Top 19 Scholarships in Germany for Indian Students

Are you aspiring to pursue your education in Germany but are concerned about funding it? Here’s all you need to know about the scholarships in Germany for Indian students.Even though the university education in Germany is nominally-charged, a scholarship can help cover your living and other miscellaneous expenses. 

Let’s deep dive into the article to know about the most popular scholarships in Germany for Indian study abroad aspirants.

How to Get a Scholarship to Study in Germany for Indian Students?

There is minimal to zero tuition fee at most public-funded universities in Germany, except for some courses. Scholarships in Germany for Indian students are beneficial to fund their tuition fees and living expenses. Proper planning and finding the right scholarship for which a candidate is eligible is crucial. Few points that you need to consider while applying for a scholarship are mentioned below:

• Your scholarship application has to be directly submitted to the organization providing the scholarship/funding. Some exceptions do include the Deutschlandstipendium or Erasmus funding program. You should thus prepare to tackle the application requirements for various German universities, courses, and scholarships.
• Direct applications before the deadlines are always recommended for aspirants.
• You have to fill up scholarship application forms while providing your application statement mentioning why you should get the scholarship and how you can contribute to the institution or local community.
• You should choose foundations with online application facilities while checking out DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst) and similar programs.
• Along with checking out the eligibility criteria for various scholarships, make sure that you explore the possibilities of study grants.
• Numerous German states like Bavaria offer public scholarships. EU funding is also available via Erasmus and other schemes, as mentioned.

Types of Scholarships in Germany:

Several scholarships for Indian students in Germany are available, which aid them financially to a great extent. Majorly these scholarships fall into two categories depending on their funding bodies in Germany that include:

1. Government-Funded Scholarships: These government-funded scholarships by Germany Government are relatively easy to avail. They are granted to the candidates after evaluating their financial condition. 
2. Non-Government Funded Scholarships: These scholarships are funded by entities other than the government. They have different eligibility criteria altogether.

• Scholarship for MS in Germany
• Heinrich Böll Foundation Scholarships in Germany
• DAAD Scholarship
• Deutschlandstipendium National Scholarship Programme

Top Scholarships in Germany for Indian Students: 

Here is a list of the best scholarship options available to Indian students in Germany: 

The scholarships for undergraduate students are: 

DAAD WISE (Working Internships in Science and Engineering) Scholarship–

Those pursuing a degree in engineering or science and wanting to do a two to three months internship at a public-funded German university are eligible for this scholarship. If selected, undergraduate students will get €861 per month for living costs along with €1,050 as travel subsidies and payments towards health, accident, and personal liability insurance.   

EMS Undergraduate Scholarship-

The EMS (European Management School) provides this scholarship for those students applying for bachelor’s courses. Those with excellent academic and social credentials may apply for the scholarship. It offers 50% waivers on tuition costs and worldwide exposure for personality development. 

Below mentioned are scholarships for postgraduate and PhD students:

Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Scholarship–

Pursuing a master’s or PhD in Germany for Indian students with scholarships becomes easy because of such scholarship programs. This scholarship is for international students who have completed bachelor’s/master’s in their home countries and seek higher education in Germany. The eligibility criteria include interest in political aspects and a stellar academic record. Students from developing nations are automatically preferred with varying scholarship amounts. A monthly stipend of €1,200is available for Ph.D. students. Graduate students may get €861 per month if selected.  

Heinrich Boll Scholarship-

This scholarship is for foreign and German students who have successfully cleared their entrance examinations for universities. They may choose any subject from the master’s or Ph.D. course list and study in Germany.  

ESMT Women’s Academic Scholarship–

Female students applying for MBA courses at ESMT (European School of Management and Technology) will be eligible to get this scholarship. Candidates should score above 700 on GMAT, and their application essays are also scrutinized closely. The scholarship amount is up to €32,000.

Goethe Goes Global Scholarship-

The Goethe Goes Global scholarship aims to boost the career prospects of master’s students at the German Goethe Institute. There are around 20 scholarships sanctioned for international students annually. Those who have completed bachelor’s degrees can apply for this monthly scholarship, which is €500.  

WHU-Otto Beisheim School of Management Scholarship-

This leading business school in Germany offers scholarships for international students pursuing an MBA. Talented aspirants with undergraduate courses are eligible to apply for this scholarship. English proficiency should be demonstrated while applying for this scholarship. The scholarship amount is €300 (€150 by private sponsors and €150 by the federal government) per month. There are specific subjects available for eligible students to make their choices accordingly. 

University of Stuttgart Master Scholarship-

These scholarships offer full funding for aspirants from developing countries. The program mainly concentrates on Infrastructure Planning, Integrated Urbanism, and Sustainable Design. Those interested in these areas of study will be eligible to apply for the scholarship program. It is awarded for a period of 2 to 12 months with a monthly scholarship of €250 to €1,200.

DLD Executive MBA Scholarship-

The Berlin School of Creative Leadership provides DLD Executive MBA scholarships for eligible candidates. It is for senior digital executives, professionals, and those in technology, advertising, and entertainment. The winners get €53,000 in tuition fees.

Recommended Read: Career Opportunities in Germany

Here are some scholarships offered by top universities in Germany: 

Frankfurt School of Finance & Management Scholarship-

There are scholarships and tuition fee waivers for eligible doctoral candidate studying mathematics, finance, business administration, or accounting. The scholarship includes the cost of living stipend, comprising €1,820 per month.

Hamburg University of Applied Sciences Scholarship-

International students in almost all courses (except public health, design, and public management) can apply. They have to be enrolled in master’s courses at the university. The scholarship amount varies from €1,000 to €1,800.

FRIAS COFUND Fellowship-

International students receive scholarships for research-level study at the Universitat Freiburg. This provides a scholarship amount of €4.6 to €7 per month with a few more additional allowances.

Heidelberg University Scholarship-

Various scholarships are available, including the Amiran scholarship for applicants hailing from developing countries and seeking to study dentistry or medicine. The scholarship amount comprises €300 per month, which includes half of the amount by the university and the other half by the federal government.

Humboldt Research Fellowship Scholarship-

There are numerous fellowships for international applicants researching the law, anthropology, history, political science, sociology, geography, area studies, and economics. The scholarship grants a monthly amount of €2,670 for 6 to 24 months.

KAAD Scholarships for developing nations-

It offers international scholarships for those hailing from developing countries. Aspirants should have proficiency in German while being from the Catholic-Christian category. 

Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids-

Applicants can get post-doctoral fellowships to learn solid-state chemistry.

Universitat Hamburg Merit Scholarship-

Scholarships are granted to international aspirants who have been studying here for a minimum of two semesters. These take the financial requirements of applicants into account. The scholarship amount varies from €850 to €1,000 and is granted for 2 semesters.

ULM University Scholarship-

International students about to graduate from the institution can get scholarships for a single semester.  The scholarship amount for the doctoral program is €1,200 per month.

RWTH Aachen Scholarship-

There are several scholarship programs available for international students at this university. This scholarship comprises a reduction of up to 25% in the tuition fee.

The table below represents the details of the top scholarships in Germany for Indian students.

Important Resources to Read About Germany:

University-Specific Scholarships in Germany

There are many scholarships that specific universities offer in Germany. A few of the university-specific scholarships in Germany are mentioned below:

Hamburg University of Applied Sciences Scholarship

Hamburg University offers international students scholarships to study in Germany for their excellence in their bachelor’s and master’s. They grant the minimum amount of €1,800 for one semester.

Humboldt University International Research Fellowship

Humboldt University offers this scholarship to postdoctoral researchers, where students receive a fellowship amount of €2,670. The duration of the fellowship differs from 6 to 24 months.

RWTH Aachen University Scholarship

RWTH Aachen University offers the Advanced Research Opportunities Program (AROP) scholarship to doctoral and postdoctoral candidates. It grants them a monthly stipend of €1,800 for 6 months and an additional travel allowance of €1,000.

Degree-Specific Scholarships in Germany

Germany’s Scholarships are offered for bachelor, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Few scholarships are specific to the different degrees. Below is the list explaining the same.

Bachelor Degree Scholarships

There are many scholarships that are offered to Bachelor or undergraduate students in Germany. These scholarships might partially or entirely waive the fee. In some cases, they provide financial aid to students in other ways.

Following are the few scholarships offered to Bachelor students in Germany.

• DAAD Bavarian Government Scholarship 

Heinrich Böll Foundation Scholarship

Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Scholarship

• KAS Foundation Scholarship

Master Degree Scholarships

Many scholarships in Germany are offered to students or candidates enrolled in the Master’s degree program. These scholarships include the following list:

Heinrich Böll Foundation Scholarship

Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Scholarship

Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Scholarships

Erasmus Scholarship

Doctorate Degree Scholarships

Ph.D. scholarships or fellowships are the most well-known in Germany. These scholarships are provided to the candidates for their research. Most of the time, they include travel and living expenses along with stipends. Below are a few doctoral scholarships in Germany.

• DAAD Scholarships for research candidates

Heinrich Böll Foundation Scholarship

Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Scholarship

Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Scholarships

Apart from the list mentioned above, there are a few more scholarship programs for bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Students can avail of these scholarships while studying in Germany. The list includes the following scholarships:

• Oskar Karl Foster Scholarship for study materials (books)
• Ambedkar Overseas Vidya Nidhi Scholarship for SC/ST and other minority students
• Stipendienlotse scholarship
• Joan Cogswell Donner Scholarship
• Goethe Goes Global Scholarship

Tips for Getting a Scholarship in Germany:  

Almost all publicly funded German universities provide free education for non-EU international students, except for niche or specialized educational courses. International students only have to pay nominal semester, administrative, and related fees at public universities. Applying for scholarships is a way to cover some part of your living costs and other miscellaneous expenditures. A scholarship will give you some extra funding to buy study materials and books, take excursions for academic/research purposes, cover accommodation, travel, and other costs, and pay for food. 

• Some private universities charge tuition costs, although they may offer discounts/waivers for eligible students.
• A majority of sponsorships are financed via public money. Civil society organizations offer several grants in Germany. Sponsors are usually religious, educational, research, and political foundations/associations. They usually get state funds under various schemes. 
• If you are looking for a scholarship in Germany, do not miss out on DAAD. It is an association of higher education institutions and student organizations. DAAD is one of the biggest funding bodies worldwide, backing 145,000+ learners annually. They also support more than 60,000 international students annually (within this tally).
• There are many other organizations offering scholarships and grants.
• Talent support funding comes from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.
• Scholarships are mostly granted based on the academic performance, merit, and community/social engagement of candidates in Germany. It means that scholarship providers in Germany usually look for aspirants with proper academic credentials, community, volunteering, research experience, internships, and other achievements. 
• Some foundations are strongly committed to ensuring equal opportunities for all applicants. They often consider factors like the financial and social circumstances of candidates.
• DAAD offers full scholarships, and 13 talent scholarship programs provide full scholarships.
• Erasmus and Deutschlandstipendium initiatives will partially cover your costs. Make sure you clearly state your reasons for applying for the scholarship in your application statement. Mention why you deserve the scholarship and what you can contribute to the local community.
• Try improving your grades from now onwards while also participating in community activities, outreach programs, and co-curricular activities.
• Check the eligibility criteria carefully before applying.
• One good thing about applying for a scholarship in Germany is that there are options for every type of course.

More Resources to Read About Germany:

Study in Germany with upGrad Abroad

upGrad Abroad in collaboration with IU Germany has introduced Master in International Management, Master of Business Administration and MS in Data Science programs. Student enrolling in these programs can study a part of their courses online and complete it on campus in Germany. For more information visit the official website of upGrad Abroad.