Heinrich Böll Foundation Scholarships - International Scholarships

Scholarship Overview

The Heinrich Böll Foundation’s Scholarship Department awards scholarships to German and foreign graduate and PhD students in accordance with the guidelines issued by Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt).

Host School(s)

Universities, universities of applied sciences (‘Fachhochschulen’), or universities of the arts (‘Kunst-/Musikhochschulen’) in Germany.

Field(s) of Study

What does the scholarship cover?

How many scholarships are given?

Approximately 1500 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral scholarships yearly for all subjects and nationalities per year,

Which countries are targeted?

Am I Eligible to Apply?

You can apply for this scholarship if you:

are an international applicant;
have proof of your proficiency in German (with a certificate), as good or very good knowledge of the German language is required (at least B2 Level or DSH2). Level B2 or DSH 2;
have proof of admission to doctoral studies by a state or state-recognized university;
have submitted your university diploma;
have completed preliminary work on your PhD project and presented a valid timetable;
have an active interest in the basic values of the foundation.

How do I Apply – Next Steps

Application is only done online. The application portal opens about 6 weeks before the application deadline.
Gather information on the application process and the requested documents.
Register on the online application portal.
Provide all the information requested on the portal.
Upload your documents.
Submit your application before the deadline.

NOTE:

Selection Procedure

Selection is done as follows:

Stage 1: Submission of written application documents
Stage 2: An interview with a liaison lecturer
Stage 3: Digital interview with a committee of 3 to 4 members, including 1 to 2 external members, one scholarship holder, and one staff member of the Studienwerk.

Supporting Documents

Application form for a scholarship for doctoral studies (PhD).
A copy of your degree certificate or its equivalent.
Certification by the university of admission to doctoral studies, or if necessary, justified confirmation by the supervisor.
Proof of German language proficiency (for international applicants).
A third-party reference on your social commitment (1–2 pages).
A detailed exposé of your research project (max. 10 pages).

Selection Criteria

Excellent academic records.
Proof of social and political engagement.
An active interest in the basic values of the foundation: ecology and sustainability, democracy and human rights, self-determination, and justice.

Closing Date:

How do I get more information?