PhD Scholarships in Germany for International Students
42 awards, 9 of them fully funded. Every listing links to the provider’s official page, with the date we last confirmed it.
Galvanize tracks 42 phd scholarships in Germany open to international students. 37 are confirmed at their official source. Each award below carries its provider, funding type and eligibility, and links to the provider’s own page rather than a summary of it.
See also: all scholarships in Germany.
| Scholarship | Provider | Funding | Deadline | Status | Last confirmed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avicenna-Studienwerk International Scholarship Programme (ISP) | Avicenna-Studienwerk e.V. (funded by German Federal Foreign Office and Islamkolleg Deutschland) | Stipend | March 1 – April 15 annually (for funding commencing October 1 of the same year) | confirmed | |
| Bayer Foundation Scientific Fellowships | Bayer Foundation | Partial | February 18 – April 15 annually | confirmed | |
| Bayer Jeff Schell Scholarship | Bayer AG / Bayer Crop Science (Agricultural Education Programme) | Partial | Rolling applications; check ag-education.bayer.com for current open cycle | confirmed | |
| Cusanuswerk Scholarship (Episcopal Scholarship Foundation) | Cusanuswerk – Bischöfliches Studienwerk e.V. (Catholic Church Germany) | Stipend | Annual; current students apply from August 1 each year; first-year university students apply by July 1; check cusanuswerk.de for current dates | under review | |
| DAAD Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS) | DAAD – Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst | Stipend | Varies by individual course; applicants apply directly to the respective German institution — check course-specific websites | confirmed | |
| DAAD Research Grants – Doctoral Candidates and Young Researchers | DAAD – Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst | Stipend | Announced in Q2 annually; check the DAAD scholarship database portal for the current cycle deadline | confirmed | |
| DLR-DAAD Research Fellowships | DAAD – Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst + German Aerospace Center (DLR) | Stipend | Rolling/first-come-first-served; individual DLR institute positions may carry specific deadlines — check DAAD scholarship database and DLR institute vacancy listings | confirmed | |
| Evangelisches Studienwerk Villigst Scholarship | Evangelisches Studienwerk e.V. Villigst (Protestant Church Germany) | Stipend | Biannual; check evstudienwerk.de for current round dates | confirmed | |
| Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) Scholarship | Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung | Stipend | Check fes.de/studienfoerderung for current application periods; FES runs two intake rounds per year | confirmed | |
| Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom Scholarship | Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung für die Freiheit | Stipend | April 1–30 and October 1–31 annually (two application windows per year) | confirmed | |
| Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Scholarship for International Students | Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) | Stipend | November 30 (winter semester); May 31 (summer semester) | confirmed | |
| Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung Scholarship for Non-EU Students | Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung für die Freiheit (FNF) | Stipend | Biannual: April 1–30 and October 1–31 (online portal only, strictly enforced) | confirmed | |
| Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) Scholarship | Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung | Stipend | November 30 (for summer semester start); May 31 (for winter semester start); submit application PDF to [email protected] | confirmed | |
| Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung International Scholarship | Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung (HSS) | Stipend | Approximately December 15 – January 15 annually; apply via HSS country or regional office | confirmed | |
| Heidelberg University STIBET Degree Completion Grants | Heidelberg University / DAAD (Federal Foreign Office funds) | Stipend | Varies by semester cycle; contact the Heidelberg International Office for current call dates | confirmed | |
| Heinrich Böll Foundation Scholarship | Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung (Heinrich Böll Foundation) | Stipend | Biannual: Spring cycle (typically February–March); Fall cycle (15 July – 1 September) | under review | |
| Helmholtz Information and Data Science Academy (HIDA) Graduate School Network | Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres — HIDA | Full | Rolling — positions advertised continuously; check HIDA and individual Helmholtz centre vacancies | confirmed | |
| Humboldt Research Fellowship (Postdoctoral) | Alexander von Humboldt Foundation | Stipend | Applications accepted year-round (no fixed deadline); selection committee meets monthly | confirmed | |
| IMPRS for Computer Science (International Max Planck Research School) | Max Planck Institute for Informatics (MPI-INF) and Saarland University | Full | Typically November for April or October start; check program page for current cycle | confirmed | |
| International Max Planck Research Schools (IMPRS) | Max Planck Society (Max-Planck-Gesellschaft) | Full | Varies by programme; most December–February for summer/autumn start; check individual IMPRS websites | confirmed | |
| KAAD Scholarship Programme 1 – Invitation Programme | KAAD (Katholischer Akademischer Austauschdienst – Catholic Academic Exchange Service) | Full | Apply via KAAD in-country Catholic partner network; contact [email protected] for India-specific cycle dates | confirmed | |
| KAAD Scholarship Programme 2 – Developing and Emerging Countries | KAAD – Katholischer Akademischer Ausländer-Dienst | Stipend | Applications submitted twice yearly via the Catholic University Chaplaincy (KHG/KSG) at your German university — not directly to KAAD | confirmed | |
| KAAD Scholarship Programme 2 – In-Germany Programme | KAAD (Katholischer Akademischer Austauschdienst – Catholic Academic Exchange Service) | Stipend | Twice yearly via Catholic University Chaplaincy (KHG/KSG) at applicant's German university; not submitted directly to KAAD | confirmed | |
| KIT Graduation Grant for International Students (STIBET I + MWK) | Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) / DAAD STIBET I + Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science (MWK) | Stipend | Four rounds per year: February 1, April 1, June 1, October 15 | confirmed | |
| Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) International Scholarship | Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung | Full | Contact KAS India office or check kas.de for current intake deadlines; applications made through the KAS international programme portal | under review | |
| LMU Munich SIST Equality Scholarship | Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU) / Free State of Bavaria | Partial | Rolling — March 1 to October 22 of each year; contact LMU International Office for current window | confirmed | |
| Mawista Scholarship for Students Studying Abroad with a Child | MAWISTA GmbH (German health insurance and services provider for international students) | Partial | Annual; check mawista.com/en/scholarship/ for current cycle open/close dates | confirmed | |
| Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law – Research Fellowships | Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law (MPIL), Heidelberg | Full | Rolling admissions for research fellowships; check MPIL website for current openings | under review | |
| RWTH Aachen Degree Completion Scholarship for International Students (DAAD STIBET I) | RWTH Aachen University / DAAD (Federal Foreign Office funds) | Stipend | Round 1: October 25 – November 25 (funding Feb–June); Round 2: May 15 – June 19 (funding Aug–Dec) | confirmed | |
| RWTH Aachen Equal Opportunity Scholarship (DAAD STIBET I) | RWTH Aachen University / DAAD (Federal Foreign Office funds) | Stipend | Round 1: October 25 – November 25; Round 2: May 15 – June 19 (two rounds per year) | confirmed | |
| RWTH Aachen Scholarship for Particularly Involved International Students (BEIS) | RWTH Aachen University | Partial | February 1 – March 1 annually (for the July–December funding cycle); award notifications in April | confirmed | |
| Rosa Luxemburg Foundation Scholarship | Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung | Stipend | October 1 (Masters); check rosalux.de/en/foundation/studienwerk for PhD and current deadlines | confirmed | |
| Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung Doctoral Scholarship | Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung | Stipend | Biannual application rounds; contact [email protected] for current dates | confirmed | |
| SDW / Studienförderwerk Klaus Murmann Doctoral Scholarship | Stiftung der Deutschen Wirtschaft (SDW) | Stipend | Contact sdw.org for current application round dates | confirmed | |
| TU Berlin STIBET I Scholarship for Promoting Equal Opportunities | Technische Universität Berlin / DAAD (Federal Foreign Office funds) | Stipend | May 5 annually for the July–December funding cycle | confirmed | |
| TU Darmstadt Graduation Scholarship for International Students (DAAD STIBET I) | TU Darmstadt / DAAD (Federal Foreign Office funds) | Stipend | April 1–15 and October 1–15 annually (two rounds per year) | confirmed | |
| TU Darmstadt Scholarship for More Equal Opportunities (DAAD STIBET I) | TU Darmstadt / DAAD (Federal Foreign Office funds) | Stipend | August 10 – September 10 annually (for funding starting October 1) | confirmed | |
| University of Göttingen Academic Degree Bursaries (STIBA) | Georg-August-Universität Göttingen / DAAD (Federal Foreign Office funds) | Partial | Contact International Office ([email protected], Mon 10–12 / Wed 14–16) for current application windows | confirmed | |
| University of Stuttgart STIBET I Scholarship for Highly Committed International Students | University of Stuttgart / DAAD (Federal Foreign Office funds) | Stipend | Three rounds per year: January 31, June 30, October 31 | under review | |
| Max Planck School Matter to Life – Integrated Master's Scholarship | Max Planck School Matter to Life (BMBF/BMFTR-funded), delivered across nearly 60 partner laboratories at multiple German universities and Max Planck Institutes | Full | Applications open 1 September – 1 December annually, for the following year's intake | confirmed | |
| Max Planck School of Cognition – Integrated Master's Scholarship | Max Planck School of Cognition (BMBF/BMFTR-funded, Max Planck Society) | Full | Applications open 1 September – 1 December annually, for the following year's intake | confirmed | |
| Max Planck School of Photonics – Integrated Master's Scholarship | Max Planck School of Photonics (BMBF/BMFTR-funded), taught jointly by FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, University of Jena, and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) | Full | Applications open 1 September – 1 December annually, for the following year's intake | confirmed |
Frequently asked questions
How many phd scholarships in Germany are available to international students?
Galvanize tracks 42 phd scholarships in Germany open to international students, of which 9 are fully funded. Every one links to the provider's own page rather than a summary of it.
Who provides phd scholarships in Germany?
Across the 42 awards we track, the most frequent providers are DAAD – Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst, KAAD (Katholischer Akademischer Austauschdienst – Catholic Academic Exchange Service), RWTH Aachen University / DAAD (Federal Foreign Office funds), Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung, TU Darmstadt / DAAD (Federal Foreign Office funds).
Are there phd scholarships in Germany for Indian students?
Yes — 40 of the 42 awards listed here are open to Indian nationals, either explicitly or as part of a wider international eligibility rule.
When are the deadlines for phd scholarships in Germany?
Deadlines are spread across the year. Among the awards here that state a month, the most common are October, April, December. Individual deadlines are on each provider's page — check there before applying, because cycles move.
Do phd scholarships in Germany require GRE, GMAT, TOEFL or IELTS scores?
None of the 42 awards here state a test-score requirement of their own. Scholarships in Germany overwhelmingly defer to the university's own admission requirements rather than setting a separate bar, so the score that matters is usually the one for your programme, not the scholarship.
How current is this list?
37 of the 42 awards are confirmed at their official source. Every listing carries the date it was last checked, and the method is published in our Verification Ledger.
How we verify every listing: read the Verification Ledger.
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Reviewed by Dr. Jayanthy Ramakrishnan, Head of Admissions