Finding Scholarships
International students can apply for scholarships at numerous institutions. The extensive DAAD scholarship database for foreign students, graduates and acamdemics offers a wide range of scholarships and additional Information to help them with their application.
The DAAD Scholarship-Database
In the Scholarship-database offered by the German Academic Exchange Service you will find detailed information on various kinds of DAAD funding for foreign students, graduates and postdocs as well as on funding offered by other selected organizations.
+Link to DAAD Scholarship-Database
Foundations for the promotion of gifted students
The major scholarship providers are the 13 foundations for the promotion of gifted students, which are supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. They represent important social groups and have more of a political, religious or economic character. Apart from the major agencies for gifted students, Germany is home to over a thousand scholarship providers that support students with scholarships. Smaller foundations frequently target certain subjects or cities. Many universities also grant scholarships. About two thirds of them offer the Germany Scholarship, which was introduced in 2011 and for which about ten percent of scholarship holders are currently international students.
Scholarship Guide offered by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Scholarship-Database)
+Link (German language)
Scholarship-Guide
This guide is available in German language only. However, it contains information on more than 400 different scholarship options, many of them applicable for international students. It is color-coded as to the degree of effort required for application and contains links to (in many cases) English language websites containing more details.
Stipendien-Ratgeber (German language)
Germany Scholarship
The Germany Scholarship programme provides support to talented and high-achieving students. In addition to a top academic record, the criteria for a scholarship award include social commitment and special personal achievements, such as a student overcoming challenges or obstacles in his or her educational career.
The scholarship is non-need-based and may be combined with other funding sources. In principle, a scholarship can be granted at any time during the regular period of study.
The Germany Scholarship worth €300 per month is designed to supplement students’ individual resources. The state contributes €150, and the other half comes from private sponsors.
Application requirements
All students enrolled in a degree program at Universität Hamburg for the funding period are able to apply for a scholarship, regardless of their semester of study, nationality or age.
Students who already receive merit- or achievement-based funding or material support (e.g., a scholarship from an organization fostering young talent) are not eligible for funding.
This does not apply if the total amount of funding or support amounts to less than a monthly average of €30 per semester in which the Germany Scholarship is awarded.
Receipt of funding under the Federal Training Assistance Act (BAföG) does not affect the Germany Scholarship.
Applications are not subject to a deadline.
Doctoral students are not eligible for funding.
Selection criteria
The Germany Scholarships will be awarded according to the following selection criteria in order of priority (see § 3 of the scholarship program act, StipG)
1. Merit and achievement
2. Social commitment
3. Social, family or personal circumstances
4. Dealing with the topic of sustainability
Evaluation system
Complete applications will be evaluated according to the above criteria using the following points system:
Up to 70 points for 1. Merit and achievement
Up to 15 points for 2. Social commitment
Up to 10 points for 3. Social, family or personal circumstances
Up to 5 points for 4. Sustainability
Students have no legal entitlement to this scholarship.
The granting of an award is subject to the availability of private and public scholarship funds for the award period.
For further information please contact:
Dr. Andrea Schultze
Leitung der Geschäftsstelle Deutschlandstipendien
Monetastraße 4
20146 Hamburg
Tel.: +49 172 1869 027
Email: andrea.schultze@verw.uni-hamburg.de
Political Foundations
Friedrich-Ebert-Foundation (SPD-linked)
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Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FDP-linked)
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Hanns-Seidel-Foundation (CSU-linked)
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Heinrich-Böll-Foundation (The Green Political Foundation)
+Link
Konrad-Adenauer-Foundation (CDU-linked)
+Link
Rosa-Luxemburg-Foundation (linked to the Left Party)
+Link
Claussen-Simon-Foundation Scholarships
Each year, scholarships worth up to a maximum amount of 1,500 Euro per month are awarded for future enrollment in a Germany-based Master program. Candidates must submit the application prior to beginning their Master studies. In order to receive this funding, two staff members of the Claussen-Simon Foundation must vote in your favour.
+Link to Claussen-Simon-Foundation
ScholarshipPortal.eu
A Scholarship-Portal of StudyPortals B.V., the International Study Choice Platform.
Association of German Foundations
Foundation search engine:
The foundation search engine comprises about 10,000 foundations operating in Germany that have their own website.
+Link (in German)
E-Fellows.net-Scholarships
The e-fellows.net-Scholarship database contains 800 links to 450 foundations, universities and other institutions.
Webpages and online forms only available in German.
German National Academic Foundation
+Link (only German)
Education Loans
Information
Studienkredit.de – Infoportal
Student/Education Loans are offered by:
KfW-Education Loan:
Target group: German citizens/persons with permanent residence in Germany.
Conditions in German.
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HypoVereinsbank/Uni-Credit-Group-Kredit:
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Hamburger Sparkasse:
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Deutsche Kreditbank DKB:
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Deutsche Bildung AG:
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Deutsche Bank:
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Commerzbank:
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Evangelische Kreditgenossenschaft eG:
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E.W. Kuhlmann Stiftung:
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VR-Bildungskredite der Volks- und Raiffeisenbanken
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