scholarships in Germany for international students

As a diverse country with a growing international population, the quality and the standards of German education are really high. Its education system is highly organized and designed to be radically pragmatic allowing them to excel in every field chosen by them, producing some of the world’s most accomplished students, according to a PISA study that was published in 2015.

Students are thoroughly tested and evaluated at each stage of learning. The scholarship applicability matters come into the picture when a student wants to pursue higher education in a university.

This scholarship applicability factor applies to various courses ranging from Bachelors to Masters and Doctorate degrees. In some cases, it is applicable even to Postdoctoral Degrees. Scholarships in Germany are of a wide variety and are categorically classified based on the course of choice. 

Advantages of choosing a German university and obtaining a scholarship

• German universities offer internationally recognized programs at a relatively cheaper cost. 
• There are a significant number of available scholarships that allow international students to study in Germany for free when compared to its contemporaries. 
• Low cost of living
• Adequate part-time jobs 
• Paid internship for a year 
• Visa granted for 28 countries for 1.5 years after the completion of a course. 
• Wide range of courses
• Easy immigration 
• Strength in research 
• Practical and pragmatic relevance through quality education and guidance 

Here is a list of prominent scholarships in Germany for international students:

Scholarships to Study in Germany

Government-funded scholarships to study in Germany

DAAD scholarships

The German Academic Exchange Service or the DAAD offers many scholarships for international students to study in Germany at various degree levels. Sufficient information is available at Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst.

It targets students from developing countries and once enrolled the students are equipped with the course in both German and English. The DAAD scholarship however exclusively caters to the needs of postgraduate students.

To apply for this scholarship, the student has to show work proof and experience of 2 years. The courses that are approved under DAAD are those that are not less than a year and last until 3 years. 

DAAD scholarship coverage

• Doctorate students get a monthly allowance of 1000 euros.
• Postgraduate students get a monthly allowance of 750euros.
• The students also get accommodation for free at the university campus.
• Students receive a travel grant 
• Both postgraduate students and doctoral students get health insurance coverage.

Prerequisites to obtaining DAAD scholarships

A student applying for this scholarship must have completed a Bachelor’s degree and show proof of working experience. The student should understand German or English based on the choice of their course.

The language proficiency factor comes into the picture when the student is a foreign exchange student. It is essential for the student to understand either one of the languages because English and German are the only mediums of instruction.

Erasmus Scholarship Programs in Germany

Most of the major universities in the EU participate in the Erasmus scheme, with German universities participating in numerous study programs funded by Erasmus Mundus and Erasmus+ scholarships.

It provides grants towards living costs when participating in an exchange program to study in Europe. This is led by the European Commission, funding international students to study for free in Berlin. 

You can find the complete list of Erasmus Mundus master courses in the Erasmus catalog. You can search for courses conducted in Germany.

Non-government scholarships to study in Germany

• Einstein International Postdoctoral Fellowship
• Heinrich Böll Scholarships for international students 
• Humboldt Research Fellowship for Postdoctoral Researchers 
• Kurt Hausen Science Scholarship
• Konrad- Adenauer- Stiftung Scholarship 
• Marie Curie International Incoming Fellowship for developing countries 
• Mawista Scholarships 
• Deutschland Stipendium 
• The Helmholtz Association