There are approximately 405,000 international students currently enrolled at universities in Germany – attracted by the world class facilities and low to no tuition costs.
In order to help with living expenses, a number of state and private institutions offer annual scholarships. Here's are the main resources available to international undergraduate students in need of additional financial support.
Deutschlandstipendium (the Germany grant)
Designed to support talented students regardless of their age, nationality or background, the Deutschlandstipendium is open to both German and international students enrolled at participating German universities.
Funded by the state but largely administered by universities, the exact number of scholarships (and application deadlines) varies from year to year and from institution to institution. Typically however, successful applicants receive €300 a month for at least two semesters, and possibly for the entire duration of their studies.
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Awards are based on academic merit, evidence of having overcome significant personal challenges, and of engagement in extracurricular activities or community service.
You can find more details on the Deutschlandstipendium portal or the official website of your university.
DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) Scholarships
The largest scholarship provider in Germany, DAAD is primarily interested in supporting post-graduate studies.
Scholarships for undergraduates tend to focus on students who are already enrolled in a bachelor’s program abroad and want to visit Germany for a single semester or summer course.
The DAAD website details numerous individual programs, from support for students who want to spend a summer in Germany learning the language to RISE (Research Internships in Science and Engineering), which aims to enable students from specific countries to gain research experience in fields such as biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, and computer science.
The Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) Scholarship
Named after the first president of Germany, the Friedrich Ebert Foundation awards up to 40 scholarships each year, providing undergraduate students with €934 a month for living expenses, and up to an additional €276 a month for students with families.
The Foundation is particularly interested in supporting women, students studying STEM subjects, students from immigrant families, and students who are the first person in their family to attend university.
The scholarship is only awarded to students already at a German university and living in Germany. Successful applicants are required to demonstrate a very strong command of German (C1), an impressive academic record, active involvement in social, political or community service, and (more vaguely) “identification with the fundamental values of social democracy.”
Applications, which need to be completed in German, are accepted at any time, but specific timelines vary. Find the relevant forms and deadlines on the FES website.
The Expatrio Scholarship
Expatrio is a company specialising in administrative services for foreigners in Germany. The scholarship program they fund is only open to international students who sign up for their “value package”.
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Once you've signed up, the application process for 2025 consists of creating a two-minute video in which you have to answer a single question: How will your studies in Germany help you make a positive impact for others?
Videos can be recorded in any language, as long as you use include German or English subtitles.
Expatrio is offering ten scholarships, or prizes, in 2025.
First prize is €15,000, second prize is €12,000, third prize is €9,000.
Prizes for the remaining winners include having your rent paid for six months, a new laptop, German language lessons, and a contribution towards your semester fees.
The deadline for applications is September 30th, 2025.
More options
In addition to nationwide scholarship programs, many individual states and universities administer their own schemes. You can find a more complete list of the academic scholarships available to international students here.
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