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Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes / German Academic Scholarship Foundation·Germany

Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes - Doctoral Scholarship

Fully FundedPhD24–48 monthsRolling calls · nomination-based

The Studienstiftung doctoral scholarship supports ~350 new doctoral scholars per year across all disciplines at German universities. Open to all nationalities enrolled at German institutions. Rolling applications throughout the year with four selection meetings; calls are capped at 300 applications each.

Popular Participating Universities

Heidelberg University

LMU Munich

Technical University of Munich

Freie Universität Berlin

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Quick info

Application status

Rolling calls · nomination-based

DAAD deadlines vary per program. Check the official site for the current intake window.

Germany

PhD

24–48 months

All disciplines

Apply on official site

Opens the provider's official website

Info sourced from official providers. Always verify deadlines, requirements, and eligibility directly before applying.

What you get

Monthly basic stipend: €1,650 (reviewed annually)
Monthly research allowance: €100
Health insurance subsidy: up to €100/month if not covered by mandatory insurance
Family supplement if applicable
Conference and research trip travel allowances
Tuition fee subsidy up to €10,000/year for doctorates outside home country
Access to Studienstiftung academic programme (summer academies, workshops)
Liaison professor support

Monthly: €1,650/month

Requirements

First degree: Required

Professional experience: not specified

Detailed requirements

- Doctoral candidate accepted at a German university (or German citizen doing PhD abroad)
- All nationalities eligible - nationality is irrelevant
- Last academic degree completed no more than 4 years before application
- Scholarship must start within 6 months of funding approval
- Must be in early-stage doctoral research - not near completion
- Full-time doctoral research only (no part-time doctorate)
- Cannot combine with other major doctoral funding body scholarships
- Must have a well-developed research exposé
- Outstanding academic grades in all prior degrees
- Evidence of extra-curricular and societal commitment

Who can apply

Highly qualified doctoral candidates at German universities (all nationalities) with ambitious dissertation projects, excellent academic records, and strong societal engagement.

Fields of study

All disciplines

Application window

Rolling calls · nomination-based

Dates are based on data sourced from official providers (2025–2026 cycle). Deadlines may shift between intake years. Always verify on the official website before applying.

Important dates

Call opening dates 2026: October 1, 2026

Call opening dates 2027: February 1, June 1, October 1

Maximum 300 complete applications accepted per call - applications close when quota reached

Selection process: ~4–6 months from submission to decision

Applications submitted physically to: Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes, Promotionsförderung, Ahrstraße 41, 53175 Bonn

How to apply

1Wait for a call to open (Oct 1, Feb 1, Jun 1, or Oct 1)
2Prepare application: cover sheet, applicant questionnaire, supervisor questionnaire, degree certificates, CV, and a detailed research exposé (max 20 pages)
3Submit all documents as a single physical package (no double-sided prints, no binders) to the Bonn address
4Also propose names of two academic reviewers for the review phase
5Stage 1: preliminary review (~4 weeks)
6Stage 2: written review by two external academics
7Stage 3: selection board decision (meets 4x/year)
8Contact: promotion@studienstiftung.de