Up to €992 per month for Master's/Bachelor's; up to €1,400 per month for doctoral candidates
Duration
Standard 2 years (Bachelor's/Master's) or 3 years (PhD), minimum 4 semesters
Deadline
July 15, 12:00 noon CET (annual, for the domestic selection procedure inside Germany)
Level
Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral
Acceptance
—
Difficulty
High
Quick Summary
Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Scholarship for International Students, administered by Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e.V., is one of the funding options available to international students and doctoral candidates from outside germany in Germany. The award covers Up to €992 per month for Master's/Bachelor's; up to €1,400 per month for doctoral candidates and is open to bachelor's, master's, doctoral students studying all disciplines. The scholarship runs for standard 2 years (bachelor's/master's) or 3 years (phd), minimum 4 semesters and may be renewed annually based on academic performance. Eligibility is generally based on kAS specifically looks for candidates who combine a strong academic transcript with documented volunteer, church, or political engagement, reflecting the foundation's Christian-democratic orientation. Unlike many scholarship programs, English proficiency is not the gating language requirement; a B2-level German certificate from the Goethe-Institut (or equivalent, such as TestDaF or DSH) is mandatory at the point of application, since KAS study is conducted in German. The application deadline is July 15, 12:00 noon CET (annual, for the domestic selection procedure inside Germany). Applicants are encouraged to review the official eligibility criteria carefully before starting their application.
✨ Should I Apply for Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Scholarship for International Students?
Instant AI-powered application intelligence
75%
Eligibility Match
50%
Win Probability
9/10
Difficulty
10/10
Reward Score
60-80 hrs
Time Required
🌍 Overview
💰
Award Amount
Up to €992 per month for Master's/Bachelor's; up to €1,400 per month for doctoral candidates
⏳
Duration
Standard 2 years (Bachelor's/Master's) or 3 years (PhD), minimum 4 semesters
📅
Deadline
July 15, 12:00 noon CET (annual, for the domestic selection procedure inside Germany)
🌎
Fields
All disciplines
🏆
Awards/Year
—
🌏
Study Country
Germany
🏛️
Provider
Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e.V.
📊
Acceptance
—
The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung is one of six German political foundations authorized to award government-backed scholarships to international students, and it does so on behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and Foreign Office. Named for West Germany's first Chancellor, KAS ties its funding to Christian-democratic values, so applicants must show more than grades: proven social, political, or church-related volunteer engagement is assessed alongside academic record. Successful applicants join a mandatory seminar program run through the foundation's Begabtenforderung department, which is distinct from the general German university experience and functions as a leadership pipeline back into applicants' home countries.
👥 Who Should Apply
KAS specifically looks for candidates who combine a strong academic transcript with documented volunteer, church, or political engagement, reflecting the foundation's Christian-democratic orientation. Unlike many scholarship programs, English proficiency is not the gating language requirement; a B2-level German certificate from the Goethe-Institut (or equivalent, such as TestDaF or DSH) is mandatory at the point of application, since KAS study is conducted in German.
🏛️ Host University
Any state-recognized higher education institution in Germany
🤝 Sponsor
Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e.V. (affiliated with Germany's CDU)
🌎 Fields of Study
All disciplines
✨ Key Benefits
Beyond the monthly stipend, KAS scholars receive a health insurance subsidy, family and child allowances where applicable, and PhD candidates can apply for research travel grants for fieldwork. The foundation also runs a structured seminar and mentoring program that scholars are required to attend alongside their studies, which sets KAS apart from purely financial scholarship schemes.
🎯 Target Students
International students and doctoral candidates from outside Germany
🏷 Tags
GermanyFully FundedMaster'sPhDPolitical FoundationInternational StudentsB2 German
📊 Statistics & Competitiveness
—
Applicants Last Year
—
Winners
—
Acceptance Rate
Competitive
Competition Level
Win Probability
50%
Match Score
75%
Competition
50%
💸 Funding Breakdown
Tuition
No standard tuition (German public universities charge minimal semester fees); reimbursement of up to €750/semester available in exceptional cases
Living Stipend
Up to €992 per month (Master's/Bachelor's); up to €1,400 per month (PhD)
Total Award
Up to €992 per month for Master's/Bachelor's; up to €1,400 per month for doctoral candidates
✈️ Travel: Research travel grants available for PhD candidates conducting fieldwork🏠 Accommodation: No separate housing benefit; paid from the monthly stipend💊 Health Insurance: Subsidy of up to €120 per month toward statutory health insurance🔄 Renewable: Yes💳 App Fee: Free
🎓 Tuition Coverage
No standard tuition (German public universities charge minimal semester fees); reimbursement of up to €750/semester available in exceptional cases
🏠 Living Stipend
Up to €992 per month (Master's/Bachelor's); up to €1,400 per month (PhD)
🏡 Accommodation
No separate housing benefit; paid from the monthly stipend
✈️ Travel Allowance
Research travel grants available for PhD candidates conducting fieldwork
💊 Health Insurance
Subsidy of up to €120 per month toward statutory health insurance
🎁 Other Benefits
Family allowance of €276/month if a spouse resides in Germany for 3+ months; child allowance of €250 per child; mentoring program; access to the KAS international scholars network (NIS) and alumni association
🔄 Renewable
Yes
📋 Renewal Conditions
Annual reporting on academic progress and continued participation in the seminar program
✅ Eligibility Requirements
🌍 Eligible Nationalities
Non-German citizenship; Bachelor's degree completed for Master's applicants (at least 2 completed semesters for Bachelor's applicants); intention to enroll in a 4-semester Master's program; German proficiency at B2 level (Goethe-Institut certificate); above-average academic record; demonstrated social or political commitment
🎓 Academic Level
Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral
📊 Minimum GPA
Above-average academic performance (good to excellent grades throughout secondary and university study)
🗣️ English Requirement
Not the primary language requirement; German B2 certificate (Goethe-Institut, TestDaF, or DSH) is mandatory
💼 Work Experience
Not mandatory; voluntary work and internships are considered favorably
🏆 Leadership
Documented social, political, or church-related volunteer engagement is required
💰 Financial Need
Not a selection criterion; the program is merit and values-based
🎯 Target Students
International students and doctoral candidates from outside Germany
📝 Application Requirements
Essay / SOP
Yes, a detailed motivational letter; PhD…
Rec Letters
Yes, typically one academic reference and…
Interview
Yes, as part of a selection seminar process
Application Fee
Free
Documents Required
Academic Transcripts
Passport / National ID
Recommendation Letters
CV / Resume
Personal Statement / Essays
English Proficiency Proof
Interview
Minimum GPA Requirement
📋 Application Process
Obtain your B2-level German certificate well before the July 15 deadline, since incomplete language documentation is a common reason for early rejection. Devote real space in your motivational letter to your volunteer or civic engagement rather than academics alone, since KAS explicitly weighs this alongside grades.
💡 Insider Tip: Applications are submitted through the KAS Campus Portal (campus.kas.de); begin collecting apostilled or certified transcripts early, as document authentication for non-EU degrees can take weeks. Because KAS ties funding to its Christian-democratic mission, briefly and honestly explaining your alignment with democratic and civic values in your personal statement carries more weight here than in most scholarship applications.
🗾️ Application Roadmap
1
Research eligibility and gather requirements
Start Early
2
Collect all required documents
Start Early
3
Request recommendation letters early
4
Write compelling essays and personal statement
⚠ High Risk Stage
5
Submit complete application before deadline
6
Await shortlisting and attend interview if required
⚠ High Risk Stage
📅 Key Dates & Timeline
📅 Opens
Check website
⏰ Deadline
July 15, 12:00 noon CET (annual, for the domestic selection procedure inside Germany)
🎤 Interview
Yes, as part of a selection seminar process
🎓 Study Starts
October (Winter Semester) or April (Summer Semester)
Check website
Applications Open
Gather documents and begin essays
July 15, 12:00 noon CET (annual, for the domestic selection procedure inside Germany)
Application Deadline
Submit complete application - no late entries
Yes, as part of a selection seminar process
Shortlisting and Interview
Selected candidates invited for interview
After results
Award Announced
Successful applicants notified
October (Winter Semester) or April (Summer Semester)
Studies Begin
Commence degree at host institution
⚖️ Selection Process
📋 Selection Criteria
Academic performance, German language proficiency (B2+), social/political/church engagement, interview performance
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KAS specifically looks for candidates who combine a strong academic transcript with documented volunteer, church, or political engagement, reflecting the foundation's Christian-democratic orientation. Unlike many scholarship programs, English proficiency is not the gating language requirement; a B2-level German certificate from the Goethe-Institut (or equivalent, such as TestDaF or DSH) is mandatory at the point of application, since KAS study is conducted in German.
Beyond the monthly stipend, KAS scholars receive a health insurance subsidy, family and child allowances where applicable, and PhD candidates can apply for research travel grants for fieldwork. The foundation also runs a structured seminar and mentoring program that scholars are required to attend alongside their studies, which sets KAS apart from purely financial scholarship schemes. It is a fully funded scholarship.
The deadline is July 15, 12:00 noon CET (annual, for the domestic selection procedure inside Germany). Always verify with the official website as dates may change annually.
Competition level: Competitive. Acceptance rate: Varies. Strong academic record and clear motivation are essential.
Yes
Typically required: academic transcripts, passport, Not the primary language requirement; German B2 certificate (Goethe-Institut, TestDaF, or DSH) is mandatory, Yes, typically one academic reference and one reference addressing social or political commitment recommendation letters, CV, personal statement/motivation letter. Check official website for the complete list.