What is the Heinrich Boll Foundation scholarship?
The Heinrich Boll Foundation (Heinrich Böll Foundation) is a German political foundation linked to the Green party. Its scholarship programme supports international students who earned their university entrance qualification outside Germany and want to study in Germany. The funding covers Masters or PhD degrees at state or state-recognised universities in Germany.
The award is a living stipend rather than a full fee waiver. It helps with monthly living costs and, in certain cases, tuition fees. The number of scholarships is not specified, so treat this as a competitive award and apply early. Full requirements are in our listing: Heinrich Boll Scholarships in Germany for International Students.
What does the scholarship pay?
The stipend depends on your degree level and whether you are an EU or non-EU student. All figures below come from the foundation's current listing.
| Level | Student group | Monthly support | Tuition fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masters | Non-EU | €934 per month plus various individual allowances, possibly health insurance | Possible in certain cases in Germany |
| Masters | EU | Varies, maximum €812 plus €300 book money per month | Not possible in Germany, possible to a limited extent in other countries |
| PhD | Non-EU | €1,200 per month plus €100 mobility allowance, plus various individual allowances | Not possible |
| PhD | EU | €1,350 per month basic scholarship plus €100 per month research costs allowance | Not possible in Germany, possible to a limited extent in other countries |
How long does the funding last?
Masters funding runs for the regular period of study and may be extended by one semester. PhD funding is awarded for three years as a rule, with two years possible and an extension of at most 12 months.
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Who is eligible for the Heinrich Boll Foundation scholarship?
Eligibility turns on where you were educated, your degree level and your German. The foundation lists these requirements:
- International students, EU and non-EU, who were not educated in Germany.
- For Masters: you may apply before starting your Masters or at any time up to the end of the first semester, and you must provide proof of your first professional qualification.
- For PhD: proof of admission to doctoral studies at a state or state-recognised university, as a rule in Germany, must be included with the application.
- For PhD: preliminary work must be completed by the application date and a valid timetable for completion submitted.
- German proficiency at level B2 or DSH 1, with certificate.
EU students and study outside Germany
EU students can also use the scholarship for Masters courses at state or state-recognised universities in Germany, Switzerland and other EU member states. Non-EU students are funded for study in Germany.
Which subjects get priority?
Masters applicants can study any subject available at a state or state-recognised university in Germany. For PhD applicants, subjects related to the focal points of the foundation's activities are given priority. The foundation does not publish a fixed list of those focal points on the application page, so read the information sheets and describe the link between your research and the foundation's work in your motivation.
If you are still choosing a field, browse our subject lists such as political science scholarships, environmental management scholarships and social sciences scholarships to compare options.
When are the deadlines and what is the timeline?
The online application portal closes on 1 March and on 1 September. The 1 September date applies to PhD studies only. Treat both as hard cut-offs and submit before the portal closes.
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| Before applying | Confirm your German certificate (B2 or DSH 1), gather transcripts and, for PhD, your admission and timetable |
| 1 March | Portal closes for Masters and PhD applications |
| 1 September | Portal closes for PhD studies only |
| After the deadline | Selection and interviews follow; the official page gives the current schedule |
Masters applicants can apply before their programme starts or up to the end of the first semester, so plan around your intake date rather than waiting for a later round.
How to apply step by step
- Read information sheet A 1-1 for Masters applications or A 2-1 for doctoral applications, both available through the official site.
- Check your German certificate: level B2 or DSH 1, with proof.
- For Masters, prepare proof of your first professional qualification. For PhD, secure admission to doctoral studies at a state or state-recognised university.
- For PhD, finish your preliminary work and write a valid timetable for completion.
- Draft your application around the foundation's focal points, especially for PhD subjects.
- Submit through the online application portal before 1 March, or before 1 September for PhD studies only.
The official application page is boell.de/en/application. Our scholarship tips cover how to write the motivation letter that sits at the centre of most German foundation applications.
Documents you need
- Certificate of German proficiency at level B2 or DSH 1.
- Proof of your first professional qualification (Masters applicants).
- Proof of admission to doctoral studies and a valid completion timetable (PhD applicants).
- Transcripts and degree certificates from your previous study outside Germany.
- A motivation letter that connects your plans to the foundation's focal points.
The information sheets set out the full document list. Check them before you upload anything, because a missing certificate is the most common reason an application stalls.
How selection works
The foundation does not publish a success rate or the number of awards. Selection weighs your academic record, your German proficiency, your motivation and, for PhD applicants, how closely your research matches the foundation's focal points. Because the number of scholarships is limited, a clear, specific motivation letter matters as much as your grades.
Expect the process to include a review of your documents and a conversation about your plans. The official page carries the current selection steps for each round.
Who it suits and who should look elsewhere
It suits international students already set on a Masters or PhD in Germany who have German at B2 or DSH 1 and can show a link between their work and the foundation's values. EU students who want to study in Switzerland or another EU member state also fit the Masters route.
Look elsewhere if you were educated in Germany, if you cannot yet prove German at B2 or DSH 1, or if you need full tuition coverage for a non-German degree. Undergraduates are not covered by this listing. Compare other options in our scholarships in Germany guide and the scholarships in Switzerland guide.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Applying after the end of your first Masters semester. The listing allows applications up to that point, not later.
- Submitting without a German certificate at B2 or DSH 1.
- Sending a PhD application without proof of admission or a valid completion timetable.
- Missing the 1 September date and assuming it applies to Masters. It is for PhD studies only.
- Writing a generic motivation letter that ignores the foundation's focal points.
- Assuming tuition fees are always covered. For PhD study they are not possible, and for Masters they are possible only in certain cases.
Alternatives to compare
If the German language requirement or the subject fit rules you out, widen the search. Our scholarship finder and the filtered list for this page show current openings. Country guides worth reading next include scholarships in the Netherlands, scholarships in Sweden, scholarships in France and scholarships in Belgium. For English-speaking options, see scholarships in the United Kingdom, scholarships in the United States, scholarships in Canada and scholarships in Australia.
Subject-specific lists can narrow things faster: development studies, law and public policy, journalism, economics and finance, peace studies and any field of study. The all guides page collects our walkthroughs, and scholarships by country lists every destination we cover.