Scholarships for Undergraduates, Graduates, and PhD Students
We support students and doctoral candidates from all disciplines and all universities in Germany and abroad. We contribute to equal opportunities and educational equity and provide special support to underrepresented groups.
The Heinrich Böll Foundation grants scholarships to approximately 1500 undergraduates, graduates, and doctoral students of all subjects and nationalities per year, who are pursuing their degree at universities, universities of applied sciences (‘Fachhochschulen’), or universities of the arts (‘Kunst-/Musikhochschulen’).
We expect our scholarship recipients to have excellent academic records, to be socially and politically engaged, and to have an active interest in the basic values of the foundation: ecology and sustainability, democracy and human rights, self determination and justice.
Please note: We only accept online applications; written proof of German language proficiency (Minimum requirement: „Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang“ Level DSH 2 or „TestDaF“ Level B2) necessary
Application deadlines, focus groups, and access to ONLINE APPLICATION PORTAL
Application periods 2025/2026
Spring 2026: January 15, 2026 to March 1, 2026
Fall 2026: July 15, 2026 to September 1, 2026
Who can apply?
Students:
Foreign students with German educational qualifications: Students in their first degree program (up to the third semester) or six months before the start of their master's degree program are eligible to apply. We particularly encourage first-time university students and BAföG recipients to apply.
We only support a complete degree program in another EU country for a master's degree (not for a bachelor's degree).
Foreign students: International students can apply before starting their master's degree in Germany.
Priority is given to applicants from DAC countries who are still abroad at the time of application.
Doctoral candidates:
Domestic doctoral candidates (foreign students with a German education) can apply for doctoral funding in Germany and abroad.
Priority is given to international applicants from DAC countries who are still abroad at the time of application.
Contact
Heinrich Böll Foundation Scholarship Department
Schumannstraße 8, 10117 Berlin, Germany
T +49 (0) 30 285 34-400
F +49 (0) 30 285 34-409
E studienwerk@boell.de
www.boell.de/studienwerk
Telephone office hours:
Mon, Tue, Thu, and Fri, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Federal Foreign Office (AA).