Heinrich Böll Foundation Scholarship
The Heinrich Böll Foundation awards scholarships to undergraduate, Master's, and doctoral students from all disciplines and universities, both in Germany and abroad. Recipients are expected to share the foundation's core values of democracy, ecology, solidarity, and non-violence.
Quick Facts
Status
Opening SoonFunding
Full / PartialDeadline
March 1 for Spring intake and September 1 for Autumn intake
Country
GermanyAll Germany guidesEvery Germany scholarship in one place→About the Heinrich Böll Foundation Scholarship
The Studienwerk of the Heinrich Böll Foundation is one of thirteen organizations for the promotion of gifted students in Germany. It supports well over 1,000 students and doctoral candidates every year across all fields of study.
The scholarship program aims to promote equal opportunity and educational justice while supporting underrepresented groups. The foundation specifically looks for applicants with high academic achievements, social commitment, and political interest.
Funding is available for students pursuing degree programs at universities in Germany, as well as specific international tracks depending on the criteria. The program is funded by the Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space Travel and by the Federal Foreign Office.
The application process takes place twice a year through an online portal. Deadlines occur in the spring and in the autumn for upcoming academic cycles.
Eligible Levels
Eligible Fields
Why Choose This Scholarship?
Supports students from all academic disciplines and backgrounds
Provides both financial and ideological backing throughout the degree
Promotes diversity, equal opportunity, and educational justice
Connects scholars with a large community of alumni and civil society actors
Backed by German federal ministries
What the Scholarship Covers
Studying in Germany
Scholarships apply to study programs in Germany and certain international tracks as regulated by the foundation.
Eligibility Requirements
4 requirements
Documents Checklist
4 documents required
How to Apply - Step by Step
Check eligibility criteria on the official Heinrich Böll Foundation website
Prepare application documents including motivation letters and academic certificates
Submit the application through the official online portal during the active window
Wait for review and notification from the selection committee
Application Timeline
January 15
Spring Portal Opens
Online portal opens for the spring selection round.
March 1
Spring Deadline
Applications close for the spring intake.
July 15
Autumn Portal Opens
Online portal opens for the autumn selection round.
September 1
Autumn Deadline
Applications close for the autumn intake.
Insider Tips & Pro Tips
Submit your application well before the portal closes on March 1 or September 1
Clearly highlight your political engagement and alignment with foundation values in your motivation letter
Check specific opening dates since the application portal opens on January 15 for spring and July 15 for autumn
Ensure all required academic transcripts and documents are translated and formatted correctly
Utilize the telephone consultation hours provided by the Studienwerk for specific inquiries
Important Links & Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questions - click any to expand
Students and doctoral candidates from all academic fields and universities, both in Germany and abroad, are eligible to apply.
The deadlines are March 1 for the spring intake and September 1 for the autumn intake each year.
Applicants should share the core values of the foundation, which include democracy, ecology, solidarity, and non-violence, alongside active social and political engagement.
Applications must be submitted through the official online application portal of the Heinrich Böll Foundation during the active opening periods.
Ready to Apply?
Applications open January for Spring intake and July for Autumn intake - get your documents ready now.
Apply on Official Website →More Scholarships to Explore
Other opportunities you may qualify for
Max Planck Institute Research Internship (Germany)
Germany · Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Germany
Fully funded 12-14 week research internship at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Germany - covering stipend, free housing, and return airfare for Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD students in Computer Science and related fields.
📅Deadline: November 1 annually (for May-August start)…
SBW Berlin Scholarship (Germany)
Germany · SBW Berlin
Need and merit-based scholarship for international students from developing countries to study in Berlin or Potsdam - covering €480/month stipend, free housing, full tuition, and return flights. Rolling deadline, apply year-round.
📅Deadline: Rolling - no fixed deadline, apply through…
DAAD Scholarships (Germany)
Germany · German Academic Exchange Service
Not one scholarship but a database of over 200 distinct funded programs across German universities, covering Master's, PhD, and some Bachelor's exchange. Each program has its own deadline and requirements, so this is a starting point for a search, not a single application.
📅Deadline: Varies by individual program, commonly Aug…
Opens: January for Spring intake and July for Autumn intake