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

Germany Open for October 2026 entry — applications close 31 March 2026 (Winter Semester)

RWTH Aachen International Master's Scholarship

The RWTH Aachen International Master's Scholarship is a €1,000-per-month stipend (around LKR 345,000/month) for up to 24 months, designed to support outstanding non-EEA Master's students at RWTH Aachen — Germany's largest technical university. Selection is highly competitive, with around 50 awards across the university each year. RWTH Aachen is part of Germany's Excellence Initiative (TU9 group) and ranks #99 globally (QS 2026), with particular strength in Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, and Computer Engineering. The Master's tuition itself is essentially free under Germany's public university model (around €300/semester in admin fees), so the €1,000/month stipend effectively functions as a full living costs cover for Sri Lankan applicants.

RWTH Aachen University

University-funded

emoji_events Award Overview

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Value

€1,000/mo × 24 mo (€24k / LKR 8.3M)

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Duration

2-Year Master's

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Awards

~50 per Year (Global)

fact_check Eligibility Criteria

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Apply to RWTH Aachen Master's

You must apply for, or be enrolled in, a full-time RWTH Aachen Master's programme. Most engineering / science Master's programmes are eligible. The university hosts strong English-taught Master's in Computer Science, Software Systems Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Robotic Systems, Communications Engineering, and Energy Engineering.

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First-Class Bachelor's

Strong undergraduate record — typically a first-class honours engineering / science degree from Moratuwa, Peradeniya, Colombo, SLIIT, NSBM, or an overseas first-class Bachelor's with research output. RWTH typically converts Sri Lankan first-class to a German grade of around 1.5 (very good).

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Non-EU / EEA Citizen

The scholarship is restricted to non-EU / non-EEA citizens — Sri Lankan citizens are explicitly eligible. EU students have separate German government / DAAD pathways. The award targets applicants who would face the highest cost barrier to studying in Germany.

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German B1 or English Proficiency

English-taught programmes require IELTS 6.5+ overall or TOEFL iBT 88+. German-taught programmes require German B2-C1 (DSH or TestDaF). RWTH increasingly offers fully English-taught Master's that do not require German for admission — Sri Lankan applicants typically target these.

account_tree Application Process

Apply to RWTH Aachen Master's by 1 March

Submit your RWTH Master's application via the RWTHonline portal (online.rwth-aachen.de). Application includes degree certificates, transcripts (with German / English translation), CV, motivation letter, research proposal (for some programmes), and English / German test results.

Submit ISP / DAAD style application

Once admitted (or while admission is being processed), apply for the International Master's Scholarship through the RWTH International Office. The application typically requires a separate research statement, two academic references, and detailed transcripts. Some programmes require a Skype / Zoom interview.

Departmental + central review

Your application is reviewed by the academic department and the International Office in parallel. Outcomes are typically released in May-June for the October 2026 Winter Semester start.

Acceptance + German student visa

Successful applicants receive a scholarship award letter. The €1,000/month is disbursed by the RWTH International Office into your German bank account after enrolment. You then apply for the German national student visa (D-visa) at the German Embassy in Colombo with the scholarship letter as funds evidence.

Why RWTH Aachen?

RWTH Aachen is one of Germany's nine TU9 elite technical universities and is consistently ranked Germany's #1 university for Engineering. It's a member of the German Excellence Initiative (the country's top-research-university designation). RWTH's industry links to Siemens, BMW, Bosch, Audi, and the wider European engineering sector give Sri Lankan graduates strong placement prospects.