Study in Germany – Scholarship Overview
Germany is one of the best destinations for international students because many public universities offer low-cost or tuition-free education. Along with this, there are several scholarships available, especially for Master’s and PhD students. Compared to Australia, Germany is more affordable, but fully funded scholarships are limited and mostly for postgraduate levels. However, students can still reduce costs significantly through scholarships and low tuition fees.
Types of Scholarships in Germany
1. DAAD Scholarship (Fully Funded / Main Scholarship)
The German Academic Exchange Service offers the most popular scholarship in Germany for international students. This scholarship is mainly for Master’s and PhD programs and is the most reliable funding option.
Coverage:
- Monthly stipend:
- Master’s: approx. 934 EUR/month
- PhD: approx. 1,200 EUR/month
- Health insurance
- Travel allowance (airfare support)
Eligible Majors: Engineering, IT, Development Studies, Economics, Public Policy, Environmental Science
Apply here: https://www.daad.de/en/study-and-research-in-germany/scholarships/
2. Deutschlandstipendium (Partial)
This is a merit-based scholarship supported by the German government and private sponsors. It is available for Bachelor and Master’s students.
Coverage:
- Monthly stipend: 300 EUR/month
**No tuition coverage (but most public universities are already tuition-free)
Eligible Majors: All majors
Apply through university (no central website)
3. Heinrich Böll Foundation Scholarship
The Heinrich Böll Foundation offers scholarships for international students with strong academic and social background. This scholarship is mainly for Master’s and PhD students.
Coverage:
- Monthly stipend: approx. 850 – 1,200 EUR
- Additional allowances (in some cases)
Eligible Majors: Social Sciences, Arts, Political Science, Environmental Studies
Apply here: https://www.boell.de/en/scholarships
4. Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Scholarship
The Friedrich Ebert Stiftung provides scholarships for students with strong academic performance and leadership qualities. This is mainly for Bachelor, Master’s, and PhD students.
Coverage:
- Monthly stipend: approx. 850 – 1,200 EUR
- Health insurance support
Eligible Majors: Social Science, Economics, Political Science, Law
Apply here: https://www.fes.de/studienfoerderung
5. University Scholarships (Germany)
Some German universities offer their own scholarships, but these are limited. Most universities do not charge tuition, so scholarships mainly provide living support.
Coverage:
- Partial stipend: 300 – 800 EUR/month (varies)
Eligible Majors: Depends on university
Apply through university website (varies)
Who Can Apply
Germany scholarships are mainly based on academic performance and program requirements. Most scholarships are focused on higher studies. After meeting eligibility, students need to prepare documents, apply through official scholarship portals or universities, and complete visa processing. The process includes academic records, SOP, recommendation letters, and sometimes work experience proof. Since Germany has low tuition, the main focus is proving academic strength and financial stability.
Eligibility & Qualification:
- Must be a non-German citizen
- Strong academic result (70–85%+)
- Bachelor degree for Master’s / Master’s for PhD
- IELTS (6.0–6.5) or German language (if required)
- Work experience (required for some DAAD programs)
Required Documents (University + Scholarship)
Documents:
- Academic certificates & transcripts
- Passport copy
- IELTS / TOEFL / German certificate
- CV / Resume
- Statement of Purpose (SOP)
- Recommendation letters (2)
- Work experience certificate (if required)
Application Process
Germany application process may vary slightly depending on program and scholarship.
Steps:
- Choose course and university
- Apply through:
- University website or Uni-Assist (if required)
- Apply for scholarship (DAAD / foundation / others)
- Upload required documents
- Receive admission letter
- Wait for scholarship result
Visa Required Documents
After admission, students must apply for a German student visa.
Visa Documents:
- Valid passport
- Admission letter
- Blocked account proof (~11,208 EUR/year)
- Health insurance
- Academic documents
- IELTS / German certificate
- Visa application form
Visa Application Process
Steps:
- Get admission letter
- Open blocked account and deposit required money
- Prepare all documents
- Book visa appointment
- Attend interview
- Wait for visa decision
- Collect visa and travel
Cost Overview
Germany is one of the most affordable study destinations.
Total Estimated Cost (First Year):
- Tuition: 0 – 3,000 EUR/year (mostly free in public universities)
- Living: 10,000 – 12,000 EUR/year
- Other costs: 1,000 – 2,000 EUR
Total: approx. 11,000 – 15,000 EUR/year
With Scholarship
- DAAD: covers living + major costs
- Others: reduce living expenses