The Friedrich Naumann Foundation Scholarship is funding from the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, a German political foundation built around liberalism and individual responsibility. It supports students and doctoral candidates in all disciplines who combine strong grades with real commitment to liberal values, democratic structures and an open society. The money is generous, but the foundation is just as interested in who you are as a citizen as in your transcript.
For a Pakistani student, the short version is this: you would apply as a non-EU applicant, which means Master's or PhD funding only, and you need German at B2 level. If either of those is a problem for you, read on before you spend weeks on references. You can also see the full scholarship details.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom |
| Funding | Fully funded (monthly stipend, study cost lump sum, insurance contributions) |
| 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 | April 30 and October 31, at 11:59 pm |
| Country | Germany |
| Official site | freiheit.org |
Why the non-EU track decides everything for Pakistani applicants
The foundation runs separate funding streams for German, EU and international applicants. German and EU students can get support for Bachelor's and Master's study. Non-EU foreign applicants, which includes students from Pakistan, are eligible for Master's and PhD funding, provided they study full-time in Germany. Bachelor's study is not funded for non-EU applicants, so if you are finishing FSc or A levels and hoping to fund an undergraduate degree, this scholarship is not for you.
There is a second filter that catches people out. Non-EU applicants must not have been resident in Germany for more than 15 months before the scholarship starts. If you are already in Germany doing a Master's and thinking of applying for a PhD later, count your months carefully before you decide.
On the plus side, there is no age limit for student or doctoral applicants. A mid-career professional coming back to study is not disqualified by age.
What the 861 euro stipend and the extras add up to
The figures differ by level, so it helps to separate them.
- Basic student funding is a maximum of 861 euros per month.
- Every fellow gets a lump sum for study costs of 300 euros per month.
- Doctoral candidates in German funding receive up to 1,350 euros per month plus a 100 euro monthly research cost lump sum.
- International doctoral candidates receive up to 1,200 euros per month.
- Monthly contributions to health insurance and long-term care insurance are included.
- Study-related stays abroad can be supported for a maximum of 12 months, with grants for travel, health insurance and fees evaluated case by case.
Note the word "maximum" next to the student stipend. The amount you actually get may be lower than 861 euros, so do not build your budget around the top figure until you see your award letter. The fee list above also does not mention tuition, so check on the official site how tuition at your chosen university would be handled.
The funding periods have rules too. Students are funded for a minimum of two semesters, and doctoral candidates for a minimum of 12 months, with doctoral funding lasting a maximum of three years. Funding is for study at state or state-recognized universities in Germany, EU member states and Switzerland, as long as you can actively take part in scholarship life from where you study. For non-EU applicants, though, the eligibility rules tie funding to full-time study in Germany, so confirm on the official portal whether study elsewhere in Europe is possible on your track.
The ideational support is not an optional extra
Many applicants treat this as a stipend with some events attached. The foundation sees it the other way round. Scholars take part in political education events, workshops, academy programs, interdisciplinary exchanges and regional activities, and the scholar community organises a lot of this itself. That is why German at B2 is a firm requirement for all participants: the events run in German, and you are expected to join them.
You do not need to submit a formal language test certificate to apply. But you should expect your selection interview to be in German, even if your Master's or PhD program is taught entirely in English. A student who passes the document stage with a polished English application and then cannot hold a conversation in German at the interview has wasted a cycle.
Showing a liberal, cosmopolitan outlook
The selection looks at three things: academic performance, personality and social commitment. Good to very good academic results are expected. Beyond grades, you need to show a liberal, cosmopolitan attitude and active social or political commitment.
You do not need to be a member of the FDP party. Membership is not required to apply or to receive the scholarship. What the committee wants is evidence: volunteering, student societies, civic campaigns, community work, debate, writing on public issues. Vague statements about "believing in democracy" will not carry an application. Concrete things you have done, and why, will.
One more firm rule: you cannot hold double funding from another public institution for the same purpose. If you already have a public scholarship for the same degree, sort that out before you apply.
Paperwork for the online portal
The application is entirely online. The document list is shorter than many government scholarships, but each item has a catch.
- The online application form.
- Two letters of reference, submitted by your appraisers through an individual appraisal link. Depending on your level, appraisers are high school teachers or university professors.
- Academic certificates (high school diploma or university degree certificates). Uncertified copies are accepted at first.
- University admission or matriculation certificate.
- An exposé, for doctoral applicants (English is accepted).
- Passport or ID page with residence permit, for non-EU applicants.
- Supporting documents for vocational academy or dual degree study, if this applies to you.
Every document must be uploaded as a PDF, with multi-page documents bundled together and each file under 5 MB. Scanned transcripts from Pakistani universities can be large, so compress them before the last day. Because uncertified copies are accepted at first, you do not need to finish attestation before applying, but keep your originals in order for later stages. Our documents checklist for international scholarships is a useful companion here.
If your referees are not comfortable in German, references may be submitted in English through the designated link.
How the application moves from portal to interview
- Register in the online application portal while the window is open (1-30 April or 1-31 October).
- Generate the electronic reference link and send it to your two appraisers.
- Upload your documents as PDFs, bundled and under 5 MB each.
- Wait for pre-selection, which is based on your documents and references and judges academic performance, personality and social commitment.
- Attend the oral selection interview with members of the independent selection committee. It is in person in Germany, or by video call for non-European applicants who are abroad.
- Receive the final outcome by email within three weeks after the selection conference.
Your application and your reference links must both be completed by 11:59 pm on the deadline day. This is where most people slip. You control your own upload, but you do not control when a busy professor clicks the link. Send it in the first days of the window, and follow up politely a week before the deadline.
Travel and accommodation costs for the selection conference are not reimbursed. For Pakistani applicants abroad, the video interview option removes most of that cost, but if you are already living in Germany, budget for the trip.
Picking April or October
There are two rounds a year. The portal opens on April 1 and October 1, and closes on April 30 and October 31. The listed latest dates for being told whether you are invited to the oral selection are February 8 and August 8. Confirm on the official portal which of these dates applies to the round you apply in, since the gap between deadline and interview is long and plans for visas and admissions depend on it.
Because doctoral candidates need unconditional acceptance or enrollment in a doctoral program, and students need an admission or matriculation certificate, line up your university admission before you pick a round. Applying in a round where your admission is still pending is the most common way to get filtered out early.
Who should apply, and who should not
This suits a Pakistani Master's or PhD candidate heading to Germany who already speaks good German, or is close to B2, and who has a real record of civic or political involvement. It also suits older applicants, since there is no age cap.
It is a poor fit if you want Bachelor's funding, if you have no German and no plan to reach B2, or if your profile is purely academic with nothing to show on the social commitment side. In those cases your time is better spent on other options in our guide to all Germany scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
Can Pakistani students apply for a Bachelor's degree?
No. Non-EU applicants, including Pakistanis, can only apply for Master's or PhD programs. Bachelor's funding is limited to German and EU students.
Do I need to send a German language test certificate?
You do not need a formal language test certificate to apply. You do need at least B2 German to take part in the ideational support program, and you should prepare for an interview in German.
Do I have to join a political party?
No. Membership in the FDP is not required to apply for or receive the scholarship.
Is there an age limit?
No, there is no age limit for student or doctoral applicants.
Can my references be in English?
Yes. If your appraisers are not proficient in German, they may submit references in English through the designated link.
Will the foundation pay for my trip to the interview?
No. Travel and accommodation for the selection conference are not reimbursed. Non-European applicants abroad can interview by video call.
Check the current round and portal on the official website, freiheit.org, and keep the full scholarship page open while you prepare your application.