Top 10 Fully Funded Scholarships in Germany
Through fully funded scholarships Germany presents superior prospects for foreign students who obtain free education and funding for expenses and miscellaneous costs. The German government as well as universities and private organizations provide scholarships at various academic levels through their funding programs. Several scholarship programs exist to support students who wish to earn their bachelor’s through to their PhD degrees.
Germany’s fully funded scholarship awards occur through rigorous competition by selecting students who stand out in both academic performance and exhibit significant research ability and leadership capabilities together with social involvement. The funding seeks to support students studying particular subjects including engineering, social sciences, and environmental studies as well as students from developing nations.
Germany’s education system is recognized globally for its high standards. It follows a research-driven approach that ensures quality learning. With these scholarships, students can focus on their studies without financial stress. They cover tuition fees, living costs, and other expenses. In this guide, we explore the top 10 fully funded scholarships in Germany. You will learn about their benefits and the application process.
Types of Scholarships in Germany
Through various scholarship programs, Germany provides financial support to Indian students who want to study without financial pressures. Indian students who receive these scholarships benefit from financial support that includes tuition fee coverage together with living expense payments and potential travel compensation.
- Government-Funded Scholarships
The German government provides this scholarship program for students coming from abroad to study. The scholarships give receivers financial support through both tuition fee payments and regular monthly money for living costs. As a highly sought-after government scholarship, the DAAD Scholarship provides financial assistance for students pursuing different academic degrees.
- University-Specific Scholarships
German university institutions provide financial help to international students who demonstrate academic excellence combined with financial need or research credentials. Tuition fee scholarships along with assistance towards housing costs and other expenses can be obtained by these programs.
- External Scholarships
Private foundations together with organizations and companies manage the funding for these scholarships. Universities give out scholarships that use academic results as one requirement and leadership capabilities or course choices as additional factors for selection. Two well-known external scholarships include the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship and the Baden-Württemberg Stiftung Scholarship.
- Degree-Specific Scholarships
- Bachelor’s Scholarships –The scholarship system assists working undergraduate students in paying their educational costs along with their daily expenses. The Cusanuswerk together with Deutsche Universitätsstiftung Scholarships represent some examples of these programs.
- Master’s Scholarships – Postgraduate students should receive financial support through two main programs: the Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Scholarship together with the DAAD Scholarship.
- MBA Scholarships – The Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Program along with other MBA-targeted scholarships provides tuition fee waivers alongside monthly stipends for their recipients.
German Government & Organization- Funded Scholarships
| Scholarship Name | Eligibility | Coverage | Requirements | Deadline | |
| DAAD Scholarship | International students pursuing Master’s, PhD, or postdoctoral studies in Germany | Graduates: €992/month; PhD: €1,300/month; travel, health, research allowances | Academic excellence, recognized degree, language proficiency, work/internship experience | Varies by program & Country | |
| Erasmus+ Scholarship | EU & selected non-EU students in short-cycle, bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD exchange programs in Germany. | Travel grant, monthly stipend, tuition & exam fee exemption | Enrolled in Erasmus+ participating institution; exchange must align with study program | Varies by country & institution |
Non-Government Scholarships in Germany
| Scholarship Name | Eligibility | Coverage | Requirements | Deadline | |
| Heinrich Böll Foundation | Master’s & PhD students at German universities | Master’s: €812 (EU) / €992 (Non-EU) + €300 study allowance; PhD: €1,400–€1,450/month + additional allowances | Master’s: First degree, academic excellence, social engagement; PhD: Admission proof, research quality, motivation | March 1, Sept 1 (each year) | |
| Deutschlandstipendium | Students enrolled at partner institutions in Germany | €300/month for at least 2 semesters (renewable) | High academic performance, social engagement, personal achievements | June–August (varies by university) | |
| Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung | International students from focus countries pursuing Master’s, PhD, or research programs in Germany | Master’s: €992/month (2 years); PhD: €1,400/month (3 years) + subsidies | Master’s: Degree, B2 German, voluntary work, democracy & human rights support; PhD: Additional academic references & supervision proof | Central Asia & Mongolia: Mar 9, 2025; Mexico: Feb 23, 2025 | |
| Friedrich Ebert Foundation | International students & PhD candidates in state-recognized German universities | Students: €992/month; PhD: €1,400/month (up to 3 years) | Academic excellence, commitment to social democracy, motivation statement, socio-political engagement | Varies by program | |
| MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships | PhD holders (max 8 years post-PhD) in any scientific discipline | Living, mobility, family, research & training allowances (12-24 months) | Research quality, impact, and implementation plan | April 9, 2025 (application opens) | |
| StipendiumPlus | German, EU & international students meeting BAföG Sec. 8 requirements | Students: €855/month + allowances; PhD: Up to €1,550/month + allowances | Enrolled in a recognized German institution; doctoral candidates need a promising thesis topic | Varies by program | |
| Bayer Foundation Fellowships | MSc, PhD, & medical students in pharma, data science, medical engineering, etc. | Up to €10,000 for research, travel, & internships (up to 6 months) | Academic excellence, innovation, interdisciplinary research | Feb 14 – Apr 11, 2025 |
Other Miscellaneous Scholarships
Scholarship Name | Eligibility | Field of Study | Amount | Additional Notes |
Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute Scholarships | Indian students for academic & cultural exchange in Canada | Various academic fields | Varies | Supports research, training, and mobility programs |
Anne Vallee Ecological Fund | Graduate students in environmental science & conservation | Environmental Science, Conservation | Varies | For students in Canadian universities |
Surf Shark Privacy and Security Scholarship | International students interested in cybersecurity | Cybersecurity, Digital Rights | USD 2,500 | Open to students worldwide |
Scholarships by Non-Profit Organizations & Individuals | International students in Canada | Various fields | Varies | Funded by charities, foundations, and individuals |
List of Fully Funded Scholarships in Germany for International Students
- Heidelberg University Scholarships
- Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Scholarships
- Leipzig Graduate School of Management Scholarship
- Erasmus Scholarship Programs in Germany
- Frankfurt School of Finance and Management Doctoral Tuition Waivers
- Mawista Scholarship
- DAAD Scholarship Germany
- RWTH Aachen University Scholarships
- Marie Curie International Incoming Fellowships (IIF) For Developing Countries
- The Friedrich Ebert Stiftung
- Humboldt University International Research Fellowship
- Bayer Foundations
- Hamburg University of Applied Sciences Scholarships
- Heinrich Boll Scholarships for International Students
Scholarships provided by German Universities
| Scholarship Name | Who Can Apply? | Coverage | Requirements | Deadline | Application Link |
| Humboldt Research Fellowship | Researchers of all nationalities (except German & Brazilian). Two categories: Postdocs (PhD < 4 years) & Experienced researchers (PhD < 12 years). | – €2,700/month (Postdocs, 6-24 months) – €3,200/month (Experienced researchers, 6-18 months, split over 3 years) – Family, travel, & insurance allowances | – Non-German nationals – PhD completed within the required timeframe – German host confirmation & two expert reviews – Language proficiency (German/English) | March, July, & November (Apply in advance) | |
| TUM Linde/MDSI Master Scholarship | Outstanding students enrolled in TUM’s “Data Engineering & Analytics” or “Mathematics in Data Science” (Since Summer 2024). | – €1,000/month (Up to 12 months) | – Enrolled in eligible programs – Female students encouraged | The last round closed on Sept 1, 2024. Next round TBA. | |
| Heidelberg University HAUS Scholarships | U.S. students accepted for a bachelor’s or master’s program at Heidelberg University. | – $4,500 (Bachelor’s, 1 semester) – $7,000 (Master’s, 1 semester, extension possible) | – U.S. residency & education background – Not already enrolled at Heidelberg – No other scholarship funding | Early 2025 (Exact date TBA) | |
| University of Hamburg Merit Scholarships | International students (non-Germans) enrolled in a degree program at Universität Hamburg (min. 2 semesters completed). | – €930/month (General students) – Up to €1,200/month (Doctoral students) – Funding: 12 months (max 3 years with renewal) | – Enrolled at Universität Hamburg – Must not hold German citizenship – Financial need & academic merit | April 15, 2025 (Oct-Sept funding) – Oct 15, 2025 (Apr-Mar funding) | |
| Berlin International Christian Wulff Scholarship | One outstanding BA/MA student at Berlin International University. | – 50% tuition fee waiver (Until 6th semester) | – Awarded based on academic & community engagement – Selected by university officials | No application is required (University selection) | |
| Baden-Württemberg Stiftung | Students studying in Baden-Württemberg or from international universities coming to Baden-Württemberg. | – €600–€1,400/month (3-11 months) – Access to international networks | – Enrolled at Baden-Württemberg University or partner institution – Selection based on merit | Varies (Check the university’s International Office) | |
| Bavaria – Max Weber Program | Students in Bavaria (Bachelor/Master) with at least 2 semesters completed. Age < 23. | – €1,290/semester – Study abroad support – Educational programs & networking | – Direct application or nomination – Academic excellence & extracurricular engagement | Last deadline: Nov 1, 2024. Next round TBA. | |
| Bavaria – Marianne-Plehn-Program | Doctoral candidates in Bavaria with a scholarship from the German Academic Scholarship Foundation. | – Part-time employment (25%) at a Bavarian university – Financial support – Networking opportunities | – Must have a doctoral scholarship – Start part-time work within 6 months of funding | Apply within 12 months of doctoral funding approval. | |
| Lower Saxony Scholarship (Niedersachsenstipendium) | Bachelor’s/Master’s students in Lower Saxony facing social/financial challenges (e.g., first-gen students, refugees). | – €500 (One-time per semester) | – Enrolled at Lower Saxony University – Active social involvement or financial need | Varies (Check university website) | |
| Berlin – Elsa Neumann Scholarship | Doctoral students at Berlin universities. | – €1,350/month (Up to 36 months) – €100 material allowance – Travel & family allowances | – Outstanding academic performance – Public funding recipients not eligible | April 16, 2025 (Spring round) – November 2025 (Fall round) |
Degree-Specific scholarships in Germany
Degree | Scholarship Name | Coverage | Eligibility | More Info |
Bachelor’s | Technical University of Munich – Oskar Karl Foster Scholarship | Books & learning materials funding | Enrolled undergraduate students at TUM | Go to scholarship |
Ambedkar Overseas Vidya Nidhi Scholarship (For Indian Nationals) | Partial funding | SC category Indian students pursuing a bachelor’s degree abroad | Go to scholarship | |
Domestic & International State Grants at Munich Business School | Tuition fee support | Domestic & international students | Go to scholarship | |
DAAD Bavarian Government Scholarship at Hochschule Hof | Tuition & living expense support | High-achieving international students | Go to scholarship | |
KAS Foundation Scholarship | Monthly stipend, tuition coverage | International students committed to social/political causes | Go to scholarship | |
Leaky Foundation – Joan Cogswell Donner Scholarship | Partial funding | Students worldwide pursuing anthropology-related fields | Go to scholarship | |
Master’s | DAAD Scholarships for Development-Related Postgraduate Courses | Full tuition, travel, monthly stipend | High-achieving students from developing countries | Go to scholarship |
DAAD Helmut-Schmidt-Programme | Full tuition, living expenses, health insurance | Master’s students in public policy/governance | Go to scholarship | |
Heinrich Böll Scholarships | Monthly stipend, tuition & research support | Master’s students demonstrating academic & social excellence | Go to scholarship | |
Goethe Goes Global – Master’s Scholarships | Tuition & living expenses | International students pursuing master’s at Goethe University | Go to scholarship | |
PhD | DAAD Scholarships for Research Studies | Full tuition, travel, monthly stipend | International students pursuing doctoral research | Go to scholarship |
Stipendienlotse Doctoral Scholarships | Research funding & living allowance | Doctoral students at German universities | Go to scholarship | |
University of Cologne International Doctoral Scholarships | Tuition fee waiver & monthly stipend | PhD candidates with excellent research proposals | Go to scholarship |
FAQs
Apply for DAAD, Heinrich Böll, or Konrad-Adenauer scholarships, maintain high academic performance, and show strong motivation.
Yes, scholarships like DAAD, KAS, and Ambedkar Overseas Vidya Nidhi support Indian students.
Yes, public universities offer free tuition, except in Baden-Württemberg; where students only pay semester fees.
Germany, the USA, the UK, Canada, and Australia offer top full scholarships like DAAD, Fulbright, Chevening, and Vanier.
