Study Scholarships

Using means granted by the Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF), the Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung provides scholarships to students who belong to the category of persons defined by BAföG § 8 and to students of an immigrant background who have a long-term perspective of staying in Germany.

Eligibility requirements for the various degrees:

• Applicants enrolled in a Diplom, Magister or state examination course at a university as well as applicants from technical colleges can receive a scholarship beginning in the second semester; they must have at least four semesters left at the time their scholarship begins.

• Applicants in a Bachelor’s degree course of study can also receive a scholarship beginning in their second semester. At the time of the scholarship being granted, they must have at least half of their studies (either for the Bachelor, or Bachelor and Master combined) left. The application should indicate whether an MA degree is planned.

• Applicants in a Master’s degree course (consecutive or non-consecutive) can only be granted a scholarship if they only have a Bachelor’s degree. Applicants with a Diplom degree from a technical college can receive a scholarship for their Master’s degree only if it is conducted at a university.

• Applications for a Master’s degree scholarship can only be submitted during the first semester of the course of study.

• Applicants in a dual course of study can also receive a scholarship if they meet all of the eligibility requirements. However, it is important to note that any apprenticeship allowance will be discounted from the total amount of the scholarship.

Ineligible for scholarships:

• A second course of study

• A (work-based) part-time course of study

• Studies at a master craft school

• The degree cannot be funded

• The completion of a degree otherwise not linked to a scholarship

• Study abroad for non-scholarship holders

• Language courses for non-scholarship holders
• Changing the discipline of study after the fourth semester

• studying in Great Britain

• students who work more than 20 hours a week in a part-time job

The maximum length as well as amount of the scholarship is defined by BAföG and the scholarship criteria of the schoarship organization. The scholarship is income-dependent. The maximum funding amount is based on the BAföG rate, plus various supplements if necessary.

Additionally, a monthly 300€ lump sum to cover studying costs can be paid.

Trips abroad (travel courses, conference attendance, semesters abroad and obligatory internships abroad) can be funded for scholarship holders.

Scholarships are disbursed until the end of the maximum scholarship length (standard time of study plus possible extensions).

A double scholarship (such as through receiving BAföG, unemployment benefits or other publicly funded scholarships) is excluded on principle.

¹ This means according to the category of persons regardless of whether one is actually eligible for BAföG or not or whether BAföG is actually received.

What is Lux like Studium?

Lux like Studium is a scholarship programme designed to motivate school students and others from non-academic backgrounds interested in higher education to pursue university studies, and support and advise them during their studies. Lux like Studium disburses scholarships beginning in the first semester and accompanies you throughout your studies. For this scholarship programme, an application is only possible for prospective university students, that is to say for people interested in studying who have not yet begun their studies by the application deadline. The scholarship commences with the beginning of the first semester.

Information about scholarships for students are already enrolled in university can be found above.

Why Lux like Studium?

Educational institutions convey competencies and provide qualifications which form a substantial prerequisite to social participation. Since the publication of the PISA study at the very latest, it is clear that social background and educational success are closely related in Germany. Not everyone has the same opportunities to utilize social resources and participate in social processes.

Unequal chances become particularly blatant in transitions between educational institutions – people without an academic background are heavily underrepresented at universities. This trend can also be observed among students who receive funding from one of the 13 institutions for the promotion of young talent in Germany: the largest group of scholarship holders comes from academic backgrounds.

Recruiting and promoting students from non-academic backgrounds thus poses a social challenge. The Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung’s Lux like Studium programme, financed by the Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF), sets a further accentuation in establishing concrete equality of opportunity for people without academic backgrounds.

What can you expect?

The financial support gives you the opportunity to concentrate on your studies.  The scholarship consists of two parts:

• an income-dependent component which is calculated similarly to BAföG
• an income-independent lump sum to cover studying costs (currently 300€/month)

The ideational accompaniment programme offers seminars, workshops and personal consultations. Here, you can train competencies which are important for your studies and which will help you complete your studies.

Who is eligible to apply?

You can apply if…

• You have no academic background
• You have already completed your (Fach-)Abitur and would like to begin university studies
• You are about to complete your (Fach-)Abitur and would like to study afterwards
• You are politically interested and/or active
• You have not yet attended university

Scholarships for international students

The Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung provides scholarships to non-German citizens coming to the country to study with means provided by the Federal Foreign Office (AA).

Eligibility requirements for international students (all requirements must be met):

• Enrolment (or at least acceptance) at a public or publically accredited university in Germany
• Proof of a completed Bachelor’s degree or finished basic study (Diplom, Magister, state examination)
• Outstanding academic performance
• Social engagement in the spirit of the Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung
• Proficiency in the German language (at least B-2 level) – we do not fund German language courses!

Not eligible:

• Finishing a degree already near completion
• Bachelor’s degree or basic studies
• A second course of study
• A work-based part-time degree programme
• Studying abroad in your home country or other third countries

The length of the scholarship is based on the standard length of the course of study.

The monthly basic scholarship consists of 934€. Additional payments may be made.

A double scholarship with other public funds is not allowed.