The Reichstag building in Berlin with the German flag flying above the glass dome at dusk.

Germany Applications open Closes 30 June 2027

Bayer Foundation International Fellowship

Bayer Foundation International Fellowships are €10,000 awards (around LKR 3.45 million) for postgraduate students and early-career researchers undertaking an international research stay, Master's module, or thesis project abroad — particularly in the fields of medicine, agriculture, life sciences, and sustainable development. Unlike full Master's scholarships, these are project-specific awards designed to enable specific research mobility (typically 3-6 months) at a top institution outside the applicant's home country. The Foundation funds 30-50 fellowships each year across multiple programme tracks (Otto Bayer / Carl Duisberg / Hermann Strenger). The award is open to Sri Lankan applicants doing research stays at German universities or applying from Sri Lanka to do research at any peer country.

Open year-round — application reviews held quarterly (March, June, September, December)

Bayer Foundation

External Organization-funded

emoji_events Award Overview

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Value

Up to €10,000 (LKR 3.45M)

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Duration

3-6 Month Research Stay

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Awards

30-50 per Year

info How this award actually works

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This is a separate, highly competitive application

Awards from external organisations like this one run their own selection round against applicants from across the world, and success rates are usually in the low single digits. Lanka Scholar does not administer it and cannot submit it for you. Treat it as a bonus on top of a funded study plan — never as the plan itself.

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Who awards it

Bayer Foundation — not Lanka Scholar. We are not the awarding body and cannot grant, reserve or guarantee this award.

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How you are considered

Through a separate application round run by the funder, with its own forms, deadlines and shortlisting. You submit it yourself — it is not part of a university admission application.

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What it covers

Up to €10,000 for Research Stays / Master's Modules. Read the terms carefully: even fully-funded awards rarely cover every cost, and any shortfall is yours to fund.

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Where we come in

We help you judge whether this award is worth your time, and build a realistic admission plan that works whether or not you win it.

fact_check Eligibility Criteria

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Postgrad or Early Researcher

Open to medical students, doctoral candidates, postdoctoral researchers, and Master's students in life sciences, agriculture, medicine, food science, or sustainable development. Applicants must have completed at least their first year of an undergraduate medical / science degree.

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Defined Research Project

You must have a concrete research project agreed with a host institution and supervisor in advance of applying. Typical projects: 3-6 months of laboratory research, clinical attachment, agricultural field study, or thesis research at a German or peer-country institution.

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International Mobility

The fellowship funds research mobility — typically a student going from their home country to a host institution in a different country. Sri Lankan applicants typically use the award to fund a research stay at a German university (RWTH, TU Munich, Heidelberg, etc.) or partner institution.

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English or German Proficiency

Working language is determined by the host research lab. Most German research labs operate in English. Sri Lankan applicants do not need formal IELTS / TOEFL for the fellowship application itself — the host supervisor's confirmation that you can communicate professionally is the operative requirement.

account_tree Application Process

Secure host institution agreement

Identify a host institution and research supervisor 4-6 months before your intended start date. Exchange CV, transcripts, and a 1-2 page research proposal. Obtain a formal letter of agreement from the host supervisor confirming dates, scope, and supervision.

Submit Bayer Foundation application

Apply online via the Bayer Foundation portal (bayer-foundations.com). The application includes: CV, full transcripts, detailed research proposal, host supervisor letter, home supervisor letter, budget plan, and statement on expected scientific / societal impact.

Quarterly review

Applications are reviewed quarterly by the Foundation's scientific advisory board (March, June, September, December). Outcomes are typically released 6-8 weeks after the review deadline. Some applicants are asked for additional clarification on methodology or budget.

Award disbursement

Successful awardees receive the €10,000 in two instalments — 70% at the start of the research stay, 30% on submission of an interim / final scientific report. Awardees must publish or present the research output at a recognised conference / journal within 12 months of completion.

Why the Bayer Foundation?

The Bayer Foundation has supported over 700 international fellows since the programme's founding, with alumni at top medical schools, biotech firms, agricultural research institutes, and global health bodies worldwide. The Foundation's emphasis on tangible research output and supervisor partnerships makes the award particularly valuable as a CV signal for early-career applicants planning long-term research careers.

700+

Fellows Funded Since 1972

€10,000

Standard Award Value

Year-round

Application Window

Looking for a scholarship because of the cost?

Then start here instead. Scholarships are competitive, usually partial, and decided by someone else — they are the least reliable way to make studying abroad affordable. Your destination and course choice move the number far more, and both are entirely within your control.

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