Dreaming of studying in Germany, but worried about the costs? The good news is that Germany is one of the most affordable study destinations in Europe. Though the tuition fee at the public universities is free, the cost of living makes the education expensive. However, with the right scholarships, your education could be fully funded.

Many students lack proper guidance on how to secure one. Read further to discover what the top scholarships available in Germany are, along with some additional information. 

Why are Scholarships Important?

Scholarships offer an incredible financial support to students who wish to pursue higher education abroad. These are designed to fund the costs related to education, such as tuition fees, living expenses, stationery, travel expenses, and other education-related expenses.

Scholarships are offered to encourage talented and skilled students irrespective of their background. Unlike education loans, scholarships don’t need to be repaid, allowing students to focus on their studies and academic goals.

Because of the heavy competition associated with the scholarships, only a small percentage of students can secure scholarships successfully. It is recommended for students to have education loans as an alternative option.

Top Scholarships in Germany

Government Funded Scholarships

  1. Scholarship: DAAD Study Scholarships
    Discipline:     Master's
    Scholarship Type: Merit-Based/Need-based
    Funding Type: Partial Funding
    Eligibility: Open to all Nationals except Germans
    Scholarship can be taken at: Universities/Institutions in Germany
    Deadline: 24 Sep 2025

  2. Scholarship: Expatrio Scholarships
    Discipline:     Master's
    Scholarship Type: Merit-Based
    Funding Type: Full Funding
    Eligibility: Open to all Nationals
    Scholarship can be taken at: Universities/Institutions in Germany
    Deadline: SEP 30 2025

MBA Scholarships for International Students in Germany

  1. Scholarship: ESMT MBA Scholarships
    Discipline: MBA
    Scholarship Type: Underrepresented/Merit-Based
    Funding Type: Full Funding
    Eligibility: Open to all Nationals except Germans
    Scholarship can be taken at: Berlin University

  2. Scholarship: Frankfurt School of Finance and Management Scholarships
    Discipline: Bachelor of Science, Master's, and MBA programs
    Scholarship Type: Merit-Based
    Funding Type: PartialFunding
    Eligibility: Open to all Nationals except Germans/ GMAT TEST
    Scholarship can be taken at: Frankfurt School of Finance and Management

Scholarships offered by German Universities

  1. Scholarship: Humboldt Research Fellowship
    Discipline: Postdoctoral
    Scholarship Type: Merit-Based
    Funding Type: Full Funding
    Eligibility: Open to all Nationals except Germans and Brazilians/ above-average academics,/must complete a Doctorate or equivalent.
    Scholarship can be taken at: Research Institutions in Germany

  2. Scholarship: University of Hamburg Merit Scholarships
    Discipline: Undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral.
    Scholarship Type: Merit-Based
    Funding Type: Full Funding
    Eligibility: Open to all Nationals except Germans
    Scholarship can be taken at: Hamburg University

The Required Eligibility to get Scholarships in Germany

Each scholarship has different eligibility requirements based on the scholarship type and provider. However, the basic eligibility requirements to get a scholarship in Germany are given below.

Academic Qualifications

  • A relevant undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral degree, typically with good grades, enhances scholarship approval.

  • For Merit-Based scholarships, academic performance matters. Maintaining a consistent academic record is required to get the scholarships.

Citizenship

  • Some scholarships have citizenship specified in their eligibility criteria. Students are recommended to thoroughly study the eligibility requirements before applying for a scholarship.

  • This will reduce the scholarship rejection chances.

Age Requirement

  • Some scholarship providers impose restrictions on the age criteria of students.

  • Oftentimes, students overlook the factor and face rejection later. So, check the age limit while applying for a scholarship.

Standardised Test Score

  • Some scholarships have standard tests, such as GMAT, etc, to evaluate the eligibility of the scholarship applicant.

  • A good score in these tests can help students get scholarships that they have applied for.

Apart from these are other requirements that typically depend on the scholarship provider, type of scholarship, etc. Students must make sure that they meet all the eligibility requirements to be eligible for the scholarship.

Documents Required to Get a Scholarship in Germany

Below are the documents required to get a scholarship in Germany.

  • Documents proving the identity/citizenship of the student.

  • Previous academic records(undergraduate/graduate, doctoral degrees, etc) of the students.

  • For Merit-based scholarships, the score cards of standardised tests(if required)

  • For need-based scholarships, documentation proving financial requirements, such as family annual income, is necessary.

  • Any extra documents as requested by the scholarship provider, based on the scholarship type.

How to Apply for Scholarships in Germany

Below are the steps to apply for scholarships in Canada.

Start Early: It is recommended to start the application process early, considering the heavy competition for scholarships. 

Choose  the correct scholarship: Not all scholarships match every student. As previously discussed, various scholarships are available to pursue higher education in Germany. Often, students face rejection while applying to the wrong scholarship. For a successful scholarship process, it is important to find a scholarship that suits the student.

Know the Eligibility Requirement: This should be one of the primary concerns for students before applying for a scholarship. Many scholarship applicants are rejected after the scholarship providers evaluate their profiles and check their eligibility. 

Check the Documents: Students are advised to keep all the necessary documents ready to avoid rejection. Documents such as academic documents, identity of the student, etc, are required to be submitted. 

Apply through the Right Platform: Many students make mistakes by approaching the wrong platform. Apply through the official websites of the scholarships, such as the Germany Scholarship Website or WeMakeScholars, for authentic information and application.

Submit on Time: Missing one deadline means waiting another year. Therefore, it is important to keep a check on the deadline and submit before the date expires.

Follow-up: After the application is submitted, a time-to-time follow-up is important to fill in any missing information. Keep a track of the email to know the status of your scholarship application. This reduces scholarship rejections.

Conclusion

Scholarships are an incredible financial support to students who want to pursue their higher education but lack finances. In this blog, we have covered a few of the scholarships that are available to study in Germany. In addition, we have also discussed how to apply along with the documents required for the same.