International Scholarships in Germany 2021-2022 | BS-MS-Ph.D
The Heinrich Böll Foundation grants scholarships 2021

The scholarship department of the Heinrich Böll Foundation grants scholarships to graduates, and doctoral students from outside Germany. An application for a scholarship for an undergraduate degree is not possible.
The application deadline is March 1st and September 1st. Please note: We only accept online applications. The application portal will be opened about 6 weeks before the application deadline.
International applicants have to prove their proficiency in German. Good or very good knowledge of the German language is required (at least B2 Level or DSH2).
Application Process of the Heinrich Böll Foundation grants scholarships 2021 in Germany
Please note: We accept only online applications
1. Gather information on the application process and the requested documents
2. Register for the online application portal
3. Provide the requested information in the Online Application Portal
4. After uploading all of your documents, submit your application before the end of the application deadline
Application for International Students 2021 in Germany
Student scholarship:
- Info Sheet A1-1 (PDF)
- Application Form (in German, PDF)
- Expert Reference Form (PDF)
Please use Adobe Acrobat Reader to fill in the form
Doctoral sholarship:
- Info Sheet A2-1 (PDF)
- Application Form (in German, PDF)
- Expert Reference Form (PDF)
Please use Adobe Acrobat Reader to fill in the form
Application process spring 2021
Deadline: March 1, 2021
The following can apply by March 1, 2021:
Students in Germany:
- Students from Germany (Germans, foreign students with education) in their first degree; Applications are possible before the first semester up to and including the third semester (certificate of enrollment must be available at the time of application); all subjects; all colleges;
- Students from Germany (Germans, foreign students with education) in their first degree for the study scholarship program “Media Diversity, Different” (journalism or specialist studies); Applications are possible before the first semester up to and including the third semester (certificate of enrollment must be available at the time of application); all colleges;
- Refugees who want to start or continue their first degree or master’s degree (or diploma or state examination degree; regardless of the number of semesters) in Germany (certificate of enrollment must be available at the time of application); all subjects; all universities
- International students studying for a master’s degree or in the main course for a diploma / state examination in Germany; Application before the start of the course or up to the first semester in the master’s / main course possible (certificate of enrollment must be available at the time of application) all subjects; all universities.
Information on applying for students:
- Information on the application: Info sheet A1-1 (PDF) German version: Information Sheet A1-1 (PDF)
- Application form: Info sheet A1-2 (PDF)
- Expert report form: Info sheet A1-3 (PDF) /
English version: Expert Reference Form A1-3 (PDF)
The online application portal opens on January 20, 2021 and closes on March 1, 2021.
Please only use Adobe Acrobat Reader to fill out the application form. The space in the application form is limited. When filling in, please limit yourself to the section provided for this purpose, which must be legible on the paper printout. This also applies to the expert reports.
Please do not wait until the last day to submit your application so that the system is not overloaded. As soon as your documents are complete, you can send your application.
“Doctorate” grant Application process spring 2021
Deadline: March 1, 2021
The following can apply by March 1, 2021:
Doctoral candidates in Germany:
- Doctoral candidates from Germany (Germans, foreign students with education) for doctorates in Germany; all subjects
- Doctoral candidates from Germany (Germans, nationally educated students ) for the research cluster “Transformation Research”; all subjects
Doctoral candidates abroad:
- International doctoral candidates (EU, outside the EU) for doctorates in Germany (all subjects, all countries), refugees
- International doctoral candidates for the research cluster “Transformation Research” (all subjects, all countries)
Dissertation topics related to the focus areas of the Heinrich Böll Foundation have priority.
Information on applying for doctoral candidates:
- Information about the application: Info sheet A2-1 (PDF)
English version: Information Sheet A2-1 (PDF ) - Application form: Info sheet A2-2 (PDF)
- Expert report form: Info sheet A2-3 (PDF) /
English version: Expert Reference Form A2-3 (PDF)
The online application portal opens on January 20, 2021 and closes on March 1, 2021 .
Please only use Adobe Acrobat Reader to fill out the application form. The space in the application form is limited. When filling in, please limit yourself to the section provided for this purpose, which must be legible in the paper printout. This also applies to the expert reports.
Please do not wait until the last day to submit your application so that the system is not overloaded. As soon as your documents are complete, you can send your application.
Application procedure autumn 2021: Application deadline September 1, 2021
Further information can be found here from March 2021.
Official Link