The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung is a German foundation dedicated to supporting talented students, including international students, through scholarships that combine academic funding and social/political engagement. It aims to promote education, social justice, and democratic values by supporting students who demonstrate a commitment to social democracy and community work.
FES supports a wide range of academic levels: bachelor’s, master’s (or diploma/state examination), and doctoral (PhD) studies in Germany across nearly all fields of study.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the FES Scholarship, you must typically meet the following criteria:
- Be enrolled (or admitted) at a public / state-recognized German university or university of applied sciences / technical college at the time of application.
- Have excellent academic performance/grades so far.
- Demonstrate social or political engagement, or a commitment to social democracy and values that align with the foundation’s ideals.
- For non-German/international applicants: At the time of application, you must already be studying in Germany if you apply for funding.
- You must have sufficient German language skills, typically proof of an advanced German certificate (DSH-2, TestDaF level 4, Goethe C1, etc.), even if your academic program is in English.
Benefits
If selected, FES offers generous support. Typical benefits for international students include:
- A monthly stipend (grant) — for example, for undergraduates / basic courses about €750–€830 / month; for master’s students around €850 / month.
- Health insurance coverage (or reimbursement) for scholarship holders.
- For scholars with children: a family allowance (e.g. €276 / month) if applicable.
- Support for living costs: the scholarship is intended to cover living expenses in Germany (depending on lifestyle and city).
- Additionally, FES offers an ideational and social-political network — seminars, workshops, and a community of scholars aligned with social democracy, activism, and civic engagement.
Selection Criteria
When deciding on awarding a scholarship, FES pays attention to:
- Academic records and performance — strong grades, potential, and academic promise.
- Social and political commitment/engagement — volunteering, civic activity, commitment to social justice, or community work.
- Motivation and identification with democratic values and social equity.
- German language skills — especially for international students: a proof of German language (DSH-2 / TestDaF / Goethe C1 or equivalent) is required even if your degree is in English.
How to Apply
Here is the typical application process for the FES Scholarship:
- Be enrolled in a German state-recognized university or apply for admission — scholarship applies only if you study in Germany.
- Check application windows/deadlines — FES updates its scholarship call yearly. Deadline guidelines depend on degree type (Bachelor’s, Master’s, etc.).
- Gather required documents, including: academic transcripts, proof of German language skills (DSH/TestDaF/Goethe or equivalent), CV/resume, motivation letter, evidence of social/political engagement, recommendation letters, passport copy, etc.
- Apply (in German language) — applications must be submitted via FES’s application portal, and documents must be mainly in German. International applicants must meet the language requirements.
- If selected, you receive scholarships starting from your next semester. Scholarship holders are expected to maintain good academic performance and to participate in FES-related social and political programs.
Who Should Apply?
This scholarship is especially suitable for:
- International students or refugees already studying in Germany
- Students from working-class or underprivileged backgrounds
- First-generation university students
- Students interested in social justice, democracy, civic engagement, political science, or social sciences, but all fields are eligible.
- People who are fluent (or willing to learn) German
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