Requirements:

Applicants must

• be enrolled at KIT at the start of the scholarship period
• have a German bank account

Note on the standard period of study:
According to §20 para. 2 KITG, students who are enrolled in the summer semester 2020 or summer semester 2021 or in the winter semester 2020/2021 or winter semester 2021/2022 are subject to an individual standard period of study that deviates from the standard period of study and is extended by one semester for each of these semesters. So please also apply if you are no longer in the standard period of study during the allocation period. If you were on leave of absence in the summer semester 2020, 2021 or winter semester 2020/2021 or 2021/2022, or are currently on leave of absence, please submit a certificate stating the reason for your leave of absence.

Application documents:

Please note: When applying for the Deutschlandstipendium, it is extremely important that you can provide proof of all information. We are not allowed to consider information without proof.

Curriculum vitae:

• in tabular form (1-2 pages),
• with current information
• Tips and sample template under CV

Letter of motivation:

• max. 1-1.5 pages
• addressed to your faculty (we will send your application there)
• Tip: Go into more detail here about honorary posts, personal circumstances etc., provided you can provide evidence of these.
• Tipps
• Example: Letter of Motivation
• More information under Cover letter

Internship and work references

Proof of professional and social commitment: Only proofs issued by an official body on its letterhead are valid (draft template (PDF))

Current grade transcript:

• dated within the application period
• obligation: number of credits
• for applicants who do not yet have a KIT grade transcript: Abitur certificate

other certificates:

• Prizes and awards
• Personal circumstances
• etc.

University entrance qualification (HZB)

• Can be submitted later if not yet available

Bachelor's certificate:

• Applies to Master's students
• Can be submitted later if not yet available (please note: mention in the letter of motivation and be sure to upload your Abitur certificate)

Certificate of enrollment:

• Can be submitted later if not yet available

Submit application:

• Only possible online via the Career Service website
• Login with KIT account data on the Career Service website (no extra registration required)
• Upload complete documents under “My Account” in the ??? (unfortunately incomplete documents cannot be considered)
• We can only consider applications that have been uploaded online during the application period. It is not possible to submit documents by e-mail.
  Exception: University entrance qualification, Bachelor's certificate, certificate of enrolment, if not yet available during the application period (see “Application documents”)

Notes on files and documents:

• All documents must be uploaded as PDF (max. file size: 4096 kB per document).
• You can only upload one document per upload field.
• Foreign documents (e.g. foreign Abitur or Bachelor certificates) are only recognized as officially certified translations (German or English). Foreign grade transcripts must also be converted into the German grading system. The International Students Office can help with any questions.

Once your application has been received, you will receive a confirmation e-mail. Please keep this e-mail until the selection process is complete.
Didn't receive an email? Please contact deutschlandstipendium∂kit edu immediately

You will receive this by post (October-November)
[F]Important: Update your postal address and e-mail address as soon as they change!

As a scholarship holder, you will receive a monthly grant of EUR 300 for one year. Half of the scholarships are funded by private sponsors (companies, private individuals, foundations and associations) and the other half by the federal government.

As a scholarship holder, you are obliged to notify us immediately of any changes that are relevant to the granting of the scholarship. This includes, for example, changes of address, bank account details, notification of leave of absence, change of degree program, termination of studies and receipt of another scholarship.
In addition, you must provide the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology with the data required to fulfill the obligation to provide information in accordance with 134 para. 2 no. 1 para. 4 StipG (guideline § 5).
Of course, we would also be pleased if you attended the scholarship ceremony in the fall/winter to get to know your sponsor. However, there is no obligation to attend.

The Deutschlandstipendium is always awarded in the winter semester.

No. The Deutschlandstipendium is awarded every year in the winter semester for a period of one year.

The Deutschlandstipendium is awarded on the basis of the Scholarship Program Act (StipG), the Scholarship Program Ordinance (StipV) and the statutes (1,2,3) of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) for the awarding of Deutschlandstipendium scholarships.

This varies, but around 300 scholarships are usually awarded. In the winter semester 2024/25, there were as many as 345 scholarships.

Students and first-year students at KIT can apply. Unfortunately, students of the HECTOR School, the Carl Benz School of Engineering and the Studienkolleg are not eligible to apply.

You can only apply online. Please note that all required documents must be submitted when completing the online application. Certain documents can be submitted later. Please refer to the information above under “Application process”.

The Deutschlandstipendium scholarship supports students whose career to date indicates outstanding academic achievements. In addition to particular successes at school and/or university, the funding criteria also include social commitment, for example in clubs or in university politics, in church or political organizations as well as commitment in the social environment, in the family or in a social institution. The overcoming of particular biographical hurdles resulting from family or cultural background is also taken into account. Further information can be found above under “Selection criteria”.

Yes, you must be in the standard period of study for your degree program during the entire funding period (duration: one year), i.e. in the winter semester and the following summer semester. You can receive funding up to the end of the standard period of study. An extension of the maximum funding period within the framework of the Deutschlandstipendium beyond the standard period of study is only permitted in special cases. If the duration of your studies is extended for serious reasons (e.g. disability, pregnancy, caring for and raising a child or a study-related stay abroad), the maximum funding period can be extended upon application.

Yes, you can still apply. However, you must note that the payment will be discontinued at the end of the month in which you took your last exam, dropped out of your studies, changed your field of study or were exmatriculated. If you change university and stay in the same field of study, the scholarship can continue to be paid for one semester.

Yes, you can submit your university entrance qualification certificate at a later date.

Yes, before the final decision on the awarding of the scholarship in September, we will check whether you have submitted an application to KIT. The KIT application does not have to be submitted to us separately.

Yes.

In this case, please submit your high school diploma instead of the grade transcript from KIT.

Your proof should show how intensively you are involved and what type of commitment it is. The proof of volunteer work that you are still doing today must not be older than one year, otherwise we can no longer consider it as current volunteer work.

Personal obstacles include, for example, students with children, caring for relatives, their own physical and mental limitations, a non-academic parental home, experience of flight and political persecution or a proven, persistently precarious financial situation.

Your proof should state what kind of obstacle it is and to what extent it affects your studies. The proof must be dated and signed by an authorized person.
If you would like to provide proof of a migration background, you can, for example, submit a copy of your own passport and/or a copy of the passport/visa of a parent with a migration background with the proof.
If you would like to prove that you have non-academic parents, you can, for example, provide a short written explanation/self-declaration. This must be signed by the parents and contain a reference to truthful information.

Yes, the Deutschlandstipendium is open to students of all nationalities.

No specific grade point average is tied to the awarding of scholarships. The individual applications are considered in their overall context, whereby academic achievements are only one criterion alongside other (social, volunteer and political) commitments and particular biographical hurdles.

You can describe special biographical hurdles on a separate page in your application. Personal, family or financial circumstances that you have had to overcome in the past or still have to overcome in the present will be taken into account when awarding scholarships alongside achievements in your studies or social, voluntary or political commitment. Please note that the selection committee can only consider information that is documented by supporting documents when assessing your application.

You are welcome to work as a student assistant or do a part-time job alongside the Deutschlandstipendium. We do not need any proof or information for this.

Yes, please choose one of the two degree programs when applying online and indicate this. The credit points and grade point average will only count for this degree program.

Yes, for reasons such as maternity leave, parental leave or a DAAD-funded study abroad program. The scholarship will not be paid out during the leave of absence. The scholarship can be resumed when you continue your studies at KIT, but only until the end of the agreed period.

The Deutschlandstipendium Selection Committee of the individual faculties decides on the awarding of Deutschlandstipendium.

No.

No. The Deutschlandstipendium is only awarded to students up to Diplom or Master's degree level.

No

Yes.

Yes, a rejection does not mean that you have been rejected “forever”. You can reapply for each call for applications. However, given the relatively small number of scholarships currently available, you should be among the best in your year and faculty.

Yes, your Bachelor's certificate will be used to assess your eligibility for funding.

If your application is successful, you will receive a confirmation email. Please keep this email until the selection process has been completed. If you have not received a confirmation email, please contact us immediately at deutschlandstipendium∂kit edu so that we can check that we have received it.

- Final grade of the last degree: Bachelor's grade (submit certificate if not yet available)
- Current grade point average: refers to the current status (Master's), so enter n,n if necessary
- Credit points: also refers to the current status, i.e. enter 0 if necessary, upload empty grade transcript -> can be updated by May 31st

- Degree: Master
- Semester: 1
- Final grade of the last degree: Abitur grade
- Current grade point average: refers to the current status (Bachelor)
- Credit points: refers to the current status -> grade transcript can be updated until May 31st

No.

Students from all fields of study can apply.

Semester abroad: The scholarship will continue to be paid even if you are on a subject-related stay abroad during the funding period. This applies regardless of any leave of absence at the university awarding the scholarship. If you are studying abroad via the ERASMUS program, the Deutschlandstipendium will continue to be paid even if you receive a mobility grant from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) at the same time.


Internships abroad: A distinction is made here between mandatory internships in Germany and abroad and other internships. Compulsory domestic internships are integrated into the degree program and do not prevent the scholarship from being paid out. The situation is similar with internships abroad, insofar as they are provided for in the respective study regulations; they can be regarded as “subject-related stays abroad”.
If the scholarship holder takes a leave of absence for other internships that are not provided for in the respective study regulations, the scholarship will not continue to be paid during this time.

You can also apply for a scholarship at the end of your studies. It is up to the respective faculty to decide which applications will be considered and whether your application is successful or not.

If you continue to study the same subject in your Bachelor's or Master's degree, the scholarship can continue to be paid for one semester if you change university.

Yes, a new application is permitted.

No.

You can also take a leave of absence from the Deutschlandstipendium if you are on maternity leave, parental leave or studying abroad funded by the DAAD. The scholarship will not be paid out during the leave of absence. The scholarship will continue to be paid during a subject-related stay abroad. This applies regardless of any leave of absence at the university that awards the scholarship. If you are studying abroad via the ERASMUS program, the Deutschlandstipendium will continue to be paid even if you receive a mobility grant from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) at the same time.

If you receive a full DAAD scholarship, you cannot receive the Deutschlandstipendium at the same time, as both scholarships are dependent on talent and performance. However, if you receive a partial scholarship from the DAAD, you can receive the Deutschlandstipendium at the same time.

The submission of the Master's thesis counts as the final examination. You can still receive the scholarship benefits for a maximum of two months if the grading has not yet taken place. So please let us know when you submitted your Master's thesis and when it was graded. If the grading has not taken place two months after submission, we will terminate the scholarship two months after submission of the Master's thesis. Otherwise, the scholarship will be terminated in the month of grading.

Yes, the scholarship is not deducted from your income when calculating BAföG. You can take advantage of both funding options at the same time without any deductions.

This depends on the amount of your funding. Double funding with the Begabtenförderungswerke and other funding institutions is excluded if the sum of this funding exceeds a monthly average of €30.

This depends on the amount and type of scholarship funding. Anyone who already receives material support based on talent and performance that amounts to more than 30 euros per month will not receive a Deutschlandstipendium during the approval period. An overview of the admissibility of receiving other scholarships at the same time as the Deutschlandstipendium can be found here.

The Deutschlandstipendium is tax-free and, according to §5 para. 3 StipG, is generally not counted as income for social benefits. The Deutschlandstipendium therefore does not constitute remuneration for specific employment and - like all other comparable scholarships - is not subject to contributions as remuneration.

Yes, but only with your consent.

KIT sees the Deutschlandstipendium not only as financial aid, but also wants to promote early contact between scholarship holders and scholarship providers. This can lead to longer-term networking opportunities, for example for your later transition into professional life.

Here you can view the data protection information and the applicant's declaration.