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

Germany Applications accepted twice yearly — typically deadlines mid-January and mid-July

Friedrich Ebert Stiftung International Scholarship

Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) is one of Germany's six major political foundations, aligned with the SPD (Social Democratic Party). It funds approximately 350 international scholarship holders annually from over 80 countries — covering tuition, a monthly stipend of EUR 1,000+ (LKR 345k+), books, and additional health insurance support. FES funds Master's and PhD students enrolled at German universities (you must already hold admission). It distinguishes itself from other German scholarships by explicitly valuing applicants' social-democratic political engagement: union activism, civic engagement, gender equality work, refugee/migrant rights, social justice. Sri Lankan applicants with track records in NGO leadership, trade union organising, women's rights, or progressive media are well-positioned.

Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung

External Organization-funded

emoji_events Award Overview

savings

Value

EUR 1,000+/mo + Tuition + Books

school

Duration

Full Master's / PhD

groups

Awards

~350 per Year Globally

fact_check Eligibility Criteria

school

Master's or PhD Admission

You must be enrolled at, or hold admission to, a state or state-accredited German university for a Master's or PhD programme. Pre-applicants without admission are not eligible. Programmes can be in any discipline.

volunteer_activism

Social-Democratic Values + Engagement

FES explicitly looks for applicants who share democratic-socialist / social-democratic values and demonstrate this through concrete engagement — trade unions, NGOs, civic movements, gender-equality work, refugee/migrant support, climate activism. Pure academic profiles without political/civic engagement rarely succeed.

work

Strong Academic Record

First-class or strong second-upper Bachelor's degree (for Master's applicants). For PhD applicants, a strong Master's plus a clear research proposal aligned with FES's thematic interests (social democracy, labour, gender, climate, peace, etc.).

language

German Language Skills

FES strongly prefers applicants with German proficiency (B2+ recommended). English-only candidates can apply but face significant disadvantage — FES holds many of its scholar events, seminars, and political education programmes in German.

account_tree Application Process

Secure German university admission first

Apply to and gain admission to your German university and Master's/PhD programme. FES does NOT fund admission applications — you must already hold an offer. Apply for the FES scholarship in parallel with or shortly before/after admission.

Submit FES online application

Apply via the FES online portal in January or July round. Required: detailed CV emphasising political/civic engagement, motivation letter, academic transcripts, two recommendations (at least one from outside academia — e.g. NGO supervisor, union leader), proof of admission.

Interview with FES selection committee

Shortlisted candidates are interviewed by an FES selection committee — typically a panel of FES staff and current scholarship holders. Interviews probe both academic plans and political engagement. Interviews are conducted in German wherever possible.

Acceptance + scholar onboarding

Successful applicants accept the scholarship via the FES portal. New scholars attend an FES onboarding seminar in Germany. Stipend is paid monthly into a German bank account. Scholars are expected to participate actively in FES seminars, working groups, and political education programmes.

Why FES?

Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung was founded in 1925 in memory of Friedrich Ebert, Germany's first democratically elected president. It is now one of Germany's most influential political foundations, with offices in 100+ countries and a 9,000+ strong global scholar alumni network. Its scholarship community is distinguished by political engagement and shared social-democratic values — for Sri Lankan applicants with NGO, trade union, or social justice backgrounds, FES offers a unique alternative to purely academic scholarship pathways like DAAD.