Why This Matters to You
- Studying a Master’s abroad is expensive: living costs, insurance, sometimes fees even if tuition is low or free.
- A monthly stipend covers most of your living expenses so you can focus on studies, not survival.
- Scholarships with strong reputations also add credibility to your CV.
You probably want to know:
- Which scholarships offer the highest monthly stipend.
- What are the eligibility criteria.
- How to apply — timing, documents, etc.
- What else (travel grants, insurance, family support) is included.
Keywords We’ll Use
These are keywords many students search for, and that tend to have high CPC (cost per click) in the education/scholarship niche:
- Germany Master Scholarships 2025
- Fully Funded Scholarships Germany
- DAAD Scholarship Master Germany
- Erasmus Mundus Scholarships Germany
- Deutschlandstipendium Germany Scholarship
- Foundation Scholarships Germany Master
Top 25 Scholarships You Can Apply For (2025)
Below is a list of scholarships that are available (or usually available) to master’s students (often international) in Germany, which provide a monthly stipend. Some are foundation-based, others governmental. The stipends vary.
Because in many cases the exact amount depends on region, course, etc., I’ve given ranges and noted what extras are included.
| # | Scholarship Name | Monthly Stipend (≈) | Coverage & Extras | Eligibility & Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DAAD Master Scholarships | ~ €934/month | Full tuition-fee waiver (where applicable), health, accident & liability insurance, sometimes travel allowance, one-time study allowance. (Research Jobs) | Strong academic record; usually from developing/emerging countries; proof of degree; sometimes language requirement. Applications vary by region. |
| 2 | Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees (EMJMD) | ~ €1,000/month (Category A for 3rd-country students) | Includes travel, installation, insurance, participation costs, sometimes semester fees. (erasmusplus.ac.me) | Must be admitted into a joint master’s course under Erasmus Mundus; third-country vs programme country distinctions; selection is competitive. |
| 3 | Heinrich Böll Foundation Scholarships | €850-€1,200/month for Master’s & PhD depending on level and origin. (burseline.com) | Includes health insurance, travel, sometimes research support. Social engagement or environmental/sustainability interest often required. (burseline.com) | |
| 4 | Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Scholarship | ~ €992/month for Master’s; €1,400/month for PhD in many cases. (scholarshipzone.org) | Health insurance, sometimes family/child allowances, research stay grants. (Scholarships Future) | |
| 5 | Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) Scholarship | ~ €850-€992/month for Master’s students. (burseline.com) | Similar extras: insurance, maybe monthly allowance for books/materials. Social or political engagement is a plus. (burseline.com) | |
| 6 | Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung Scholarship | For Master’s: ~ €850/month + small lump sums & health/nursing insurance subsidies. For PhD: ~ €1,200-€1,350/month plus extra supports. (فرصة) | Applicants often need to show social/political engagement, academic excellence, sometimes language (German B2), usually enrolled in a German public university. (فرصة) | |
| 7 | KAAD Scholarships | Varies; some sources show stipends ~ €850-€1,200/month for Master’s students (depending on region & program). (Scholars Boardy) | Focus on students from developing countries; Christian background or network involvement sometimes required; strong academic record. (Scholars Boardy) | |
| 8 | Deutschlandstipendium | €300/month | Mentorship, networking, possibly additional university offers. Very helpful but small compared to others. (scholarshipzone.org) | Available at many German universities; open to domestic and international students; academic performance + “soft factors” (engagement, achievements) count. (Times Higher Education (THE)) |
| 9 | Global MINDS / Erasmus Mundus Global MINDS | ~ €1,300/month for 24 months for full scholars. (Global-MINDS) | Covers participation costs, plus stipend; typically joint master’s across institutions. (Global-MINDS) | |
| 10 | Other Foundation Scholarships (various) | Some smaller or regional foundations offer €750-€900/month, sometimes more. | Needs vary: some specialized fields, some regional or thematic (e.g. environmental, democracy, social justice). |
Scholarships 11-25: Additional Programs to Explore
I couldn’t find reliable stipend data for all remaining scholarships with full details, but below are programs you should check out. Many of them offer monthly stipends, though amounts may vary or be smaller. Good to watch out for.
- StipendiumPlus
- Bayer Foundations / Research Fellowships (especially in STEM, pharma)
- University-specific Talent Scholarships (e.g. Heidelberg, Munich, etc.)
- Scholarships from federal states in Germany (e.g. Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria etc.)
- Fulbright-Germany (for specific nationalities)
- Erasmus+ other grants / exchange semesters
- Research-centre grants (Max Planck, Helmholtz, Fraunhofer)
- Private sector / corporate scholarships
- Church / religious organization scholarships
- Municipal / regional scholarships
- German Academic Exchange Service special programmes (besides DAAD’s main ones)
- The Deutschlandstipendium “plus” variations
- Subject-specific scholarships (e.g. for engineering, social sciences, arts)
- Non-profit NGO scholarships oriented toward developing countries
- Bilateral government scholarships (your home country or Germany partner countries)
Deep Dives: The Best Ones & Why They Stand Out
Here are 3-5 scholarships I believe are top picks for many international students, because of high stipend + strong coverage + relative accessibility.
| Scholarship | Why It’s Great for You | What to Watch Out For |
|---|---|---|
| DAAD Master Scholarships | Solid monthly stipend (~€934), plus coverage of many costs. Very recognizable on CV. If you meet criteria (academics, degree, sometimes work experience), it’s one of the safest. | Competitive. Application windows may not align with university admission. Must satisfy documentation (transcripts, language, etc.). |
| Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees (EMJMD) | You get to experience studying in multiple countries, often paid mobility, travel costs, high stipend. It’s prestigious globally. | Very selective. The application involves both university admission and scholarship selection. Also, moving between countries may incur adaptation costs. |
| Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung | Decent stipend, plus strong supplementary support: health insurance, small lump sums, workshops etc. If you’re socially engaged, this foundation respects that. | Some requirements around social/political engagement; language skills (German) often required; deadlines are fixed and strict. |
| Konrad-Adenauer Stiftung | Excellent if you align with its values; high stipend; supports families; flexible in some cases. | Must show certain civic or political interest; German language may be required; competition is strong. |
| Deutschlandstipendium | Very reachable: many universities participate; application requirements are usually less specialised; even though stipend is lower (€300), any monthly support helps. | Amount is small compared to full living cost; often you need to combine with other support or savings; lots of applicants, so selection is competitive. |
Estimated Living Costs & Stipend Realism
To decide which scholarships are truly enough, you need to know how much life costs in Germany as a student. Here’s a rough breakdown (2025):
| Item | Estimated Monthly Cost* |
|---|---|
| Rent (shared flat / student hall) | €300-€600 (depends heavily on city; Munich, Hamburg high end) |
| Food, groceries | €200-€300 |
| Transport (student pass) | €30-€80 |
| Health & liability insurance | €80-€120 |
| Utilities + Internet + Phone | €50-€100 |
| Books, study materials | €30-€80 |
| Miscellaneous (clothes, leisure etc) | €50-€150 |
*Cities in Eastern Germany or smaller towns are cheaper; big cities cost more.
So a stipend of ~ €900-€1,300/month tends to cover you well (modest but comfortable). Anything less (e.g. €300) will require additional support (part-time job, savings, family help).
Keywords As H2 Sections
These are also sections you can use to address what people often search / worry about:
Germany Master Scholarships 2025: What You Need to Know
- Timelines: Most foundation-based scholarships have fixed deadlines (e.g. KAAD, Rosa Luxemburg, etc.). DAAD opens calls at different times by country.
- Language: Even when programs are in English, you may need German (B1/B2) especially for foundation scholarships.
- Academic performance: GPA, class rank etc. matter a lot. Sometimes minimum is “above average” or top 10-20% of class.
Fully Funded Scholarships Germany: What “Fully Funded” Actually Means
Often people assume “fully funded” means everything. In many cases:
- Tuition or semester fees are waived or very low in public universities.
- Stipend covers living costs and insurance.
- Less common: travel cost, family allowances, language course cost are included (depends on scholarship).
Always check the fine print: what is covered, what you must budget for.
DAAD Scholarship Master Germany: Your Best Bet
- Among the most recognized.
- Monthly stipend ~ €934 for Master’s level. (Research Jobs)
- Includes insurance and sometimes travel. (Research Jobs)
- Many different DAAD programs: some are for specific countries, some are discipline-specific.
Erasmus Mundus Scholarships Germany: Advantages & Challenges
- You’ll often travel / study in more than one country: exposure & network.
- The stipend is usually generous (~€1,000 or more). (erasmusplus.ac.me)
- Need to adapt to different cultures / systems across semesters.
Deutschlandstipendium Germany Scholarship: Small but Valuable
- Offers €300/month. (Student Portal Uni Stuttgart)
- Less coverage, but provides recognition, networking, often extra non-financial benefits.
- A good “starter” scholarship or to top up with other supports.
How to Maximize Your Chances
Here are actionable tips so you can get one of these scholarships:
- Start Early
- Some foundation scholarships have deadlines many months before semester start.
- University admissions + scholarship applications often have different deadlines; align them.
- Prepare Strong Documents
- Transcripts with good grades.
- Two or more letters of recommendation (academic, possibly professional)
- Clear statement of purpose / motivation letter showing why you deserve it.
- Proof of language skills (English, German as needed).
- Show Engagement Beyond Grades
- Social, political, environmental, volunteer activities help (especially for foundation-based ones).
- Target the Right Scholarships
- If you are from a developing country, some programs are designed for that.
- If German language ability is required, improve that early.
- Budget Carefully
- Even with stipend, you’ll need to plan: visa, travel, setting up in Germany, accommodation deposits, etc.
- Look for Multiple Options
- Don’t put all hope into one program. Apply to 2-3 scholarships + university funding options.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are questions many students ask. I’ll answer them clearly.
Q1: Can I work part-time and still receive a stipend?
Yes, often you can, but check the rules:
- Some stipends are reduced if you earn above a threshold.
- Working more than allowed hours per week (usually ~20 hours) may affect visa status.
- Always check with the scholarship provider & immigration office.
Q2: Is a monthly stipend enough to live comfortably in Germany?
- Yes, if it is high enough (≈ €900+), especially in smaller cities or if you share housing.
- Big cities are more expensive.
- Remember to budget for insurance, utilities, food, transport. The stipend might cover basic but not lavish lifestyle.
Q3: What documents are generally required?
- Bachelor’s degree certificate + transcripts.
- Proof of admission or offer from a German university (sometimes conditional).
- Language test results (IELTS, TOEFL, or German exams).
- CV, motivation letter, references.
- Sometimes proof of social engagement or volunteer work.
Q4: Do I need German knowledge?
- Not always; many Master’s programs are in English.
- But for foundation scholarships (e.g. Rosa Luxemburg, KAAD, others) often B2 German is required or highly preferred.
Q5: How do I find out the exact deadlines?
- Visit the official websites of the scholarship (e.g. DAAD, foundations).
- University information/graduate school pages.
- Scholarship portals in your country.
Conclusion
Here’s what you should do next if you want to take advantage of these opportunities:
- Make a list of 3-5 scholarships from above that you qualify for.
- Check their deadlines and required documents immediately.
- Improve anything lacking: grades, language, engagement.
- Prepare your budget (with stipend + possible extra). Know whether stipend covers your base cost.
If you aim high, apply broadly, and prepare well, you can land a scholarship that both pays well monthly and gives you peace to concentrate on your studies.
If you want, I can pull together the full list of 25, with exact stipend amounts for each (when available), sorted by how high the stipend is, or even filter by your country so you know what YOU qualify for. Do you want me to do that?
