The Heinrich Boll Foundation (Heinrich-Boll-Stiftung), the Green political foundation based in Berlin, funds Master’s and PhD study in Germany for international students. For the spring round of 2027 the online application portal opens on 15 January 2027 and closes on 1 March 2027 – and Indian applicants come under the priority group of DAC countries that the foundation supports.
The official information sheet for international graduate applicants lists funding of about EUR 992 per month plus individual allowances, with health insurance possible. One condition catches many Indian applicants: you must show German language proficiency of level B2 or DSH 1 with a certificate.
Heinrich Boll Foundation Scholarship 2027-28
Quick facts2026-27
| Scholarship from | Heinrich Boll Foundation (Heinrich-Boll-Stiftung), Berlin, funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space and the Federal Foreign Office |
| Study level | Master’s (graduate) study and PhD study at state or state-recognised universities in Germany. The foundation funds Master’s programmes with a standard duration of four semesters or more. |
| Who can apply | International students who completed their first degree abroad and are applying before they start a Master’s degree in Germany, and international PhD students. Priority goes to applicants from DAC countries who have not yet taken up residence in Germany. |
| What is covered | About EUR 992 per month plus various individual allowances for non-EU students, with health insurance possible, as listed in the official information sheet. Limited funding for study or internship periods abroad is available for scholarship holders. |
| Not covered | Tuition fees are not funded in Germany; the foundation states that tuition fee support is possible only to a limited extent in other countries. |
| Last date to apply | Spring round: 15 January 2027 to 1 March 2027. Fall round: 15 July 2027 to 1 September 2027. |
| Official website | boell.de – scholarships for graduates and PhD students |
What the Heinrich Boll scholarship gives you
- About EUR 992 per month plus various individual allowances for students who are not EU nationals and were not educated in Germany, as per the official information sheet.
- Health insurance or similar allowances can be added depending on your situation.
- Funding for limited periods abroad for study, an internship or similar – available only to scholarship holders.
- Access to the foundation’s event and support programme, its alumni network and its network of liaison lecturers, which is a large part of the value of a German political-foundation scholarship.
- Note that tuition fees are not funded in Germany, because German public universities charge little or no tuition; you must cover your own enrolment and semester fees.
Heinrich Boll Foundation scholarship eligibility
- You must have completed your first degree abroad and apply before you begin your Master’s degree in Germany.
- Priority is given to applicants from DAC countries who have not yet moved to Germany at the time of application – India is a DAC country, so Indian applicants are in the priority group.
- You need proof of German language proficiency – level B2 or DSH 1, with a certificate. The foundation calls this proof absolutely necessary.
- The Master’s programme you plan to study should have a standard duration of four semesters or more.
- You must study at a state or state-recognised university in Germany.
- PhD applicants need a detailed description of the research project with a valid timetable, and the preliminary work on the project must already be done. The Master’s degree certificate or equivalent must be available at the time of application.
- Refugees can apply regardless of their asylum status.
Documents to include with your Heinrich Boll application
- The application form for the study scholarship, with your personal data and CV, your motivation for applying to the Heinrich Boll Foundation and an outline of your social commitments and political interests.
- Your university entrance qualification (school-leaving certificate), with a certified German or English translation where needed.
- A certified copy of your first degree certificate, again with a translation if needed, plus an explanation of the grading if it differs from the German system.
- A student enrolment certificate, or a statement of when you expect to receive it. It must reach the foundation at the latest by the selection interview.
- Written proof of German language proficiency – at least DSH 1 or level B2.
- A third-party reference on your social commitment on the foundation’s form, written by someone who knows you well and is not a friend or family member – ideally a representative of an institution or organisation. Internship testimonials are not accepted.
How to apply for the Heinrich Boll Foundation scholarship
- Check that you meet the formal requirements, including the B2 German certificate and the four-semester Master’s programme condition.
- Register on the online application portal – the foundation says registration opens about six weeks before the deadline, so from early December 2026 for the spring round.
- Download the application form and the reference form from the portal or the foundation website and fill them in carefully.
- Ask your referee to write the social-commitment reference on the official form and sign it, or to email it directly from their own email account.
- Upload every document as a PDF and make sure all of them arrive before the deadline – the foundation only treats an application as complete when every document is received.
- Submit the online application and keep the confirmation email you receive immediately after submitting the final version in the portal.
Selection process and important dates
| 15 January 2027 | Online application portal opens for the spring 2027 round |
| 1 March 2027 | Last date to submit the complete application |
| Stage 1 | Written application documents, including the third-party reference on social commitment, are reviewed by two staff members |
| Stage 2 | Interview with a liaison lecturer, usually at the lecturer’s place of residence in Germany, by telephone or digitally |
| Stage 3 | Digital interview with three to four selection committee members, including external members, a scholarship holder and foundation staff |
| 15 July to 1 September 2027 | Fall round application window for the following intake |
The foundation names four criteria for the written stage: a very good academic record, social commitment and political interest, convincing reasons for applying to the Heinrich Boll Foundation, and German language proficiency. Only a small group advances at each stage, and every decision is communicated in writing.
It is a scholarship programme of the Heinrich Boll Foundation in Berlin, the Green political foundation of Germany, that funds international Master’s and PhD students who study at state or state-recognised universities in Germany.
The spring 2027 round runs from 15 January 2027 to 1 March 2027. The fall round runs from 15 July 2027 to 1 September 2027. Applications are only accepted through the online portal.
The official information sheet for international graduate applicants lists about EUR 992 per month plus various individual allowances for students who are not EU nationals and were not educated in Germany, with health insurance or similar possible.
Yes. The programme is open to international students from EU and DAC countries, and priority is given to applicants from DAC countries who have not yet taken up residence in Germany. India is a DAC country.
Yes. International applicants must provide written proof of German language proficiency of at least DSH 1 or level B2. The foundation states that this proof is absolutely necessary.
No. Tuition fees are not funded in Germany. The foundation states that funding of tuition fees is possible only to a limited extent in other countries.
There are three stages: the written application documents, an interview with a liaison lecturer, and a digital interview with the selection committee. The criteria are a very good academic record, social commitment and political interest, a convincing motivation for the foundation, and German language proficiency.
Official links
- Heinrich Boll Foundation – scholarships for graduates and PhD students
- Heinrich Boll Foundation – applying for a scholarship
- Information sheet for international graduate applicants (PDF)
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