The glass-walled European Parliament Paul Henri-Spaak building facade in Brussels.

Germany 2026 exchanges: selection is handled per host university, usually with internal deadlines several months before the exchange semester

Baden-Württemberg Stipendium for International Students

The Baden-Württemberg Stipendium is a state-funded exchange scholarship run by the Baden-Württemberg Stiftung, supporting international students who spend a temporary study period (typically 3–11 months) at a university in the German state of Baden-Württemberg — home to Heidelberg, Stuttgart, Karlsruhe (KIT), Freiburg, Mannheim, Tübingen, and others. The grant is around €600–€700 per month to help with living costs during the exchange. It is important to be honest about what this is: it funds an exchange or partial-study period, not a full degree, and it is almost always administered through the host university's own international office and its partner-university network rather than by direct individual application to the foundation. For Sri Lankan students, the realistic path is either (a) being nominated through your home university's partnership with a Baden-Württemberg university, or (b) already being enrolled at a Baden-Württemberg university and applying for an outgoing/incoming exchange under the programme. If you want a full German degree with living costs covered, DAAD or a Deutschlandstipendium is the better fit — treat this as a targeted exchange grant.

Baden-Württemberg Stiftung

Government-funded

emoji_events Award Overview

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Value

€600–€700/month

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Duration

3–11 month exchange

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Scope

Temporary study, not a full degree

fact_check Eligibility Criteria

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International Student

Open to international students, including from Sri Lanka, coming to Baden-Württemberg for a defined study period. Applied via the host university, not by direct application to the foundation.

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Exchange / Partial Study

The scholarship funds a temporary exchange semester or two — not a full Bachelor's/Master's degree. You need a link to a participating Baden-Württemberg university, usually through a partnership or enrolment there.

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University Nomination

Selection runs through the host university's international office and its partner network. Your realistic route is nomination via a university partnership or an internal call at a Baden-Württemberg university — check with the relevant international office.

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Language

Requirements depend on the host university and whether your courses are in English or German. English-taught exchange courses accept IELTS or an English-medium degree; German-taught study needs German proficiency.

account_tree Application Process

Identify a Baden-Württemberg host university

Find a participating university in the state (e.g. Heidelberg, KIT, Stuttgart, Freiburg, Mannheim, Tübingen) and confirm whether it offers the Baden-Württemberg Stipendium for incoming students in your field.

Apply through the host's international office

Applications are handled by the host university's international office under the programme's rules — there is generally no direct individual application to the Baden-Württemberg Stiftung. Submit the documents they specify by their internal deadline.

Selection and award

The host university selects scholars from eligible incoming students; awardees receive the monthly grant for the approved exchange period.

Arrange the study/exchange visa

Apply for the appropriate German study visa for your exchange duration, showing the host university's admission/exchange confirmation and the scholarship award.

Why the Baden-Württemberg Stipendium?

Baden-Württemberg is one of Germany's strongest research and industrial regions, home to leading universities and companies in engineering, automotive, and IT. The state's Stiftung funds thousands of exchange scholarships to build international academic links — a good stepping-stone for students wanting a funded German study experience.