ELIGIBILITY:

Graduate: Students from Germany (Germans and “Bildungsinländer*innen,” i.e., applicants who have obtained their higher education entrance qualification in Germany)

For the first degree (Bachelor, Diploma, State Examination, etc.): Application is possible before the first semester up to and including the third semester.

For a Master’s program, preferably in Germany: Applications must be submitted six months before the start of the program.

Refugees

Application for funding for a first degree (e.g. Bachelor) or a further degree (Master, Diploma or State Examination etc.) is possible at any time, regardless of the semester of study

International students (“Austrian students”, i.e. applicants who have obtained their university entrance qualification abroad)

For a master’s degree program or a Diploma/State Examination degree program in Germany (after having already completed the intermediate examination, the Physikum, etc.): Applications are possible before beginning the master’s program or the main course. We particularly encourage international students who completed their first degree in their home country to apply .

Students from all disciplines can apply for full-time study at a state-recognized university.

The online application portal opens on July 15, 2025, and closes on September 1, 2025.

The certificate of enrollment, or at least a confirmation of university admission, must be submitted with the application if possible or must be presented at the latest immediately before the selection interview in the 3rd selection stage.

Please use only Adobe Acrobat Reader to complete the application form.
Space is limited. Please limit your submission to the designated section, which must be legible on paper. This also applies to the expert opinions.
Please do not wait until the last day to submit your application to avoid overloading the system. You can submit your application as soon as your documents are complete.

Once you complete your application in the application portal, you will immediately receive a confirmation email. You will no longer be able to log in to the portal afterward.

Information on applying for a study scholarship:
Information on applying with checklists Application documents: Information sheet A1-1a (PDF)
Information Sheet English Version: Information Sheet A1-1b (PDF) .

Application forms:

Application form: Application form A1-2 (PDF)

Expert report form: Expert report A1-3a (PDF)

Form Expert Report (English Version): Expert Report A1-3b

Form for reference on social engagement: Reference for Social Engagement A1-4a (PDF) 

Form Reference Social Commitment: Reference Social Commitment A1-4b (PDF)

Doctoral: Doctoral candidates from Germany (Germans, nationals of education) for their doctorate in Germany or other EU countries (all subjects);
 

International doctoral candidates (from the EU or outside the EU, including refugees) for doctoral studies in Germany (all subjects);
 

Doctoral candidates from Germany or abroad for the “Social-Ecological Transformation Research Cluster” (all subjects)

Dissertation topics related to the main research areas of the Heinrich Böll Foundation have priority.

The online application portal opens on July 15, 2025, and closes on September 1, 2025.

BENEFIT:

The Heinrich Böll Foundation supports young people through scholarship funding (generally including a maintenance grant, study and research grant, foreign study grant, mobility allowance, family allowance, and other categories). In addition, we promote the scholarship recipients in their personal development, help them to gain cross-disciplinary qualifications and enhance their key competences, encourage political debate and attention to social issues, and nurture interdisciplinary dialogue.