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

Germany 2026/27 cycle: applications for international students are accepted in set annual rounds — confirm the current deadline on rosalux.de

Rosa Luxemburg Foundation Scholarship

The Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung (RLS) is the political foundation aligned with Germany's Left party (Die Linke) and one of the six major foundations that fund international students. Its scholarship pays a monthly stipend of around EUR 992 (LKR 340k+) plus study and situational allowances for Master's and PhD students enrolled at German universities. RLS is explicitly values-driven: it seeks applicants who combine academic strength with a demonstrated commitment to social justice, democracy, anti-racism, gender equality, labour rights, peace and ecological sustainability. For Sri Lankan applicants with backgrounds in trade-union work, human-rights or community organising, post-conflict and reconciliation research, feminist or climate activism, or critical social science, RLS offers a genuine, ideologically distinct funding route alongside DAAD, FES and Böll. You must already hold admission to a German university; confirm current terms on the RLS website.

Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung

External Organization-funded

emoji_events Award Overview

savings

Value

~EUR 992/mo + Allowances

school

Level

Master's / PhD

public

Scope

International Students in Germany

fact_check Eligibility Criteria

school

Enrolled at a German University

You must hold admission to, or be enrolled at, a state or state-recognised German university for a Master's or PhD. RLS funds enrolled students, not the admission stage. All disciplines are eligible, with a lean toward social sciences and humanities.

work

Strong Academic Record

A first-class or strong upper-second Bachelor's for Master's applicants, or a strong Master's plus a clear, socially-engaged research proposal for PhD applicants. Sri Lankan qualifications are assessed on equivalence.

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Social-Justice Engagement

RLS expects a demonstrated commitment to emancipatory, left-democratic politics — social justice, anti-racism, gender equality, labour and human rights, peace, or ecology — shown through concrete civic, union, NGO or activist engagement.

language

German Language Ability

German at roughly B2 or above is strongly preferred, since RLS scholar seminars and political-education programmes run largely in German. English-taught programme students should show a plan to reach working German.

account_tree Application Process

Secure your German university place

Apply for and obtain admission to a German Master's or PhD programme. Line up your university offer before or alongside the RLS scholarship application.

Apply through the RLS portal

Submit CV, motivation letter, transcripts, proof of admission, references, and evidence of political/social engagement through the RLS scholarship portal within the current round.

Assessment and interview

Shortlisted candidates are interviewed by an RLS selection panel that explores academic plans and social-justice engagement. Interviews are usually conducted in German.

Award and scholar community

Selected scholars receive the monthly stipend and join the RLS scholar community of seminars, working groups and mentoring, with active participation expected.

Why Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung?

Founded in 1990 and based in Berlin, the Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung is one of Germany's largest providers of scholarships for engaged students, with offices and partners across the globe. Its scholar community is united by critical, emancipatory politics — a strong fit for Sri Lankan students in social science, human rights, peace and development studies who want funding plus a values-based network.