{"id":2100,"title":"Fully Funded Scholarship Programs in Germany: An Informational Guide for 2026","slug":"fully-funded-scholarship-programs-in-germany-an-informational-guide-for-2026","lang":"en","description":"Studying in Germany may involve relatively low tuition costs, but that does not mean international students can study without a clear financial plan. Rent, food, insurance, transportation, and initial relocation expenses often create greater financial pressure than tuition itself.","content":"

Introduction

Many standard Bachelor’s and Master’s programs at public universities in Germany charge little or no general tuition, although students may still need to pay a semester contribution or other program-specific fees.

Germany also offers a range of scholarship programs funded by DAAD, foundations, academic organizations, and universities. Some Fully Funded Scholarship Programs in Germany may provide a monthly stipend, insurance, travel support, or research funding, while others offer only a tuition waiver or partial funding.

This guide helps international students compare funding coverage, scholarship eligibility, proof-of-funds requirements, and the costs they may still need to prepare for before studying in Germany.

What Do Fully Funded Scholarships in Germany Usually Cover?

Many people search for fully funded scholarships in Germany expecting the award to cover all tuition and living expenses. In practice, funding coverage varies by scholarship program, degree level, and funding call.

Type of support	What it may include	What to check
Tuition fees	Partial or full payment of tuition fees where the program charges tuition	Whether payment is made directly to the university
Semester contribution	May be covered or paid by the student	The amount and payment deadline
Monthly stipend	Rent, food, and everyday living expenses	Monthly amount and funding duration
Insurance	Health, accident, or personal liability insurance	Whether the scholarship pays the full cost or only contributes
Travel allowance	Travel costs to and from Germany	Whether the allowance applies to the applicant’s country
Rent subsidy	Additional support for housing costs	Income, rent, or eligibility conditions
Family allowance	Support for an accompanying spouse or children	Usually available only in specific cases
Research funding	Materials, fieldwork, or project-related expenses	Approved budget and eligible expense categories

A tuition waiver that only removes or reduces tuition fees is not necessarily a fully funded scholarship. Similarly, a monthly stipend may significantly reduce financial pressure but may not cover every expense or fully satisfy proof-of-funds requirements.

Before submitting scholarship applications, applicants should review the stipend amount, funding duration, payment start date, excluded expenses, and the exact wording of the funding letter.

Partial Funding Can Take Different Forms

In addition to programs that may cover most tuition and living expenses, students may find several forms of partial funding, including:

Tuition waivers.
University merit scholarships.
Mobility grants.
Research grants.
Degree-completion grants.
Short-term financial support for students facing hardship.

These sources can reduce part of the overall cost but are often insufficient to fund the entire study period. Applicants may still need personal savings, a blocked account, or another accepted form of financial proof.

Fully Funded Scholarship Programs to Consider

Rather than applying to every scholarship available, applicants should build a focused shortlist based on nationality, degree level, field of study, professional experience, and language proficiency.

Program	Potentially suitable applicants	Main support and considerations
DAAD EPOS	Applicants from eligible countries with professional experience and a development-focused career plan	Stipend, insurance, and travel allowance; limited to programs on the official EPOS list
DAAD Study Scholarships	Selected Master’s applicants who match a specific funding call	Stipend and additional benefits vary by program
DAAD Research Grants	PhD candidates and applicants carrying out research projects	May support research, insurance, and travel; a research proposal is often required
Political foundation scholarships	Applicants with strong academic records, social engagement, and suitable German proficiency	May provide a stipend and academic support; criteria differ between foundations
Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters	Applicants seeking a joint Master’s degree across several countries	Full scholarships may contribute to participation costs, travel, visa expenses, and living costs

DAAD EPOS

DAAD EPOS supports selected development-related postgraduate programs in Germany. It is intended for applicants from developing and newly industrialized countries and normally requires at least two years of relevant professional experience.

According to the information for the 2026/2027 EPOS cycle, benefits may include:

€992 per month for postgraduate students.
€1,400 per month for doctoral candidates from February 2026.
Contributions toward health, accident, and personal liability insurance.
A travel allowance where travel costs are not covered by another source.
A rent subsidy or family allowance in certain eligible cases.

Funding may last from 12 to 42 months, depending on the selected program. EPOS only funds courses included on its official list; not every Master’s program in Germany is eligible.

DAAD Study and Research Scholarships

DAAD is not the name of one single scholarship. Its database includes multiple funding calls for Master’s programs, PhD study, research stays, and academic or artistic projects.

Benefits, scholarship eligibility, deadlines, and submission procedures vary by call. Some programs accept applications through the DAAD portal, while others require applicants to apply through a university or the institution organizing the course.

Applicants should not use the benefits or eligibility rules of one DAAD scholarship to estimate the support offered by another.

Political Foundation Scholarships

Political foundations commonly assess a combination of:

Academic achievement.
Community or social engagement.
Leadership potential.
German-language proficiency.
Alignment with the values of the foundation.

The Heinrich Böll Foundation requires many groups of international applicants to demonstrate German proficiency at a minimum level of B2 or DSH-1. The Friedrich Ebert Foundation generally requires international applicants to have already studied in Germany and to demonstrate a high level of German, even when their degree program is taught in English.

Political foundation scholarships are therefore not suitable for every international student. Applicants should review each foundation’s requirements concerning residence, enrollment status, language ability, and social engagement.

Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters

Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s programs are delivered by at least three higher education institutions in three different countries. Some programs offer full scholarships to highly ranked applicants.

Scholarships may cover participation costs and contribute toward travel, visa expenses, and a living allowance. Students normally study at several institutions or in several countries rather than completing the entire degree in Germany.

A program’s inclusion in the Erasmus Mundus Catalogue does not mean that every applicant will receive full funding. The number of scholarships and selection requirements depend on the individual consortium.

A Note on Bachelor’s Funding

Scholarship opportunities may be available for selected Bachelor’s programs, but full funding at this level can be more limited than for Master’s, PhD, or research pathways. Availability depends on the scholarship provider, nationality, field of study, university, and current funding call.

Applicants interested in Bachelor’s study should confirm whether funding is available before applying and whether the award includes living-cost support or only partial assistance.

Which Program May Fit Your Profile?

Applicant profile	Pathway to review	Important condition
At least two years of work experience and a development-focused career plan	DAAD EPOS	Country, course, and professional experience must meet the requirements
Planning to study for a Master’s degree in Germany	DAAD Study Scholarships	Review the correct funding call and eligible field of study
Preparing a PhD research project	DAAD Research Grants	A research proposal and academic supervisor may be required
Strong social engagement and good German proficiency	Political foundation scholarships	Review language requirements and the values of each foundation
Interested in studying across several countries	Erasmus Mundus	Must meet the requirements of the specific consortium

This table provides only an initial way to classify options. Final scholarship eligibility must always be confirmed through the official program announcement.

Before preparing a motivation letter, applicants should check:

Nationality and country of residence.
Eligible degree level and field of study.
Professional experience requirements.
Language requirements.
Admission or enrollment requirements.
Dual-funding rules.
Required application portal and deadline.

Can a Scholarship Replace a Blocked Account?

For a German student visa in 2026, applicants may demonstrate sufficient financial resources through a scholarship, a blocked account containing at least €11,904, or an accepted Declaration of Commitment.

However, not every funding letter automatically replaces the blocked-account requirement. Visa authorities may review:

The monthly stipend amount.
The total funding period.
The scholarship start date.
The organization providing the scholarship.
The benefits stated in the funding letter.
Any remaining financial shortfall.

Where a scholarship does not cover the entire period of residence or only provides partial funding, the applicant may need to prove the remaining amount through a blocked account or another accepted method.

The €11,904 amount represents the proof-of-funds threshold for a student visa in 2026. It is not a guarantee that the equivalent monthly amount will be sufficient in every German city. Actual expenses depend heavily on housing costs and the study location.

Costs a Scholarship May Not Cover

Even when receiving a fully funded scholarship, applicants should prepare an initial budget.

Cost category	Examples	What to consider
Applications and language requirements	IELTS, TestDaF, DSH, Goethe-Zertifikat, APS	These costs may arise before the scholarship result is known
University applications	Uni-Assist, translations, certified documents	Not every scholarship reimburses these expenses
Travel and housing	Flights, rental deposit, first month’s rent	Payment may be required before the first stipend is issued
Study-related costs	Semester contribution, materials, equipment	A tuition waiver may not include these items
Visa and insurance	Visa fee, initial insurance expenses	Requirements vary by applicant and visa authority

Uni-Assist currently charges €75 for the first selected course and €30 for each additional course selected within the same semester. Some universities may pay this processing fee on behalf of applicants.

When researching universities in Germany for international students, check the tuition fees and semester contribution for each specific program. Costs may vary by university, federal state, degree type, and nationality.

Scholarship Application Timeline

Time before enrollment	Tasks to complete	Expected outcome
12–18 months	Choose a field, degree programs, and a scholarship shortlist	List of eligibility requirements and deadlines
9–12 months	Take language tests and prepare APS, CV, and recommendation letters	Core application documents
6–9 months	Complete the motivation letter, translations, and applications	University and scholarship applications submitted
3–6 months	Monitor results and prepare for the visa process	Funding plan, proof of funds, and accommodation arrangements

The timeline should be planned backward from the earliest deadline. Some scholarships close before the university application deadline, while others require applicants to already have admission or enrollment.

Pre-Submission Checklist

Before completing scholarship applications, confirm that:

You selected the correct program and admission cycle.
You meet the nationality and degree-level requirements.
You satisfy the language requirements.
Your degree certificates and transcripts are complete.
Translations meet the required format.
Recommendation letters are submitted correctly.
The motivation letter is tailored to the specific program.
You understand the stipend amount and funding duration.
You have calculated costs not included in the scholarship.
You have checked the deadline and relevant time zone.
You know whether the funding letter is sufficient for proof of funds.

Next Steps

A practical study in Germany plan can begin with four steps:

Select degree programs that match your profile.
Identify scholarship programs directly connected to those degrees.
Record the eligibility criteria, benefits, required documents, and deadlines from the official funding call.
Prepare a budget for full funding, partial funding, and the possibility of not receiving a scholarship.

Fully Funded Scholarship Programs in Germany can significantly reduce the pressure of scholarship tuition and living expenses. However, no program is suitable for every applicant. Nationality, degree level, professional experience, language proficiency, and the completeness of the application may all affect eligibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a fully funded scholarship cover every expense?

Not always. Some programs still require students to pay the semester contribution, housing deposit, or initial relocation expenses.

Is every DAAD scholarship fully funded?

No. DAAD manages multiple funding calls with different benefits, funding periods, and eligibility requirements.

Can a scholarship replace a blocked account?

It may do so in some cases. However, the visa authority will review the funding letter, stipend amount, support period, and any remaining financial shortfall.

Is German proficiency required for a scholarship?

It depends on the program. Some DAAD scholarships may support English-taught programs, while many political foundations require German-language proficiency.

Disclaimer

This content is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute scholarship, university-admission, or visa advice. Scholarship eligibility, stipend amounts, tuition fees, deadlines, proof-of-funds requirements, and program availability may change.

Applicants should review the official information published by each scholarship provider, university, and the German diplomatic mission responsible for their application before submitting any documents.

References

DAAD – Development-Related Postgraduate Courses, EPOS.
DAAD – Costs of Education and Living.
Make it in Germany – Visa for Studying.
Erasmus+ – Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters.
Uni-Assist – Handling Fees.
Heinrich Böll Foundation – Scholarship Requirements.
Friedrich Ebert Foundation – Funding for International Students.

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