The Rosa Luxemburg Foundation Scholarship (Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung, RLS) funds international master’s, state examination and doctoral students at German universities who combine very good grades with social or political engagement. International students receive a basic stipend of €934 a month, paid with money from the German Federal Foreign Office. You need German at B2 level, even if your course is in English.
The 2026 round closed on 1 October 2026. The deadline for the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation scholarship is 1 October 2027 at 23:59, with the online portal opening in August 2027. Bachelor’s students from abroad are not funded, which several listing sites get wrong.
Rosa Luxemburg Foundation Scholarship at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Funder | Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung, through its Scholarship Department (Studienwerk) |
| Who pays for international scholars | German Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) |
| International stipend | €934 a month basic rate, with possible supplements |
| Levels for international students | Master’s, diploma, magister or state examination after basic studies, and doctorate |
| Not funded | Bachelor’s or basic-studies phase for international students |
| Language | German at B2 level, with proof |
| Fields | All subjects; science, technical, engineering and public administration students are especially encouraged |
| Doctoral funding | Up to three years |
| Deadline | 1 October 2027, 23:59 |
The foundation gives preference, at comparable achievement and commitment, to women, people in social need and people with disabilities. For the international study programme, applicants from countries on the OECD DAC list who are still in their home country when they apply have priority.
Three programmes, and which one you need
| Programme | Who it is for | Main rule |
|---|---|---|
| International study scholarship | Foreign nationals, including EU citizens, who are not eligible for BAföG and come to Germany only to study | Master’s or later-stage study; B2 German |
| Domestic study scholarship | Germans and foreigners who are eligible for BAföG under § 8 | Funding from the second semester; income-related grant plus a monthly study allowance |
| Doctoral scholarship | German and international doctoral candidates admitted at a German university | B2 German; up to three years |
You can apply to only one programme. If you already live in Germany with a status that makes you BAföG eligible, you belong in the domestic programme even if you are not German. The Lux like scholarship is a fourth, smaller programme for first-generation students in Germany who have not yet started university; it runs on a separate spring round.
Eligibility for international students
- Nationality: you are a foreign national and not BAföG eligible, coming to Germany to study.
- University: you are enrolled at, or at least admitted to, a state or state-recognised university in Germany.
- Prior degree: you have finished a bachelor’s degree, or the basic-studies phase of a diploma, magister or state examination course.
- Grades: very good academic results.
- Engagement: social or political involvement in line with the foundation’s aims, shown over at least the last 10 months.
- German: B2 level, with a certificate.
- 15-month rule: at the time of application you have been in Germany for no more than 15 months, unless you already studied there (for example your bachelor’s) or came specifically to prepare for your studies.
What the foundation will not fund
- A second full degree, part-time study, or study alongside a job
- A degree you have already completed
- A change of subject after the fifth semester, or during a master’s
- For international scholars, study periods in your home country or a third country
Documents for the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation scholarship
Each document is uploaded as a single PDF in the online portal. The foundation accepts no other file formats.
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Enrolment certificate | Must show your degree programme, subject and semesters completed; if not enrolled yet, a current admission letter |
| CV in table form | German or English, with your full education history |
| Proof of engagement | Letters or programmes covering at least the last 10 months |
| One academic reference | From a lecturer or professor, in German or English; no template |
| Highest degree certificate | With grade; add an uncertified translation if not in German or English |
| Transcript from your German university | If you have one |
| Extract of study regulations | Showing the standard period of study |
| Passport or ID card | Valid copy |
| Residence permit or visa | Non-EU applicants; a Fiktionsbescheinigung is not accepted |
| German B2 certificate | If not ready, a B1 certificate plus proof of enrolment in a B2 course |
If your bachelor’s certificate is not yet issued, the 2026 rules let you submit a transcript and a completion letter with your thesis grade, and send the certificate by 1 November.
Rosa Luxemburg Foundation scholarship deadline and selection
| Stage | Timing |
|---|---|
| Portal opens | August 2027 |
| Deadline | 1 October 2027, 23:59 |
| Formal check and pre-selection | October and November |
| Interviews with foundation lecturers | Invitations from mid-November to mid-January |
| First feedback by email | From early December |
| Rejections without a recommendation | About three months after the deadline |
| Final decision for students | Early March |
| Final decision for doctoral candidates | Early February |
Language
The B2 German rule applies even if your master’s is taught in English. Book a recognised B2 exam early; the foundation will not pay for language courses.
How to apply
- Secure your place: get admission to a master’s or doctoral programme at a German state or state-recognised university.
- Build your evidence: collect proof of at least 10 months of engagement and ask a lecturer for a reference.
- Get B2 German: sit the exam, or at least hold B1 and enrol in a B2 course.
- Register on the portal: use the RLS scholarship application page when the round opens in August. Postal and email applications are not accepted.
- Upload every PDF: follow the document list for international students and name files clearly.
- Submit by 1 October: you get a confirmation email when the application is complete.
- Attend the interview: the date is set by the foundation and cannot be moved on request.
Selected scholars must attend an introductory seminar. The foundation also runs a non-financial programme of seminars and workshops for its scholars.
Other German foundation scholarships
Germany has 13 state-funded scholarship foundations (Begabtenförderungswerke) that pay similar stipends, each with its own focus and dates. Compare the Heinrich Böll Foundation scholarship and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung scholarship, or see our full list of Germany scholarships for international students.
How the Rosa Luxemburg selection works
RLS runs a multi-stage process, and it helps to know who reads your file at each step.
- Formal check: staff confirm that every required PDF is there and that you meet the basic rules. Missing semester information on your enrolment certificate is enough for the application not to be considered, and documents cannot be added after the deadline.
- Pre-selection and online “Clearing”: the scholarship department shortlists applicants, and members of the selection committees confirm the shortlist online.
- Interview with a Vertrauensdozent: a lecturer who works with the foundation interviews you. The foundation says the record of this conversation is decisive. Doctoral applicants are also assessed by subject reviewers.
- Committee decision: two committees, made up of lecturers, current and former scholars and board representatives, decide in early February (doctoral) and early March (students). Their decisions are binding and come without written reasons.
The application page puts interview invitations between mid-November and mid-January, while the student FAQ says mid-December to February. Plan to be reachable for the whole period from mid-November to February. If you will be abroad, say so in your application: the FAQ says interviews can then be held online, but individual date requests are not granted.
Where your personal story goes (there is no motivation letter)
Unlike many German foundations, the RLS document list for international students has no separate motivation letter or essay. Your case is made by three things: your CV, your proof of engagement and the interview. So the work you would put into an essay goes there instead.
Your CV in table form
- Give a full education history with dates, and explain any gaps in one line.
- Add a separate section for engagement, listing each activity with dates, your role and what you actually did. The foundation wants at least 10 months of involvement, and the dates should show it.
- List your German level with the exam name and date, or the B2 course you are enrolled in.
An engagement entry might read: “03/2025 to present: volunteer coordinator, tenants’ rights group, Lagos. Organised monthly legal advice sessions for about 40 households facing eviction; wrote two guides on tenants’ rights in Yoruba and English.” That one line tells the reader your role, the people involved, how long and the outcome.
Preparing for the interview
RLS is the foundation linked to Germany’s Die Linke party, though the FAQ says party membership is not required. The interviewer will want to understand your engagement, why it matters to you and how it fits the foundation’s focus on social justice and political education. Expect questions on your study plans and your activism. The FAQ does not state the interview language, but the seminar programme is usually in German, so be ready to show you can hold a conversation in it. A good opening answer is short and concrete:
“Ich engagiere mich seit zwei Jahren in einer Mieterinitiative in Lagos. Wir beraten Familien, die von Räumung bedroht sind. In meinem Master in Stadtplanung möchte ich untersuchen, wie Städte bezahlbaren Wohnraum schützen können.”
(In English: “I have been involved in a tenants’ initiative in Lagos for two years. We advise families threatened with eviction. In my master’s in urban planning I want to study how cities can protect affordable housing.”) Simple German you can defend in follow-up questions beats complex sentences you memorised.
Converting your grades
The FAQ asks international applicants to convert foreign grades to the German scale with the Bavarian formula, to one decimal place. The formula is: German grade = 1 + 3 × (best possible grade minus your grade) ÷ (best possible grade minus lowest pass grade). German grades run from 1.0 (best) to 4.0 (lowest pass).
As an example, on a 5.0 CGPA scale where 1.0 is the lowest pass, a CGPA of 4.2 converts to 1 + 3 × (0.8 ÷ 4.0) = 1.6. Use your own university’s lowest pass grade, which differs between schools and countries, and show your working if the form asks.
Eligibility edge cases
- You already hold a master’s: you cannot be funded for another one. A bachelor’s from your home country is fine for a master’s in Germany.
- Changing field for your master’s: the FAQ says a change of subject during a master’s cannot be funded for international scholars. A master’s in a related field after your bachelor’s is a different matter, but check with the foundation if your fields are far apart.
- Little time left on your programme: funding runs only for the standard period of study, and the FAQ refers to checking that at least half of it remains. Apply early in your master’s.
- Applying a second time: the FAQ says you can apply twice in total. Use a rejection to strengthen your German and engagement record.
- Living in Germany for some time: the 15-month rule applies unless you studied in Germany or came to prepare for your studies. If you are BAföG eligible, you belong in the domestic programme.
- Applying from home: applicants from OECD DAC list countries who are still in their home country get priority in the international programme.
- Holding a DAAD award: the FAQ says DAAD funding cannot run alongside the foundation’s support for a study period abroad, and other DAAD awards may affect funding. Declare every scholarship you hold.
Common mistakes
- Uploading an enrolment certificate without the number of semesters completed.
- Uploading Word files or photos. Each document must be one PDF.
- Asking the referee to email the reference separately. It must be inside your application.
- Engagement proof that covers only a few months, or volunteering that ended long ago.
- Uploading a Fiktionsbescheinigung instead of a residence permit.
- Assuming English is enough because your course is in English.
After you are selected
Final decisions are emailed about three weeks before funding starts. Applicants who are not shortlisted hear about three months after the deadline. New scholars must attend an introductory seminar and are expected to take part in the foundation’s seminar programme and keep progressing toward the degree. Funding lasts for the standard period of study, or up to three years for doctoral candidates.
Scholars may work up to 20 hours a week. For students funded through the Federal Foreign Office, earnings up to the current minijob limit do not count against the stipend; other income is assessed under BAföG rules.
Costs the scholarship does not cover
- Tuition fees: the FAQ says the stipend is for living costs and tuition is not reimbursed. Most German state universities charge no tuition, but some states charge non-EU students; Baden-Württemberg, for example, charges €1,500 a semester.
- Semester contribution: every university charges one each semester, often with a public transport ticket included.
- Visa and proof of funds: decisions come months after the deadline, so you may need a blocked account or other proof of funds for your first visa before any award.
- Language exams and courses: you pay for your B2 exam and any course yourself.
- Health insurance: the FAQ says contributions may be covered in line with BAföG rules, so confirm the amount when you are offered funding.
Rosa Luxemburg compared with similar German scholarships
| Scholarship | Monthly support | German needed | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rosa Luxemburg Foundation | €934 (international students) | B2 | 1 October 2027 |
| Heinrich Böll Foundation | €992 (master’s) or €1,500 (PhD) | B2 or DSH 1 | 1 March 2027 |
| Konrad Adenauer Stiftung | €992 (students), higher for PhD | B2 | 15 July 2027 (applicants in Germany) |
| SBW Berlin | €480 plus a furnished room and tuition | Certificate in your course language | Rolling, all year |
Each foundation has its own political or social focus, so pick the one whose values match your record. Our DAAD application roadmap covers the other main route to German funding.
Who should apply, and who shouldn’t
Apply if you have a place (or an admission offer) for a master’s, state examination or PhD at a German state or state-recognised university, strong grades, German at B2 or close to it, and at least 10 months of real social or political engagement you can document. Left-leaning activism, trade union work, migrant support, tenant organising and similar community work fit the foundation’s profile well.
Skip it if you want funding for a bachelor’s, already hold a master’s, have no German yet, or have no record of engagement beyond your studies. If your course is in English and you cannot reach B1 by the deadline, a DAAD or university award is a better use of your time this year.
FAQ about the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation Scholarship
How much is the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation scholarship for international students?
The basic rate is €934 a month, and supplements may be added. Doctoral scholars receive a separate, higher rate.
Can I get the Rosa Luxemburg scholarship for a bachelor’s degree?
Not as an international student. The international programme starts after a completed bachelor’s or basic-studies phase, so it funds master’s, state examination and doctoral study.
Is German required if my course is in English?
Yes. You need B2 German regardless of the teaching language, though a B1 certificate plus a B2 course enrolment is accepted if B2 is not ready by the deadline.
When is the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation scholarship deadline?
The deadline is 1 October 2027 at 23:59 for study and doctoral scholarships, with the portal opening in August 2027.
Sources and updates
Eligibility, exclusions, the 15-month rule, priority groups, funders, documents, the selection timeline and the 1 October 2027 deadline come from the Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung’s study scholarship, doctoral scholarship, application and international documents pages. The €934 monthly rate comes from the RLS entry in the e-fellows.net scholarship database, as the foundation’s own pages do not state it. The interview, grade conversion, two-application limit, work and tuition rules come from the foundation’s FAQ for students. Last checked 24 October 2026.
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