Scholarship providers

FAU supports gifted and talented students as part of the Deutschlandstipendium program. The scholarship is linked to the standard duration of study and amounts to 300 euros/month (3600 euros/year). The criteria for funding are primarily the student’s achievements, demonstrated by their grades for the course achievements completed so far (at least 2.0) as of the second semester.

The following are also taken into account: periods of time spent abroad of relevance to their studies, voluntary work, special social, personal or family circumstances, a non-traditional educational history, proven need or at least one year of professional experience.

The Deutschlandstipendium is awarded once a year in the winter semester. A call for applications with a submission deadline is published on the Internet on the Deutschlandstipendium website.

One-off grants are paid by the Oskar Karl Forster scholarship fund to students and doctoral candidates who are in financial need for purchasing books or other study materials (such as laptops or tablets, but not cell phones) as well as providing doctoral candidates assistance with the costs for printing their doctoral theses. The funding provided is between 100 and 500 euros.

Prerequisites for students

• Students must be enrolled in an undergraduate degree program (teaching degree, Bachelor’s degree, State Examination) in a higher semester (at least their second semester), up to the standard duration of study.
• Students studying for a Master’s degree can apply from their first semester up until the fourth semester.
• Applicants must be in financial need. Financial need must be demonstrated by payments of BAFöG (eligibility confirmation for BAFöG), or proof of how studies are financed.
• A lecturer must also confirm that the list of books or study materials to be purchased are necessary for the degree program
• Please note: Students are only permitted to make purchases using their grants from the date of approval until September 15.

Requirements for the grant for printing costs for doctoral candidates

• The applicant’s current monthly net income may not be higher than 1,800 euros.
• A statement and a reference from the doctoral thesis supervisor is required to award the grant.
• The estimated printing costs must be provided in the form of a quotation, for example.

How to apply

• Application period: June 5, 2025 until June 26, 2025 (any documents missing can be submitted until July 17, 2025)
• Please log in to Campo to start the application process. Please read this information when you start filling in your application.

Contact

stipendien@fau.de

The Eva Schleip Foundation awards scholarships to German students (completing their first degree) who identify with either the Catholic or Protestant faith, are in financial need and have had a Christian upbringing in a middle class family.

The funding entails a one-off payment of 500 euros and is only available once for each candidate.

The scholarship is granted for the coming semester and is not linked to any specific purpose.

Students who are enrolled on a second or additional degree program, guest students and students who have already received a scholarship from the Eva Schleip Foundation are not eligible for funding.

The requirements which have to be met are as follows:

• German citizenship
• Financial need: Applicants must be in financial need. Financial need must be demonstrated by payments of BAFöG (eligibility confirmation for BAFöG), or proof of how studies are financed.
• Christian upbringing (Catholic/Protestant): Confirmation from parish office (Pfarramt) as proof
• Enrolled at FAU (not on leave of absence): The scholarship is awarded only to students enrolled at FAU who are not on leave of absence.
• First part of degree program completed: Proof of having passed GOP, intermediate examination or medical examination (“Physikum”)

How to apply

• Application period: June 5, 2025 until June 26, 2025 (any documents missing can be submitted until July 17, 2025)
• Please log in to Campo to start the application process. Please read this information when you start filling in your application.

Contact

stipendien@fau.de

The Vereinigte Stipendienstiftung provides study grants to deserving students (completing their first degree) in financial need from all faculties at FAU irrespective of their faith. The funding entails a one-off payment of 500 euros. The call for applications for the scholarship runs parallel to the call for applications for the Eva Schleip Foundation. Only students who have not already received funding from either of the foundations can apply.

The scholarship is granted for the coming semester and is provided for the purpose of purchasing literature or other study materials (e.g. laptops, tablets, but not cellphones).

The requirements which have to be met are as follows:

• Financial need: According to the scholarship guidelines, students are considered to be in financial need if they can prove to only have limited financial means available to them and cannot receive sufficient support from their families. If the applicant is receiving a BAföG grant, this is considered proof of financial need and the BAföG letter is to be included with the application. As parents or spouses are also obliged to pay maintenance, their income must also be disclosed and proof of income provided.
• Deserving: Applicants must provide a current certificate of good conduct (issued no more than 6 months previously). The certificate of good conduct can be applied for online from the Ministry of Justice or from the town hall/local authorities in the applicant’s place of residence.
• Enrolled at FAU (not on leave of absence): The scholarship is awarded only to students enrolled at FAU who are not on leave of absence.
• First part of degree program completed:
  • If a preliminary or intermediate examination has to be passed in order to complete the first part of the degree program, this must have been passed no later than one semester after the minimum duration of study stipulated in the relevant degree program and examination regulations (certificate stating that intermediate examination has been passed, for example the first part of the State Examination in Medicine, Dentistry or Pharmacy, preliminary examination, GOP or similar).
  • If a preliminary or intermediate examination is not required for the degree program in question, the applicant must submit confirmation from their BaföG coordinator proving that progress has been made in the degree program during this period.

How to apply

• Next application period: Expected in June 2026

The “Heilsbronner Stipendienfonds” foundation in Bayreuth will be awarding scholarships again at the beginning of 2025 in the form of a one-off payment to gifted and worthy students who are in need at Bavarian universities. Applicants must belong to the Protestant faith, be German citizens and live in the former margraviate of Bayreuth. However, there is no entitlement to receive a scholarship even if the requirements are met, as the Foundation Committee decides on the awarding of scholarships.

• Application form
• Quick assessment
• Parishes and municipalities of the former margraviate of Bayreuth

How to apply

• The deadline for applications is Friday, January 31, 2025. Applications must be received by the Government of Upper Franconia by this date: Regierung von Oberfranken – Verwaltung des Heilsbronner Stipendienfonds Bayreuth -, Ludwigstraße 20, 95444 Bayreuth.

The government of Middle Franconia awards scholarships in the form of a one-off amount from the “Heilsbronner Stipendienfonds”, based in Ansbach, to talented, worthy students in need at a German university for the year 2024. Students who are of Protestant faith, German citizens and resident in the former margraviate of Ansbach are eligible to apply.

• Application form
• Quick assessment
• Parishes and municipalities of the former margraviate of Ansbach

How to apply

• The deadline for applications is Tuesday, January 14, 2025. Applications must have been received by FAU by email (stipendien@fau.de) by this date.

Otto-Benecke-Stiftung

• These scholarships are awarded to refugees and people who have been granted asylum. More information is available from Otto-Beneke-Stiftung’s advice center, Beuthener Str. 39, 90471 Nürnberg
• Kennedy-Allee 105 – 107, 53175 Bonn, phone +49 911 406284; www.obs-ev.de.

Bertha-von-Suttner-Studienwerk

• Support for young people who identify with a humanistic world view and its values and who are willing to critically reflect upon their own views and stand up for them. Evidence must be provided of candidates’ commitment to political, social or other issues and should show that they are actively involved in their social environment and aspire to improve conditions for all areas of human life and co-existence. The specific type of commitment is purposely left open to the candidate. The aim is to prepare talented students to take on key positions in business and other areas of society.
• For their application to be successful, in addition to above-average achievements, applicants must demonstrate their willingness to take on social responsibility in their own environment. After a local preselection is made and applicants complete an assessment center, the selection committee awards the scholarships. Students must submit their application to the University’s liaison officer for the scholarship organization by the end of the 4th semester (by the end of the 2nd semester for Bachelor’s students) and graduates must submit their application directly to the foundation at the beginning of their doctoral degree. Application forms from the Internet.
• https://suttner-studienwerk.de/kontakt

• Scholarships for graduates who have not yet started their doctoral degree; maximum 28 years of age. Exceptions to the age limit may be made in certain circumstances, such as for applicants who gained their qualifications during adulthood or discontinued their studies to raise children but completed their studies within a short period of time. A clear reference to the environmental situation in Germany must exist. In addition to above-average achievements in their degree, applicants must have chosen a subject for their doctoral thesis that is highly topical and contributes to solving problems in the fields of environmental protection and nature conservation. Deadlines for applications: February 15 and August 15.

• An der Bornau 2, 49090 Osnabrück,  phone: + 49 541 96330; applications online at www.dbu.de.

• This program is part of the German government’s qualification initiative “Aufstieg durch Bildung” (advance through education) and is aimed at people who have shown particular talent and commitment during training and in their profession and would like to study at university. Further information is available at www.begabtenfoerderung.de/.

• The Bavarian Elite Academy develops exceptional and socially-committed students at Bavarian universities into responsible leaders. The term elite stands for a leadership elite, for people who would like to play a key role in shaping our future while acting in accordance with the fundamental values of our open society. With this in mind, we are looking for students from different subjects who have a clear stance and for whom making a difference is more important than their career. Students can apply from October 1 each year for the new annual intake at www.eliteakademie.de

• Studienkolleg Stiftung der Deutschen Wirtschaft (sdw)
  Scholarships are awarded to gifted and talented students who are accepted onto the sdw scholarship program through a selection procedure. Students receive funding until the end of the standard duration of studies. German citizens and citizens of other EU member states, as well as students who meet the criteria in Section 8 of the Federal Training Assistance Act (BAföG), are eligible to apply. The maximum monthly payment is 585 euros, depending on parents’ income. In addition, book grants and, under certain conditions, a family allowance are also provided. Further information is available at: www.sdw.org/das-bieten-wir/fuer-studierende/studienkolleg/bewerbung.html

• Studienkolleg der Stiftung der Deutschen Wirtschaft (sdw) and the Robert Bosch Stiftung
  This program is aimed at motivated school leavers, students and doctoral candidates who are seeking a career in teaching. The aim is to provide support to prospective teachers to help them shape the future of education. Students and doctoral candidates can receive both personal and financial support (see the section about “Studienkolleg, Stiftung der Deutschen Wirtschaft” above). More information is available at www.sdw.org/studienkolleg/

• Scholarships for future IT talentsin the area of the State Ministry of Finance: This program offers a scholarship from the 4th semester of your computer science degree. You receive a monthly scholarship of 415 euros (both during the lecture period and the lecture-free period) and also have the opportunity to explore the various employment options in large state IT authorities covering a wide range of tasks. Further information: https://www.stmfh.bayern.de/oeffentlicher_dienst/karriere/studienfoerderung_it.aspx
• The IMPRS graduate program at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light provides support for students on Master’s degree programs relating to physics or medicine: https://mpl.mpg.de/study-work-or-visit/graduate-programs/

An overview of scholarships available for students who are parents is available on the website of the FAU Family Service.

• Stiftungsverwaltung der Stadtkämmerei
  Theresienstr. 1, 90403 Nürnberg
  The city of Nuremberg awards funding to students in need from three different foundations. Grants are awarded every calendar year. Applicants must be resident in the city of Nuremberg at the time of application. This requirement is not fulfilled by temporary stays in the city nor by moving to the city at the beginning of your degree. Other restrictions are set at the discretion of the foundation. Phone: +49 911 231 2903; application form available at www.nuernberg.de/internet/referat2/stipendien.html

• Graduate scholarships from foundations
  Almost all of the foundations above also offer scholarships for doctoral candidates. In addition, there are a range of organizations which provide research funding for doctoral candidates, such as the German  Research Foundation (DFG) and the Volkswagen Foundation. As a family-friendly university, FAU also offers various scholarships aimed specifically at women in the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Theology.

• Information from the Graduate Center for funding your doctoral degree

• Information from the Graduate Center for funding for postdoctoral researchers and habilitation candidates

• This funding is intended to allow young female researchers from all faculties who have already submitted their habilitation thesis to continue their research in the phase between the submission of the thesis and the completion of the habilitation procedure, and at the most until their appointment as a professor. Scholarship holders are permitted to pursue a paid teaching job for up to four semester hours (SWS) and are provided with a monthly allowance of 2200 euros (childcare allowance possible) over 12 months. Phone +49 9131-85-22951, https://www.gender-und-diversity.fau.de/

  
  

• The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) provides scholarships for German doctoral candidates at universities and non-university research institutions. The scholarship program is open to applicants from all subjects to fund studies or research positions. Information is available from the DAAD; www.daad.de.
  Kennedyallee 50, 53175 Bonn/ Bad Godesberg