Germany scholarships for international students in 2027 come from four main sources: the DAAD (Germany’s academic exchange service), the Deutschlandstipendium, the political foundations such as Heinrich Böll, Konrad Adenauer and Friedrich Ebert, and Erasmus Mundus master’s programmes with a German partner. A DAAD master’s scholarship pays €992 a month and a DAAD doctoral grant pays €1,400 a month, plus insurance and travel. The Deutschlandstipendium pays €300 a month.
Most public universities in Germany still charge no tuition, so the scholarship mainly pays your living costs. Without one, you must show €11,904 in a blocked account (€992 a month) to get a student visa. Several 2027 deadlines have already passed as of 24 October 2026, so I have marked below which ones are still open and which ones you should plan for in 2027.
Germany scholarships 2027 at a glance
- DAAD master’s rate: €992 per month
- DAAD doctoral rate: €1,400 per month (raised from €1,300 in 2026)
- Deutschlandstipendium: €300 per month, any nationality
- Erasmus Mundus allowance: €1,400 per month, up to 24 months
- Tuition at public universities: Free in most states; €1,500 per semester for non-EU students in Baden-Württemberg
- Blocked account (2026): €11,904 per year (€992 per month)
- Visa fee: €75 paid in local currency at the German mission
Which Germany scholarships for international students fit your level?
Start with your level of study, because most German funders do not support a first bachelor’s degree from abroad. Undergraduates have the fewest options. Master’s and PhD applicants have the most.
| Scholarship | Bachelor’s | Master’s | PhD | Monthly amount | German needed? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAAD EPOS (development courses) | No | Yes | Rarely | €992 | Usually no, most courses are in English |
| DAAD Helmut-Schmidt Programme | No | Yes | No | €992 | No for the course; a 4-month German course is part of the award |
| DAAD research grants | No | No | Yes (and postdocs) | €1,400 | Depends on field and host |
| Deutschlandstipendium | Yes, once enrolled | Yes | No | €300 | No fixed rule |
| Heinrich Böll Foundation | No | Yes | Yes | €992 / €1,500 | Yes, B2 |
| Konrad Adenauer Foundation | Only after 2 semesters in Germany | Yes | Yes | Up to €992 / €1,400 | Yes, B2 |
| Friedrich Ebert Foundation | Only once enrolled in Germany | Yes | Yes | €992 for students | Yes, B2 |
| Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters | No | Yes | No | €1,400 | No, taught in English |
If you are finishing secondary school, the realistic plan is to get admitted first, finance year one yourself or with family support, and then apply for the Deutschlandstipendium and the foundation awards from inside Germany. I would not build a bachelor’s plan around a full scholarship that, for most applicants, does not exist.
DAAD scholarships for 2027: EPOS, Helmut-Schmidt and research grants
The DAAD runs dozens of programmes, and eligibility often depends on your country of origin. Use the DAAD scholarship database, filter by your nationality and level, and read only the programmes it shows you. The three below are the ones most international applicants from developing countries use.
What a DAAD scholarship pays
| Item | Master’s / graduate holders | Doctoral candidates |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly payment | €992 | €1,400 |
| Health, accident and liability insurance | Yes | Yes |
| Travel allowance | Yes, unless another body pays it | Yes, unless another body pays it |
| Study or research allowance | Yes, in most programmes | €460 one-off for applicants from DAC (developing) countries, €260 for others |
| Rent subsidy and family allowance | In certain cases | In certain cases |
| German language support | Course fees and TestDaF or DSH fee | Course fees and TestDaF or DSH fee |
Some older DAAD pages and many blogs still quote €934 for graduates and €1,300 for doctoral candidates. Those are previous rates. The doctoral rate rose to €1,400 in February 2026, and the foundations that follow DAAD rates (such as Konrad Adenauer) now show the same figures.
EPOS: development-related postgraduate courses
EPOS funds selected master’s courses at German universities for professionals from developing countries. You apply to the course, and the course committee shortlists candidates before the DAAD decides. You can apply to up to three courses in one round.
- You must come from a country on the DAC list of developing countries. Most of Africa, South and Southeast Asia and Latin America are on it.
- You need at least two years of relevant work experience after your bachelor’s degree. Internships and volunteer work do not count, and academic jobs usually do not either.
- Your degree should normally be no more than six years old, and your grades should place you in the upper third of your class.
- You must not have lived in Germany for more than 15 months at the deadline.
The 2027/2028 EPOS list has 25 courses, with intakes in October 2027. Every course sets its own deadline, and the DAAD’s own deadline table simply says to check each course website. Here are the ones I could confirm:
| EPOS course (2027/28 intake) | University | Deadline | Status on 24 Oct 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| MBA Small Enterprise Promotion and Training (SEPT) | Leipzig University | 1 October 2026 | Closed |
| MSc Environmental Governance (MEG) | University of Freiburg | 15 October 2026 | Closed |
| MSc Sustainable Renewable Energy Technologies (SuRE) | University of Oldenburg | Reported as 15 January 2027 | Open, confirm on course site |
| MSc Agricultural Economics (AgEcon) | University of Hohenheim | Previously 15 November to 15 December | Confirm 2026 window on course site |
| MSc International Health, MSc Global Health, MSc Development Economics, Urban Management and others | Charité Berlin, Heidelberg, Bonn, Göttingen, TU Berlin and others | Set by each course | Check each course page |
Helmut-Schmidt Programme (public policy and good governance)
This is a DAAD master’s scholarship for graduates from selected developing countries who want to work in public policy, governance, law or economics. It funds courses such as Public Policy at the Willy Brandt School in Erfurt, Development and Governance at Duisburg-Essen, Peace and Conflict Studies in Magdeburg, Social Protection at Bonn-Rhein-Sieg, Management in Non-Profit Organisations at Osnabrück, and Development Studies and Governance and Public Policy at Passau.
The award pays €992 a month, waives tuition and includes a compulsory four-month German course before the degree starts. Applications go to the universities, and the window for courses starting in 2027 ran from 1 June to 31 July 2026. That round is closed, and the deadline is 31 July 2027, for courses starting in 2028. If you want this scholarship, prepare now. Check the DAAD country list before you start, because only some countries are eligible.
DAAD research grants for doctoral candidates
There are two main types. Doctoral Programmes in Germany funds a full PhD at a German university, and its main round for 2027 closed on 21 October 2026, so the deadline is 21 October 2027. Research Grants in Germany funds a stay of 2 to 12 months for doctoral candidates who are registered at a university outside Germany, and 2 to 6 months for postdocs who finished their PhD within the last four years. These shorter grants have more than one round a year, so check the database for the next date.
For both, you need a German supervisor who agrees in writing to host you. Without the host confirmation, the application is incomplete. Humanities, social science and law applicants are usually expected to have good German. In science and engineering, English is often enough if your host works in English.
For the full eligibility rules, partner courses and the 31 July 2027 deadline, see our DAAD Helmut-Schmidt Programme guide. Course-by-course EPOS deadlines are in our DAAD EPOS scholarship guide.
Deutschlandstipendium: €300 a month for students already admitted
The Deutschlandstipendium pays €300 a month (€3,600 a year). A private sponsor such as a company or foundation pays half, and the federal government pays the other half. It is open to high-achieving students regardless of nationality, at bachelor’s and master’s level, and it runs for at least two semesters.
You apply to your German university, not to a central office, and each university sets its own window. Many open in the autumn for the winter semester. The award is not means-tested and does not depend on your income, but €300 a month will not satisfy the visa office on its own. Treat it as a top-up once you are already studying.
Political foundation scholarships (Böll, Adenauer, Ebert)
Germany’s political foundations fund international students with money from the Federal Foreign Office. Each one is linked to a political tradition. All of them look for civic or voluntary work alongside good grades, and none of them requires party membership. The catch for most applicants is language: all three below ask for German at B2 level, even if your degree is taught in English.
| Foundation | Master’s | Doctoral | Who it targets | Deadlines |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heinrich Böll (Green) | €992 plus up to €100 health insurance and €38 extras | €1,500 plus up to €200 health insurance and €100 research costs | All nationalities; priority to DAC-country applicants not yet in Germany; master’s must last at least 4 semesters | 1 March and 1 September each year |
| Konrad Adenauer (Christian Democrat) | Up to €992, usually for 2 years | Up to €1,400, usually for 3 years | Applicants committed to democracy and the rule of law; 4-semester master’s in Germany | Closed 15 July 2026; deadline 15 July 2027 |
| Friedrich Ebert (Social Democrat) | €992 plus health insurance | Higher rate, check fes.de | Non-OECD nationals enrolled or starting at a German university | Check fes.de; master’s applicants apply around the start of their first semester |
Heinrich Böll stands out because it also reimburses tuition of up to €10,000 a year. That matters if you end up at a university in Baden-Württemberg or at TUM. It does not fund undergraduate study.
Other German foundations, including church-linked funders such as KAAD, run their own schemes. Their rules differ, so read each one on its own website.
Erasmus Mundus programmes with a German partner
An Erasmus Mundus Joint Master is a two-year master’s taught at two or more European universities. A full scholarship pays €1,400 a month for up to 24 months, waives tuition and covers insurance. Some consortia let you take part of that money early as travel and installation advances. You apply to the consortium, not to the German university.
| Programme (2027 intake) | German partner | Scholarship deadline |
|---|---|---|
| EU4M (Mechatronic and Micro-Mechatronic Systems) | Hochschule Karlsruhe | 15 January 2027 (indicative) |
| Euroculture | University of Göttingen | 15 January 2027 |
Many other Erasmus Mundus programmes include a German university for one or two semesters. Search the Erasmus Mundus catalogue by partner country, and expect most scholarship deadlines to fall between December 2026 and February 2027. For a worked example of how one of these applications runs, see our guide to the MARIHE Erasmus Mundus scholarship.
Tuition fees in Germany for non-EU students in 2027
Public universities in most German states charge no tuition, for Germans and international students alike. Everyone pays a semester contribution, which covers administration and often a public transport ticket. Examples for winter 2026/27 are about €352 at Rostock, €360 at TU Dresden and €403 at Kiel.
| State or university | Non-EU tuition | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Baden-Württemberg (Heidelberg, Freiburg, Stuttgart, Ulm and others) | €1,500 per semester | In force since 2017/18; doctoral study is exempt |
| TUM Munich (Bavaria) | Bachelor’s €2,000 to €3,000; master’s €4,000 to €6,000 per semester | New students from winter 2027/28 pay €2,300 to €3,400 (bachelor’s) or €4,600 to €6,800 (master’s) |
| FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg (Bavaria) | Bachelor’s €1,000 to €3,000; master’s €2,000 to €6,000 per semester | Starts summer 2027 for new non-EU students |
| Other Bavarian universities | Set by each university | Some universities of applied sciences charge €500 to €1,500 |
| All other states | None | Semester contribution only |
Private universities charge full fees, and any scholarship they offer is set by the university itself.
Blocked account amount for 2026 and 2027
To get a German student visa you must prove you can pay your living costs. The usual proof is a blocked account (Sperrkonto) holding €11,904, which is €992 for each of 12 months. You can withdraw only €992 a month after you arrive. German missions list Deutsche Bank, Fintiba, Coracle, Expatrio and Sparkasse among the providers, and you can open the account from abroad.
The amount has stayed at €992 a month since the winter semester of 2024. No figure for 2027 has been announced. If it changes, it will be because the government updates the BAföG rate, so check your German mission’s website in the weeks before you pay in. Two other forms of proof are accepted instead of a blocked account:
- A scholarship award letter from a recognised funder that covers your costs, such as DAAD, Erasmus Mundus or one of the foundations.
- A formal obligation letter (Verpflichtungserklärung) signed by someone living in Germany at their local foreigners’ authority, confirming they can support you.
Application steps international applicants get stuck on
Order of steps for a German scholarship and visa
- Check entry: Check if your school certificate gives direct entry (anabin or uni-assist), and whether your country needs an APS certificate.
- Language test: Take your test: IELTS or TOEFL for English courses, TestDaF, DSH or Goethe for German courses and foundation scholarships.
- Scholarship: Apply for the scholarship by its own deadline, often months before university admission closes.
- Admission and funds: Get your admission letter, then fund the blocked account or obtain the award letter.
- Visa: Apply for the visa through the Consular Services Portal and allow about three months.
Does your country need an APS certificate?
The APS (Akademische Prüfstelle) is a document check run by the German embassy in a few countries before you can apply to a university or for a visa. As of 2026 it applies to applicants who studied in China, India, Vietnam and Mongolia, and the fee is charged locally. The requirement follows where your qualifications come from, not your passport.
Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Pakistan and most other countries are not on the APS list. If an agent in one of those countries asks you to pay for an “APS certificate”, walk away. Your documents are checked at admission (by uni-assist or the university) and again at the visa appointment.
Secondary school certificates and the Studienkolleg question
Many school-leaving certificates from outside Europe are not treated as equal to the German Abitur. That includes WAEC/WASSCE and NECO from West Africa. In that case you have two routes to a bachelor’s place:
- Attend a Studienkolleg, a one-year preparatory course in Germany that ends with the Feststellungsprüfung (assessment exam). Most Studienkollegs teach in German and ask for about B1 German to start.
- Complete one or two years of a related degree at a recognised university at home first. Depending on the university and your grades, that can give you direct entry.
Check your own certificate on the anabin database or with uni-assist before you pay any fees. For master’s and PhD applicants this problem mostly disappears, because a recognised bachelor’s or master’s degree is what counts.
English and German tests
- English-taught degrees and EPOS courses usually ask for IELTS or TOEFL. Some universities accept a letter saying your previous degree was taught in English, so check the course page.
- German-taught degrees ask for TestDaF, DSH or an equivalent at the level the university sets.
- The Böll, Adenauer and Ebert foundations ask for B2 German no matter what language your degree is in. A Goethe-Zertifikat B2 is the most common proof.
- Some German missions ask for language proof of at least B1 at the visa appointment, with certificates less than 12 months old. Check your own mission’s checklist.
Documents to prepare
| Document | Scholarship | Visa | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| CV | Yes (DAAD asks for Europass or a short tabular CV) | Yes, tabular | No unexplained gaps |
| Motivation letter | Yes | Yes (some missions want it handwritten) | Tie your plan to your home country or career |
| Degree certificates and transcripts | Yes | Yes, originals | Translate anything not in German, English or French |
| Recommendation letters | Yes, usually 1 or 2 | No | Some programmes want referees to send them directly |
| Employment certificates | Yes for EPOS (2 years’ experience) | No | Show dates and job duties |
| Research proposal and host letter | Yes for doctoral grants | No | Get the supervisor’s confirmation early |
| Language certificate | Yes | Yes | Check the expiry rules |
| Admission letter | Sometimes | Yes | Studienkolleg admission also counts |
| Blocked account or award letter | No | Yes | €11,904 for 12 months |
| Health insurance | No | Yes | Missions ask for it once the visa can be issued |
If you need help with referee letters, our recommendation letter guide with samples shows what a strong one looks like.
The student visa
You apply for a national (D) visa for study through the Federal Foreign Office’s Consular Services Portal, then attend an appointment at the German embassy or consulate with your original documents. The fee is €75, paid in local currency. Embassies advise planning for about three months of processing, and appointment queues in some countries are longer, so book as soon as you have your admission letter. After you arrive, you register your address and apply for a residence permit for study, which can cost up to €100.
Germany scholarships for international students: 2027 deadlines
| Scholarship | Deadline | Status on 24 Oct 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| DAAD Doctoral Programmes in Germany (2027 start) | 21 October 2026 | Closed; deadline 21 October 2027 |
| DAAD EPOS (2027/28 intake) | Per course, roughly August 2026 to January 2027 | Some open, e.g. Oldenburg SuRE |
| Erasmus Mundus with German partners | Mostly December 2026 to February 2027 | Opening now |
| Heinrich Böll Foundation | 1 March 2027, then 1 September 2027 | Portal opens about 6 weeks before |
| DAAD Research Grants (short stays) | Next spring round | Check database |
| Helmut-Schmidt Programme (2028 start) | 31 July 2027 (based on this year’s date; confirm on the official page when the call opens) | 2027 round closed 31 July 2026 |
| Konrad Adenauer Foundation | 15 July 2027 | 2026 round closed 15 July 2026 |
| Deutschlandstipendium | Set by each university | Apply once enrolled |
If you missed the 2027 rounds, use the time to collect work experience for EPOS or to get your German to B2 for the foundations. Germany is not the only option either. Finland, for example, works on partial tuition waivers instead, which we explain in our guide to University of Oulu scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
Is studying in Germany free for international students in 2027?
Tuition is free at public universities in most states, but you still pay a semester contribution of a few hundred euros. Baden-Württemberg charges non-EU students €1,500 per semester, and TUM and FAU in Bavaria set their own fees.
How much is the DAAD scholarship per month?
€992 a month for master’s students and €1,400 a month for doctoral candidates, plus insurance, travel and other allowances depending on the programme.
Can I get a fully funded bachelor’s scholarship in Germany?
It is rare. DAAD and the political foundations mainly fund master’s and PhD study, and the undergraduate options (Deutschlandstipendium and some foundation awards) start only after you are enrolled in Germany.
Do I need a blocked account if I have a scholarship?
Not if your award letter covers your living costs, because German missions accept it as financial proof. A smaller award like the €300 Deutschlandstipendium is not enough on its own, so you would still need the blocked account or a sponsor’s obligation letter.
Sources and updates
DAAD rates, allowances and eligibility come from the DAAD scholarship database entries for Research Grants and EPOS, the DAAD’s 2027/2028 EPOS course and deadline list (June 2026), and course pages at Freiburg, Leipzig, Oldenburg and the Helmut-Schmidt partner universities. The €1,400 doctoral rate is confirmed by several university and funder pages; the DAAD database is the final word. Foundation figures come from the Heinrich Böll Foundation application and funding pages, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation’s international scholarship call, and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation’s page for international students. Deutschlandstipendium details come from the federal programme site and university pages (Ulm, Passau). Tuition figures come from Ulm University and the published fee rules of TUM and FAU. Blocked account, visa fee and visa documents come from German missions’ student visa pages and the federal portal Make it in Germany. The APS country list comes from German embassy guidance as summarised by several study portals. Erasmus Mundus details come from the EU4M consortium and the University of Göttingen. Checked on 24 October 2026. I will update the blocked account figure and the 2027/28 deadlines as the funders publish them.
I am Jude Chinecherem, a final-year MBBS student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I know what it feels like to want an education your family cannot afford. When my parents could not pay for my schooling, I had to learn how to find scholarships and work the system out on my own, with nobody to guide me. I came out the other side, and now I share everything I learned so the next student does not have to figure it out alone. This is the advice I wish someone had given me back then.
