Friedrich Ebert Foundation Scholarship (Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung)
by Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) · Any state-recognized German university or university of applied sciences
🕐 Last updated: September 17, 2026
💛 Monthly stipend, health insurance cost coverage, and a family allowance for scholars with children🔴 Open🎓 Bachelor's, Master's, PhD🌍 Germany📌 Merit and social-political engagement scholarship
€992/month for students, €1,500/month for postgraduate/doctoral scholars
Duration
Standard period of study (Regelstudienzeit) for the enrolled degree program
Deadline
—
Level
Bachelor's, Master's, PhD
Acceptance
—
Difficulty
High
Quick Summary
Aimed at international students from the global south, former cis states, and eastern/southeastern europe already enrolled in germany, Friedrich Ebert Foundation Scholarship (Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung) is a merit-based scholarship for study in Germany. The award covers €992/month for students, €1,500/month for postgraduate/doctoral scholars and is open to bachelor's, master's, phd students studying all academic disciplines. The scholarship runs for standard period of study (regelstudienzeit) for the enrolled degree program and may be renewed annually based on academic performance. Eligibility is generally based on applicants must already be studying in Germany at the time of application rather than applying from their home country before enrollment. Bachelor's applicants must apply by the end of their 3rd (or 4th, for 7-semester programs) semester, and Master's applicants must apply before or at the start of their first semester. German language proficiency is required even for English-taught programs, since interviews and seminars run in German. The application deadline is announced annually on the official scholarship page. EduAtlasHub tracks updated deadlines, coverage details and eligibility requirements for this scholarship as they change.
✨ Should I Apply for Friedrich Ebert Foundation Scholarship (Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung)?
Instant AI-powered application intelligence
75%
Eligibility Match
50%
Win Probability
9/10
Difficulty
6/10
Reward Score
60-80 hrs
Time Required
🌍 Overview
💰
Award Amount
€992/month for students, €1,500/month for postgraduate/doctoral scholars
⏳
Duration
Standard period of study (Regelstudienzeit) for the enrolled degree program
📅
Deadline
—
🌎
Fields
All academic disciplines
🏆
Awards/Year
Up to 40 new international scholarships per year
🌏
Study Country
Germany
🏛️
Provider
Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES)
📊
Acceptance
—
Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, the foundation affiliated with Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD), funds students who are already enrolled at a German university rather than applicants still abroad. It is one of 13 officially recognized German talent-promotion organizations and screens candidates on three specific criteria: identification with social democratic values, a track record of volunteer civic or political engagement, and above-average grades. Nationals of OECD countries such as the US, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan are explicitly excluded from the international track, which instead targets students from the Global South, former CIS states, and Eastern/Southeastern Europe.
👥 Who Should Apply
Applicants must already be studying in Germany at the time of application rather than applying from their home country before enrollment. Bachelor's applicants must apply by the end of their 3rd (or 4th, for 7-semester programs) semester, and Master's applicants must apply before or at the start of their first semester. German language proficiency is required even for English-taught programs, since interviews and seminars run in German.
🏛️ Host University
Any state-recognized German university or university of applied sciences
🤝 Sponsor
Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung e.V., funded via the Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) and the German Federal Foreign Office
🌎 Fields of Study
All academic disciplines
✨ Key Benefits
A monthly stipend of €992 for students or €1,500 for postgraduate and doctoral scholars, plus health insurance cost coverage and a €276 monthly family allowance for scholars raising children, since public German universities do not charge tuition fees. Recipients also join FES's seminar program and mentoring network rather than receiving purely financial support.
🎯 Target Students
International students from the Global South, former CIS states, and Eastern/Southeastern Europe already enrolled in Germany
Yes, €992/month (students) or €1,500/month (postgraduates)
Total Award
€992/month for students, €1,500/month for postgraduate/doctoral scholars
✈️ Travel: No🏠 Accommodation: No💊 Health Insurance: Yes, health insurance costs are covered🔄 Renewable: Yes💳 App Fee: Free
🎓 Tuition Coverage
No
🏠 Living Stipend
Yes, €992/month (students) or €1,500/month (postgraduates)
🏡 Accommodation
No
✈️ Travel Allowance
No
💊 Health Insurance
Yes, health insurance costs are covered
🎁 Other Benefits
Family allowance of €276/month for scholars with children; seminar program and mentoring network
🔄 Renewable
Yes
📋 Renewal Conditions
Continued academic progress and ongoing social-political engagement, reviewed annually
✅ Eligibility Requirements
🌍 Eligible Nationalities
Must already be enrolled at a state-recognized German university, demonstrate above-average grades and social-political engagement, and hold citizenship in the Global South, a former CIS state, or Eastern/Southeastern Europe (OECD-country nationals are excluded)
🎓 Academic Level
Bachelor's, Master's, PhD
📊 Minimum GPA
Above-average grades relative to peers
🗣️ English Requirement
German (C1-level) required; English proficiency not the primary language criterion
💼 Work Experience
Not required
🏆 Leadership
Yes, demonstrated volunteer civic or political engagement
💰 Financial Need
No
🎯 Target Students
International students from the Global South, former CIS states, and Eastern/Southeastern Europe already enrolled in Germany
📝 Application Requirements
Essay / SOP
Yes, CV with engagement details and personal…
Rec Letters
Yes, two academic references
Interview
Yes
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
Document concrete, sustained civic or political volunteer work rather than one-off activities, since FES weighs engagement alongside grades rather than academics alone. A single semester of committee membership reads far weaker to reviewers than a multi-year record of officer roles or campaign involvement.
💡 Insider Tip: Start collecting your two academic references early: FES allows up to six weeks for referees to submit letters, compared to three weeks for the rest of the application file, so a late request can miss the internal deadline even if you submit your own documents on time. Choosing a referee who already knows your civic engagement, not just your coursework, strengthens the file more than a purely academic reference would.
🗾️ 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
Check website
🎤 Interview
Yes
🎓 Study Starts
September/October
Check website
Applications Open
Gather documents and begin essays
Check website
Application Deadline
Submit complete application - no late entries
Yes
Shortlisting and Interview
Selected candidates invited for interview
After results
Award Announced
Successful applicants notified
September/October
Studies Begin
Commence degree at host institution
⚖️ Selection Process
📋 Selection Criteria
Academic performance, social-political engagement, identification with social democratic values, personal interview
⚡ Similar Scholarships
Scholarship
Country
Coverage
Level
Friedrich Ebert Foundation Scholarship (Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung)Current
Germany
Monthly stipend, health insurance cost coverage, and a family allowance for scholars with children
Bachelor's, Master's, PhD
—
🇩🇪 Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes (German Academic Scholarship Foundation)
Applicants must already be studying in Germany at the time of application rather than applying from their home country before enrollment. Bachelor's applicants must apply by the end of their 3rd (or 4th, for 7-semester programs) semester, and Master's applicants must apply before or at the start of their first semester. German language proficiency is required even for English-taught programs, since interviews and seminars run in German.
A monthly stipend of €992 for students or €1,500 for postgraduate and doctoral scholars, plus health insurance cost coverage and a €276 monthly family allowance for scholars raising children, since public German universities do not charge tuition fees. Recipients also join FES's seminar program and mentoring network rather than receiving purely financial support. Coverage may vary — check the official website for exact details.
Application deadlines vary by year. Check the official scholarship website for current cycle dates.
Competition level: Competitive. Acceptance rate: Varies. Strong academic record and clear motivation are essential.
Yes
Typically required: academic transcripts, passport, German (C1-level) required; English proficiency not the primary language criterion, Yes, two academic references recommendation letters, CV, personal statement/motivation letter. Check official website for the complete list.