Which German Universities Offer the Most International Scholarships in2025?

Discover which German universities offer the largest number and most generous international scholarships. Learn how to find, apply, and maximise your chances at top scholarship-friendly German institutions in 2025.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Germany is an increasingly popular destination for international students — not only because many public universities charge little or no tuition, but also because a growing number of institutions offer scholarships, stipends and funded positions specifically for international applicants. If you’re planning to study in Germany in 2025 and want the best chance of securing funding, knowing which universities are scholarship-friendly is essential.

This guide walks you through the German universities that historically and currently provide the most international scholarships, the types of awards they offer, how to find them, what selection committees look for, and practical steps to boost your success. Short paragraphs and clear headings make it easy to scan — but the guide is thorough, so you can rely on it for application planning and strategy.

Quick summary — top universities that offer many scholarships to internationals

Technical University of Munich (TUM) — strong research funding and many graduate scholarships, especially in STEM.
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU Munich) — a range of excellence and international scholarships across disciplines.
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin — numerous funded research positions and public scholarship partnerships.
Freie Universität Berlin — diversity and merit scholarships for international students, plus DAAD cooperation.
University of Heidelberg — well-organized scholarships for research and graduate studies.
RWTH Aachen University — strong industry and research scholarships for engineering and tech.
University of Freiburg — targeted scholarships for international master’s and doctoral students.
University of Tübingen — research grants and foundation scholarships for internationals.
University of Göttingen — many doctoral and master’s research scholarships.
Universities of the German Excellence Network (Universities of Excellence program) — these schools (e.g., TUM, LMU, Heidelberg, RWTH, etc.) tend to channel more fellowship funds and third-party funding.

Below we unpack why these universities stand out, what kinds of scholarships they provide, where to search, and application strategies.

Why these universities offer the most scholarships

Several factors explain why particular German universities are scholarship heavyweights:

Research funding and third-party grants. Universities with strong research portfolios attract European Research Council (ERC) grants, DFG funding, and industry contracts. Part of that money is used to fund PhD positions, postdocs and research master’s students — many of which are open to internationals.
Participation in national excellence programs. Institutions in the German Universities Excellence Initiative (and its follow-ups) receive extra funding that often trickles into international scholarships, fellowships and graduate schools.
Large international recruitment targets. Some universities explicitly aim to grow their international cohorts and therefore create scholarships, tuition waivers and mobility grants to be more competitive globally.
Strong alumni and foundation networks. Older, prestigious universities often have active foundations and donor networks that sponsor scholarships — e.g., Deutschlandstipendium top-ups, private foundations, or alumni funds that support international students.
Industry partnerships. Technical universities with strong ties to industry (e.g., RWTH, TUM) frequently offer industry-sponsored scholarships, traineeships and paid research positions that effectively fund study.

Types of scholarships you’ll find at German Universities

Understanding the common German Universities types helps you choose targets that match your profile.

1. German Universities merit scholarships

Merit German Universities are awarded on academic performance. They may come as a tuition waiver (rare at public universities), a monthly stipend, or partial support for living costs.

2. Deutschlandstipendium / university top-ups

Many German universities participate in the Deutschlandstipendium programme — this pairs government/co-funding with private donors to deliver monthly stipends to high achievers (including internationals).

3. Research assistantships & paid PhD positions

In Germany many PhD candidates are employed as research associates (wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiter) with a salary — essentially a fully funded position that includes social security contributions.

4. DAAD and government partnership scholarships

German Universities often host DAAD-funded scholarship schemes (or collaborate on national scholarship programmes) that are channelled through the institution.

5. Faculty or departmental scholarships

Individual faculties frequently maintain scholarship lists for their best master’s or PhD candidates; these are commonly advertised on faculty pages.

6. Foundation scholarships German Universities

Foundations such as Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Humboldt Foundation, Studienstiftung and others provide funds to students at partner universities.

7. International mobility grants German Universities

Short-term scholarships for exchange semesters, internships, or conference travel — often modest but very common.

8. Industry-linked fellowships

Sponsorships by corporations for students in engineering, computer science, business, etc. They sometimes include internships, mentoring or guaranteed interviews.

University-by-university snapshot (what to expect and where to look)

Below are approachable summaries of leading institutions that consistently offer significant scholarship opportunities for international students.

Technical University of Munich (TUM)

Why it stands out: Massive STEM research portfolio, close industry ties (Siemens, BMW, etc.), many funded PhD positions and graduate schools.
Types of support: Research assistant positions, TUM Graduate School scholarships, Deutschlandstipendium, faculty-level scholarships, and industry fellowships.
Who should apply: STEM, engineering, computer science, biotech, data science applicants.

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU)

Why it stands out: Prestigious comprehensive university with strong funding for humanities, social sciences and natural sciences.
Types of support: LMU scholarships, merit awards, graduate school funding, foundation scholarships.
Who should apply: Humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, interdisciplinary research.

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin & Freie Universität Berlin

Why they stand out: Berlin’s universities host numerous DAAD projects, international research schools, and city-level scholarship initiatives.
Types of support: DAAD scholarships, Berlin University alliance funding, departmental scholarships, and city mobility funds.
Who should apply: All fields, especially those seeking international networks and research supervision.

RWTH Aachen University

Why it stands out: Strong engineering/industrial links; many funded research projects with scholarships tied to industry.
Types of support: Research assistant roles, industry scholarships, Masters scholarship schemes.
Who should apply: Engineering, applied sciences, industrial projects.

University of Heidelberg

Why it stands out: Renowned research university with significant third-party funding and graduate schools.
Types of support: Graduate school stipends, foundation funding, DAAD programmes.
Who should apply: Medicine, life sciences, humanities and social sciences.

University of Freiburg, University of Tübingen, University of Göttingen

Why they stand out: Strong research schools and attractive regional foundation networks.
Types of support: Faculty scholarships, doctoral funding, regional foundation grants.
Who should apply: Research master’s and PhD candidates across many disciplines.

Universities with prominent scholarship ecosystems (other notable mentions)

University of Bonn, University of Hamburg, TU Berlin, TU Dresden, University of Cologne, University of Munich (LMU) — these institutions regularly list multiple international scholarship opportunities and have graduate schools, DAAD ties and foundation support.

How to find and filter scholarship opportunities at German universities

University scholarship pages. Every major university maintains a “Scholarships & Funding” page. Visit the central website and the faculty pages for program-specific awards.
Graduate school / PhD programme pages. Many scholarships are administered through graduate schools — search for “Graduate School” or “Research Training Group” + university name.
DAAD scholarship database. Although you asked for university-focused info, DAAD’s searchable database often points to scholarships administered by particular universities.
Deutschlandstipendium lists. Check the university’s Deutschlandstipendium participation and donor opportunities.
Faculty noticeboards / mailing lists. Subscribe to departmental mailing lists that announce funded projects and paid positions.
University career service / international office. These offices often maintain curated lists and application support for internationals.
Foundation pages and university partners. Check major foundations associated with universities (e.g., university foundations, alumni associations).
Academic supervisors. For research scholarships and PhD positions, contacting prospective supervisors directly can reveal funded openings before they’re publicly advertised.

Typical eligibility & selection criteria used by German universities

While each scholarship has its own rules, selection committees usually evaluate:

Academic record and GPA — strong performance is essential for merit awards.
Research potential — for master’s by research and PhD funding, the quality of the proposal weighs heavily.
Fit with university/faculty priorities — alignment with strategic research areas, e.g., climate, AI, biomedicine.
English/German language skills — depends on the program; show the required proof.
Recommendations — academic referees who can endorse research capability.
Motivation and career plan — clear statement of why you chose the program and how it will be impactful.
Diversity and special backgrounds — some scholarships aim to increase underrepresented participation (e.g., students from developing countries).

Practical application tips — stand out among thousands

Start early. Scholarship cycles begin many months before intake; begin research 9–12 months ahead.
Target programs, not just universities. Identify the department and possible supervisors — scholarships are most likely when your interests match faculty priorities.
Polish your research proposal. For research funding, a crisp, feasible proposal (with methodology and clear outcomes) is critical.
Secure strong references. Ask referees well in advance and provide a short brief on the scholarship and your intended research.
Prepare a portfolio (if applicable). For arts, design or architecture, an outstanding portfolio can outweigh other deficits.
Demonstrate fit and impact. Explain how your study will contribute to the university’s research, your home country, or global challenges.
Apply widely, but deliberately. Apply for multiple scholarships and programs, but tailor each application.
Leverage short-term funding. Mobility grants, travel stipends, and small foundation funds can help bridge the early stages and strengthen long-term applications.

How much funding can you realistically expect?

Deutschlandstipendium: modest monthly support (top-ups, varies by university).
DAAD scholarships: can provide several hundred to over a thousand Euros/month for masters and PhD stipends, plus allowances.
RTP/research assistant salaries: PhD positions often pay competitive salaries (TV-L scales or similar), which can be comparable to a living wage plus contributions to social insurance.
University merit scholarships: amounts vary — anything from a one-time grant to sustained monthly stipends.
Industry fellowships: sometimes pay well and may include paid internships.

Expect variation by discipline: research positions and STEM fields often provide higher funding frequency and amounts than humanities coursework scholarships.

Scholarship deadlines & timeline (practical calendar)

9–12 months before intake: identify programs, prepare documents, contact supervisors.
6–9 months before intake: submit university applications (many offer rolling rounds).
6–3 months before intake: apply for scholarships (some require admission offers first).
2–0 months before intake: visa, housing, pre-departure tasks; check for last-minute travel or establishment grants.

Always check university-specific deadlines. German universities sometimes have different intake windows (winter/summer), and scholarship timelines follow suit.

Building a practical action plan to win university scholarships in German Universities

Map your top 6 universities. Include at least 2 highly research-funded schools (e.g., TUM, RWTH) and 2 with strong subject fit.
Identify 10–15 specific scholarships or funded posts. Use university pages, DAAD, foundations and departmental lists.
Contact 3–5 potential supervisors (for research): send concise, targeted emails with a one-page proposal and CV.
Prepare core documents: CV, transcripts, motivation letter, research proposal, portfolio (if needed), official language scores.
Secure referees and brief them on the scholarship and deadline.
Apply early & track applications with a spreadsheet of deadlines and required documents.
Follow up respectfully (after 4–6 weeks) if no answer — particularly for supervisor queries or funded posts.

Useful categories of German Universities funding you shouldn’t ignore

Short-term mobility grants — easy to win and help build CVs.
Conference/travel grants — can fund research dissemination (poster/paper travel).
Teaching assistant roles — part-time paid roles that also demonstrate engagement.
Small research grants — often used to top up monthly stipends or pay for equipment.

Collectively, these smaller awards can aggregate into meaningful financial support while you pursue larger fellowships.

Final thoughts — how to think like a scholarship winner

Winning a scholarship at the largest funding universities in Germany is about strategy, fit and persistence:

Strategy: align your profile with institutional priorities.
Fit: show that your project/topic fills a need or complements existing strengths.
Persistence: apply widely, polish each application, learn from rejections, and iterate.

Universities like TUM, LMU, Humboldt, RWTH, Heidelberg and others are treasure troves of funding — but they reward applicants who demonstrate clear research ideas, serious motivation and a professional approach to application logistics.

Conclusion

German Universities leading universities offer many pathways to fund international study, especially at masters-by-research and doctoral levels. If you want the most scholarship opportunities, target research-intensive institutions (TUM, RWTH, LMU, Heidelberg, Humboldt, etc.), proactively contact supervisors, leverage DAAD and foundation programmes, and apply early and widely.

Scholarship success is less about luck and more about fit, preparedness and persistence. With careful planning and targeted applications, studying in Germany with robust institutional funding is entirely achievable in 2025.

Also Read: How Can Students Study in Canada Without IELTS Through Scholarships 2025?

Sources

burseline.com

World Scholarship Finder

ScholyHub

FAQs

1. WhichGerman Universities offers the most PhD funding for internationals?
Top research institutions such as TUM, RWTH Aachen, Heidelberg and LMU historically have the largest numbers of funded PhD positions due to strong third-party research funding.

2. Are Deutschlandstipendium awards available to international students?
Yes — many universities include internationals among Deutschlandstipendium recipients, though eligibility rules can vary by institution.

3. Is it easier to get scholarships for STEM than humanities?
Generally, STEM fields have more paid research positions and industry-sponsored awards, while humanities funding tends to be more limited and project-based.

4. Should I contact a supervisor before applying for a scholarship?
Yes — for research funding and PhD posts, supervisor support significantly increases your chance of being offered a funded position.

5. Can I work while holding a German Universities scholarship?
Rules vary; some scholarships allow part-time work, while salaried research positions are employment contracts subject to working hours regulations.

6. How important is German language for scholarship applications German Universities?
While many programs are in English, German proficiency broadens your options, allows access to more local funding, and helps daily life.

7. What’s the best first step to finding scholarships at German universities?
Start with the German Universities international office and graduate school pages, then search faculty job boards and DAAD’s scholarship database.