Heinrich Böll Alternatives 2027: Other German Foundations Open to Internationals

Germany’s 13 Begabtenförderungswerke (gifted student foundations) are funded by the federal government. Each has its own profile: political, religious, union-linked or neutral. The full list is on stipendiumplus.de. Three political foundations, plus Deutschlandstipendium and DAAD, are the most relevant alternatives for international applicants.

At a glance

Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS)

The Christian Democratic foundation runs an international talent programme. Its guidelines (January 2026) say foreign applicants must not have been in Germany for more than 15 months when they apply, unless they came to study or do research. You need German at B2 at least and at least four semesters of study left. The deadline for applicants in Germany is 15 July each year, at 12:00 noon according to the programme page. The guidelines list €992 a month for bachelor’s and master’s students and €1,500 a month for doctoral candidates, plus up to €120 a month towards health insurance. The programme page still shows up to €1,400 for a PhD, so check which figure applies. Some applicants abroad apply through selected KAS foreign offices instead.

Compared with Böll: one deadline a year, in July. Values focus on Christian Democratic ideas rather than ecology. Combine both if your profile fits both honestly.

Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES)

The Social Democratic foundation funds international students through its Studienförderung. Its English page says foreign applicants must already live and study in Germany when they apply. Its German page for international students says applications are formally possible from Germany or abroad. Both require German; the German page accepts B2, even without a certificate. Master’s applicants apply before or at the start of their first master’s semester: by 30 November for a winter start, by 31 May for a summer start. FES lists €992 a month for students and €1,500 for doctoral candidates, and covers health insurance costs.

Compared with Böll: later timing. Böll wants your application before the master’s starts; FES also takes master’s students in their first semester. If you arrive in Germany without funding, FES is a natural next step. The two sources disagree on applying from abroad, so ask FES if that applies to you.

Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung (RLS)

The foundation close to Die Linke runs a study scholarship and a separate track for international doctoral candidates. The international study scholarship (German) is for foreign nationals coming to Germany for a master’s: you need admission to a German university, German at B2 with proof, and no more than 15 months in Germany when you apply, unless you already studied here. Applicants from DAC countries still at home get priority. The funding page (German) lists €992 a month for international students and €1,500 plus a €100 mobility allowance for international doctoral candidates. RLS runs one round a year. The 2026 round closed on 1 October 2026 at 23:59; 2027 dates are not yet published.

Compared with Böll: a similar emphasis on social and political commitment, with a left rather than Green profile.

Deutschlandstipendium

The Deutschlandstipendium pays €300 a month: €150 from the federal government and €150 from a private sponsor. There is no central application. Each university runs its own call with its own deadline and criteria. It is open to students of all nationalities at German universities. It is smaller than Böll, and the Böll FAQ says you cannot hold both at once. Check your university’s scholarship office for the call and its rules.

DAAD

The German Academic Exchange Service offers the largest set of scholarships for internationals, including the EPOS development-related postgraduate courses, where you apply through the programme itself. Many DAAD programmes do not require German. See our DAAD scholarship guide for deadlines and amounts.

Can you apply to several?

You can apply to several in parallel. Expect to hold only one: the foundations generally do not allow two of these scholarships at once, so check each one’s rules before you accept. Be careful with “why this foundation” answers: each foundation will ask, and each will notice a copied text.