Scholarships and grants

A number of independent, political, or denominational institutions in Germany award full or partial scholarships or grants for studies abroad. Basically it is essential to inquire about requirements regarding discipline, status, age, gender, or nationality, and, most important, application deadlines that may be up to one year prior to the begin of studies abroad. 

For a comprehensive survey according to country, discipline and status see the DAAD scholarship data bank, but also those of many universities (e.g. UWH).

The International Office will provide the regularly up-dated DAAD brochure „Studium, Forschung und Lehre im Ausland: Förderungsmöglichkeiten für Deutsche“ (studies, research and teaching abroad: scholarships and grants for Germans) with detailed information.

DAAD, the German Academic Exchange Service, is the largest scholarship organization worldwide for student and teacher exchange and thus the first address if you plan studies abroad. German or foreign students, depending on discipline, status and country, may apply for support. For suitable programmes look here.

Start your planning early if you want to apply for a DAAD scholarship. A personal interview is part of the final round in application procedures. Note the deadlines for the programmes in question! It may not be easy to be selected for a scholarship, but it will look good on your CV to be a DAAD alumnus!

DAAD scholarship programme PROMOS

The PROMOS programme provides support in the form of partial grants and travel allowance to students going abroad for studies, practical periods or language courses. The universities are authorized to select students for the programme. At Witten/Herdecke University a committee of student deans at the respective faculty is in charge of selection.

Please submit your complete application to the International Office, including all documents listed below:

• application form
  certificate of enrolment
• copy of ID, or proof of entitlement (for foreign students) in accordance with DAAD requirements
• letter describing your motivation
• supportive report by a professor of your university
• CV in tabular form
• Transcript of Records (complete list of certificates acquired, including grades)
• language certificate for the language of instruction/research/working language in the host country; accepted certificates are official certificates such as TOEFL, IELTS, DEFL etc.; language certificates indicating the level (min. B1); DAAD language certificates, language up to school leaving examination. Language certifcates are not required for applications for language course grants or concert tour grants.
• Learning Agreement
• Letter of Acceptance from host organization (university/employer)
• statement on insurance

Download of forms:

Application form
Learning agreement 

Deadlines:

• for stays abroad starting January-June: December 2, 2011.
• for stays abroad starting July-December: April 27, 2012.

The rates and travel expenses depend on the host country and are calculated on the basis of general DAAD partial grants. Extension beyond 6 months is not possible. Please note that PROMOS replaces a number of previous programmes.  

DAAD group insurance

Students and doctoral students may take out international insurance (a combination of health, accident and personal liability insurance) via DAAD group insurance. For more information see the DAAD homepage. Please note that the minimum insurance period is one month.

Even students who are not BAföG recipients may apply for BAföG for studies abroad. There is a difference between partial or full studies abroad.

It is possible to receive funds for study periods abroad that take place during regular studies in Germany. There are no time limits within the European Union. For study periods outside the European Union the maximum duration of scholarships is one year, or two in exceptional cases. 

For more information see

www.auslandsbafög.de, and www.bafoeg-rechner.de/Rechner/

The educational loan supports students of stage II studies or master programmes who either do not receive BAföG and must pay e.g. for a study period abroad, or incur costs not covered by BAföG. In case of a study period abroad, the foreign university must be equivalent to a German university.   

Income and assets of students, their parents, or spouses are of no account. As a rule, EUR 300 are granted per month up to a duration of 24 months (i.e. EUR 7200 maximum) and repayable with interest at a later time.  

For more information see
www.kfw-foerderbank.de

Students unable to pay for studies abroad themselves nor with family support may turn to the university for help. The amount available per year for travel expenses is 10.000 €. Applicants may receive financial aid for travel or flight expenses, currently up to ca. 50 % of travel or flight tickets.
 
Please submit applications to Linda Bischoff, phone: +49 (0)2302 / 926-816.

Foundations

Take a look at this one: stiftungsindex.de.

For informationon on  support by foundations and applications, UWH students may contact Dr. Klaus Neuhoff, phone 02302 / 926-171.

International Financial Aid and College Scholarship Search (IEFA)

This U.S. data bank contains current offers of scholarships and information on financial aid for studies abroad: http://www.iefa.org.

Others:

www.fulbright.de/tousa/stipendien

http://www.brutto-netto-rechner.info/stipendium.php

Many host universities, particularly in Anglo-Saxon countries, may also give grants. Please check their websites.