Top 10 scholarships and fellowships in Germany
Ten scholarships and fellowships in Germany for international students and researchers: DAAD, Heinrich Böll, Konrad-Adenauer, Friedrich-Ebert, Hanns-Seidel, Max Planck Schools and more.
Germany is famous for low or no tuition at many public universities, but living costs are real. That is where its scholarships come in: a national exchange service, political foundations that fund students and researchers, and elite research schools that pay their doctoral students.
These ten scholarships and fellowships in Germany were checked on their official pages.
The list at a glance
| # | Programme | Where | Next deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DAAD Scholarships for International Students | Germany | Not announced yet |
| 2 | Heinrich Böll Foundation Scholarships for International Students | Germany | March 1, 2027 |
| 3 | Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Scholarship for International Students and Doctoral Candidates | Germany | Not announced yet |
| 4 | Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Scholarship for International Students | Germany | Not announced yet |
| 5 | Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung Scholarship for International Students and Doctoral Candidates | Germany | January 15, 2027 |
| 6 | Max Planck School Matter to Life Integrated MSc/PhD Programme | Germany | December 1, 2026 |
| 7 | Max Planck School of Cognition Doctoral Programme | Germany | Not announced yet |
| 8 | Konrad Zuse School relAI PhD Positions (Reliable AI) | Germany | Not announced yet |
| 9 | IMPRS-IS Doctoral Program in Intelligent Systems (2027 round) | Germany | November 15, 2026 |
| 10 | Humboldt Research Fellowship | Germany | Not announced yet |
1. DAAD Scholarships for International Students
German Academic Exchange Service grants for graduate study and research in Germany, paying a monthly allowance (e.g. 992 EUR for students, 1,300 EUR for doctoral candidates), a travel allowance and often insurance.
- Who can apply: Graduates, doctoral candidates and postdocs from abroad; specific programmes target developing and emerging countries. Requirements differ by programme.
- Deadline: Next deadline not announced yet. Every DAAD programme has its own deadline; check the call in the DAAD scholarship database.
- Funding: Fully funded
2. Heinrich Böll Foundation Scholarships for International Students
German political foundation scholarship for master’s and PhD study in Germany, paying a monthly allowance plus health insurance support and possible tuition and language-course reimbursement.
- Who can apply: International students from DAC (developing) countries who completed their previous degree abroad; those not yet living in Germany get priority.
- Deadline: Spring 2027 window: 15 January to 1 March 2027; autumn 2027 window: 15 July to 1 September 2027.
- Funding: Fully funded
3. Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Scholarship for International Students and Doctoral Candidates
Up to 992 EUR per month for Bachelor’s, Master’s or postgraduate study (two years) and up to 1,400 EUR per month for doctoral candidates (three years), plus health insurance up to 120 EUR and family allowances.
- Who can apply: Students and doctoral candidates from non-EU countries at German universities (Bachelor’s after the second semester, four-semester MA, fully admitted PhD). German at B2 level is required.
- Deadline: The domestic selection deadline (for applicants living in Germany) is 15 July at 12:00 noon (CET) each year; applicants abroad go through participating KAS offices, with no dates listed.
- Funding: Funding: see the official page
4. Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Scholarship for International Students
992 EUR per month for students and 1,500 EUR per month for postgraduates, plus a 276 EUR family allowance if applicable and refund of health care costs.
- Who can apply: Foreign students already studying at a state or state-recognised German university with good results, socio-political commitment and identification with social democratic values. German skills required; applications in German.
- Deadline: No calendar dates; cutoffs are by semester (for example, Master’s applicants by the end of the first semester, Bachelor’s until three semesters before the end of the standard study period).
- Funding: Funding: see the official page
5. Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung Scholarship for International Students and Doctoral Candidates
Study scholarships up to 855 EUR per month plus a 300 EUR monthly study cost allowance; doctoral scholarships up to 1,750 EUR per month plus 100 EUR research allowance (amounts depend on income).
- Who can apply: International students under 45 in full-time study at a German state or state-recognised university with German at B2; doctoral candidates admitted to a German university or institute with adequate German.
- Deadline: First phase: 15 November 2026 to 15 January 2027 (12:00 CET); second phase: 15 May 2027 to 15 July 2027 (12:00 CEST). Apply via the HSS office in your home country or the online portal.
- Funding: Funding: see the official page
6. Max Planck School Matter to Life Integrated MSc/PhD Programme
Full funding for up to five years: a 1,565 EUR monthly stipend in the two-year Master’s phase plus health insurance support up to 100 EUR, then a TV-L E13 contract in the PhD phase.
- Who can apply: Bachelor’s (at least six semesters) or Master’s graduates in natural sciences or engineering with GPA 1.7 or top 5 percent; all nationalities treated equally. No application fee.
- Deadline: Applications for the 2027 programme are open from 1 September to 1 December 2026; interviews in February to April 2027 and start in September 2027.
- Funding: Fully funded
7. Max Planck School of Cognition Doctoral Programme
A fully funded international doctoral programme in cognition research in Germany; amounts are not stated on the page.
- Who can apply: Strong students with B.S. and/or M.S. in fields related to cognition (AI, biology, neuroscience, linguistics, mathematics, philosophy, physics, psychology); English proof for non-native speakers; GRE optional.
- Deadline: The multi-step application runs from 1 September until the end of March each year; virtual interviews on 23 and 24 February 2027 and programme start on 1 September.
- Funding: Fully funded
8. Konrad Zuse School relAI PhD Positions (Reliable AI)
Fully funded doctoral positions in reliable AI at TUM and LMU Munich, with travel and completion grants and no tuition fees.
- Who can apply: An excellent master’s degree in computer science, maths, engineering, natural sciences or an AI-related field, plus English at C1 level. You must name two relAI Fellows as preferred supervisors; no nationality restriction is stated.
- Deadline: The next PhD call is expected in December 2026. The previous call closed 13 January 2026 at 23:59 AoE.
- Funding: Fully funded
9. IMPRS-IS Doctoral Program in Intelligent Systems (2027 round)
Doctoral programme of the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems and two partner universities in AI, machine learning and robotics. Selected students are funded through an employment contract, and interview travel is paid.
- Who can apply: A master’s degree, finished or expected soon, in engineering, computer science, cognitive science, maths, neuroscience, physics or a related field. First-year PhD students may apply; non-native speakers need proof of English.
- Deadline: Deadline is 15 November 2026, end of day AoE, for the 2027 hiring round. Students can start from February 2027.
- Funding: Paid
10. Humboldt Research Fellowship
Funds a research stay at a host institution in Germany: 3,000 euros a month for postdocs (6 to 24 months) or 3,600 euros a month for experienced researchers (6 to 18 months). Extras include family benefits, health insurance subsidies, travel allowances and a pre-fellowship language course.
- Who can apply: Open to researchers of all nationalities except German nationals (with limited exceptions for Germans long based abroad). Postdocs need a doctorate from the last four years and peer-reviewed publications; experienced researchers need a doctorate from the last twelve years and a strong publication record.
- Deadline: There are three calls a year, opening on 15 March, 15 July and 15 November; the page says the next call opens on 15 November 2026. Each call closes early once it reaches 800 applications, and the November call feeds a selection meeting in July.
- Funding: Paid
How we ranked them
This is an editorial selection, not a formula. We looked at how much each award pays (full funding ranks above fee reductions), how open it is to international applicants, and whether the official page is clear and current. Every detail was checked on the official page on October 30, 2026. No university or funder paid to be included.
For undergraduates in science and engineering from North America, the UK or Ireland, there is also DAAD RISE Germany.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need German?
For some, yes. The official pages of Heinrich Böll, Konrad-Adenauer and Hanns-Seidel require German, and Friedrich-Ebert and Hanns-Seidel (for students) also expect you to be studying in Germany already.
Is studying in Germany free?
Many public universities charge low or no tuition, but rules vary by state and programme. Check the university’s own page.
Before you apply
Read how to write a scholarship motivation letter, check which English test you need in IELTS vs TOEFL vs Duolingo, and see every upcoming date in the scholarship deadline calendar.