The Heinrich Böll Foundation grants scholarships to approximately 1,000 undergraduates, graduates, as well as Ph.D. students of all subjects and nationalities per year, who are pursuing their degree at universities, universities of applied sciences (‘Fachhochschulen’), or universities of the arts (‘Kunsthochschulen”).

Scholarship recipients should have excellent academic records, be socially and politically engaged, as well as have an active interest in the basic values of the foundation: ecology and sustainability, democracy and human rights, self-determination, and justice.

Next application deadlines and Requirements

By 1 September applications could be submitted by:

Applicants for a student scholarship

Student scholarship – general

• First-generation students, students with a migrant background, or students from universities of applied sciences
• Also, students in mathematics, informatics, natural sciences, or technical subjects, especially with an environmental focus.
• You can apply before you begin your study program or within the first three semesters
• In addition, proficiency in German is a requirement.

Student scholarship – journalism programme „Medienvielfalt, anders: Junge Migrantinnen und Migranten in den Journalismus”

• It is for the students with a migrant background who want to become journalists.
• You can apply before you begin your study program or within the first three semesters.
• Also, proficiency in German is a requirement.

Applicants for a doctoral scholarship (Ph.D.)

Doctoral scholarship (Ph.D.)

• • All subjects
  • Applicants must provide proof that they have been accepted as doctoral students by an institution of higher education in Germany or an EU country.
  • Moreover, preference will be given to dissertation projects related to the working areas of the Heinrich Böll Foundation.

Doctoral scholarship: Focus program “Transformation Research”

• Doctoral students from Germany who would like to apply for this focus program.

By 1 March applications can be submitted by:

Applicants for a student scholarship

Student scholarship – general

• First-generation students, students with a migrant background, or students from universities of applied sciences (‘Fachhochschulen’).
• Students in mathematics, informatics, natural sciences, or technical subjects, especially with an environmental focus (e.g. environmental studies, climate studies, renewable energies, etc.).
• You can apply before you begin your study program or within the first three semesters (at the time of application).
• Proficiency in German is a requirement.

Student scholarship – journalism programme „Medienvielfalt, anders: Junge Migrantinnen und Migranten in den Journalismus”

• It is aimed at students with a migrant background who want to become journalists.
• You can apply before you begin your study program or within the first three semesters.
• Proficiency in German is a requirement.

Students from outside the EU (regional focus: Central and Eastern Europe, EU neighborhood/CIS, the Middle East/Northern Africa, conflict regions around the globe)

• all subjects; university, university of applied sciences (‘Fachhochschule’), or university of the arts (‘Kunsthochschule’);
• degree: Master’s (you must already have obtained a first university degree)
• You can apply before you begin your Master’s program or within the first semester (at the time of application).
• Good or very good knowledge of German is a requirement (if a scholarship is granted, additional German courses can be financed).

Applicants for a doctoral scholarship (Ph.D.)

Doctoral scholarship (Ph.D.)

• All subjects
• Applicants must provide proof that they have been accepted as doctoral students by an institution of higher education in Germany or an EU country.
• Also, preference will be given to dissertation projects related to the working areas of the Heinrich Böll Foundation.

Doctoral students coming from countries outside the EU wishing to do their Ph.D. studies in Germany (regional focus: Central and Eastern Europe, EU neighborhood/CIS, the Middle East/Northern Africa, conflict regions around the globe)

• all subjects
• Applicants must provide proof that they have been accepted as doctoral students by a German institution of higher education.
• Preference will be given to dissertation projects related to the working areas of the Heinrich Böll Foundation.
• Moreover, good or very good knowledge of German is a requirement