The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Scholarship Programme
aims to address social disadvantages by supporting students who actively work
for freedom, justice and social cohesion in their commitment to social
democracy, or will do so in future.
Who is eligible
For the FES, service to the common good deserves
recognition. It is therefore not only the applicants' academic achievement but
their social and political involvement and personal attitudes that play an
important part in the selection process.
This year, about 2.700 students and postgraduates will
receive a grant from FES.
International Students
The FES also supports foreign applicants who are already studying, or doing their postgraduate studies, in Germany at the time of application. Up to 40 students from Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe may qualify for the scholarship programme every year with the exception of those who are already receiving some support from public sources.
The FES also supports foreign applicants who are already studying, or doing their postgraduate studies, in Germany at the time of application. Up to 40 students from Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe may qualify for the scholarship programme every year with the exception of those who are already receiving some support from public sources.
Eligibility criteria
The FES supports
- all
academic subjects
- students
from public or state-approved universities and from universities of
applied sciences/polytechnical colleges (FH)
- postgraduate
programmes (PhD)
The FES does not support
- second
degree courses
- study
visits outside Germany
- final
phases of academic studies
- postgraduate
courses in medicine
Time of application
Please note that the FES can only award scholarships to
applicants from abroad who have already enrolled in a German university or have
a supervisor for their doctoral studies.
Students are expected to be living in Germany before they
apply and have to provide proof of an adequate command of the German language
by submitting a language proficiency certificate ( C 1, TestDAF)
At the time of application, foreign students should be able
to submit proof of their initial academic achievements/marks with the exception
of those enrolled in Master or other postgraduate programmes.
Applications will be accepted no later than
- diploma
/ magister / state examination: by the end of 6th semester
- Bachelor/
undergraduate programmes: until 3 semesters before finishing the standard
period of study (if 6 semesters by the end of 3rd semester;
if 7 semesters by the end of 4rd semester)
- postgraduate/
Master programmes: till the 4th of a april/ 31rd october.
Since foreign scholarship holders will receive an extensive
social and political side programme, German language proficiency is crucial
even when the study programme itself (M/B) is carried out in English.
We do not support foreign students from Western European
countries at present, but only those from the developing countries of Asia,
Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe.
The Procedure
- duration
of application process:
4-7 months - mode
of application:
1. self-application
Please use the "Online-Bewerbung" on the Internet
– in German only!
2. individual interviews
In a second step, selected candidates will be invited to two individual interviews. The first interview will be conducted by one of the lecturers from the FES, and the second interview by one of the members of the FES scholarship committee (AWA). Two reports are written on the basis of these interviews and presented to the AWA.
In a second step, selected candidates will be invited to two individual interviews. The first interview will be conducted by one of the lecturers from the FES, and the second interview by one of the members of the FES scholarship committee (AWA). Two reports are written on the basis of these interviews and presented to the AWA.
3. discussion and final decision by the AWA
The AWA will eventually make a final decision about your application. The AWA is an independent body composed of university lecturers as well as other persons from the fields of science, politics, art and media. The committee meets at least three times a year. The AWA will discuss every application at great length and then make the final decision.
The AWA will eventually make a final decision about your application. The AWA is an independent body composed of university lecturers as well as other persons from the fields of science, politics, art and media. The committee meets at least three times a year. The AWA will discuss every application at great length and then make the final decision.
4. written notification
You will be notified of the AWA's decision.
What are the benefits and expectations
Benefits:
Foreign scholarship holders receive:
- 650
€ per month (basic scholarship programme) / 1000 € per month (graduate
scholarship programme)
- 276
€ of family allowance, if applicable
- refund
of health care costs
- any
income exceeding 400 € per month will be credited against the scholarship.
Expectations:
FES expects scholarship holders:
- to
participate in extra-curricular seminars and activities of FES campus
groups on a regular basis
- to
achieve above-average results in their degree courses
- to
continue and intensify their socio-political commitment.
At the end of each term, a semester report has to be
submitted to FES which describes the scholarship holder's current academic
performance and his/her social engagement.
