Finding the Scholarship or Grant That Is Right for You

Many scholarships and grants, e.g. those given by the Begabtenförderungswerk organisations, provide all of these three benefits. But there are also ones that provide only financial or only non-financial support – the Deutschlandstipendium scholarship, for example, only offers financial support while the programmes for students from migrant or refugee backgrounds by the Deutsche Universitätsstiftung foundation focus on providing personalised mentoring, workshops and opportunities to network.

Most programmes will support you during your Bachelor’s and/or your Master’s degree, and many of them will also do so during your doctoral training – although you may have to undergo an interim evaluation or to re-apply. But it is also possible to submit a first-time application for your Master’s degree. Remember, however, that you should do so before you start your Master’s programme.

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is the largest funding organisation for international exchange. It provides a large number and wide range of funding opportunities, which are described in the  DAAD database.

Scholarship and grant programmes are usually open to a broad spectrum of students. But there are also programmes that are designed specifically for students from particular disciplines – e.g. teaching-degree or medical students – or for particular target groups. These include programmes for first-generation students, i.e. people who are the first in their family to attend university, as well as programmes for women, students from migrant or refugee backgrounds or international students.

Scholarship and grant providers are mainly looking for talented young people who are successful at university, demonstrate initiative and responsibility and, in addition, are committed to making a contribution to the community and are thus able and willing to take on responsibility in society in the future. Depending on a provider’s political, societal or religious orientation, criteria it will take into account may also include an applicant’s political or religious values. But what is almost always important – in addition to having good grades – is being able to demonstrate that you have a commitment to making a difference in other people’s lives.

Scholarship and grant providers like it when applicants share their values. This is why it is also important to check the providers’ mission statements and details on their fundamental values to find out if their values match your own.

Usually, you will have to submit an application for yourself. But the Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes foundation, for example, offers several pathways into its programme. If you are still attending school, your school can nominate you. And once you have started university, you can be nominated by your teachers there or by the Examination Office. When you are in your first or second semester of study, you can also submit an application for yourself. Other ways to get into the programme are taking part in competitions and being nominated by partner institutions. What you should always keep in mind: As application and selection processes will take some time to complete, you should apply as early as possible.