Germany has become a popular destination for foreign students looking for an international education. German Universities offers internationally recognized programs at a relatively cheaper cost compared to UK, USA or Australia. Moreover, there are a significant number of available scholarships that allows foreign students to study in Germany for free.

Tuition Free Colleges and Universities in Germany

As of October 2014, all Universities in Germany will not charge any tuition fees for undergraduate studies.  In some Federal States, Universities will charge a semester contribution (about 50 euros) and/or administration fees (about 50 euros). This tuition fee structure can change in the future, you should check this page for updated information on tuition fees in different federal states in Germany. For example, the federal state of Baden-Württemberg will begin charging tuition fees (for Bachelor’s, Master’s, Diplom and state examination degree programmes) of €1,500 per semester for non-EU citizens from the winter semester 2017/18.

Unlike undergraduate studies, most Master’s or PhD studies in Germany are fee-based. The costs for postgraduate studies are in addition to the enrollment and confirmation fees.  Fortunately, there are a good number of scholarships for Masters and PhD study in Germany.

DeutschlandStipendium National Scholarship Programme

The Deutschlandstipendium (Germany Scholarship Program)  provides financial and non-material support to high-achieving and committed students from all over the world.
The Germany Scholarship supports highly talented students at all participating universities in Germany. The scholarship is awarded without consideration of personal or parent income and one’s nationality is not material to award either. The scholarship amounts to € 300.00 per month and is granted for at least two semesters but may be provided for a maximum time which covers the standard period of study.

To find out which institutions of higher education in Germany offer the Germany Scholarship, go to the interactive map of Germany at: https://www.deutschlandstipendium.de/de/wir-machen-mit-1709.php

DAAD Scholarship Programs

DAAD is a joint organization of Germany’s higher education institutions and is responsible for promoting international academic relations, primarily through the exchange of students, academics and researchers.  The DAAD scholarship database contains scholarship and funding opportunities for foreign students, graduate students and scientists  who are seeking financial support for their studies, research work or teaching assignments in Germany. The database not only lists all the scholarships offered by the DAAD, but also diverse programms offered by a wide variety of institutions.

The most popular DAAD scholarship program for developing country students is the DAAD Scholarships for Development-related Postgraduate Courses. Another popular example is the DAAD Scholarships in Public Policy and Good Governance.

Germany Foundations’ Scholarship Programs

A number of political and religious foundations in Germany  offer scholarships to international students from various backgrounds, interests, and qualifications.  studentwerk-berlin.de outlines them in this list.

Heinrich Boll Foundation Scholarships is an example of a scholarship offered by a German political foundation while Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Scholarships and KAAD Scholarships is an example of a scholarship offered by a religious foundation in Germany.

Erasmus Scholarship Programs in Germany

German Universities participate in quite a number of study programs which are funded by Erasmus Mundus and Erasmus+ scholarships.  The scholarships can finance international students to pursue a participating study program in Germany.

Find the complete list of Erasmus Mundus Master Courses and PhD Courses. In these lists you will find Erasmus funded courses that are conducted in Germany.