The Heinrich Böll Foundation, the political foundation affiliated with the German Green movement, awards scholarships to international graduate and doctoral students who pursue a Master’s degree or a PhD at a state-recognised university in Germany. The international programme is funded by the German Federal Foreign Office and supports up to 100 international scholars each year, out of roughly 1,600 funded across all of the foundation’s programmes. It looks for socially engaged, politically interested students whose outlook aligns with the foundation’s core values: democracy and human rights, ecology and sustainability, gender equality and anti-discrimination, and the arts and culture.
Benefits & funding
- Master’s / graduate scholars: €992 per month base stipend.
- PhD / doctoral scholars: €1,500 per month base stipend.
- Health insurance allowance: up to €100/month (master’s) or up to €200/month (PhD).
- Tuition reimbursement of up to €10,000 per year where fees apply.
- German language course fees covered; €38/month material allowance (fringe benefit).
- Family and child allowances where applicable.
- Funding covers study in Germany; periods abroad are possible where academically necessary, but are not additionally funded.
Eligibility
- Open to international students of any nationality who completed a prior degree abroad; priority (not a strict requirement) is given to applicants from countries on the OECD DAC List of ODA Recipients.
- Master’s track: hold a first degree completed abroad, entering a Master’s programme of standard duration of at least four semesters at a German university.
- PhD track: hold a graduate (master’s) degree completed abroad, with a defined research topic and a supervisor.
- German language proficiency at level B2 or DSH II, with a certificate as proof.
- Open to all academic disciplines; no age limit.
- Priority is given to applicants who have not yet taken up residence in Germany at the time of applying (a preference, not a strict requirement).
- The foundation especially welcomes women, particularly in STEM subjects, and people with a refugee background.
Application process
- 1Check the eligibility and formal requirements, then compile your documents early (including expert references).
- 2Register on the online application portal in good time — roughly six weeks before the deadline.
- 3Complete all information and upload the required documents, then submit before the round’s deadline.
- 4Shortlisted candidates go through a multi-stage selection, including an interview; proof of enrolment may be submitted up to the third selection stage.
Program timeline
Fall 2026 application round opens
Jul 15, 2026
Fall 2026 application deadline
Sep 1, 2026
Spring 2027 application round opens
Jan 15, 2027
Spring 2027 application deadline
Mar 1, 2027