The Friedrich Naumann Foundation Scholarship is a non-repayable grant from the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, a German political foundation linked to liberal ideas such as freedom, human rights and the social market economy. It funds students and doctoral candidates across all disciplines. For a Pakistani applicant, though, the scholarship is narrower than it first looks. You can only apply for a Master's or PhD in Germany, and your application has to be written in German. You can check the full scholarship details on our listing as you read.
Here is my honest view. This scholarship suits a student who already speaks good German, who has a real record of civic or political involvement, and who actually agrees with liberal values. If you have a strong CGPA but no German and no history of engagement, you will struggle here, and your time is better spent on other options in our list of all Germany scholarships.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom |
| Funding | Fully funded, non-repayable grant |
| Levels | Bachelor's, Master's, PhD (non-EU applicants: Master's and PhD only) |
| Fields | All disciplines |
| Application windows | 1-30 April and 1-31 October |
| Deadlines | 30 April and 31 October at 11:59 pm |
| Country | Germany |
| Official site | freiheit.org |
Why the German-language requirement decides everything
Most scholarships in Germany that Pakistani students hear about run in English. This one does not. Application documents must be submitted in German, and applications in other languages are not accepted. References also need to be in German, which means your Pakistani professors may need help getting their letters into proper German before they submit them.
The foundation also says that German at B2 level is essential for taking part in its ideational support, meaning the seminars, academy events and scholar networks that come with the money. Interestingly, no official language test certificate is required at the application stage. That does not make the B2 level optional in practice. If you cannot write a convincing motivation statement in German and then hold an interview with a selection committee, a missing certificate will be the least of your problems.
So before anything else, be honest about your German. If you are at A2 today, this is a scholarship for a future cycle, not the next one.
Pakistani students: Master's and PhD only
The programme treats applicants differently depending on where they come from. German and EU students can apply for first degree programmes (including combined Bachelor's and Master's courses) and doctorates, and they can apply as school leavers, first-year students or in higher semesters.
Non-EU international applicants, which includes students from Pakistan, can apply only for Master's and doctoral programmes. Two more conditions apply to you:
- You must complete your studies full-time in Germany.
- You must not have lived in Germany for more than 15 months before the scholarship starts.
The 15-month rule catches people out. If you moved to Germany for a Master's two years ago and only now discovered this foundation, you are probably past the limit. If you are still in Pakistan, or only recently arrived, you are in a good position. Non-EU applicants also need to show proof of a residence permit, or passport pages with residence entries, so the foundation can check this.
What the monthly money looks like
The funding is a grant, not a loan, so nothing is repaid. The amounts depend on your category, and the source figures are listed as maximums, so you should not assume you will get the top rate.
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Maximum basic student funding (certain categories) | Up to 861 euros per month |
| German basic student funding, calculated on BAföG | Up to 744 euros per month |
| Study costs lump sum (all fellows) | 300 euros per month |
| German doctoral funding | Up to 1,350 euros per month, plus 100 euros per month for research costs |
| International doctoral funding | Up to 1,200 euros per month |
On top of this, the foundation pays monthly contributions towards health insurance and long-term care insurance. There is also support for stays abroad of up to 12 months, covering travel, health insurance and fee grants.
Two practical points for a Pakistani PhD applicant. First, the international doctoral rate is listed separately at up to 1,200 euros, so do your budgeting with that figure rather than the German doctoral rate. Second, the exact amount for any individual depends on the foundation's rules for your category, so confirm your likely stipend on the official website before you plan your finances or your blocked account around it. Our proof of funds guide explains how scholarship income is usually treated during a visa application.
What the selection committee is looking for
The foundation selects on three things: academic achievements, personality, and social or political commitment. Grades need to be good to very good. That alone will not carry you, because the foundation is explicit that it wants people who take responsibility for themselves and others and who are committed to liberal values, democratic structures and an open society.
You do not need to be a member of the FDP or any political party. Many applicants misread "political foundation" as "party membership required". It is not. What you do need is evidence. Volunteering, student societies, debating, human rights work, community projects, civic campaigns: something that shows you act on what you believe. Your motivation statement should connect that record to liberal ideas in a way that sounds personal, not copied from the foundation's website.
If your values do not line up with this foundation's, do not pretend. Interviewers at a values-based foundation are good at spotting a candidate who learned the vocabulary the week before.
Other eligibility rules to check
- You cannot hold double funding from another public institution for the same purpose.
- You must apply no later than the third-to-last semester before you finish your studies, because there is a minimum two-semester funding rule.
- Doctoral candidates must already have unconditional acceptance for a doctorate.
The overview describes eligible universities as German, EU-European and Swiss state or state-recognised universities, but non-EU applicants must study full-time in Germany. If you are Pakistani and planning to study elsewhere in Europe, confirm on the official site whether your situation qualifies before you apply.
The paperwork, in German
The documents list is fairly standard. The difficulty is the language and the referee process, not the number of items.
- Online application form, submitted through the portal
- Two letters of reference. For PhD applicants, these come from your doctoral supervisor and a second lecturer. Advanced students use university professors, and new students use school teachers.
- CV and motivational statements
- School-leaving diploma or pre-university certificate (or an intermediate certificate if the diploma is pending)
- University admission or matriculation certificate
- Exposé (research proposal), for doctoral candidates
- Proof of residence permit, or passport pages with residence entries, for non-EU applicants
Everything is uploaded as PDF, with a limit of 5 MB per file. Scan your Pakistani degrees and transcripts cleanly and compress them early. For a broader checklist and attestation steps, see our documents checklist for international scholarships.
How the application and interview work
- Register in the online application portal while a window is open (April or October).
- Generate the electronic reference link in the portal and send it to your two referees, who submit their letters directly.
- Upload all your PDFs before 30 April or 31 October.
- The scholarship department and selection committee review the documents and pre-select candidates.
- Shortlisted candidates are invited to a mandatory interview.
The interview is held in person in Germany, or by video call for non-European applicants who are currently abroad. That second option is the one most Pakistani applicants will use. Alternative interview dates are never provided, so once you are invited, treat that date as fixed. Have a reliable internet connection and a backup plan for load-shedding.
Two windows a year, and what happens after
The spring window runs from 1 to 30 April and the autumn window from 1 to 31 October, closing at 11:59 pm on the last day. Notification about selection interviews is listed as arriving by 8 February or 8 August. Dates can shift from cycle to cycle, so confirm the current window and the interview notification timing on the official portal before you plan around them.
Because there are two rounds a year, there is no reason to rush a weak application. If your German is not ready for April, aim for October.
Mistakes I see applicants make
- Leaving references until the last week. Your professors in Pakistan are busy, and writing in German may take them longer. Register early and send the reference link as soon as you can.
- Submitting anything in English. It will not be accepted.
- Applying too late in a programme. If you are past your third-to-last semester, you have missed the chance.
- Ignoring the 15-month residence rule after already moving to Germany.
- Writing a generic motivation statement about "wanting to make the world better" without concrete examples of engagement.
- Assuming the top stipend figure applies to you. Budget with the rate for your category.
Frequently asked questions
Can Pakistani students apply for a Bachelor's with this scholarship?
No. Non-EU applicants, including Pakistanis, can apply only for Master's and doctoral programmes, studied full-time in Germany.
Do I need to join the FDP or another party?
No. Membership of the FDP or any political party is not required. You do need to show genuine commitment to liberal values and social or political engagement.
Do I need an English test or a German certificate to apply?
No official language test certificate is required for the application itself. However, documents must be in German, and B2 German is essential for the foundation's events and seminars.
Can I combine this with another public scholarship?
Not for the same purpose. Double funding from another public institution is not permitted.
I live in Pakistan. Do I have to fly to Germany for the interview?
Non-European applicants who are currently abroad can do the interview by video call. The interview is mandatory and no alternative dates are offered.
Do I have to pay the money back?
No. The funding is a grant and does not require repayment.
Before you start, check the current cycle on the Friedrich Naumann Foundation website and keep our Friedrich Naumann Foundation Scholarship page handy for the key facts.