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Deutschlandstipendium – Shaping the future together

Since 2011, the Germany Scholarship has been connecting companies, foundations, and private individuals with the federal government to highlight academic success and social engagement. 

Scholarship recipients receive 300 euros per month (regardless of income, in addition to BAföG) for at least two semesters so that they can successfully concentrate on their university education.

The scholarship's definition of achievement is deliberately broad: above-average grades and academic performance are just as important as the willingness to take on responsibility or successfully overcome obstacles in life and education.

The Deutschlandstipendium Scholarship will be offered for the eleventh time at TU Hamburg in the 2025/26 winter semester. Would you like to become a scholarship recipient and exchange ideas with sponsors and other scholarship recipients? Here you will find further details on the application process:

Application requirements

The basis for this is the guideline for awarding scholarships within the framework of the TUHH Scholarship Program Act (StipG) of February 19, 2016, last amended on August 26, 2025, as well as the Act on the Creation of a National Scholarship Program of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (StipG) of July 21, 2010. Funding is available to anyone who is enrolled in a degree program at the TU Hamburg for the approval period or who meets the admission requirements for the degree program and is about to begin their studies.

There is no legal entitlement to the scholarship and scholarship benefits.

The above-mentioned law excludes double funding if the student already receives talent- and performance-based financial support through one of the measures or institutions specified in Section 1 (3) StipG or through another domestic or foreign institution. This does not apply if the total amount of this funding per semester for which the funding was approved is less than a monthly average of 30 euros. (Section 4 (2) StipG)

Type and extent of funding

• The scholarship is paid out as a non-repayable grant in the amount of EUR 300 per month. The approval period is normally one year. The scholarship can be extended by submitting a new application.
• The maximum funding period is based on the standard period of study for the respective degree program (Section 6 (1) StipG). It can be extended upon request if the duration of study is extended for serious reasons, such as a disability, pregnancy, caring for and raising a child, or a subject-related stay abroad (§ 7 (1) StipG). The scholarship is not paid during a leave of absence from studies. Upon resumption of studies following the leave of absence, the approval period will be adjusted upon notification by the scholarship holder (§ 7 (2) StipG).
  The scholarship may not be made dependent on any consideration for the private donor, nor on any employment or declaration of intent regarding future employment (§ 5 (2) StipG). The scholarship does not establish an employment relationship with the TUHH.

Selection criteria and weighting

(1) The selection procedure will be conducted on the basis of applicants’ school or academic performance. Performance counts for 70% of the overall score. A maximum of 70 points can be achieved. Performance is assessed as follows:

a. Assessment of students in their first or second subject semester of an undergraduate course of students will be based on the grade of the university entrance qualification.

b. Assessment of students in their first or second subject semester of a Master’s program will be based on the grade of the degree qualifying them for the Master’s program.

c. Assessment of applications from individuals from the third subject semester will be based on the arithmetic mean of the grades obtained for examinations passed to date as shown in the transcript of records or a grade certificate. In the case of applications for the third subject semester applicants must provide evidence of having obtained at least 48 CP.

d. Subject-related qualifications and achievements such as special results, distinctions and prizes, stays abroad, previous professional activity and voluntary interships will be taken into consideration in assessing performance.

(2) The following criteria are taken into account in the selection process in accordance with § 2 Paragraph 2 items 2 and 3 StipV:

a. Extracurricular engagement such as voluntary work, societal or social engagement, involvement in politics at university or otherwise, or active participation in religious communities, associations or clubs.

The commitment listed under a. contributes 15% to the overall score. A maximum of 15 points can be achieved.

b. Aggravating circumstances impacting on the previous educational biography, such as:

• Special personal or family circumstances such as disabilities or chronic illness
• Caring for ones own children, especially as a single parent, or for close relatives in need of care,
• Student jobs,
• Non-academic family background (this family background exists if neither parent has a university degree) or a
• Migration background. A person has a migration background if he or she was not born in the territory of the present Federal Republic of Germany and immigrated in or after 1950 and/or the person does not have German citizenship and has not been naturalized. Moreover, Germans have a migration background if one parent fulfills at least one of the foregoing conditions.

The aggravating effects on the previous educational history listed under b. contribute 15% to the overall.

The selection decision is made by a central selection committee, "Auswahlkommission" (AK).

Selection Procedure

A scholarship can only be awarded on the basis of a timely and formally correct application. Applications must be submitted using an online form/ Online-Formular. The online form is only available during the application period.

Applications received after the deadline and incomplete applications cannot be considered in the process!

The following documents must be submitted for the online application:

a) Certificate of enrollment from TU Hamburg

b) Tabular resume

c) Letter of motivation (maximum two DIN A4 pages)

d) Transcripts:

University entrance qualification certificate

For applications for the 1st and 2nd semesters of a bachelor's degree program. If you have an international university entrance qualification, your final grade must also be converted into the German grading system.  

Overview of services

For applications to the third semester (bachelor's and master's programs).

You can create your transcript of records yourself in TUNE. Proof of at least 48 CP is required for applications to the third semester.

bachelor's degree certificate

For master's students in their first and second semesters: Bachelor's degree certificate with final grade, diploma, state examination, or other degree certificates from the first university degree (for foreign certificates or other foreign-language transcripts, please provide an officially certified translation in German or English). For applications for the 1st and 2nd semesters with an internationally acquired bachelor's degree, conversion to the German grading system is required.  

Additional certificates and evidence of subject-related qualifications and achievements

such as special achievements, awards and prizes, stays abroad, previous professional experience, and voluntary internships (for foreign certificates or other foreign-language transcripts, please provide an officially certified translation in German or English).

If foreign certificates such as university entrance qualifications or first university degree certificates do not have a sufficient grade conversion to the German grading system, please contact Mr. Olaf Baumann from STUDIS-Service at least 7 working days before the application deadline, o.baumann@tuhh.de

e) If you are no longer within the prescribed standard period of study for your degree program in the current or coming semester, please upload an informal application for funding beyond the standard period of study to the online application. This application must include a justification.

f) Please supplement your application with written evidence of the factors mentioned in (2) a. and b. These must be sufficiently documented. It is not sufficient to simply mention them in the text of your application.

Please refrain from inquiring about the status of the selection process. We will inform you of the result in writing. Insert overview of process here (tiles)

Approval/Rejection

Students who receive funding will receive a letter of approval. The approval includes:

• the amount of the scholarship
• the approval period
• a note that an extension of the funding is subject to a new application

Students who are not awarded a scholarship will receive a letter of rejection.

Translation of Guidelines for the award of Deutschlandstipendium scholarships at TU Hamburg (StipG)

Coordination Deutschlandstipendium Scholarship

Astrid Holst-Meyhöfer

Office hours only during the application period:
By phone Tue 10 a.m.–12 p.m. and Wed 2 p.m.–4 p.m. 

TU Hamburg
University Strategy Department I Relationship Management

Am Schwarzenberg Campus 1
21073 Hamburg
Tel: +49.40.42878-4605
holst-meyhoefer@tuhh.de

General questions

How much funding is available and who provides it?

The Germany Scholarship is worth €300 per month. The first half of the total amount, €150, is covered by private sponsors, such as companies, foundations, alumni, and other private persons. The remaining €150 is covered by the Federal Government. The Germany Scholarship is paid to scholarship holders by Technische Universität Hamburg on a monthly basis. Funding is provided for one year. A prolongation of the scholarship is possible within the scope of a new application.

Does funding have to be paid back?

No. In contrast to BAföG (funding from the federal student loan scheme), the Germany Scholarship does not have to be paid back.

Which degree programs are eligible?

As a rule, students of any degree program at a state or state-recognized university are eligible for funding. This includes second degree and supplementary degree programs, master degree programs, and part-time / dual programs (cooperative work-study degree programs). The German Scholarship provides no funding for doctoral candidates even if they are registered.

Who decides on the selection criteria for potential scholarship holders?

Please see the legal provisions. All other details are to be decided by the individual universities.

Is there a legal obligation to offer the Germany Scholarship?

No. Every university decides for itself whether or not to offer the Germany Scholarship. The Germany Scholarship has been introduced to TUHH as of summer term 2016. Scholarship holders will be selected by University committees on the basis of set criteria. The University is required to adhere to the legal provisions during the selection process.

How is “material support” defined in the context of the Germany Scholarship?

“Material support” is defined as financial aid or payments in kind. Awards which may have a monetary value but that are primarily educational and otherwise too expensive for scholarship holders are considered non-material, for example newspaper subscriptions. Financial aid to pay for an Internet connection, however, would be considered material support.

Application and selection procedure

How to apply

Students can apply via the online application form on our Germany Scholarship website. First-year students meeting all requirements may apply upon enrollment.

Is prior academic performance at school and/or university decisive?

Prior academic performance at school and/or university is an important criteria for assessing an applicant's academic potential and talent.

However, scholarship candidates are also selected based on criteria such as activity in clubs, politics, or the church and whether they are raising children, caring for family members, helping out in a parent's business, or dealing with special personal obstacles. These are all important factors which will affect the decision.

An applicant's overall personality and potential for success is therefore relevant during the application and selection process.

Who selects applicants?

A final decision will be made by the selection committee of Hamburg University of Technology.

Additional support

Is it possible to receive additional support concurrently?

This will be decided pending review of the value and type of scholarship. As a general rule, students who are already receiving at least €30 worth of merit- or achievement based material support per month are not eligible for a Germany Scholarship.

Please consult the link, accessible in German only, for a detailed overview of other scholarships permitted in addition to the Germany Scholarship.

Is it possible to hold a DAAD Scholarship and the Germany Scholarship at the same time?

Full DAAD scholarship holders may not benefit from a Germany Scholarship at the same time, since both scholarships are based on merit or achievement. However, you may put the Germany Scholarship on hold while receiving a full DAAD scholarship. In case of a partial scholarship from the DAAD, you may continue to receive funding from the Germany Scholarship.

Social benefits and living expenses

Does the scholarship count towards funding from the German Federal Education and Training Assistance Act (Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz, BAföG)?

No. Funding under the German Federal Education and Training Assistance Act and the Germany Scholarship are two complementary programs. Students may benefit from both funding options at the same time, without deductions.

However, accumulated scholarship funds are subject to the standard principles of capital accounting. That is, scholarship funding does not increase the €5,200 exemption limit.

Can a Germany Scholarship offset social benefits other than BAföG?

No. The Germany Scholarship generally does not count against other social benefits such as German unemployment benefits paid after the initial period of unemployment (Arbeitslosengeld II). One exception is the housing benefit.

Is it possible to receive housing benefits at the same time as the Germany Scholarship?

Yes. However, recipients of housing benefits need to remember that half of the amount received from the Germany Scholarship, just like other scholarships, counts towards annual income. For further questions about scholarships and housing benefits, please contact your local housing benefits office.

Does the Germany Scholarship affect my eligibility for a maintenance claim on my parents?

Yes. The Germany Scholarship will mitigate your maintenance claim. Students who are of age must support themselves independently, before they can claim for further parental support. The Germany Scholarship will be counted as the scholarship holders' own income.

Does the Germany Scholarship affect my eligibility for child benefit?

Since 1 January 2012, all earnings of adult children, including the Germany Scholarship, are exempt from being counted towards child benefits. In accordance with the 2011 Tax Simplification Act (Steuervereinfachungsgesetz 2011), the means of children who are of age will not be assessed before their completion of a first vocational training or degree.

For further information, please refer to the following publication of the German Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF) on Section 32(4) Income Tax Act (EStG ) dated 7 December 2011.

Leave of absence, travel, and hiatus

What happens to the Germany Scholarship if I take a leave of absence?

Scholarship funding is not paid during a leave of absence, for example due to statutory maternity leave, parental leave, or illness. Once studies have been resumed, the funding period will be extended by the period of absence. Different rules apply to internships.

Will the Germany Scholarship continue to be paid during a leave of absence for an internship that is beneficial to my academic program?

We distinguish between mandatory internships in Germany or abroad and other internships. Mandatory internships in Germany are part of the degree program and do not compromise any scholarship claims. Internships abroad are treated similarly, as long as the respective academic regulations for the degree program require them; in this case, they may be considered “subject related stays abroad.”

Should a scholarship holder apply for a leave of absence not provided for in the respective academic regulations, then no scholarship payments are made during this period.

Does the Germany Scholarship continue to be paid during temporary studies abroad, for example via the ERASMUS-program?

The Germany Scholarship may continue to be paid if the program abroad is relevant to the degree subject. The student must go abroad within the funding period.

This is true regardless of a potential leave of absence from the university awarding the scholarship. Students who study abroad via the ERASMUS-program will also continue to receive funding from the Germany Scholarship if they are also receiving a travel allowance for scholarship holders by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

Tax and insurance matters

Is my Germany Scholarship taxable?

In accordance with the Scholarship Program Act (Stipendienprogramm-Gesetz, StipG) the Germany Scholarship is generally not considered tax or social security-relevant income. Certain exceptions may apply within the framework of private, state-recognized universities. For further details, please contact the respective university.

Does the Germany Scholarship affect my statutory health insurance rate?

The Germany Scholarship does not affect contributions to health insurance for as long as scholarship holders are members of the statutory insurance plan. Usually, until they have completed the 14th subject semester or reached the age of 30. In case the scholarship holder subsequently opts to become a voluntary member of the statutory health insurance, different regulations will apply. German legislation requires payment of a fixed minimum contribution. This contribution is currently calculated on an assessment basis of €875. If the assessable income, including scholarship funding exceeds this amount, all excess income will factor in establishing the payable health insurance rate.