The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), Germany's social-democratic political foundation, funds international students who are already studying at a German university — Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD (except medicine) in any subject. Applications are essentially rolling: you can apply at any time within your study-phase window, and Master's students should apply before or at the start of their first semester. The package combines a monthly stipend with health insurance, a family allowance, and a full seminar and networking programme built around social-democratic values.
Why it is notable: This is not a scholarship you win from abroad to come to Germany — FES's own programme page says the foreign-student funding "richtet sich an Studierende, die bereits in Deutschland studieren" (is aimed at students already studying in Germany). Many aggregators present it as an apply-from-home award; it isn't.
Funding at a glance
What it covers
Monthly stipend: EUR 830 (Bachelor's/Diplom/Staatsexamen), EUR 850 (Master's), EUR 1,200 (PhD) — per the official FU Berlin presentation of FES foreign-student rates (confirm current rates with FES before publishing).
Health insurance costs funded.
Family allowance of EUR 276/month for scholars with a child.
No repayment — the scholarship does not have to be paid back.
Comprehensive seminar programme (socio-political and key-competence seminars), university groups and regional activities, scholar working groups, and individual support by an on-site liaison lecturer.
Eligibility criteria
Qualification Required
High school graduationfor Bachelor'sGraduationfor MastersMasters/MPhilfor PhD
This scholarship is offered for Bachelor's, Master's, Diplom, and Staatsexamen programmes, and for PhDs (all fields except medicine), at German universities.
Who can apply
International students from all countries who are already enrolled (or admitted and about to enrol) at a state or state-recognised German higher-education institution. (Third-party sources describe the target group as gifted students from the Global South, post-Soviet states, and Eastern/South-Eastern Europe — UNVERIFIED on fes.de this run.)
Experience
No professional experience required — but socio-political engagement and identification with the values of social democracy are formal requirements.
Language Certificate
Sufficient German language proficiency is required (official university pages quoting FES: DSH-2, TestDaF level 4, or Goethe-Zertifikat C1 — even for English-taught courses).
Other Certificates
University entrance qualification, enrolment certificate, transcripts/degree certificates; unconditional admission to a doctoral programme (PhD track).
Age Limit
No Age Limit
Check your eligibility
Run all three quick checks before reviewing your chosen course's full entry requirements.
1
Country checker
All nationalities — the decisive condition is enrolment (or imminent enrolment) at a German university, not the passport.
2
Last degree checker
Choose your highest completed qualification to see which degree level may fit.
3
Course checker
Pick a course to see whether it falls inside this scholarship's scope.
Complete all three checks
Your combined result will appear here.
Based on published eligibility — always confirm on the official page before applying.
Application essentials
Requirements
Review each requirement before you begin the application.
01
Enrolled in Germany
Admission to or enrolment at a state or state-recognised German higher-education institution — the foreign-student programme is for students already studying in Germany.
02
Study-phase window
Bachelor's: after the 1st semester, no later than 3 semesters before the end of the standard period; Master's: before or at the start of the 1st Master's semester; PhD: any time up to ~2 years before dissertation submission.
03
Language
Sufficient German (DSH-2, TestDaF 4, or Goethe C1 per official university pages quoting FES) — even for English-taught courses.
04
Engagement and values
Socio-political engagement and identification with the values of social democracy; a personality showing political thinking, thirst for knowledge, tolerance, openness, team orientation, critical ability, and self-reflection.
05
Performance
Above-average school/university results.
06
References
Two assessments from university lecturers (teachers for first-semester students), due within 6 weeks of the document request.
Document checklist
01Online application form (fes.de) — personal details, background, motivation, engagement.
02Detailed CV with education history and socio-political engagement.
03Certificates, university entrance qualification, enrolment certificate, other evidence.
04Detailed motivation letter.
05Two references from university lecturers (teachers for first-semester students) — up to 6 weeks to arrange.
Application fee
No fee — completely free.
Visa, kept concise: Study visa type for this destination: Not applicable at application stage — applicants are already in Germany on a student residence permit. (New arrivals: German national student visa, then a residence permit for study.)
Application Procedure
10 steps — follow in order. Each stage prepares the next.
01
Check that you are inside your study-phase window (Bachelor's
after 1st semester; Master's: before/at start of 1st semester; PhD: any time up to ~2 years before submission).
→
02
Fill in the online application form on
fes.de (general personal details, professional/family background, motivation, socio-political engagement) — this starts the process.
→
03
FES staff review the form formally and
substantively within 2–4 weeks: you receive either a rejection or a request for documents and references.
↓
06
If you reach the shortlist
a second interview with a member of the selection committee follows (travel costs reimbursed on request).
←
05
If the documents pass
you are invited to an interview with a liaison lecturer (Vertrauensdozent/in), who writes an assessment.
←
04
Submit within 3 weeks
detailed CV (education + socio-political engagement), certificates, university entrance qualification, enrolment certificate, other evidence, and a detailed motivation letter. References (two assessments from university
↓
07
The selection committee (meets 8–10 times per year) decides
you are informed within a week of the meeting. From application to decision: 3–7 months.
→
08
Online application form (fes.de) —
personal details, background, motivation, engagement.
→
09
Detailed CV with education history and socio-political
engagement.
↓
10
Certificates, university entrance qualification
enrolment certificate, other evidence.
Ready to apply?
Continue on the official state or state-recognised German universities platform.
Can I apply from my home country before coming to Germany?
No — FES's own programme page states the foreign-student basic funding "richtet sich an Studierende, die bereits in Deutschland studieren" (is aimed at students already studying in Germany).
Is there an application deadline?
FES's application page says the best time to apply is as early as possible and points to the chosen scholarship programme for deadlines. Official university pages quoting FES state applications are possible at any time within the study-phase windows; Master's winter-semester cut-off is 30 November, summer semester 31 May; PhD any time.
Which subjects are funded?
All — "Wir vergeben Stipendien an Studierende aller Fachrichtungen" (we award scholarships to students of all disciplines); PhDs in all fields except medicine.
How much is the monthly stipend?
Per the official FU Berlin presentation of FES foreign-student rates: EUR 830 (Bachelor's/Diplom/Staatsexamen), EUR 850 (Master's), EUR 1,200 (PhD), plus funded health insurance and EUR 276/month family allowance — confirm current rates with FES before publishing.
Do I have to repay the scholarship?
No — unlike BAföG, the FES scholarship does not have to be repaid.
How long does the process take?
From application to decision: 3–7 months. The selection committee meets 8–10 times per year and applicants are informed within a week of the meeting.
What does the non-material support include?
Socio-political seminars, key-competence seminars, university groups and regional activities, scholar working groups, and individual mentoring by a liaison lecturer.
Need document or attestation help?
Detailed attestation guidance stays in Opplore's standalone Guides section, not inside this scholarship page.
Germany · state or state-recognised German universities