Heinrich Böll Scholarship Amount 2027: What International Scholars Receive
International scholars are funded by the Federal Foreign Office at different rates from German and EU scholars. Here are the official monthly amounts, allowances and durations.
ScholarshipUnion Editorial
3 min read
Updated Oct 6, 2026
The figures below are copied from the official financial support page for non-EU scholars funded by the Federal Foreign Office, checked on 6 October 2026. German and EU scholars are funded by the research ministry (BMFTR) on different scales, so ignore figures you see quoted for them.
Monthly and annual amounts
| Item | Master’s | PhD |
|---|---|---|
| Base scholarship | €992 / month | €1,500 / month |
| Health insurance allowance | Up to €100 / month | Up to €200 / month |
| Fixed fringe benefit | €38 / month | €38 / month |
| Mobility allowance | — | €100 / month |
| Tuition fees in Germany | Up to €10,000 / year | Up to €10,000 / year (see note) |
| German language courses | Course fees covered | Course fees covered |
| Family allowance | €276 / month, if applicable | €276 / month, if applicable |
| Child allowance | Yes, per child | Yes, per child |
The €276 family allowance and the PhD mobility allowance come from the official overview of financial support (PDF). The child allowance amount is not published, so ask the Studienwerk if it affects your decision. The page lists tuition, German course fees, the €38 benefit and family allowances as optional parts that depend on your situation.
The financial support page lists tuition reimbursement of up to €10,000 a year for PhD scholars. Info sheet A2 says tuition funding is not possible for non-EU doctoral scholars. Most German doctorates have no tuition fee, so this rarely matters, but confirm with the Foundation if yours does.
The PhD base and mobility allowance
The financial support page shows a €1,500 base. The overview table and the PhD pathway page add a monthly mobility allowance of €100 on top. Info sheet A2 (June 2025) still shows the older split of €1,400 base plus €100 mobility. Some websites quote other PhD figures; those belong to other foundations or to German and EU scholars.
How long funding lasts
- Master’s: the standard period of study of your programme (at least four semesters, since shorter programmes are not funded). Info sheet A1 says this may be extended by one semester.
- PhD: generally three to three and a half years. Info sheet A2 describes this as three years, extendable by at most six months. The PhD pathway page adds extensions of up to one year for parents and for scholars with severe disabilities or chronic illness.
Study or research abroad
Parts of your degree may be done abroad if academically necessary. But the financial support page is clear: there is no additional funding for study abroad. Your stipend continues; nothing is added. The older info sheets mention funding for limited periods abroad, but the current page and the FAQ both say no extra money is paid.
Is it enough to live on?
The master’s base is designed as a basic living budget, with health insurance and tuition covered separately. Rent is the variable: large cities such as Munich and Frankfurt are expensive; smaller university towns are much cheaper. Our DAAD amount guide looks at what German stipends cover in practice.
More than money
Böll calls the second half of the scholarship “idealistic support” (ideelle Förderung). The official page lists an event programme in five areas: political education, key skills, networking, self-management and career guidance. Scholars also get counselling and mentoring, can join scholar-run working groups (funded for up to three meetings a year), local groups at many universities, the elected scholars’ council, and later the alumni network.
The Foundation expects scholars to act as multipliers for its goals. Plan to take part, not just to collect the stipend.