Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung Scholarships (Studienwerk)

Benefits & funding

• International students: basic scholarship of €992 per month.
• Domestic students: basic scholarship calculated on BAföG rates and dependent on income, plus a flat study-cost allowance of €300 per month.
• Domestic doctoral candidates: €1,650 per month plus a research allowance of currently €100 per month.
• International doctoral candidates: €1,500 per month plus a €100 mobility allowance and a €20 flat supplement.
• Possible additional contributions towards health insurance and childcare.
• Doctoral funding runs for a maximum of three years; study funding follows the standard period of study.
• Scholars join a non-material programme: introductory seminars, academic-writing training, doctoral workshops, working groups, study trips, regional meetings and publication opportunities.
• Doctoral scholars may take up to twelve additional months of leave after the birth of a child.
• Grants do not have to be repaid. Parallel funding from other public sources is not permitted.

Eligibility

• Above-average academic results plus current, documented socio-political engagement — political groups, unions, NGOs or academic self-governance. Party membership is not required.
• German at B2 level or above in every track, including doctorates written in English.
• Study scholarship, domestic track: applicants who meet the personal requirements of §8 of the German BAföG act and study at a state or state-recognised higher-education institution in Germany, another EU country or Switzerland. Support begins from the second semester. At least half of the standard study period must remain in a bachelor’s programme, at least four semesters in Diplom, Magister or state-examination programmes.
• Excluded from the domestic study track: second degrees, part-time programmes, studies in Great Britain, and paid work of more than 20 hours a week.
• Lux like Studium: first-in-family applicants who have not yet begun university and start their studies at least five months after the deadline.
• Study scholarship, international track: non-German nationals enrolled at a state or state-recognised German university who already hold a bachelor’s degree and have spent no more than 15 months in Germany at the time of application. Applicants from DAC-listed countries who are still in their home country are given priority. Bachelor’s programmes, a second master’s, part-time study and study in the applicant’s home country are not funded.
• Doctoral scholarship, domestic track: candidates admitted to a doctorate at an accredited institution in Germany, another EU country or Switzerland.
• Doctoral scholarship, international track: non-German nationals admitted to a German university or on a research stay supervised by a university lecturer in Germany, with no more than 15 months spent in Germany. Applicants from DAC-listed countries who are still at home are given priority.
• All doctoral tracks: medical subjects are excluded, no write-up-only scholarships are awarded, earlier public funding of the doctorate is deducted from the three years and beyond the stated limit rules out an application, and side jobs are capped at five hours a week (ten hours for research or teaching posts).
• There is no age limit. Only one of the foundation’s scholarship programmes may be applied for.

Application process

1. 1
   Choose the matching track: domestic study scholarship, Lux like Studium, international study scholarship, doctoral scholarship or international doctoral scholarship.
2. 2
   Work through the document checklist for that track on the foundation’s application page.
3. 3
   Prepare the documents as separate PDF files: enrolment certificate showing semesters completed, tabular CV, highest degree with grade, current transcript of records, extract from the study regulations showing the standard study period, ID card or passport, residence permit or visa for non-EU applicants, proof of German at B2, one academic reference, and evidence of socio-political engagement. Doctoral applicants add their supervision and project documents.
4. 4
   Submit through the online portal, which opens on 20 August 2026. Applications by post or email are not accepted.
5. 5
   Submit by 1 October 2026, 23:59.
6. 6
   Applications pass a formal check, then pre-selection by Studienwerk staff and an online clearing round.
7. 7
   Shortlisted applicants are interviewed by one of the foundation’s trusted faculty reviewers, usually between November and February.
8. 8
   The selection committee decides — early February for doctoral candidates, early March for students. The decision is binding.
9. 9
   New scholarship holders attend an introductory seminar, and funding starts on 1 April 2027. Rejections are sent by email around three months after the deadline.

Program timeline

1. Online application portal opens

   Aug 20, 2026

2. Application deadline, 23:59

   Oct 1, 2026

3. Interviews with the foundation’s trusted faculty reviewers

   November 2026 to February 2027

4. Selection committee for doctoral applicants

   Early February 2027

5. Selection committee for students

   Early March 2027

6. Funding begins with the summer semester

   Apr 1, 2027