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

Germany Check current round

Deutschlandstipendium National Scholarship

Deutschlandstipendium is Germany's national merit scholarship — a public-private partnership between the federal government and private donors (companies, foundations, individuals). Each award pays €300/month: €150 from the government, €150 from a matched private sponsor. It runs for two semesters minimum and may extend for the standard duration of your degree. Unlike DAAD, this is available to international students already enrolled at a German university — not for applicants entering Germany for the first time. Sri Lankan students at Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD level can apply via their German university once enrolled. Each university manages its own selection and quota.

Each German university runs its own annual application cycle — most are open in spring/summer for the following winter semester (October start)

German Federal Ministry of Education and Research

Government-funded

emoji_events Award Overview

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Monthly Stipend

€300/month (income-independent)

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Minimum Duration

2 Semesters (renewable)

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Awards in 2024

~30,500 Scholars Across Germany

info How this award actually works

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This is a separate, highly competitive application

Government awards 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

German Federal Ministry of Education and Research — 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

€300/month (€150 Federal + €150 Private Sponsor) for 2 Semesters Minimum. 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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Enrolled at a Participating German University

You must already be enrolled (or have firm admission) at one of the 300+ participating universities — including TU Munich, RWTH Aachen, TU Berlin, LMU Munich, Heidelberg, and most large public universities. Confirm with your university's scholarship office that they offer Deutschlandstipendium.

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Open to All Nationalities

Available to German and international students at any level (Bachelor's, Master's, PhD). Sri Lankan citizens enrolled at any participating university are eligible — there is no nationality quota.

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Strong Academic Performance

Selection is primarily merit-based — top-of-class results matter most. Universities also consider social engagement, volunteering, leadership, and overcoming personal/financial challenges. Sri Lankans coming from competitive Sri Lankan A/L cohorts or top international Bachelor's typically present well here.

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Stackable

Deutschlandstipendium can be combined with BAföG (German government student aid) and most other private/foundation scholarships up to a monthly cap. It cannot be combined with awards above €30/month from federally-funded programmes designed to promote talented students (e.g. DAAD).

account_tree Application Process

Enrol at a participating university

Secure admission and enrol at a German university that offers the Deutschlandstipendium. New students apply once they have matriculated; some universities allow conditional application alongside admission.

Check your university's call

Each university publishes its own annual call — typically May to July for a winter-semester start. Application portals, required documents, and deadlines vary by institution.

Submit your application

Typically required: transcripts (school + university), CV, motivation letter explaining academic goals + civic engagement, certificates for relevant achievements, and (sometimes) references.

Award + matched sponsorship

Successful scholars are matched with a private sponsor (often a company in their field). Many sponsors offer additional networking events, internships, and mentoring. Awards are usually announced in early autumn for the winter semester.

Why Deutschlandstipendium?

Beyond the €300/month, the real value is the matched private sponsor — typically a German company in your field (Siemens, Bosch, Deutsche Bank, BMW, BASF). Sponsors often invite scholars to networking events, internships, and direct mentoring. This is a meaningful career accelerator for international students looking to enter the German job market.

30,500+

Current Scholars Across Germany

300+

Participating Universities

1 sem

Minimum Enrolment to Apply

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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