If you are planning to study overseas, a scholarship for study in Germany is one of the most practical ways to fund it. Public universities in most German states charge no tuition fees for international and Indian students, so scholarships mainly cover living costs, health insurance and travel. Funding comes from the German government through DAAD, from political and church foundations, and from individual universities, and awards are decided on academic record, language proficiency and social commitment.
- Public universities in most German states charge no tuition fees, so students pay only a semester contribution of 70 to 430 euros, while Baden-Wuerttemberg charges non-EU students 1,500 euros per semester
- DAAD scholarship rates are 992 euros a month for students and 1,300 euros a month for doctoral candidates
- DAAD sets no single minimum IELTS score; each programme publishes its own language rule
- The Deutschlandstipendium pays 300 euros a month, half federal and half private.
What Scholarships Are Available for Indian Students After 12th in Germany?
After Class 12 the realistic routes are the Deutschlandstipendium, worth 300 euros a month to students of any nationality, DAAD summer course grants for applicants with B1 German, IAESTE technical internships, and merit awards at private universities such as Constructor University Bremen, which offers up to 10,000 euros a year.
A course chosen straight after Class 12 sets up the rest of a career, and Germany is an attractive place to start one because public universities charge no tuition fees in most states. At this stage the funding on offer is smaller than at master's level, because DAAD concentrates its own scholarships on graduates and researchers. What is open to school leavers is university-level merit money, the Deutschlandstipendium once you are enrolled, and short DAAD grants for summer courses and internships.
The following scholarships are open to Indian students after Class 12 in 2026:
| Scholarship (2026) | Provider | Who is eligible | What it pays |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deutschlandstipendium | Participating German universities, federal government and private sponsors | Students of all nationalities enrolled at or admitted to a participating German university, up to Diplom or Master's level; doctoral students cannot apply | 300 euros a month, half from the state and half from private sponsors, awarded for one year with repeat application possible |
| DAAD University Summer Courses (HSK) | DAAD | Undergraduate and graduate students of any subject registered at a higher education institution in India, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka, with at least B1 German | Funding for the duration of the course, which must run at least 18 teaching days |
| IAESTE internships (processed at Manipal Institute of Technology, MAHE) | DAAD and IAESTE | Students in natural sciences, engineering, agriculture and forestry at bachelor, master or PhD level | Funded internship exchange with Germany lasting 2 to 12 months |
| Academic Achievement Scholarship | Constructor University Bremen (renamed from Jacobs University Bremen in 2022) | All applicants are considered automatically on their school grade point average, with no separate application | Up to 7,000 euros a year |
| Talent Scholarship | Constructor University Bremen | Applicants with a strong GPA plus extracurricular involvement; SAT scores required; deadline 1 February 2026 | 10,000 euros a year |
What Undergraduate Scholarships Are Available for Indian Students in Germany?
Undergraduate funding in Germany is mostly about living costs, because public universities charge no tuition in most states. The Deutschlandstipendium pays 300 euros a month to students of all nationalities up to Master's level. Private universities add their own awards: Constructor University Bremen grants up to 10,000 euros a year.
An undergraduate degree is the first step into a professional career, and many Indian students choose German universities for their bachelor's because state universities charge no tuition fees and private universities compete on scholarships. The semester contribution at a public university is between 70 and 430 euros and covers student services and usually a public transport pass. Baden-Wuerttemberg is the one state that charges non-EU students tuition, at 1,500 euros per semester.
The following scholarships support undergraduate study in Germany for Indian students:
| Scholarship (2026) | Provider | Who is eligible | What it pays |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deutschlandstipendium | Participating German universities | First-semester and higher-semester students of all nationalities apply directly to their own university; awarded regardless of parental income | 300 euros a month for a year, half state funded and half from private sponsors |
| Talent Scholarship | Constructor University Bremen | Bachelor applicants with a strong GPA and extracurricular record; SAT required; apply by 1 February 2026 | 10,000 euros a year |
| Academic Achievement Scholarship | Constructor University Bremen | Awarded automatically on school GPA to all bachelor applicants | Up to 7,000 euros a year |
| Stiftung Metall Unterweser (SMU) Scholarship | Constructor University Bremen | Assessed on GPA and extracurricular activities; deadline 1 February 2026 | Up to 9,166 euros a year |
| Fee reductions in place of scholarships | IU International University of Applied Sciences (renamed from IUBH in 2021) | All enrolling students; IU confirms it does not award scholarships and offers fee reductions instead | 2 percent discount for yearly payment and up to 10 percent for upfront payment |
MS in Germany 2026: universities, costs and admissionRead →
What Masters Scholarships Are Available for Indian Students in Germany?
Master's applicants have the widest choice. DAAD funds EPOS courses for graduates with two years of work experience and the Helmut Schmidt Programme in public policy. Political foundations such as Heinrich Boell, Friedrich Ebert and Rosa Luxemburg fund master's study, and Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters covers tuition, travel and a living allowance.
Master's level is where German funding is deepest. DAAD runs several postgraduate schemes, the political foundations fund graduates who show social and political commitment as well as good grades, and the European Union funds Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters consortia. Read each call closely, because some foundations only fund students who are already enrolled in Germany and several require German at B2 or C1 level rather than English.
The following scholarships support master's study in Germany for Indian students:
| Scholarship (2026) | Provider | Who is eligible | What it pays |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAAD Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS) | DAAD | Graduates from developing countries with at least 2 years of professional experience, applying to preselected courses | Master's or PhD funding for 12 to 40 months at the DAAD student rate of 992 euros a month |
| DAAD Helmut Schmidt Programme (Public Policy and Good Governance) | DAAD | International graduates entering political science, law, economics or administration programmes | Master's funding for 12 to 42 months depending on programme length |
| Heinrich Boell Foundation scholarship | Heinrich Boell Stiftung, funded by the BMBF and the Federal Foreign Office | International students who completed their first degree abroad, and international PhD students; priority to DAC-country applicants not yet resident in Germany | Monthly scholarship plus allowances for master's and PhD study; application windows 15 July to 1 September 2026 and 15 January to 1 March 2027 |
| Friedrich Ebert Stiftung basic funding | Friedrich Ebert Stiftung | Foreign students already studying at a German university with proven German language skills; the application itself is submitted in German | 992 euros a month for students and 1,500 euros a month for postgraduates, plus 276 euros family allowance where applicable |
| Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung study scholarship | Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung, funded by the Federal Foreign Office | Foreign nationals with a completed bachelor's, enrolled or admitted at a state-recognised German university, B2 German, in Germany no longer than 15 months | Master's-level funding; bachelor's degrees and second full degrees are not funded |
| Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters scholarships | European Union | Students worldwide with a bachelor's degree or in their final bachelor year; applications usually run October to January | Participation costs plus contributions to travel, visa costs and a living allowance |
How Can Indian Students Get Scholarships to Study in Germany?
Shortlist programmes in the DAAD scholarship database, check each call for applications, then assemble transcripts, a one to three page letter of motivation, references from doctorate-holding teachers, and proof of proficiency in the language of instruction. DAAD sets no single minimum IELTS score; every programme publishes its own language rule and closing date.
Because scholarships for study in Germany come from DAAD, from private and church foundations and from individual universities, the application process varies from one provider to another. There is still a common sequence that works for almost all of them, and following it in order keeps you inside the deadlines published in each call for applications.
The common steps to follow when applying for a German scholarship are:
- Step 1: Shortlist programmes in the DAAD scholarship database and on the funding pages of German foundations, and check which ones accept applicants who are still in India.
- Step 2: Read the call for applications for each shortlisted programme. Eligibility, closing dates and language rules are set programme by programme, not centrally.
- Step 3: Check the language rule early. DAAD accepts TestDaF, DSH and Goethe-Zertifikat for German and IELTS, TOEFL iBT or Cambridge English for English, and certificates should be under three years old.
- Step 4: Assemble the documents named in the call, which typically means transcripts and degree certificates, language certificates, references from university teachers holding a doctorate, a letter of motivation of one to three pages and, for research programmes, a proposal of up to ten pages.
- Step 5: Confirm whether the foundation requires you to already be enrolled in Germany. Friedrich Ebert and Rosa Luxemburg fund foreign students who are already studying at a German university, while KAAD applies through regional partner committees in your home country.
- Step 6: Apply to one scheme at a time where duplicate funding is barred. The Deutschlandstipendium excludes anyone already receiving performance-based funding of more than 30 euros a month.
Note: with proper planning and the right documents, Indian students can secure funding that covers living costs and insurance. Since tuition is usually zero at a public university, work out which scholarship best matches your level, your language ability and your field before you apply.
What Engineering Scholarships Are Available for Indian Students in Germany?
Engineering students should look at DAAD KOSPIE, which funds IIT students for up to seven months of master's thesis work at a TU9 university, DLR-DAAD research fellowships in aerospace and energy, IAESTE internships lasting two to twelve months, and the Deutschlandstipendium at 300 euros a month.
Germany is a strong destination for engineering, and DAAD runs programmes built specifically around Indian engineering students. KOSPIE places IIT students at the TU9 group of technical universities for thesis work, DLR-DAAD fellowships attach researchers to the German Aerospace Centre, and IAESTE handles funded technical internships. These sit alongside the general schemes that engineering students can also apply to.
The following scholarships support engineering study and research in Germany for Indian students:
| Scholarship (2026) | Provider | Who is eligible | What it pays |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAAD KOSPIE with Indian IITs | DAAD | Students at Indian Institutes of Technology doing master's thesis project work at a TU9 university such as RWTH Aachen, TU Berlin, TU Dresden, TU Braunschweig, Leibniz Hannover, KIT, TU Munich, Stuttgart or TU Darmstadt | Funds a stay of up to 7 months |
| DLR-DAAD Research Fellowships | German Aerospace Centre (DLR) with DAAD | Postgraduates in aeronautics, space, energy, transport and digitalisation, hosted at a DLR institute | Fellowship of up to 9 months at master's level and up to 36 months for a full PhD |
| IAESTE technical internships | DAAD and IAESTE, processed in India at MAHE Manipal | Engineering, natural science, agriculture and forestry students at bachelor, master or PhD level | Funded internship of 2 to 12 months |
| DAAD EPOS | DAAD | Engineering graduates from developing countries with 2 years of professional experience | 12 to 40 months of funding for a preselected postgraduate course |
| Deutschlandstipendium | Participating German universities | Engineering students of any nationality enrolled at or admitted to a participating university | 300 euros a month for one year |
| Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters scholarships | European Union | Engineering graduates applying to a joint master's consortium; applications usually October to January | Participation costs, travel, visa costs and a living allowance |
What Fully Funded Scholarships Can Indian Students Get in Germany?
Fully funded options are led by DAAD, which pays 992 euros a month to students and 1,300 euros a month to doctoral candidates plus travel and insurance. Friedrich Ebert Stiftung pays 992 euros a month to students and 1,500 euros to postgraduates already studying in Germany, while Heinrich Boell and KAAD fund master's and doctoral study.
Most students prefer a fully funded scholarship, meaning one that covers living costs, health insurance and travel rather than just a tuition discount. In Germany these come from DAAD and from the political and church foundations. Almost all of them are aimed at graduates, doctoral candidates and researchers rather than school leavers, and several assess social or political commitment alongside academic record.
The following fully funded scholarships are open to Indian students in Germany:
| Scholarship (2026) | Provider | Who is eligible | What it pays |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAAD scholarship programmes | DAAD, the largest funding organisation of its kind, supporting well over 100,000 students and researchers a year | Mainly graduates, doctoral candidates and postdoctoral researchers; criteria are set programme by programme in the scholarship database | 992 euros a month for students and 1,300 euros a month for doctoral candidates, plus a flat-rate travel allowance and health insurance |
| Heinrich Boell Foundation scholarship | Heinrich Boell Stiftung | International graduates and PhD students who completed their previous degree abroad | Monthly scholarship plus allowances; apply 15 July to 1 September 2026 or 15 January to 1 March 2027 |
| Friedrich Ebert Stiftung basic funding | Friedrich Ebert Stiftung | Foreign students already enrolled in Germany with a very good command of German; social and political commitment counts alongside grades | 992 euros a month for students and 1,500 euros a month for postgraduates, plus 276 euros family allowance |
| KAAD Scholarship Programme 1 | Katholischer Akademischer Auslaender-Dienst (KAAD) | Applicants who come from and currently live in a developing or emerging country in Africa, Asia, the Middle East or Latin America, of Catholic or Christian denomination (others may be nominated by Catholic partners), holding a degree plus professional experience and B1 German, or A2 for English-taught courses | Master's, PhD, postgraduate or research-stay funding, plus a German course of up to 6 months |
| Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung doctoral scholarship | Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung | Doctoral candidates from Germany and abroad in all disciplines except medicine, supervised by a university lecturer in Germany, with B2 German and no more than 15 months already spent in Germany | Doctoral funding; duplicate public funding and prior doctoral funding beyond three years are excluded |