Additional funding opportunities
Table of contents
Exchange programs and scholarships are often limited to certain countries, fields of study or even universities. If you want to go to a specific university or country, you may not be able to take advantage of certain TUD exchange programs or scholarships. This may mean that you have to have sufficient financial means to organize your stay.
In this case, or in the case of scholarship programs that only cover the financial aspect, you have to submit an individual application to the host university. Please note the university's internal application requirements (language proficiency requirements and type of certificate, subject-specific requirements, etc.) as well as application deadlines.
Most universities require proof of financial security (personal assets, parental support, scholarships, etc.) during your stay at the host university for final admission to the program.
The DAAD offers a very good overview of scholarship opportunities for German students, and a lot of general information on the topic of financing a stay abroad.
Scholarships around the world
(Links are available in German only.) If you have permanent residency in Germany and meet the relevant requirements (e.g. low parental income capacity), you may have the opportunity to finance your stay abroad by means of AuslandsBAföG independently of other programs or scholarships. Furthermore, AuslandsBAföG can be used for co-financing in addition to scholarships or in combination with programs.
You can learn about the possibilities, conditions and application procedures for AuslandsBAföG at the responsible offices for educational support. For an overview, see our flyer, the homepage of the German Student Union or Bafög: Auslandsförderung.
Funding is available for subject-oriented studying abroad as well as internships that are required by the study regulations. A study abroad must last at least 6 months or one semester and an internship at least 12 weeks in order to receive funding through BAföG. The prerequisite is that you started studying at a German university. After one year of studying in Germany, you can continue your studies at a university in another country. Studying in EU member states is supported until you are awarded a foreign diploma (based on the standard period of study at the host university). It is also possible to continue your studies in other EU countries or to return to Germany. In countries that are not part of the EU, funding is generally provided for continuous stays of one year (up to 5 semesters in the case of special justification). In general, one year of AuslandsBAföG is not counted towards domestic funding within Germany.
AuslandsBAföG offers the following benefits:
- foreign allowances in addition to domestic support for stays outside the EU
- covering verifiably necessary tuition fees (up to 4,600 euros per academic year)
- covering travel expenses for an outbound and return journey
- covering costs of health insurance
Submit your application to the International Office responsible for your host country. If you want to know how much BAföG funding you can expect, it is best to use an online BAföG calculator.
The DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service, Bonn) offers one-year study scholarships for students of all departments from the 4th semester onwards. In addition, there are various special calls for applications (some for students from as early as the 3rd semester). In addition to general one-year scholarships for all subjects, there are special calls for applications, for example for students of theology, scholarships for combined study and practical placements. The DAAD scholarship database provides a comprehensive overview of the various programs. Applications can be submitted online via the DAAD website. The submission deadlines for most programs are in the fall of the previous year.
Tip: Start planning and researching well in advance in order to meet the early deadlines.
Tip: In addition to the PROMOS scholarship, also apply for a DAAD scholarship if you would like to stay abroad (study + internship) for longer than one semester.
CONTACT:
German Academic Exchange Service
Kennedyallee 50
53175 Bonn
Tel: +49 228 882-0
Fax: +49 228 882-444
www.daad.de
The Roland-Ernst-Stiftung für Gesundheitswesen awards scholarships for a one-semester to one-year stay abroad for students, graduates and doctoral students from the fields of medicine, medical technology, natural sciences, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science and economics. Funding is available for projects that are related to in-depth studies and show a connection to medicine and/or an interdisciplinary approach. The project should be carried out in the context of a diploma thesis or a doctorate. It can be carried out at a university, a non-university research institute or as field research.
Application deadlines
April 30 (for the following winter semester)
November 01 (for the following summer semester)
Applications must be submitted online via the application portal
Application documents
- Application form*
- Curriculum vitae
- Detailed description of the study or research project
- Diploma certificate or intermediate diploma and other certificates of achievement
- Expert opinion from the supervisor of the project work: German(Word/PDF)/English(Word/PDF)
- Additional expert opinion from a university lecturer with a doctorate with a professional statement on the planned project: German (Word/PDF)/English (Word/PDF)
- Proof of language skills (not older than 2 years, TU certificate, DAAD test or other accredited language certificate) in the national language
-
Proof of TUD enrollment valid for the period of stay must be submitted at the beginning of the stay abroad
* The form is generated after the personal data has been entered in full and must be signed and a passport photo uploaded again.
You can find more information on the foundation page.
Pädagogischer Austauschdienst (PAD)
des Sekretariats der Kultusministerkonferenz
Graurheindorfer Straße 157
53117 Bonn
Phone 0228 / 501-0
Fax 0228 / 501-333
Prerequisites: In general, studying at a German university is a prerequisite for an application.
Scholarship benefit: country-dependent monthly maintenance allowance
Application deadline: for the USA: November 1 + for all other countries: December 1
Further details and information on the application process can be found on the KMK website.
For further information and initial advice, please contact the Infocenter:
© Sven Ellger/TUD
Advice on studying abroad
NameMs Federica Serra
Infocenter/ Study abroad; TUDworldwide: America
Send encrypted email via the SecureMail portal (for TUD external users only).
Visiting address:
Fritz Foerster Bau, Office 161 Mommsenstraße 6
01069 Dresden
Postal address:
TUD Dresden University of Technology International Office
01062 Dresden
Office hours:
- Tuesday:
- 09:30 - 11:30
- 12:30 - 14:30
- Thursday:
- 09:30 - 11:30
Please register at the SCS (FOE, floor 0).
Office hours by phone:
Keine Sprechzeit zwischen 20. - 28.02.2025
Haniel Foundation
Franz-Haniel-Platz 1
47119 Duisburg
Phone: +49 203 806-367
www.haniel-stiftung.de
(funding focus: promotion of early-career researchers)
Office
Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes
Ahrstrasse 41
53175 Bonn
Telephone 0228 82096-0
Fax 0228 82096-103
Berlin Office
German National Academic Foundation
Jägerstrasse 22/23
10117 Berlin
www.studienstiftung.de
Students who receive funding from the Studienstiftung for their studies in Germany are usually also supported during a stay abroad. This often includes additional funding for health insurance, travel costs and tuition fees. The Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes also offers a number of programs that are open to students/graduates who have not previously received funding from the Studienstiftung. Application documents and program brochures can be requested directly from the Studienstiftung. Applications are sent directly to the Studienstiftung.
Mc Cloy Academic Scholarship Program:
- 2-year scholarship for a Master's program at the Harvard Kennedy School for graduates primarily from the fields of law, economics and social sciences
- Applications: by November 1st directly to the Studienstiftung
ERP - Scholarships - Program:
- Scholarship for one to two-year research and study visits as part of Master's or PhD programs at top US universities (except Harvard Kennedy School of Government) for young academics in all subjects except arts degree programs
- Applications: by October 1st directly to the Studienstiftung
China Scholarship Program:
- One-year scholarship with preceding and accompanying language courses (1 semester mainly language courses, 2nd semester also subject courses) with an internship of several weeks to acquire language, country and subject knowledge as well as practical experience in China
- for all subjects, especially from younger semesters
- Applications: on March 31 directly to the Studienstiftung
Haniel Scholarship Program
- With international scholarship programmes as part of the promotion of early-career researchers, the Haniel Foundation aims to counter the frequently lamented shortage of cosmopolitan German managers with experience abroad in international organizations and multinational companies.
- Study abroad and internships in non-European and European countries (especially additional studies in Eastern Europe, Asia, Latin America, Africa or the Middle East). Outstanding junior staff are to acquire additional qualifications for taking on tasks in the international working world. 7 to 8 scholarships are awarded each year. Funded by the Haniel Foundation since 1991.
- Together with the Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes; scholarship for 12-20 months (at least 2 semesters of study + at least 2 months internship) for mainly graduates in economics, industrial engineering, political and social sciences, law with an economic and practical orientation, in exceptional cases also students from higher semesters.
- Applications: November 1st at the Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes
Various universities award scholarships to international students themselves (e.g. Abo Akademi in Finland, Masaryk University in Brno).
Further information is available at the International Office's Infocenter or is posted in our monthly newsletter. You should contact your chosen host university on an individual basis in good time.
Another funding option is a position as a research or teaching assistant at the host university (teaching or research assistant). The tuition fees are usually reduced or waived. In some cases, there may also be additional monthly support. Assistantships are particularly common at universities in the USA and Canada and are preferably awarded to students in their final semester. In any case, you need to contact the universities directly for more information. Especially with these offers, applications from students in higher semesters have a greater chance of success, as they can finance e.g. a Master's degree.
Scholarships for specific countries only
German Programs
Fulbright-Kommission
Lützowufer 26
10787 Berlin
The Fulbright Commission awards study and travel grants for undergraduate and graduate study in the USA. On the one hand, scholarship holders deepen their knowledge of the USA and, on the other hand, promote understanding of German culture in the USA. Residence scholarships are announced approximately 1½ years prior to the start of the scholarship (April/May of the previous year). Travel grants cover the cost of travel from home to the study site in the USA and back. They are awarded to students who realize their 4 to 9-month (full time) study stay through a partner program with their own university.
Applications: in the spring for the academic year in the following year (residence scholarship), in January for the following academic year (travel scholarship); further information can be found on the Fulbright Commission homepage or in the International Office.
The Naumann-Etienne-Foundation aims to support students of TUD Dresden University of Technology in the fields of electrical engineering, computer science, biomedical engineering, aerospace engineering and industrial engineering. Students are given the opportunity to complete a two-year Master's program at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, USA, with a scholarship.
Applications: November 1 for the start of the winter semester in the following year via the application portal.
Benefits: Monthly scholarship installment for living expenses and accommodation ($ 1500), full payment of tuition fees (taking into account participation as a teaching assistant)
Requirements: Good to very good academic performance, at least 6 completed semesters at the start of the scholarship, good English language skills (TOEFL at least 83 points), convincing justification of the study plan, personality traits such as resilience, communication skills and ability to work in a team, fulfillment of the criteria of the selected Georgia Tech Faculty
(e.g. GRE test, Bachelor's degree at the beginning of the Master's program)
Application documents:
1.Online application: email to Federica Serra
2. Curriculum vitae
3. Detailed explanation of the study plan
4. Overview of previous study results
5. Letters of recommendation from two university teachers (form in the link below)
6. Proof of language proficiency (TOEFL test results can be submitted later if necessary)
The application documents must be submitted in full. The applicant is responsible for completeness.
Further information and the current call for applications can be obtained from:
© Sven Ellger/TUD
Advice on studying abroad
NameMs Federica Serra
Infocenter/ Study abroad; TUDworldwide: America
Send encrypted email via the SecureMail portal (for TUD external users only).
Visiting address:
Fritz Foerster Bau, Office 161 Mommsenstraße 6
01069 Dresden
Postal address:
TUD Dresden University of Technology International Office
01062 Dresden
Office hours:
- Tuesday:
- 09:30 - 11:30
- 12:30 - 14:30
- Thursday:
- 09:30 - 11:30
Please register at the SCS (FOE, floor 0).
Office hours by phone:
Keine Sprechzeit zwischen 20. - 28.02.2025
Franco-German Youth Office
51, rue de l'Amiral-Mouchez
F 75013 Paris
www.dfjw.org
Scholarships for research stays:
- For students of all departments from the 5th semester onwards to work on a German-French topic at a college or university in France
- Maximum of 5 months; study visit must be part of the degree course and count towards the degree
- The stay must not already be financed by other means (ERASMUS, DAAD,...)
- The French host university is responsible for submitting the application
- Applications: at least 3 months before the start date to the FGYO
Short-term scholarship for the preparation of final theses:
- Scholarship for students of all departments from the 5th semester onwards to conduct research or interviews at institutions or persons in France
- Application is the responsibility of the German home university
- Applications: at least 3 months before the start to: FGYO, "Career and Solidarity" department
Language course scholarships:
- As preparation for a semester, year or internship (at least 6 weeks) recognized by the German university as part of the standard period of study of the study programme
- Applications: 2 months before the start of the language course Application form to Eurozentrum Köln; Sedanstraße 31-33; 50668 Cologne; Tel: +49 221 97 30 92 0; Fax: +49 221 72 00 91 9
GFPS e. V.
P.O. Box 41 03 53
12113 Berlin
www.gfps.org
The GFPS awards scholarships for a period of study in Poland. The scholarships are awarded for one semester and cover the enrollment fees and a monthly allowance of 1,200 zlotys.
Applications: May 15 (for the winter semester) and November 15 (for the summer semester); further information and application forms can be found on the GFPS homepage.
A program for engineering or natural sciences students: a seminar on Japan, two-month intensive Japanese language course, six-month traineeship in a Japanese company.
Please find more information here: https://www.eu-japan.eu/events/vulcanus-japan and https://www.eu-japan.eu/sites/default/files/imce/VJ%20_flyer_en_PERMANENT-.pdf