Free University of Berlin Master’s Scholarships 2027 in Germany

Freie Universität Berlin (Free University of Berlin) was established in 1948 and is located in Berlin, Germany. It is one of Germany’s leading public research universities and has a strong international academic reputation. In the QS World University Rankings 2027, Freie Universität Berlin is ranked #98 worldwide. The university does not publish a single overall acceptance rate because admission varies by Master’s program, with some programs having restricted admission and others admitting students who meet the required qualifications.

For Master’s students, the most relevant university-linked funding opportunities include the Deutschlandstipendium and STIBET I scholarships for international students. FU Berlin also provides information about external funding opportunities for international students.

3 Important Master’s Scholarship Opportunities

1. Deutschlandstipendium
2. STIBET I Scholarship for Expanding Access
3. PROMOS Scholarship

1. Deutschlandstipendium

The Deutschlandstipendium is one of the most important scholarship opportunities for Master’s students at Freie Universität Berlin. It supports talented students from all nationalities and academic disciplines and can be awarded to students who have already been admitted to FU Berlin or are currently enrolled.

Benefits

• €300 per month
• Funding for a minimum of two semesters
• Scholarships normally start in October
• Possible extension
• Additional networking and non-financial support
• Half of the funding comes from the German federal government and half from private sponsors.

Eligibility

1. Must have an admission letter from Freie Universität Berlin or be enrolled at FU Berlin.
2. Must be pursuing a degree at FU Berlin, including a Master’s program
3. Students of all nationalities can apply.
4. Must remain within the standard period of study during the funding period.
5. Must demonstrate strong academic performance and meet the university’s selection criteria.
6. Exchange students who are not pursuing a degree at FU Berlin are not eligible.

Required Documents

Applicants should prepare:

• Bachelor’s degree certificate
• Academic transcripts
• Admission letter, if applicable
• CV
• Evidence of academic achievements
• Evidence of extracurricular or social engagement
• Other documents requested by the online application system

How to Apply

1. Choose an eligible Master’s program at Freie Universität Berlin.
2. Apply for admission to the Master’s program.
3. Receive your admission letter or enroll at FU Berlin.
4. Prepare your academic and supporting documents.
5. Open the Deutschlandstipendium online application during the announced application period.
6. Complete the online application form.
7. Upload the required documents.
8. Submit the application before the deadline.
9. Wait for the scholarship selection decision.

The scholarship application is submitted electronically through the university’s online application system.

Application Deadline

For the 2026/27 funding year, applications were accepted from 16 July to 13 August 2026. The 2027/28 deadline should be confirmed when FU Berlin publishes the next call.

2. STIBET I Scholarship for Expanding Access

The STIBET I Scholarship for Expanding Access is particularly relevant for international Master’s students already enrolled at Freie Universität Berlin who face specific personal or social circumstances.

The program is funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) with funds from the German Federal Foreign Office.

Benefits

Under the latest published call:

• €250 per month
• Funding for 10 months
• Funding period: March–December 2026
• A total of 10 students were scheduled to receive the scholarship.

Eligibility

1. Must be an international student.
2. Must currently be enrolled at Freie Universität Berlin.
3. Must be pursuing a Bachelor’s, State Examination, or Master’s degree.
4. Must have obtained the higher-education entrance qualification outside Germany.
5. Must not currently be a German citizen.
6. Must regularly attend university classes.
7. Must remain enrolled at FU Berlin throughout the funding period.
8. Must meet at least one of the special circumstances covered by the scholarship.

Special Circumstances

The latest call included students with:

• Refugee background
• Children under 12
• Caregiving responsibilities
• Disability of at least 50 under the German system
• Chronic illness that may adversely affect academic achievement.

Important Selection Point

For this STIBET scholarship, academic grades are not considered when awarding the scholarship under the latest published call.

Required Documents

Applicants should prepare:

• Current certificate of enrolment
• Proof of regular university attendance
• Evidence of the relevant special circumstance
• Proof of nationality/status where required
• Other supporting documents requested in the annual call

How to Apply

1. First, obtain admission and enroll in a Master’s program at FU Berlin.
2. Check the latest STIBET call and eligibility requirements.
3. Confirm that you meet one of the specified special circumstances.
4. Collect documentary evidence of your circumstances.
5. Prepare your current enrolment certificate.
6. Complete the STIBET scholarship application.
7. Upload the required documents.
8. Submit the application before the announced deadline.
9. Wait for the selection decision.

Application Deadline

The latest published application deadline was 11 January 2026 for the 2026 funding period. A 2027 deadline should be confirmed through the next official FU Berlin call.

3. PROMOS Scholarship

The PROMOS Scholarship is a mobility funding program administered by Freie Universität Berlin and supported by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). It is relevant to Master’s students enrolled at FU Berlin who plan an eligible study, research, or internship stay abroad.

It is therefore not a general scholarship for the full Master’s degree at FU Berlin. Instead, it can help fund an approved period abroad during your Master’s studies.

Benefits

Depending on the funding category and destination, PROMOS can provide:

• Partial scholarship
• Travel grant
• Course-fee grant
• Course-fee grant of up to €500 for eligible language or academic courses
• Additional funding for certain disability-related or chronic-illness-related expenses may be available.

Eligibility

1. Must be enrolled at Freie Universität Berlin when undertaking the funded stay.
2. Master’s students can apply.
3. The proposed activity abroad must fall within an eligible PROMOS funding category.
4. Must meet the specific requirements for the selected funding category.
5. The maximum cumulative funding for studies/research and internship stays is generally six months within one study phase, including the Master’s phase.

Required Documents

Depending on the type of stay, applicants may need:

• Proof of enrolment at FU Berlin
• Academic records
• CV
• Motivation letter
• Description of the planned study/research/internship
• Confirmation from the host institution
• Proof of language proficiency where required
• Other programme-specific documents

How to Apply

1. Enroll in a Master’s program at Freie Universität Berlin.
2. Identify an eligible study, research, or internship opportunity abroad.
3. Check the PROMOS funding category applicable to your planned stay.
4. Prepare your academic and mobility documents.
5. Complete the PROMOS application.
6. Upload the required supporting documents.
7. Submit the application during the appropriate application period.
8. Wait for the university’s selection decision.

Application Deadline

FU Berlin generally has two PROMOS application periods each year:

• October/November for stays beginning from January to June of the following year.
• April/May for stays beginning from July to December of the same year.

Exact 2027 deadlines should be checked on the current FU Berlin PROMOS announcement.

Conclusion

The Free University of Berlin Master’s Scholarships 2027 provide several opportunities for international students to receive financial support during their postgraduate studies. The Deutschlandstipendium is the most relevant general scholarship because it is open to students of all nationalities and provides €300 per month for at least two semesters. International Master’s students who are already enrolled at FU Berlin can also explore STIBET I, while PROMOS can provide financial support for eligible study, research and internship stays abroad. Since the 2027 scholarship deadlines have not all been announced yet, prospective students should prepare their documents early and monitor the official FU Berlin scholarship pages.

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