(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. AuslandsBAföG is independent of other funding programs or scholarships and can be combined with them.

More information about the possibilities, conditions and application procedures for AuslandsBAföG can be found at the relevant offices for education funding. For an overview, see our flyer, the homepage of the German Student Union (Deutsches Studentenwerk) or Bafög: Auslandsförderung.

Funding is available for subject-oriented study visits and for mandatory internships (required by the study regulations). Your stay abroad must last at least 6 months (one semester) and an internship at least 12 weeks in order to receive BAföG funding. 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 abroad. Studying in EU member states is supported until the foreign degree is obtained (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 EU member states, funding is generally provided for continuous stays of one year (up to 5 semesters if there are special reasons). In general, one year of AuslandsBAföG does not count towards domestic funding within Germany.

AuslandsBAföG offers the following benefits:

• foreign allowances in addition to domestic funding for stays outside the EU
• funding for verifiably necessary tuition fees (up to 4,600 euros per academic year)
• travel expenses for an outbound and return journey
• costs of health insurance are covered

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 2nd semester onwards. In addition to these general one-year scholarships, there is also a great variety of special calls for applications, e.g. for specific subjects or for combined study and practical placements. DAAD scholarships usually cannot be combined with Erasmus+ funding.

The DAAD scholarship database provides a comprehensive overview of all programs offered. There are separate databases for German nationals and international students, as some funding programs may not be available independently of nationality.

How to apply

• Applications are submitted online via the DAAD website. Starting from the database, you can find the detail sites for each program, and submit your application there.
• The deadlines for most programs are set in the autumn of the preceding year.
• Tip: Start early in order to meet the relatively early deadlines.
• Tip: If you apply for a PROMOS scholarship, also apply for a DAAD scholarship if you would like to stay abroad (study + internship) for longer than one semester.

Contact
Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst e.V.
Kennedyallee 50
53175 Bonn
Tel: +49 228 882-0
www.daad.de

The Pedagogical Exchange Service (Pädagogischer Austauschdienst, PAD) offered by the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (Kultusministerkonferenz) promotes cooperation between pedagogical institutions. In the foreign language assistance project, students can contribute to foreign language teaching at their host schools, and at the same time, gain teaching experience abroad.

This project is primarily aimed at students in teacher training programs, particularly for those enrolled in foreign language specialisations. Students of the national language of their preferred host country usually have priority during the application procedure. However, students in other teacher training specialisations and even students of other subject areas can apply as well.

Requirements

• enrollment at a German university
• participation is also possible if you are already exmatriculated but not yet working as a teacher, e.g. between undergraduate and graduate studies, between Master's and traineeship (Referendariat) or after traineeship

Scholarship details

• country-dependent monthly allowance to cover living expenses
• country-dependent duration, with a range of 6 to 11 months

How to apply

• Deadline: November 11 for the USA, January 6 for all other countries (as of 07/2025)
• Further details and information on how to apply can be found on the website of the Pedagogical Exchange Service.

Pädagogischer Austauschdienst (PAD)
des Sekretariats der Kultusministerkonferenz
Graurheindorfer Straße 157
53117 Bonn
Phone: +49 228 / 501-0

www.kmk-pad.org

The Roland-Ernst-Stiftung für Gesundheitswesen awards scholarships for one-semester to one-year stays abroad in the field of public health. Students, graduates and doctoral students of medicine, medical technology, natural sciences, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science and economics can apply.

Funding is available for projects in specialised studies with a connection to medicine and /or an interdisciplinary approach that are implemented in the context of a diploma thesis or a doctorate. The project can be planned at a university, a non-university research institute or as field research.

For further information, see the foundation website (available in German).

Application deadlines (as of 07/2025)

• April 30 (for the following winter semester)
• November 01 (for the following summer semester)
• Applications must be submitted online via TUD's application portal.

Application documents

• Application form. The form is generated after you successfully submitted your personal data in the application portal. At this point, you need to sign it and add a passport photo before uploading it again. 
• Curriculum vitae
• Detailed description of your study or research project
• Diploma certificate or intermediate diploma and other certificates of achievement
• Expert opinion of your project supervisor: German(Word/PDF), English(Word/PDF)
• Additional expert opinion with a professional statement on the planned project by a university lecturer with a PhD: 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 during the period of stay (can be handed in later when you begin your stay abroad).

Some of our partner universities award their own scholarships to international students (e.g. Åbo Akademi in Finland or Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic).

For further information, consult the Infocenter of TUD's International Office and subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date. Furthermore, you should contact your chosen host university on an individual basis in good time.

Working as a teaching or research assistant at the host university is another funding option. Tuition fees are usually reduced or even waived for students in assistant positions. In some cases, there may also be additional financial support on a monthly basis. Assistantships are particularly common at US and Canadian universities, and get preferentially awarded to students in higher semesters. Contact the universities directly for more information.

The Franco-German Youth Office promotes exchange between young people from Germany and France. It offers a wide range of programs for this purpose. For students, the following programs are especially of interest.

Scholarships for research stays

• for students of all departments from the 5th semester onwards who plan to do research on a German-French topic at a French college or university in France
• maximum duration of 5 months
• study visit must be part of the degree course and count towards the degree
• the stay cannot already be funded by other programs (ERASMUS, DAAD,...)
• How to apply: Submit your application via your French host university. The application deadline ends 3 months before the start date. 

Short-term scholarship for the preparation of a thesis

• for students of all departments from the 5th semester onwards who plan to do research or conduct interviews at French institutions or with persons in France
• Application is the responsibility of the German home university
• How to apply: Submit your application via your German home university. The application deadline ends 3 months before the start date. 

Scholarships for French language courses

• As preparation for a semester, year or internship (at least 6 weeks) abroad in France. The stay abroad must be recognized by the German university as part of the standard period of study of the respective study program.
• How to apply: The application deadline ends 2 months before the start of the language course. Send the application form to Eurozentrum Köln (Sedanstraße 31-33, 50668 Cologne; Tel: +49 221 97 30 92 0)

Scholarship for study-related internships

• for mandatory internships
• funding duration from 1 to 3 months, up to €300 per month plus a travel allowance
• The scholarship can be combined with other funding programs including Erasmus+, provided that the funding and any remuneration for the internship do not exceed a total monthly amount of €1,200.
• How to apply: Your home university submits the application at least one month before the start of the internship. Further details here (available in German and French).

Franco-German Youth Office
51, rue de l'Amiral-Mouchez / Molkenmarkt 1
F 75013 Paris / 10179 Berlin
Phone: +49 (0)30 288 757-0
www.dfjw.org

The Fulbright Commission is dedicated to academic exchange and transatlantic dialogue between the United States and Germany. It awards study and travel grants for undergraduate and graduate study in the United States. Scholarships for PhD students are also available. Scholarship holders can deepen their knowledge of the United States, and in turn promote the understanding of German culture in the US.

Conditions

• for study stays of 4 to 9 months duration
• Residence scholarships (link in German) are announced approximately 1.5 years prior to the start of the scholarship (April / May of the previous year).
• Travel grants  (link in German) cover the cost of travel from home to the study site in the US and back.
• Awarded to students who realize their (full time) study stay through a partner program with their own university.

How to apply (as of 07/2025)

• Residence scholarship: Deadline September 2 for the following academic year
• Travel grant: Applications open on November 1 of the preceding academic year, deadline ends February 1.
• For further information, see the Fulbright Commission homepage or ask at the International Office of TUD.

Contact
German Programs
Fulbright-Kommission
Lützowufer 26
10787 Berlin
Contact form

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The GFPS (Society for Student Exchange in Central and Eastern Europe, website available in German only) awards scholarships for a study visit or language course in Poland or the Czech Republic. Promoting cultural exchange is a key objective of the program.

Conditions

• for students and PhD candidates
• The scholarships are awarded for one semester and are only available for study programs held in the respective national language.
• The scholarship includes a monthly amount to cover living costs (approx. 1,300 złoty in Poland, approx. 10,800 koruna in the Czech Republic).
• GFPS also offers support in organizing your stay and in applying for an exemption from tuition fees.

How to apply

• Application periods: In spring for the winter semester of the current year, and in fall for the summer semester of the next year. 
• Further details on application documents and details can be found here.

Contact
GFPS e. V.
P.O. Box 41 03 53
12113 Berlin
Contact form and further information

The Institute of International Education (IIE) is a US non-profit organization focussing on international student exchange and aid, foreign affairs, and international peace and security.

The IIE offers a comprehensive overview of funding options that are available for studying abroad in the US. You can filter for your area of study and country of origin to see which funding options are available to you. There are options for undergraduate, graduate and doctoral studies as well as internships and research fellowships.

The results may overlap with other funding options listed here, as the IIE overview also includes DAAD and Fulbright programs. However, many of the programs listed by IIE are organized and awarded by individual US universities.

The Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) is organized by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and includes a number of scholarship and support programs for international students. 

JASSO Student Exchange Program 

For short-term exchanges of up to one year, you can apply for a JASSO Student Exchange Program scholarship. Scholarship holders receive a monthly stipend of 80,000 JPY to cover their living expenses during the exchange. 

Conditions

• established student exchange agreement between a Japanese university and your home university 
• exchange duration of up to one year (minimum: 8 days)
• insufficient personal financial means for studying in Japan
• any funding received from other scholarships for studying in Japan does not exceed a total of 80,000 JPY per month
• excellent academic and personal records at the home university

How to apply

• applications are submitted by the Japanese host university
• the selection method is different for each school and each program, so contact your Japanese host university and TUD for more information

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 (Atlanta, USA) with a scholarship.

Scholarship details

• monthly funding 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
• a minimum of 6 completed semesters at the start of the scholarship
• good English language skills (TOEFL at least 83 points)
• convincing statement of the study plan
• personality traits such as resilience, communication skills and ability to work in a team
• fulfillment of the specific criteria of the selected Georgia Tech Department

How to apply

• The application deadline ends in November or December of the preceding year for the start of the winter semester in the following year.
• Submit your application via the application portal of TUD.

Application documents:

• Online application: Email to Federica Serra
• Curriculum vitae
• Detailed explanation of the study plan
• Overview of previous study results
• Letters of recommendation from two university teachers (forms are available)
• Proof of language proficiency (TOEFL test results can be submitted later if necessary)

For further information and the current call for applications, please contact:

© Sven Ellger/TUD

Advice on studying abroad

Name

Ms Federica Serra

Infocenter/ Study abroad; TUDworldwide: America

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Contact Information

Organization Name

International Office

International Office

Address work

Visiting address:

Fritz Foerster Bau, Office 161 Mommsenstraße 6

01069 Dresden

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Address postal

Postal address:

TUD Dresden University of Technology International Office

01062 Dresden

work Tel.

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 14.07. - 08.08.2025

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Funding program of the Saxon State Ministry of Science, Culture and Tourism. Students from all Saxon universities can apply for a stay abroad of max. 6 months at a (partner) university in Chile, India, Taiwan and Vietnam.

Application deadlines:

• 31.03. for stays abroad in the following winter semester
• 30.09. for stays abroad in the following summer semester

More information on funding rates, the required application documents, and contact details can be found on the website.

Requirements

• good to very good academic performance
• English proficiency at a level of B2 (minimum)
• convincing motivation for the stay abroad

Project coordinator at TU Dresden

© Sven Ellger | TUD

Project coordinator

Name

Lina Bräu

Saxon Student Mobility Program & Saxon Science Ambassador Program

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Contact Information

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Visiting address:

Fritz Foerster Bau, Office 188A Mommsenstraße 6

01069 Dresden

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work Tel.

Vulcanus is a project of the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation and aimed at students and doctoral candidates in engineering or natural sciences who wish to complete an internship in Japan. Vulcanus is looking for students who are interested in building business contacts and career prospects in Japan and in deepening their knowledge of Japanese culture and language.

Program

• 1. seminar on Japan
• 2. two-month intensive Japanese course
• 3. six-month internship in a Japanese company
• Total period: August to March (8 months)

Scholarship details

• covers costs for Japan seminar and Japanese course 
• accommodation is provided by the host company
• maximum funding of €9,200 for the entire period

Conditions

• EU citizenship or citizenship in an SMP country and enrollment at a university in one of these countries
• enrolled, when applying, in between the 4th official year of studies and the penultimate year of a PhD
• good to very good academic performance and convincing motivation
• English proficiency

How to apply

• The application period begins in November of the previous year.
• First, fill in two forms (1st step, 2nd step). For information on the application procedure and other necessary documents, see this document.

For more information about the Vulcanus program, see the FAQ and website.
Contact: 

Federal scholarships for gifted students are organized through various scholarship foundations. Scholarship applications must be submitted to the individual foundations.

The German Academic Scholarship Foundation (Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes) is the largest, oldest and most well-known of the scholarship foundations for gifted students. It provides funding independently of political, ideological and religious alignment.

The other 12 scholarship foundations are based on a variety of ideological, political or religious orientations. The fit between the candidate's values and those of the scholarship foundation are among the criteria of the selection process. For example, Friedrich Ebert Foundation is looking for social democratic value, while Catholic faith matters for Cusanuswerk. The Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space provides an overview of the various foundations.

The Scholarship Foundation also offers a number of open programs that are available to students or PhD candidates without previous enrollment in the scholarship program. Many of them are particularly interesting for stays abroad. 

Examples of available open programs

ERP Fellowship Programme

• one to two-year research or study visits as part of Master's or PhD programs at top US universities (except Harvard Kennedy School of Government)
• for excellent young academics in all subjects (except arts degree programs)
• more information about the program and the application process

McCloy Scholarship Program

• two-year scholarship for Master's programs at Harvard Kennedy School (particularly interesting for law, economics and social sciences)
• open to students with excellent academic performance of all departments
• more information about the program and the application process

China Scholarship Program

• one-year scholarship combined with an internship of several weeks
• designed to help students acquire language skills, cultural and academic knowledge as well as practical experience in China
• Chinese language courses before and during the main program (mainly language courses in the first semester, more specialized courses in the second semester)
• for highly qualified students of all subjects (except art and design)
• "door opener": applicants with little or no previous contact with China are welcome
• more information (available in German) about the program and application process

Haniel Scholarship Program

• scholarship for a minimum of 2 semesters and a subsequent 2 to 3-month internship in a commercial enterprise, in both non-European and European countries
• The Haniel Foundation wants to promote promising young entrepreneurs and combine entrepreneurial skills with responsibility for society. It supports talented individuals in discovering how entrepreneurial success can be achieved through sustainability.
• excellent academic performance and at least a Bachelor's degree are necessary
• more information (available in German) about the program and application process

Contact

Phone: +49 (0)228 82096-0

www.studienstiftung.de

Bonn Office
Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes
Ahrstrasse 41
53175 Bonn

Berlin Office
Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes
Jägerstraße 22/23
10117 Berlin