Skip to content Skip to navigation 

Scholarships

Scholarships for especially gifted students

There are twelve organisations in Germany which offer scholarships for especially gifted students.  Criteria for awarding scholarships to students (including PhD candidates) with a high level of academic achievement and social commitment are set by the Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF).   

The organisations supported by the BMBF reflect the pluralistic range of German society in terms of world view, opinions on religion, politics, business or trade unionism.

These organisations include the ideologically neutral German National Academic Foundation (Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes), the Catholic Casunuswerk, and the Evangelische Studienwerk of the German Protestant Church, the Hans-Böckler Foundation of the Confereration of German Trade Unions, the German Business Foundation (SDW), and the foundations close to the democratic political parties: Friedrich Ebert Foundation, Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, the Hans Seidel Foundation, Heinrich Böll Foundation, Konrad Adenauer Foundation, the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation and the ELES, (Ernst Ludwig Ehrlich Studienwerk – Eine Geschichte mit Zukunft), a Jewish organisation for the support of gifted students.

All of these organisations support gifted students on their own terms and in accordance with their own priorities, and together constitute a system unlike any in other countries.

For more detailed information on the individual scholarship granting organisations and their selection procedures, please refer to: http://www.stipendiumplus.de/de/151.php 

Other organisations:

There are a number of other organisations in Germany which grant scholarships, including the following:

Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) e.V.
ERASMUS/SOKRATES
Fulbright-Kommission
Gottlieb-Daimler- und Karl-Benz-Stiftung
Haniel-Stiftung
Katholischer Akademischer Ausländerdienst (KAAD)
Landesstiftung Baden-Württemberg
Robert-Bosch-Stiftung
Reinhold-Beitlich-Stiftung (German only)

There are also a number of other scholarship granting organisations in the German-speaking region and elsewhere in the world.  Interested students should carry out their own research to find an appropriate scholarship.  The contact persons named below at ESB Business School and Reutlingen University as a whole will be happy to help, as will Professor Dr. Christoph Binder (christoph.binder@reutlingen-university.de).  The following are some of the organisations which may be useful:

 

German National Academic Foundation (Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes e.V.)

  • Granting a total of around 10,000 scholarships, this foundation is the largest and oldest in Germany
  • It is politically, religiously, and ideologically neutral
  • Students may not apply directly. Candidates must be proposed by a university lecturer, an examinations committee of a university, or a university department
  • Representatives of the foundation at Reutlingen University are:
    Prof. Dr. Christoph Binder
    Office:                 Building 5, Room 212
    Telephone:         +49 (0)7121 271 3047
    Facsimile:           +49 (0) 7121 271 3047
    Email:                  christoph.binder@reutlingen-university.de
    Prof. Dr. Carsten Rennhak
    Office:                 Building 5, Room 114
    Telephone:         +49 (0)7121 271 6010
    Facsimile:           +49 (0)7121 271 6022
    Email:                 carsten.rennhak@reutlingen-university.de
  • Further information is available at: http://www.studienstiftung.de/en/start.html
    •  

German Business Foundation (SDW)

  • The department for promotion of studies of the SDW was founded in 1994.  Awards are granted every year to approximately 1,200 students and PhD candidates registered at German universities
  • Non-German students who are entitled to grants under §8 Federal Education and Training Assistance Act (BAföG) may also be eligible to receive awards
  • Prerequisites for an award are above average academic achievement and evidence of social commitment
  • Applications must be made to the appropriate representative at latest after the fourth semester of study
  • Further information is available at: http://www.sdw.org/english/welcome/
  • Applications and questions concerning applications should be addressed to the SDW representative at Reutlingen University:
    Prof. Dr. Michael Dostmann
    Telephone:          +49 (0)7121 271 2034
    Email:                  michael.dostmann@reutlingen-university.de
  • SDW contact person at ESB Business School:
    Prof. Dr. Hermann Lassleben
    Telephone:          +49 (0)7121 271 6019
    Email:                  hermann.lassleben@reutlingen-university.de

 

Friedrich Ebert Foundation

  • Oldest political foundation in Germany, founded in 1925
  • Grants approximately 2,000 awards per year (at least two thirds outside Germany) to students with higher than average academic achievement, integrity, and a high degree of social commitment
  • Affiliation to a political party is not required
  • Candidates may apply directly, or be nominated
  • Candidates must be able to produce recommendations, provide the names of referees, and two written references from university lecturers
  • Representative at ESB Business School:
    Professor Dr. Stephan Seiter
    Telephone:          +49 (0)7121 271 3008
    Email:                  stephan.seiter@reutlingen-university.de
  • Further information is available at: http://www.fes.de/studienfoerderung/information-in-english
    •  

Scholarship organisation of the German Protestant Church (Evangelisches Studienwerk Villigst)

  • This foundation was established in 1948 and makes awards to around 900 students and 250 PhD candidates in all disciplines each year
  • Candidates are required to have a high degree of commitment in a church, civil, political and/or social context
  • Candidates must apply directly to the foundation
  • Further information is available at: http://www.evstudienwerk.de/english.html
    •  

Scholarship body of the German Catholic Church (Cusanuswerk)

  • Founded in 1956, grants scholarships to German Catholic students in all disciplines who have excellent academic qualifications, an intellectually open attitude, are keen to tackle social problems and to acquire personal and academic skills
  • Active commitment to the church and the gospel and involvement in the life of the congregation are also required
  • Candidates may be nominated by a university teacher or chaplain, or may apply directly
  • Further information is available at: http://www.cusanuswerk.de/en/home/welcome/
  • Contact person:
    Prof. Dr. Ottmar Schneck
    Telephone:          +49 (0)7121 271 3001
    Email:                  ottmar.schneck@reutlingen-university.de

 

Konrad Adenauer Foundation

  • This foundation grants more than 2,000 awards every year to above average German and international students whose personalities and talents promise special academic achievement
  • Candidates must demonstrate political awareness, responsibility and open-mindedness
  • Candidates must be actively engaged in institutions and organisations of the university, politics, or civil society
  • Active involvement in the Christian Democratic Party (CDU) is not an explicit requirement, but the candidate must demonstrate an affinity with the aims of the party
  • Candidates may apply directly, or be nominated by people in public life, former scholars of the foundation, university teachers or representatives of the foundation
  • Further information is available at: http://www.kas.de/wf/en/
  • Representative:
    Prof. Dr. Hans-Martin Beyer
    Telephone:          +49 (0)7121 271 6025
    Email:                  hans-martin.beyer@reutlingen-university.de

 

Hans Seidel Foundation

  • This foundation is dedicated to promoting the education of responsible citizens who make sound judgements on the basis of socially-responsible Christian principles
  • Further information can be found at:  http://www.hss.de/english.html
  • Contact person:
    Prof. Dr. Rolf Pfeiffer (emeritus)
    Email:        rolf.pfeiffer@reutlingen-university.de

 

Friedrich Naumann Foundation

  • This foundation supports some 650 talented German students (undergraduates and postgraduates) every year
  • Successful candidates for scholarships must demonstrate a positive affinity to the ideals of liberalism as promoted by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom
  • Further information can be found at: http://www.en.freiheit.org/Aktuell/790c/index.html     
  • Contact person:
    Prof. Dr. Wolfgang W. Stahl
    Telephone:          +49 (0)7121 271 3034
    Email:                  wolfgang.stahl@reutlingen-university.de

 

Hans Böckler Foundation

  • This foundation supports gifted students with backgrounds in paid employment who show a real and ideal commitment
  • Candidates may not apply directly
  • Applications should be made to local administrative centres, to one of the executives of a member union of the German Confederation of Trade Unions, to the Federal Executive Committee of the German Confederation of Trade Unions, to one of the donors to the foundation, or to a member of the Board of Trustees
  • Further information can be found at: http://www.boeckler.de/181.htmlhttp://www.boeckler.de/36912.htm
    •  

Some other scholarship granting foundations:

 

Haniel Foundation

Fulbright Commission

  • The German-American Fulbright Program exists to implement the ideals of Senator James W. Fulbright: the promotion of mutual understanding between the USA and Germany through academic and cultural exchange.  Fulbright Commissions promote exchanges between the USA and 180 other countries.
  • Candidates must be German citizens
  • Students and graduates may apply for prolongable yearly scholarships (full or partial scholarships, or just to cover travel expenses)
  • Further information is available at: http://www.fulbright.de/               
  • Contact Person at ESB Business School:
    Prof. Dr. Ditmar Hilpert
    Telephone:          +49 (0)7121 271 3057
    Email:                  ditmar.hilpert@reutlingen-university.de
  • Contact Person at Reutlingen University:
    Prof. Baldur H. Veit, International Office
    Telephone:          +49 (0)7121 271 1004
    Email:                  baldur.veit@reutlingen-university.de

 

German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)

  • The German Academic Exchange Service supports students (although not new undergraduates), graduates, PhD candidates, university teachers and academics of all disciplines, with yearly grants, research scholarships for academic theses, and scholarships for language courses. 
  • Further information can be found at: http://www.daad.de/en/index.html   
  • Contact person at Reutlingen University:
    Prof. Baldur H. Veit, International Office
    Telephone:          +49 (0)7121 271 1004
    Email:                  baldur.veit@reutlingen-university.de

 

Robert Bosch Foundation

  • The Robert Bosch Foundation offers a wide range of scholarships to support the international exchange and education of future leaders.  A significant number of scholarships are available for graduates from America and Europe.
  • Further information can be found at: http://www.bosch-stiftung.de/content/language2/html/index.asp  
  • Contact person at Reutlingen University:
    Prof. Baldur H. Veit, International Office
    Telephone:          +49 (0)7121 271 1004
    Email:                  baldur.veit@reutlingen-university.de

 

 


Reinhold Beitlich Foundation

  • This foundation, established in Tübingen in 1983 by Gertrud and Reinhold Beitlich, supports and promotes projects in the fields of education, science, research, social services, and the environment.  In accordance with the wishes of its founders, the foundation also offers scholarships to students.
  • Candidates should apply directly to the foundation:
    Reinhold-Beitlich-Stiftung
    Bismarckstr. 102
    72072 Tübingen
    Telephone:          07071/ 154117 (Frau Presch)
    Facsimile:            07071/ 154297
    Email:                  hannelore.presch@cht.com
    Telephone:          07071/ 154140 (Herr Bosch)
    Facsimile:            07071/ 154297
    Email:                  hubert.bosch@cht.com