Scholarship Department

The Scholarship Department of the Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung awards financial grants to highly-qualified undergraduate and doctoral students from Germany and abroad who evidence high levels of social and political engagement. In granting scholarships, the Stiftung seeks to counteract the social, political and gender discrimination prevalent in our society, and therefore gives preference to applications from women, students of non-academic and migrant backgrounds, the socially needy, and people with disabilities who demonstrate comparable achievements and commitment. Applications from undergraduate and doctoral students from scientific and technical disciplines are actively encouraged, as well as from graduates of technical colleges.

Selection and sponsorship criteria include:

• High scholarly and professional qualifications (proof of above-average academic achievement at school and/or university)
• Political and social engagement in line with the aims of the Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung
• German language proficiency (B2 level or above)

• Personal/family background

The Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung's Scholarship Department operates according to the principle of direct application. Information on eligibility requirements and application forms for the scholarship can be found on the applications page. This page is only available in German. These documents cannot be sent by post.

Deadline for Applications

1 October
for grants beginning in the summer semester (1 April) of the next year

International Scholarships

The Scholarship Department awards grants to foreign students (Master only) and PhD students who are temporarily residing in Germany for study or research purposes.

Study Scholarships

Only foreign students who do not belong to the group of applicants for domestic students described below are entitled to a scholarship abroad. Citizens from other EU countries can also apply. Applicants must reside in Germany for their course of study, and plan to return to their home country after completing their education.

You must be studying for a Master's degree and be enrolled at a state or state-recognized German university. Students in a state examination course or a diploma course must have completed their basic studies.

Lux Like Studium (only for German students and a portion of international students meeting special criteria as specified in § 8 of the BAföG regulations)

Lux like Studium is the Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung’s scholarship programme designed to support and accompany school students from non-academic backgrounds in gaining admission to and completing a university degree. Students without an academic background are significantly less likely to apply to university, and are thus underrepresented on German campuses. In response, Lux like Studium provides financial support from the first semester onwards as a way to facilitate access to institutions of higher education.

Study Scholarships  (only for German students and a portion international students, which fullfill special criteria as specified in § 8 of the BAföG regulations)

Funding is available to students from all disciplines and all state-approved institutions of higher education who meet the requirements sets out in §8 of the German Federal Law on Education and Training (Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz, BAföG), namely students holding a German passport and immigrants with prospects of residing in Germany permanently. Limited funding is also available for students from other EU member states. The duration of the grant and the amount of funding provided are based on BAföG regulations. Scholarships can be awarded beginning from the second semester of studies.

More information

PhD Scholarships

The Scholarship Department awards grants to domestic and foreign PhD students from all disciplines (except medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine). As a rule, funding lasts for three years. Doctoral students must be accepted at a German university.

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Additional support for scholarship holders

The Rosa Luxemburg Foundation's scholarship department offers scholarship holders a wide range of support, consisting of political education events and summer schools, workshops at home and abroad, symposia and educational trips. It also organizes practical training in areas such as rhetoric, conflict management and other key skills, time and self-management, strengthening academic qualifications, text and writing workshops and specific seminars on methodology. Particular emphasis is placed on the self-organization of the scholarship holders and their working groups. Over 250 academic confidants as well as the employees and networks of the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation support the work of the scholarship department.

For further information, please visit the German website

More information

You can contact the scholarship department

Tel.: + 49 30 44310-223
Email: studienwerk@rosalux.de

Telephone consultation hours for applicants:

Tuesdays: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Wednesdays: 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (September only)

Thursdays: 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.