for Masters while PhD students get £1200 to cover their monthly stipends, travel allowance, health insurance, as well as tuition fees in some cases.
- Students from European countries get £814 for Masters while PhD students get £1350 to cover all necessary needs.
Interested applicants are advised to read thoroughly the eligibility requirements before submitting their applications via the university website.
Bayer Foundations
Bayer Foundation awards scholarships to international students who are planning to undertake Masters or PhD studies. This scholarship is merit based, and candidates must provide excellent academic results. Also their research project must be an innovative topic.
Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Scholarships
International students who want to study for their masters or PhD programs in Germany are eligible for the scholarship. To be eligible for this scholarship:
- Applicants must have already acquired a university degree.
- Must have an excellent academic performance.
- Must provide proof of proficiency in German language(B2-level).
- Must have been involved in some kind of voluntary work that benefits the society in their home country.
- Provide a convincing motivation letter.
- Must be below 30 years of age.
KAS provides funding for students throughout the duration of their studies. Master students receive a monthly scholarship of €934. PhD-students receive a monthly scholarship of € 1.400. Also, there are multiple subsidies offered to scholars asides the monthly stipends. This includes health care insurance, family allowance, child care, amongst others.
KAS focuses on a new country or region every year, if your country is not listed, you cannot apply for KAS. If you are living in one of these countries, send a written application directly to the responsible KAS office. Students already studying in Germany, should apply for a scholarship via the domestic selection program using our online procedure.
While sending in your applications, you are required to send in the following documents:
Your academic CV in tabular form, this should include details about your previous voluntary work and social commitment.
- A letter of Motivation.
- Proof of proficiency in German language (B2).
- Copies of examination certificates.( Translate to German if the originals are not in English).
- Copies of your academic records if you have been studying at a University in Germany.
- Letter of recommendation by a university professor or teacher holding a doctoral degree. This letter should detail the applicant’s personality and interests.
- An Informal letter of recommendation by another referee.
- Certificate of admission.
PhD-Scholars should provide the following documents:
- A 5-10 page detailed description of doctoral thesis written in German or English. This should outline the research question, relevance of research, theoretical approach and the objectives of the research. Also include a work and time schedule and a bibliography.
- An academic letter of recommendation written by the supervisor of your doctoral thesis.
- A confirmation of supervision by your doctor-father or -mother
Applications should be submitted on the KAS Portal alongside the relevant documents.
The Friedrich Ebert Stiftung
The Friedrich Ebert Stiftung organization awards scholarships to German and international students for their Bachelors, Masters and PhD programs in a German institution. The foundation gives scholarships to those who have excellent academic results and show a sense of political commitment.
The scholarship awards:
- A monthly Stipend of EUR 750 for Bachelor’s and Diploma programs. And EUR 850 for a Master’s programme.
- Health insurance and a family allowance of EUR 276.
To be eligible for Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) Scholarships, applicants must meet these criteria:
- Must be proficient in English and German.
- Students from Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe must show excellent promise for an academic or professional career.
- Must have gained admission to study in a state-recognized higher-education institution in Germany
- Candidates are expected to show commitment to the values of social democracy.
Simply fill out the online applications and answer a few questions about your professional and family background.
Mawista Scholarship
The MAWISTA scholarships are offered to applicants who are planning to study abroad while taking care of a child. Every academic year, the organization will select one winner for this scholarship. The scholarship is aimed at helping single parents continue with their studies without thinking of the child’s care and needs.
The recipient is awarded a total amount of 6,691 USD for one year, which includes a monthly stipend of 557 USD for a 12-month period. The grant can be used for tuition fees as well as travel and accommodation in Germany.
The only eligibility criteria for this is that the recipient is a single parent, and will be shortlisted on need-basis. Factors such as the duration of the course and the GPA are NOT used to determine eligibility. Applicants are only required to submit their academic CV and other academic credentials of their previous course of study.
Applicants need to only complete an application form on the official website of MAWISTA, and add a letter detailing why they need to be selected for this scholarship.
Marie Curie International Incoming Fellowships (IIF) For Developing Countries
This scholarship is sponsored by the European Union (EU). The scholarship is open to researchers moving within Europe from other parts of the world to experience other prestigious European institutions. Every year at least 50 researchers are awarded this scholarship to undertake their research project.
The duration of the fellowship is 12 to 24 months of which researchers are granted €3,000 per month to cover living expenses, and mobility and family allowances. This also covers the costs of research activities, such as access to equipment, consumables, travel costs, subsistence, and other expenses related to the research project.
To be eligible for the Marie Curie International Incoming Fellowship (IIF) program, you have to meet the following criteria:
- Be a researcher from any developing country.
- Have a PhD degree or any other research experience in a field related to the proposed research project.
- Have an approved research plan by the host institution.
- Be under the employ of an eligible host institution in Europe.
These Documents will be required of you:
- An academic CV.
- A research proposal and research plan.
- Letter of motivation.
- A financial proposal
- Letter of support from the host institution
- Applicant’s valid passport
- Duly signed consent letter from the applicant’s employer
Applicants should submit an online application including the required documents on the official Marie Curie website. The application will be reviewed by a panel of experts based on the following criteria:
The quality of the research proposal.
The applicant’s track record.
The relevance and impact of the proposed research.
The quality of the research plan.
The quality of the financial plan.
Selected recipients will be notified of their selection and invited to join the Marie Curie International Incoming Fellowship (IIF) program.
Frankfurt School of Finance and Management Doctoral Tuition Waivers
The Frankfurt School of Finance scholarship is offered to doctoral students studying an English-taught program at the University. The Funding includes a tuition fee waiver, living expenses, and other costs related to research. Doctoral students will receive 1,820 EUR for the duration of their study.
Applicants will be required to submit their Academic CV, Academic transcript, Official GMAT or GRE results, language proficiency tests, letter of recommendations from former academic professors, Statement of purpose and research interest.
Applications are to be submitted to the official Frankfurt website.
FAQS
Is it difficult to get a scholarship in Germany?
No, but it also depends on the scholarship you are applying for. Some scholarships might have difficult requirements, while some don’t.
Where can I find scholarships in Germany?
There are lots of scholarships in Germany for you. They could be government funded,non-government funded, or institution sponsored. You need to do your own research and apply for what suits you.
How much do scholarships in Germany cover?
Some scholarships offer as high as €1000 to cover tuition, monthly allowances, plus other subsidies that are necessary for your studies.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know that there are many fully funded scholarships in Germany,you can cease the opportunity and apply so you can get the financial aid you need to complete your studies in Germany.
Note that the scholarships are highly competitive. To beat this competition, ensure you do your research and acquaint yourself with the eligibility requirements before applying for any of the scholarships that interests you.
