Bachelor’s Scholarships in Germany for International Students 2027

If you are searching for bachelor’s scholarships in Germany for 2027, you deserve an honest answer first: Germany does not run a large, fully funded scholarship scheme for international undergraduates, and no legitimate programme will pay all your costs simply for being admitted to a bachelor’s degree. But that is only half the story — and the other half is why Germany remains one of the most affordable places in the world to earn a bachelor’s degree. Public universities charge little or no tuition, the national Deutschlandstipendium pays €300 per month to enrolled students of any nationality, student housing is subsidised, and part-time work is permitted alongside study. For thousands of international students, the real “scholarship” in Germany is the structure itself: a €0 tuition bill plus a realistic plan for living costs. This guide explains every genuine funding option for bachelor’s students in 2027, what each one actually covers, and how to qualify — including the Studienkolleg pathway that many applicants from South Asia and Africa need before they can start a degree at all.

This guide is written for school-leavers and young applicants from countries such as Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Nigeria and Indonesia planning a 2027 start. It covers entry routes first (because funding is pointless if your school certificate is not recognised), then the Deutschlandstipendium, foundation and university-level support, the blocked account financial proof of €11,904, and part-time work rules. Browse the universities themselves in our university directory, keep the full scholarships directory open for postgraduate planning later, and see our study guides for the wider application journey.

Bachelor’s Funding in Germany at a Glance

Read this table as a strategy, not a disappointment. Your bachelor’s funding plan in Germany will almost always be a stack: zero tuition + your family’s or your own blocked-account funds for year one + a Deutschlandstipendium application once enrolled + subsidised housing + permitted part-time work from your second semester onward. Students who understand this stack early budget realistically and finish their degrees; students who spend a year hunting for a mythical full undergraduate scholarship often miss admission deadlines instead.

Step Zero: Are You Qualified to Start a Bachelor’s in Germany?

Funding questions come second. The first question is whether your school-leaving certificate gives you direct admission to a German bachelor’s programme, because German universities apply the recognition rules of the Standing Conference of Education Ministers (via the anabin database and uni-assist evaluation). Broadly, there are three situations:

• Direct subject-restricted or general admission: qualifications such as the IB Diploma or certain A-level combinations can qualify directly, sometimes only for related subjects.
• Admission after one year of university study at home: some national certificates (for example, several South Asian higher secondary certificates) become acceptable once you have completed a year of a recognised bachelor’s degree in your home country — rules differ by country and certificate, so check your exact case.
• Studienkolleg first: if your certificate is not equivalent to the German Abitur, you attend a Studienkolleg — see the next section.

Language is the second gate. The large majority of bachelor’s programmes in Germany are taught in German, requiring C1-level German (typically TestDaF with TDN 4 across sections, DSH 2, or an equivalent recognised certificate). English-taught bachelor’s programmes exist — in business, computer science, engineering and international studies, for example at institutions such as RWTH Aachen University and the Technical University of Munich — but they are a minority at undergraduate level and are often competitive. Plan your language strategy 18–24 months ahead: reaching C1 German from zero is realistically a 12–18 month full-time effort, and it unlocks the far larger German-taught course catalogue, including at universities like the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, the Free University of Berlin, the Humboldt University of Berlin and the University of Freiburg.

The Studienkolleg Pathway

A Studienkolleg is a one-year (two-semester) preparatory college attached to a university. It exists for international applicants whose school certificate is not recognised as equivalent to the Abitur. You study a subject track matched to your intended degree — T-Kurs for technical, mathematical and natural science subjects; W-Kurs for business and social sciences; M-Kurs for medicine and biological sciences; G-Kurs for humanities; S-Kurs for languages — with intensive academic German throughout. At the end you sit the Feststellungsprüfung (assessment examination); passing it qualifies you to apply for bachelor’s programmes in the corresponding subject area across Germany.

Practical points that matter for your budget and timeline: public Studienkollegs generally charge no tuition (a semester contribution applies); admission is competitive, with an entrance examination in German and mathematics or your track subjects; you typically need German around B1–B2 to enter, since teaching is in German; private Studienkollegs exist and charge fees, so compare carefully before paying. You will need financial proof for the Studienkolleg year as well — the same blocked-account logic applies (the 2026 student figure is €11,904 for a year). Note also that the Deutschlandstipendium and most university funding are aimed at degree students, so plan the Studienkolleg year as self-funded. Treat the year as an investment: students who complete a public Studienkolleg enter their bachelor’s with strong German and a recognised qualification, and routinely outperform direct entrants who underestimated the language demands.

The Deutschlandstipendium: The Main Bachelor’s Scholarship

The Deutschlandstipendium (Germany Scholarship) is the one genuine scholarship that international bachelor’s students should know by name. It pays €300 per month — €150 contributed by private sponsors (companies, foundations, alumni and individuals) and €150 matched by the federal government. Key facts, verified against the programme’s official pages:

• Open to all nationalities. Nationality is not a selection criterion; you apply through the German university where you are enrolled or about to enrol.
• Bachelor’s and master’s students are eligible (doctoral students are not). You must be within the standard period of study for your programme.
• Selection is merit-plus: strong academic achievement is the primary criterion, with social engagement, awards and special personal or family circumstances (such as overcoming obstacles in your educational path) also considered.
• Duration: normally awarded for two semesters and renewable on review, up to the end of the standard study period.
• Compatibility: it is income-independent and can generally be held alongside BAföG-type support and part-time work, but usually cannot be combined with certain other substantial merit scholarships — check your university’s rules.
• Application: each university runs its own window and portal, commonly in summer or early autumn for an October start. You generally cannot apply before you have an admission or enrolment relationship with the university, so it cannot serve as your pre-arrival visa proof.

€300 a month is €3,600 a year — in a low-cost university city with a dormitory room, that can cover your rent. Treat the Deutschlandstipendium as the centrepiece of your funding stack rather than a lottery ticket: strong first-semester grades and visible engagement (volunteering, student initiatives, tutoring) are exactly what renewal committees reward.

Foundations and Undergraduate Funding: The Honest Picture

Germany’s political foundations — the Heinrich Böll Foundation, Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Friedrich Ebert Foundation and Rosa Luxemburg Foundation among them — are major funders at master’s and doctoral level. For undergraduate study, however, their international programmes are far more restricted. To take the clearest published example: the Heinrich Böll Foundation states that an application for an undergraduate degree is not possible for international applicants from outside the EU — its international funding begins at graduate level — while different rules apply to German citizens, EU citizens and refugees studying in Germany. Other foundations operate broadly similar eligibility structures, with undergraduate support concentrated on German and EU students and on recognised refugees.

Why does this matter to you? Because many websites copy each other’s claims that “foundation scholarships fully fund bachelor’s degrees in Germany for everyone.” They do not. If you are a non-EU school-leaver, build your plan on tuition-free study, the Deutschlandstipendium and your own financial proof — and keep the foundations in mind for your master’s, when you will also have had time to reach the B2+ German they require. If you are a refugee in Germany or an EU citizen, check each foundation’s undergraduate pages directly, because real opportunities exist for you. Church-affiliated and smaller scholarship organisations occasionally support individual undergraduate cases, usually tied to specific backgrounds or regions; verify any such claim on the organisation’s own website before relying on it.

The Blocked Account: Your Financial Proof for 2027

Unless you hold a recognised scholarship covering your living costs, a non-EU bachelor’s applicant proves financial means for the student visa most commonly with a blocked account (Sperrkonto). You deposit the required amount before your visa appointment; after arrival, it is released to you at one-twelfth per month. For 2026, the required student amount is €11,904 for one year — €992 per month — set with reference to the BAföG student support rate and confirmed in German missions’ and universities’ current guidance. The figure is reviewed periodically, so for a 2027 start you must confirm the amount in force when you apply, on your German embassy’s current information sheet; depositing an outdated, lower amount is a common and avoidable cause of visa refusal. Add a buffer for provider setup fees and transfer costs so the full required sum actually lands in the account.

Alternatives exist but are narrower: a formal obligation (Verpflichtungserklärung) from a sponsor resident in Germany who proves sufficient income; parental income evidence where your specific mission accepts it; or a scholarship letter. Whichever route you use, the logic is the same — you must show roughly €992 per month for your first year, and you will need to show continued financing when you later extend your residence permit. Our budget and cost-of-living tools can help you model whether that monthly figure fits the city you are targeting; it goes much further in smaller university towns than in Munich or Hamburg.

Real Costs of a Bachelor’s Year in Germany

Working While Studying

International students from outside the EU may work 140 full days or 280 half days per year under the current student residence rules (verify the limits in force when you study, as they are revised from time to time). Typical student jobs — campus assistant (HiWi) roles, cafés, logistics, tutoring, and Werkstudent positions in companies related to your field — pay at or above the statutory minimum wage. Realistically, part-time work from your second semester onward can cover a substantial share of living costs, especially combined with a Deutschlandstipendium. Two warnings: your visa financial proof cannot be based on future earnings, and your studies — especially German-taught programmes and the demanding first year — must remain your priority. Students who overload work hours in semester one are the ones who fail examinations and lose both time and residence status.

How to Apply: Timeline for a 2027 Bachelor’s Start

1. 18–24 months before (early–mid 2026): check your certificate’s recognition status (anabin/uni-assist guidance); decide direct entry vs. Studienkolleg; begin German seriously if targeting German-taught programmes.
2. 12–18 months before: take language exams (TestDaF/DSH pathway or IELTS/TOEFL for English-taught programmes); shortlist universities and programmes; note that many bachelor’s applications run through uni-assist with deadlines often around 15 July for the winter semester — but dates vary by university and programme, so confirm each one.
3. Studienkolleg applicants: apply for Studienkolleg places in good time for the entrance examination; plan the preparatory year into your timeline and budget.
4. On admission: open the blocked account with the current required amount (confirm the 2027 figure; €11,904 applies in 2026), arrange health insurance, and book your visa appointment early.
5. After arrival and enrolment: register your address, activate blocked-account payouts, apply for a Studierendenwerk dormitory place if not already housed, and diarise your university’s Deutschlandstipendium window.
6. First year: focus on grades and engagement — they are your Deutschlandstipendium application and your renewal case.

Required Documents (Typical)

• School-leaving certificate and transcripts, with certified translation into German or English where required, evaluated via uni-assist where the university requires it
• Proof of any completed university study at home (if using the one-year route to admission)
• Language certificates: TestDaF/DSH/Goethe C1 for German-taught programmes, or IELTS/TOEFL for English-taught programmes; B1–B2 German for Studienkolleg entry
• Passport, CV and, for some programmes, a motivation letter
• APS certificate if you are from India, China or Vietnam
• Financial proof for the visa: blocked account confirmation (€11,904 for 2026 — confirm the current figure), formal obligation, or scholarship letter
• For the Deutschlandstipendium (after enrolment): application form, transcripts or school results, CV, and evidence of engagement or special circumstances as your university requests

Key Dates at a Glance

Two Situations Worth Knowing About

Refugees and students already in Germany. If you are a recognised refugee or hold another residence status in Germany, your funding landscape is wider than that of a new visa applicant: foundation undergraduate funding, integration programmes at universities, and in some circumstances BAföG-related support may be open to you depending on your exact status and how long you have been in Germany. These rules are status-specific and change with legislation, so get individual advice from your university’s social counselling service (Sozialberatung) or the Studierendenwerk rather than relying on general articles — including this one.

Private universities. Germany’s private universities charge tuition — sometimes substantial — but many operate their own merit scholarships, early-payment discounts and instalment plans to attract international bachelor’s students. These awards are institutional marketing instruments, not national scholarships: their value, renewal conditions and total degree cost vary enormously, and a “50% scholarship” at an expensive private university can still cost far more than a tuition-free public degree plus living costs. If you consider one, demand the full four-year cost in writing, check that the institution is state-recognised (staatlich anerkannt) and that its programmes are accredited, and compare the total against the public-university route before signing anything.

Common Mistakes

• Chasing a full bachelor’s scholarship that does not exist. No German scheme fully funds international undergraduates at scale. Build the funding stack described here instead.
• Believing foundation claims on third-party sites. For non-EU applicants, foundation funding generally starts at master’s level — the Böll Foundation says so explicitly. Verify eligibility on the foundation’s own pages.
• Depositing an outdated blocked-account amount. The requirement was €11,208 before it rose to €11,904; using an old figure risks refusal. Always confirm the current number.
• Underestimating German. Most bachelor’s programmes are German-taught at C1 level. An English-taught plan B is sensible, but a German plan A opens far more doors — including the tuition-free mainstream.
• Skipping the recognition check. If your certificate needs Studienkolleg or a year of home-university study, discovering this after application deadlines wastes a full year.
• Applying late for housing. Dormitory waiting lists in popular cities are long; apply to the Studierendenwerk as soon as you have admission.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a fully funded bachelor’s scholarship in Germany for international students?

Not as a large open scheme. The realistic model is tuition-free study at public universities (no tuition in most states) plus your own financial proof for living costs, strengthened by the Deutschlandstipendium (€300/month) and permitted part-time work. Anyone advertising a guaranteed fully funded German bachelor’s scholarship for all internationals is not describing a real programme.

How much is the Deutschlandstipendium and can international students get it?

€300 per month — €150 from private sponsors matched by €150 from the federal government — normally awarded for two semesters and renewable within the standard study period. Yes: students of all nationalities enrolled in bachelor’s or master’s programmes at participating universities can apply, through their own university.

How much money do I need in a blocked account for 2027?

The amount in force for 2026 is €11,904 for one year (€992 per month released after arrival). The figure is adjusted periodically, so confirm the exact amount for your 2027 visa application on your German embassy’s current information sheet before transferring funds — and add a buffer for fees so the full required sum arrives.

What is a Studienkolleg and do I need one?

A Studienkolleg is a one-year preparatory college for applicants whose school certificate is not equivalent to the German Abitur. You follow a subject track (T, W, M, G or S-Kurs), study in German, and finish with the Feststellungsprüfung, which qualifies you for bachelor’s study in that subject area. Whether you need one depends on your specific certificate and country — check the recognition rules early via uni-assist and the anabin database.

Can I study a bachelor’s in Germany in English?

Yes, but English-taught bachelor’s programmes are a minority — concentrated in fields like business, computer science, engineering and international studies — and they are competitive. Most undergraduate teaching is in German at C1 level. If your heart is set on Germany, investing in German massively widens your options and your later scholarship and employment prospects.

Can bachelor’s students work in Germany?

Yes. Non-EU students may currently work 140 full days or 280 half days per year alongside their studies (confirm the rules in force during your studies). Work income helps from your first year onward but cannot be used as the financial proof for your initial visa.

Do the political foundations fund bachelor’s degrees?

Generally not for non-EU international students. Foundations such as Heinrich Böll state that international applicants can apply for graduate (master’s) and doctoral funding, not undergraduate funding; undergraduate foundation support is aimed mainly at German/EU students and refugees in Germany. Keep foundations in your plan for master’s level — and start learning German now if that is your goal.

Is tuition really free for a bachelor’s in Germany?

At public universities in most federal states, yes — you pay only a semester contribution of roughly €70–€430, which often includes a transport ticket. The main exception is Baden-Württemberg (€1,500 per semester for non-EU/EEA students), and private universities charge tuition everywhere. Always confirm the fee status of your exact programme on the university’s official page.

Sources & Verification

This guide was verified at the time of writing against official sources: the Deutschlandstipendium programme pages (Federal Ministry of Education and Research) for the €300 monthly award, eligibility and duration; the DAAD and Study in Germany portals for tuition rules, semester contributions, recognition of school certificates and the Studienkolleg system; German university and mission guidance for the 2026 blocked account figure of €11,904 (€992 per month); and the Heinrich Böll Foundation scholarship pages for the rule that international applicants apply for graduate, not undergraduate, funding — with the Konrad Adenauer, Friedrich Ebert and Rosa Luxemburg foundations for comparison. See also our university rankings when comparing where to apply.

Disclaimer: Amounts, deadlines and rules change yearly — always confirm the current blocked account figure, deadlines and eligibility on the official websites of the university, the scholarship provider and your German embassy before applying or transferring money. StudyGraduate is an information portal, not an agency: we cannot submit applications for you, and no one can promise or guarantee selection, admission or a visa. Never pay anyone who guarantees you a German scholarship or visa.