Scholarships in Germany

There is a number of scholarships, grants and bursaries are available which can help international students financially to study in this country. The German government, corporations, universities, and some private organizations have subsidized education in Germany; therefore, state-funded institutions charge no tuition fee not only for the native students but also for international students studying in Germany. Despite this, there are several excellent scholarships available for Masters Programmes in Germany. Doctoral degrees are generally fully funded.

We have compiled a list of the most renowned scholarships for Indian students to study in Germany.

Government – Funded Scholarships in Germany

DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst) Scholarships

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) undoubtedly offers the most popular scholarships to international students for undergraduate, postgraduate as well as Ph.D. programs in Germany. This organization is responsible for promoting international academic relations mainly through student exchange programs.

DAAD offers numerous scholarships to study and do research projects in Germany.

Eligibility:  Students of all nationalities are eligible for these scholarships and are selected based on their academic proficiency.

Scholarship Duration and Amount: The DAAD scholarships’ amount and duration vary depending on the institutions and also on the extent of the chosen study program.

ERASMUS+ (European Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students) scholarships

Erasmus+ scholarships are one of the beast and largest grants to study in Europe. The complete ERASMUS+ scholarship program is regulated by the European Commission. More than 4,000 higher education institutions from nearly 37 countries participate as Erasmus + Partner countries.

Eligibility: Students of all nationalities pursuing Erasmus study program are eligible for these grants and they are selected based on their academic proficiency.

Non-Government Scholarships in Germany

Heinrich Böll Scholarships for International Students

Every year the Heinrich Böll Foundation announces around 1,200 scholarships for Bachelors, Masters, and Ph.D. programs in Germany. These scholarships are given to international students as per the guidelines issued by Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), and the Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt).

Eligibility: Both German and international students planning to study Bachelors, Masters or Ph.D. programs in Germany are eligible for Heinrich Böll Scholarships.

The applications for this scholarship are opened twice a year (March and September).

Scholarship Duration and Amount: Eligible student receives € 750 per month for Masters Program and € 1000 per month for the Doctoral program.

Humboldt Research Fellowships for Postdoctoral Researchers

These fellowships are offered by the Alexander Von Humboldt Foundation to research scholars who have completed their Doctoral studies and are planning to do a postdoctoral in Germany.

Eligibility: The fellowship is open to researchers and students from all nationalities for the Postdoctoral program.
Around 400 – 500 research fellowships are granted every year.

Scholarship Duration and Amount: The fellowship worth € 2,650 per month is granted for duration of 6 – 24 months. This includes liabilities for monthly expenses, transportation, and health insurance.

Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Scholarships

KAS scholarships are awarded to international scholars aspiring to study postgraduate and Ph.D. programs. The scholarships are available in all disciplines. Awardees can pursue their courses at universities of applied science and technical colleges.

Eligibility: Students of all nationalities having excellent academic achievement are eligible for these scholarships. The upper age limit for applicants is 30 years.

Scholarship Duration and Amount: Postgraduate students receive a monthly stipend of € 850 for 2 years.

Bayer Foundation Scholarships

Bayer Foundation supports students aspiring to study in Germany with five fellowship programs in biology, medical science, agricultural science, non-academic professions, and chemistry.

Eligibility: Students of all nationalities having outstanding academic achievement are eligible for these scholarships.

Scholarship Duration and Amount: Approximately € 6400 per year up to 2 years after graduation.

Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ)-German Cancer Research Centre PhD scholarship

The German Cancer Research Centre (DFKZ) offers an opportunity to conduct projects for more than 500 students in biomedical research.

Eligibility: MSc or equivalent degree with the minimum required IELTS/TOEFL/PTE test scores.

Scholarship Duration and Amount: Full funding of Ph.D. program for 3 years.

Einstein International Postdoctoral Fellowship

This program allows international students to work with high-achieving young researchers in Berlin. It offers them to live in the city of Berlin and granted for a period of up to five years during the active life of the junior research group. During this period, the postdoctoral scholars will be entitled “Einstein International Postdoctoral Fellows”.

Eligibility: Ph.D. degree

Scholarship Duration and Amount: Eligible student receives stipend up to € 20,000 per year to cover material resources.

Marie Skolodowska-curie actions

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) offers four types of scholarships (research networks, individual fellowships, research and innovation staff exchanges, COFUND programs) for researchers from different academic disciplines to promote research, innovation and to advance partnerships among the leading institutions all over the world.

Eligibility: Students of all nationalities are eligible

Scholarship Duration and Amount: Eligible student receives € 3000 per month plus € 600 per month as transport allowance.

Deutschland Stipendium

The Deutschland Stipendium provides monetary and non-material provision to students from across the globe. This excellent scholarship offers the best of both worlds to talented international students. Half of the Deutschland Stipendium is funded by the German government and the other half are contributed by the private organization and individuals.

Scholarship Amount and Duration: Students receive a Deutschland Stipendium scholarship worth € 150 per month, provided by the German government, private organizations or public-private partnership firms. The most proficient student receives an amount of € 300 per month under this scholarship program.

Funding is generally granted for at least two semesters, later it can be extended until the completion of studies. Want to know more about other German courses read our blog on Ausbildung courses in Germany and contact us to learn more.

University – Funded Scholarship to Study in Germany

Jacobs University Scholarships

Jacobs University offers several merit-based scholarships for international students to study in Germany. These scholarships are highly competitive and require a focused application and noteworthy statement of purpose. Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible during the admissions cycle to increase their chances to get a good scholarship.

Scholarship Duration and Amount: This scholarship includes annual tuition of € 20,000 along with € 6,000 for room and board expenses (covering the 9-month academic year).

AICES scholarships-RWTH Aachen University

The Aachen Institute for Advanced Study in Computational Engineering Science (AICES) offers Ph.D. scholarships to outstanding students interested in interdisciplinary research in computational engineering science.

Eligibility: Students of all nationalities

Scholarship Duration and Amount: A monthly stipend of € 2000 is offered to Ph.D. scholars.

Students can get an excellent scholarship offered by Universities in Germany that matches their profile and academic performances.

Are you curious about whether German language is mandatory to study in Germany? The answer varies based on your program and level of study, so it’s important to research carefully. You can read more about this on our dedicated post.