Bachelor's Degree Scholarships in Germany for International Students

Last updated: May 2026

Pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Germany is one of the most affordable routes for international students. Public universities charge no tuition fees in most states, and a wide network of scholarships covers stipends, health insurance, and travel. This guide walks you through the four main scholarship categories, the leading programs in each, and how to apply.

What scholarships are available for a Bachelor's in Germany?

Bachelor's scholarships in Germany fall into four broad categories. Merit-based awards reward strong academics. Need-based awards consider your financial situation. Subject-specific awards target a discipline (often STEM, social sciences, or sustainability). Government-funded awards, mostly through DAAD and the major political foundations, combine all three filters with a strong civic-engagement component.

Securing one of these scholarships typically covers monthly living costs (EUR 300-934), often adds health insurance, and sometimes covers travel. Combined with tuition-free public study, a fully funded Bachelor's in Germany is realistic for high-performing applicants.

1. Merit-based scholarships

These scholarships are awarded for academic excellence. Top candidates with strong school-leaving results, competitive entrance scores, and a record of extracurricular leadership are most likely to win them.

Deutschlandstipendium

Overview: A flagship merit-based scholarship co-funded by the German federal government and private sponsors, awarded to high-achieving students at participating universities.

Eligibility: International students enrolled at a German university, with strong academic performance and demonstrated social engagement.

Financial support: EUR 300 per month for at least two semesters, often extended for the full study duration.

Application process: Apply directly through your university's Deutschlandstipendium office once admitted. Each university runs its own selection round.

Website: Deutschlandstipendium

RWTH Aachen scholarships for international students

Overview: RWTH Aachen, a leading TU9 university, offers several merit-based scholarships open to international Bachelor's applicants in engineering and the natural sciences.

Eligibility: Outstanding academic record, admission to an RWTH Bachelor's program.

Financial support: Varies by scheme: typically a monthly stipend (EUR 300-1,000) and occasional fee waivers for non-EU semester contributions.

Application process: Apply through RWTH's central scholarship portal after enrolment.

Website: RWTH Aachen University

2. Need-based scholarships

Need-based scholarships open Germany's universities to applicants who could not otherwise afford to study abroad. Decisions weigh financial circumstances alongside academic performance and (in many cases) civic engagement.

Friedrich Ebert Stiftung scholarship

Overview: Funded by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (close to the SPD), this scholarship supports students who combine strong academics with financial need and an interest in social democracy.

Eligibility: International Bachelor's students with proven academic merit, demonstrated financial need, and active engagement in civic, social, or political causes.

Financial support: EUR 750 per month plus a EUR 300 study allowance, subsidised public health insurance, and occasional family supplements.

Application process: Online application via the Friedrich Ebert Foundation portal, including a motivation essay on a current social issue and two academic references.

Website: Friedrich Ebert Stiftung

University of Munster Emergency Scholarship

Overview: Short-term financial aid for international students at the University of Munster who hit a sudden financial crisis (job loss, family emergency, sponsor withdrawal).

Eligibility: Currently enrolled international students at WWU Munster, with documented evidence of unforeseen financial hardship.

Financial support: EUR 450 per month for one to five months.

Application process: Apply through the WWU International Office's financial aid desk; bring proof of the emergency and a brief recovery plan.

Website: University of Munster

3. Subject-specific scholarships

These awards push students into priority fields (STEM, environmental studies, public policy) and often pair the stipend with research placements or summer schools.

DAAD-WISE scholarship

Overview: The Working Internships in Science and Engineering (WISE) program, run by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), funds summer research internships at German universities for Bachelor's students from India, Egypt, Tunisia, and a few other partner countries.

Eligibility: Final-year Bachelor's students in science or engineering, with strong academics and a clear research project proposal.

Financial support: EUR 934 per month plus a one-time travel allowance, accommodation support, and full health insurance for the placement period.

Application process: Apply through the DAAD India / partner-country portal between October and December each year for the following summer. The scholarship is highly competitive.

Website: DAAD-WISE

Heinrich Boll Foundation scholarship

Overview: The Heinrich Boll Foundation (close to the German Greens) funds international students committed to ecological sustainability, gender equality, and democratic participation.

Eligibility: International Bachelor's students with strong academics, proven civic engagement, and a clear connection to the foundation's values.

Financial support: Up to EUR 934 per month, plus a study allowance and family supplement where applicable. Health insurance is included.

Application process: Online application twice a year (March and September). Includes a values-alignment essay and two recommendations.

Website: Heinrich Boll Foundation

4. Government-funded scholarships

These are the most prestigious and the most competitive. They typically cover full living costs, health insurance, and travel, and they come with alumni networks that pay dividends long after graduation.

DAAD undergraduate scholarships

Overview: DAAD is the largest funder of international students in Germany. Several of its programs are open to Bachelor's applicants, including study scholarships for specific cohorts and the DAAD-WISE program.

Eligibility: Strong academics, language proficiency (German or English depending on the program), and a clear study plan.

Financial support: Varies by program. Full Bachelor's study scholarships cover monthly living allowance (EUR 934), health insurance, travel, and language course costs.

Application process: Apply through the DAAD portal in your home country. Deadlines vary by program; most fall between October and February.

Website: DAAD

Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) scholarship

Overview: Affiliated with the CDU, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung supports international students with strong leadership potential and an interest in politics, public policy, law, or economics.

Eligibility: International Bachelor's students with excellent academics and a clear civic-engagement track record.

Financial support: EUR 934 per month, plus subsidised health insurance, travel allowance, and access to a wide-ranging seminar program.

Application process: Online application annually (deadline typically July). Requires a CV, academic transcripts, two references, and a motivation letter.

Website: Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung

Affordable programs even without a scholarship

Even without a scholarship, a Bachelor's in Germany is among the most affordable in Europe. Public universities in 15 of Germany's 16 federal states charge no tuition fees for international students, only a semester contribution of EUR 150-400.

Tuition-free public universities

Most public universities, including Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Heidelberg, Stuttgart, Cologne, Hamburg, and Berlin's three big universities, charge no tuition for Bachelor's students regardless of nationality. The exception is Baden-Wurttemberg, where non-EU students pay EUR 1,500 per semester.

You will still need to budget for living costs (EUR 950-1,200/month, depending on the city) and prove your funds at the visa stage by opening a blocked account with EUR 11,904.

Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg (H-BRS) low-cost programs

H-BRS is a University of Applied Sciences with a strong international intake and one of the lower cost-of-living locations in North Rhine-Westphalia. Programs are practical, industry-aligned, and taught partly in English.

Website: H-BRS

How to win a Bachelor's scholarship in Germany

Securing a scholarship requires more than meeting the eligibility bar. Strong applicants treat the application as a small-scale research project of their own.

1. Start at least 12 months early. Most scholarships open between June and February for the following winter semester. Late submissions are not considered.
2. Build a strong document set. A specific SOP, letters of recommendation, and a CV in the German format are non-negotiable.
3. Tailor every application. Generic applications are rejected first. Match your motivation letter to each foundation's stated values.
4. Apply to multiple programs. Most successful candidates secure their scholarship after 4-8 applications, not the first one.
5. Document your civic engagement. Need-based and government-funded scholarships weight extracurricular impact heavily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply for a Bachelor's scholarship in Germany before getting university admission?

For most government-funded scholarships (DAAD undergraduate, KAS, Heinrich Boll, Friedrich Ebert) you can apply before securing a university place. The scholarship is conditional on later admission. The Deutschlandstipendium and most university-specific schemes require admission first.

Are there fully-funded Bachelor's scholarships for international students?

Yes. The DAAD undergraduate scholarship, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Heinrich Boll Foundation, and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung all combine a monthly stipend (EUR 750-934) with health insurance, travel allowance, and language course funding, which together cover the full cost of a Bachelor's in Germany.

Do I need German for a scholarship-funded Bachelor's?

It depends on the program. If the Bachelor's is taught in German, you need TestDaF 4 or DSH 2. If the program is in English (around 200 Bachelor's programs nationwide), the scholarship application itself can usually be in English, though many foundations expect at least A2 German by enrolment.

How much money should I have in my blocked account?

The 2026 blocked account requirement is EUR 11,904 per year (EUR 992 per month), enforced by the German embassy at the visa stage. A scholarship that pays a monthly stipend can usually substitute for the blocked account if the embassy accepts the foundation as a recognised sponsor.

Can I work part-time on a scholarship?

Most scholarships allow part-time work up to 20 hours per week during semester, the same limit set by the German student visa. Always confirm with your specific scholarship office, since some need-based and government-funded awards reduce the stipend if your earnings exceed a threshold.

What if I miss the scholarship deadline?

You still have options. Apply for the next round (most scholarships have annual or biannual cycles), look at affordable Bachelor's programs at tuition-free public universities, or apply for a student loan. Many students self-fund the first semester via a blocked account and switch to a scholarship from semester two.

For more funding routes, see our scholarships hub and the cost of studying Bachelor's in Germany guide.