Heinrich Böll Foundation Scholarship 2026/2027
Applications are currently open for the Heinrich Böll Foundation Scholarship 2026/2027 for international students and doctoral candidates who want to pursue a Master's degree or PhD in Germany.
The current Fall 2026 application period opened on 15 July 2026 and closes on 1 September 2026. A further application period is scheduled from 15 January to 1 March 2027.
The scholarship is particularly relevant to applicants from developing countries. The Foundation gives priority to international applicants from countries on the OECD-DAC list who have completed their previous degree abroad and have not yet taken up residence in Germany. Nigeria and The Gambia are among the West African countries included on the DAC list currently referenced for development cooperation.
Scholarship funding
The amount depends partly on whether the recipient is an EU or non-EU international student.
For non-EU international Master's students coming to Germany after obtaining their previous qualification abroad, the Foundation currently provides a basic scholarship of:
€992 per month
In addition, eligible scholars may receive:
health insurance allowance of up to €100 per month;
possible reimbursement of tuition fees in Germany of up to €10,000 per year;
support for German-language course fees;
a fixed additional allowance of €38 per month; and
family and child allowances depending on individual circumstances.
The scholarship is therefore not an automatic “full tuition scholarship”. Its core benefit is the monthly stipend, with several additional allowances available according to the scholar's circumstances.
Funding for PhD students
For international PhD candidates from outside the EU, the Foundation's current financial-support information lists a basic scholarship of:
€1,500 per month
The current funding table also provides a €100 monthly research/mobility allowance, with health-insurance support of up to €200 per month and possible additional family or child allowances.
PhD funding normally covers about three years, with the possibility of an extension of up to six months under the applicable rules.
Who can apply?
Master's applicants
International applicants can apply if they:
have already completed their first university degree outside Germany;
intend to undertake a Master's degree at a state or state-recognised university in Germany;
apply before beginning the Master's programme;
intend to study full-time; and
meet the Foundation's German-language requirement.
The Foundation currently states that it funds Master's programmes with a standard duration of four semesters or more. Students from all academic disciplines may apply.
Applicants do not necessarily have to wait until they have physically arrived in Germany. In fact, applicants from DAC countries who are still living in their home countries are specifically encouraged to apply.
PhD applicants
International PhD applicants must have completed their graduate degree abroad and intend to undertake their doctorate at a state or state-recognised university in Germany.
They should already have:
a completed university degree;
a clearly developed doctoral research project;
preliminary work on the proposed research;
a realistic research timetable; and
admission to doctoral study or appropriate confirmation from a prospective supervisor/university.
PhD applications are accepted from all disciplines, although research connected with the Foundation's main areas of work receives particular interest. These include democracy, human rights, ecology, sustainability, gender equality, anti-discrimination and socio-ecological transformation.
The German-language requirement is important
This is one of the most important requirements for international applicants.
Applicants need at least B2-level German proficiency and must provide documentary proof of their German ability. The Foundation's application materials also refer to recognised DSH qualifications.
The German requirement still applies even if your chosen Master's or PhD programme is taught entirely in English.
The Foundation explains that scholars are expected to participate in its activities and that the final selection interview is generally conducted in German.
Applicants who have no German-language qualification should therefore take this requirement seriously before beginning an application.
Do you need a particular GPA?
There is no fixed minimum GPA stated by the Foundation.
However, applicants are expected to have a very good academic record. Academic achievement is only one part of the selection process; the Foundation assesses applicants more broadly.
The three major areas considered are:
strong academic performance;
social or civic engagement and political interest; and
convincing motivation and alignment with the values of the Heinrich Böll Foundation.
Excellent grades alone may therefore not be sufficient if the applicant has no evidence of involvement beyond academics.
What counts as social or civic engagement?
The Foundation is particularly interested in applicants who have taken responsibility in their communities or participated in activities connected with issues such as:
education and youth development;
environmental protection and sustainability;
democracy and human rights;
gender equality;
social justice;
community development;
anti-discrimination;
public-interest initiatives; or
other meaningful voluntary or civic activities.
Applicants do not have to be members of Germany's Green Party or any political party. The Foundation specifically confirms that party membership is not required.
What matters is that the applicant can demonstrate genuine social responsibility, political awareness and an understanding of the Foundation's values.
Master's application documents
International Master's applicants should prepare the following:
completed scholarship application form;
personal information and CV;
motivation for applying to the Heinrich Böll Foundation;
explanation of the proposed Master's subject and academic interests;
description of social engagement and political interests;
secondary-school/university entrance qualification;
first-degree certificate;
academic transcript;
certified German or English translations where necessary;
proof of German-language proficiency at B2 level or equivalent;
proof of enrolment or university admission;
one reference on social/civic engagement; and
one academic expert reference from a university lecturer.
The social-engagement reference and academic reference must be written by different people.
The enrolment or admission certificate can, in some circumstances, be submitted later, but it must be available no later than the final selection stage.
PhD application documents
PhD applicants have a more extensive application.
Documents include:
PhD scholarship application form;
CV and personal information;
motivation for applying;
details of social and political engagement;
university degree certificate;
proof of doctoral admission or appropriate supervisor confirmation;
German-language certificate;
detailed research proposal or exposé of up to 10 pages;
reference confirming social/civic engagement; and
two academic expert references concerning the doctoral project.
The research exposé should explain the research question, current state of research, theoretical background, methodology, academic and social relevance, bibliography and proposed structure.
It must also contain a research plan and timetable covering no more than 36 months.
One of the two academic references must normally be written by the applicant's main PhD supervisor.
Application language
International applicants should note that the Foundation expects the application itself to be prepared largely in German.
References, expert reports and certified translations can be submitted in English. For PhD applicants, the research exposé may also be written in English, but an abstract in German is required.
This makes German proficiency important not just for eligibility but also for successfully completing the application and selection process.
How candidates are selected
The Heinrich Böll Foundation uses a three-stage selection procedure.
Stage 1 — Written application
The Scholarship Department reviews the complete application, academic performance, motivation, civic engagement and references.
Stage 2 — Interview with an academic adviser
Selected applicants proceed to an approximately one-hour interview with a Foundation liaison lecturer. This may take place in person or online.
Stage 3 — Final selection interview
Successful candidates then attend an online interview with a selection committee of around three to four members.
Only applicants who successfully complete each stage move to the next one.
For applications submitted by the 1 September 2026 deadline, Stage 2 is generally completed by mid-November, final interviews normally take place between December and February, and successful candidates are generally notified in January or February. Funding is expected to begin no later than 1 April.
Is there an age limit?
No general age limit is imposed on international graduate or PhD scholarship applicants.
The Foundation says it also welcomes applicants who entered higher education through non-traditional routes or gained professional experience before going to university.
Can you work while receiving the scholarship?
The programme is generally not compatible with full-time employment.
Applicants also cannot receive another scholarship covering the same purpose at the same time. Existing overlapping scholarship or BAföG funding must normally end before Heinrich Böll Foundation funding begins.
Part-time Master's programmes are not eligible.
Can undergraduate students apply?
For international students educated outside Germany, the current open route is principally aimed at Master's and PhD applicants.
An international applicant should therefore not assume that this particular 2026/2027 call provides a general Bachelor's scholarship simply because older pages or third-party scholarship websites describe Heinrich Böll funding as covering undergraduate study. The Foundation's current international page specifically directs applicants who completed their first degree abroad towards Master's study in Germany.
How to apply
All applications must be submitted online. Applications sent simply by email are not accepted as the main application.
Direct application portal
Open the Heinrich Böll Foundation Online Scholarship Portal
Applicants should first register on the portal, download and complete the appropriate application forms, prepare all supporting documents and upload the completed application before the deadline.
The Foundation strongly advises candidates not to wait until the final day, as incomplete applications cannot normally be considered.
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