Scholarships for students: all funding bodies and how to get one
Over 3,000 scholarships in Germany, Austria and Switzerland: many go unawarded
Hardly any way of funding your studies is as underrated as the scholarship. In Germany alone, the 13 gifted-student foundations (Begabtenförderungswerke) support around 30,000 students every year, with up to €992 a month plus €300 book allowance. If you apply, your chances are good, even with a solid rather than perfect grade average. Commitment and personality often weigh more than a top grade. On this page you will find all the funding bodies in the German-speaking countries (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), together with an application guide, and you can read step by step how to win a scholarship. International students are welcome to apply to many of them: the DAAD in Germany and ESKAS in Switzerland, for example, explicitly fund students from abroad.
Scholarships in Germany
The 13 gifted-student foundations cover a broad political and ideological spectrum. In addition there are the Germany Scholarship (Deutschlandstipendium), the Advancement Scholarship (Aufstiegsstipendium) and numerous subject-specific foundations.
- Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes (German Academic Scholarship Foundation): the largest body, not tied to any denomination
- DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service): scholarships for study abroad, PROMOS, Erasmus+
- Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (close to the CDU), Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (close to the SPD)
- Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung (Greens), Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung (FDP)
- Hans-Böckler-Stiftung (close to the trade unions)
- Cusanuswerk (Catholic), Evangelisches Studienwerk Villigst (Protestant)
- Stiftung der Deutschen Wirtschaft (sdw)
- Germany Scholarship: €300 a month, regardless of income
- Advancement Scholarship: specifically for people with work experience
Scholarships in Austria
The study grant (Studienbeihilfe) is the basic state funding, supplemented by merit-based and achievement scholarships.
- stipendium.at: the study grant authority, up to €855 a month
- OeAD scholarships: scholarships abroad for research and teaching
- grants.at: a database of all research and study funding
- Self-supporter scholarship for students who have supported themselves for 4 or more years
- Achievement scholarships from universities for outstanding academic results
Scholarships in Switzerland
Scholarships in Switzerland are regulated by the cantons. In addition there are the Swiss Study Foundation and supplementary federal contributions.
- stipendien.educa.ch: an overview of all cantonal scholarships
- Swiss Study Foundation (Schweizerische Studienstiftung): support for gifted students
- SNSF (Swiss National Science Foundation): mainly research
- ESKAS: Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for foreign students
Applying: what really scores points
Most funding bodies assess four areas: academic achievement, social commitment, personality and motivation, and the fit with the values of the foundation concerned.
- Grade average: usually good to very good (1.0 to 2.3 on the German scale, where 1.0 is the best); some bodies also fund from 2.5 if the rest of your profile is strong
- Commitment: university committees, clubs, voluntary projects, political or social involvement
- Motivation letter: specific and personal, take up the values of the foundation, two pages at most
- Letter of recommendation: approach 1 to 2 teaching staff early and give them your CV
- Apply in good time: many foundations open two application rounds a year (spring and autumn)
- Before you send it off: proofreading of your application documents
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Upload your file nowFrequently asked questions about scholarships
Do I need a straight-A average (1.0) for a scholarship?+
No. For most funding bodies a good to very good average (1.0 to 2.3) is enough, and commitment and personality count just as much. Some foundations explicitly fund students with a 2.5 average, as long as the rest of the profile convinces.
Can I apply to several funding bodies at the same time?+
For the 13 gifted-student foundations the rule is: only one per funding phase. The Germany Scholarship can generally be combined with them (€300 on top) unless it is excluded. Foundations outside these 13 bodies, by contrast, can often be combined with each other.
How much time do I need for the application?+
Allow 4 to 8 weeks for a convincing application: self-reflection, a motivation letter revised several times, collecting recommendations and the final polish of your CV.
Is the scholarship offset against BAföG (German student finance)?+
For the Germany Scholarship, no (€300 is exempt from offsetting). For the gifted-student foundations the scholarship usually replaces BAföG, because it already covers your living costs.
What if I am rejected?+
You can apply again later. Ask for feedback and keep sharpening your profile. Many successful scholarship holders only made it on their second attempt.
The study tips hub collects even more about studying. And if your application needs the final polish: proofreading & editing.
BAföG in detail
Before you close a funding gap with a loan, check the BAföG rules for your situation. Four topics are worth a look, each leading to the official sources and the offices responsible: parent-independent BAföG, the maximum BAföG rate, BAföG for study abroad, and BAföG repayment.