Scholarships to Study in Germany

Scholarships to Study in Germany - When selecting countries to study abroad in, German is doubtlessly one of the first nations which comes to mind, being one of the cheapest places to pursue high quality tertiary-level education in the world! The lack of tuition fees at public universities is a reason why Germany is popular amongst international students, along with the top-notch academic programs available. Germany also boasts of some of the best universities in the world, especially in the area of engineering and technology. To top it off, most German universities as well as the government offer a wide range of scholarships to study in Germany for incoming international students to fund their living expenses in the nation. Apart from the commendable quality and affordable nature of education at German universities, student life in German is a once in a lifetime experience; especially for international students living in some of the best student cities in the world like Munich, Berlin and Stuttgart. 

According to QS’s top universities in the world ranking, a staggering 45 German universities made it into the 2019 ranking. Of these universities, three rank in the top 100 universities in the world; of which Technical University of Munich ranks the highest offering some of the best programs in the world (ranked under 30!) in natural sciences, physics and astronomy, architecture, and engineering and technology. Each of these universities offers university-specific options for scholarships to study in Germany.

Top Universities in Germany

Apart from the three universities which rank under 100 in QS’s world university ranking, there are a substantial number of other universities which also rank in specific subjects and areas of study. The subject-wise top universities in Germany according to QS are given below.

Top Subject-Wise Universities to Study in Germany

German Scholarships 2019

There are a variety of different funding options for students who want to pursue tertiary-level education in Germany. These options include:

• Government scholarships

• Non-government scholarships

• University scholarships

Although the number of German scholarships for masters, bachelors and doctoral-level programs are tremendous, we will focus on some of the top programs available for international students. 

Government scholarships for study in Germany

There are primarily two government scholarship-providers in Germany which offer a large number of scholarship options for in-state and international students alike. Although these are not program-specific in nature, students looking for doctoral-level funding, medical scholarships, and engineering scholarships in Germany can also opt for either of the government scholarships.This includes the DAAD and the Erasmus+ scholarships to study in Germany.

• DAAD: The German Academic Service Exchange or DAAD offers a variety of scholarships at different levels of study for international students planning on pursuing education in the country. Students can go through the DAAD database in order to find scholarships tailored to their level of study, country of origin and area of study.

• Erasmus+: Erasmus+ is a product of the European Union and was developed in order to support a variety of academic activities amongst the people in Europe, particularly the youth. Erasmus+ programs collectively work towards promoting education, employment, innovation and mobility between the EU nations and international mobility. 

Non-Government scholarships for study in Germany

A large number of country-wide and non-government scholarships for study in Germany are available for incoming international students. The organizations offering these German scholarships stand to promote international exchange as well as the influx of internationally meritorious students and offer a number of scholarships which vary according to the level of study, area of study, scholarship amount, and other differentiating criteria. Engineering scholarships in Germany, scholarships in medicine, doctoral-level scholarships and many other funding options are provided to international students.

• Heinrich Boll Scholarships

The Heinrich Boll Stiftung Green Political Foundation offers a number of german scholarships for masters programs and doctorate level programs for students from outside Germany. Only online applications are accepted for these scholarships and the deadline is March 1 for this scholarship in Germany for postgraduate programs. The application portal opens around 6 weeks prior to the application deadline.

Eligibility: All international candidates are eligible for this scholarship in Germany for postgraduate programs i.e. masters and doctoral-level programs. Applicants are required to provide proof of German language proficiency with at least a CEFP B2 level in German. 

Scholarship Amount: The scholarship amount varies for the doctoral and masters programs and is also dependent upon the student of application.

• Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Scholarships

Another internationally sought-after scholarship in Germany for postgraduate education is the KAS scholarship. Candidates are welcome to apply for these scholarships to study in Germany from their respective foreign office. Students residing in the country can apply for the German scholarship directly.

Eligibility: The scholarship to study in Germany is open to students who are academically meritorious, have a broad general education and a deep interest in politics. These students must also display a desire to play a role in the improvement of relations between Germany and their home nation.

Scholarship Amount: The KAS German scholarship for masters entails a stipend of €850 per month whereas the scholarship in Germany for PhD entails a monthly stipend of €1,100. Additionally, a number of grants and subsidies are also awarded.

• Deutshland Stipendium

The Deutshland Stipendium is a scholarship in Germany for undergraduate and postgraduate programs. It is offered conjointly by the federal government and private donors. This scholarship is available to prospective students to over 300 German universities. 

Eligibility: There is no specific eligibility requirement for international applicants. The applicant must be enrolled in a program of study in any of the 304 listed universities where the Deutshland Stipendium is applicable.

Scholarship Amount: The scholarship involves a monthly stipend of €300 which is payable to the student for at least two semesters of his or her period of study in Germany.

• Bayer Foundation Scholarships

The scholarships to study in Germany offered by the Bayer Foundation are primarily for students who are in the domain of science and medicine. These German scholarships are not only for students but also recent graduates who want to pursue a professional project in Germany. 

Eligibility: The Bayer Foundation scholarship in Germany for postgraduates and undergraduates are open to students in the domains of agro sciences, biology and chemistry, medicine, and life sciences.

Scholarship Amount: For the different german scholarships offered by the Bayer Foundation, the scholarship amount also varies depending upon the applicant and type of funding for study in Germany.

• Helmholtz Association Scholarships

The Helmholtz Association offers a competitive scholarship in Germany for PhD students Thousands of doctoral project students are offered these German scholarships in order to carry out their research with commendable training assistance and no pressure to fund their stay and study in Germany.

Eligibility: All international candidates who are pursuing a doctoral-level program or research in Germany at any of the Helmholtz Research or Graduate Schools are eligible for these German scholarships.

• Marie Sklowdowska-Curie Actions

Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions (MSCA) provides four types of scholarships for researchers at all stages of their careers for all kinds of research in European nations. It enables organizations and universities to host researchers and develop partnerships among leading institutions of the world.

Eligibility: There are no specific eligibility requirements for this German scholarship, except that the applicant must be enrolled in a masters by research or a doctoral-level program in a German unviersity.

University Scholarships to study in Germany

Apart from country-wide scholarships, most German universities also offer university-specific scholarships to study in Germany. The primary requirement for eligibility for these German scholarships is that the applicant must be enrolled to the specific university of study in Germany. These funding options often range across various domains and levels of study, from undergraduate, to postgraduate, doctoral-level and even research scholarships. Some of the most notable german scholarships offered by specific universities are given in the table below.