The Studienwerk, the scholarship department of the Berlin-based Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung, funds students of all subjects and doctoral candidates of all but medical subjects at universities in Germany.
Separate tracks serve domestic students, first-generation school leavers (Lux like Studium), international master’s students, and domestic and international doctoral candidates, funded by Germany’s research ministry and the Federal Foreign Office. One round runs each year, closing on 1 October.
Benefits & funding
- Monthly, per the German rates page: international students €992; international doctoral candidates €1,500 plus €120 in allowances; domestic doctoral candidates €1,650 plus a €100 research allowance (the English page still lists older rates of €934, €1,400 and €1,450).
- Domestic students: an income-dependent amount at BAföG rates plus €300 a month regardless of income.
- Doctorates up to three years; studies to the end of the standard study period.
- Not repaid; the international award covers no tuition fees; no parallel public funding.
Eligibility
- All tracks: very good grades, current documented socio-political engagement (party membership not required), and German at B2, even for English-language study or theses.
- Domestic tracks: BAföG §8-eligible applicants at a state or state-recognised university in Germany, the EU or Switzerland, funded from the second semester; Lux like Studium only for first-generation applicants who have never studied.
- International tracks: non-German nationals admitted to a German university, in Germany no more than 15 months when applying (some exceptions); students at master’s level; priority for DAC-country applicants still in their home country.
- Doctoral: earlier doctoral funding must be under 1.5 years (German page; English page: three years; doctoral FAQ: one year of public funding) and is deducted from the three-year maximum.
- One programme only, at most two applications; no age limit.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
Education required
High School · Bachelor Enrolled · Bachelor · Master Enrolled · Master · PhD Enrolled
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Application process
- 1Arrange references: one from a university teacher for students; two for doctoral candidates, the second from someone holding a doctorate. They are uploaded with the application.
- 2Submit through the online portal by 1 October, 23:59; post and email are not accepted, and nothing can be added later.
- 3Studienwerk staff pre-select, and committee members confirm a shortlist online.
- 4Shortlisted applicants are interviewed by one of the foundation’s trusted lecturers.
- 5Two selection committees make the binding decision.
Program timeline
Portal opened (2026 round)
Aug 20, 2026
Application deadline, 23:59
Oct 1, 2026
Interviews
Mid-November 2026 to February 2027
Doctoral / student committees decide
Early February / early March 2027
Funding starts
Apr 1, 2027