Dear students,

This year’s application period for Germany’s largest scholarship program, the “Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes” (German National Academic Foundation), has begun again! You have until February 12, 2026, to apply for one of these coveted scholarships. In addition to financial support consisting of €300 per month plus money equal to your BAföG rate, you can expect to join a huge network of scholarship recipients, alumni, and partners from industry. Alongside the foundation’s traditional events, including summer academies and language courses abroad, this is summarized under the term “idealistic support.” The Studienstiftung itself writes the following about the self-application process:

„Under the motto ‘Scholarship for you!’, the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes offers first-year students the opportunity to apply for a scholarship. We are looking for students who demonstrate high intellectual ability, motivation, social skills, communication skills, a broad range of interests, and social commitment. The registration period runs until February 12, 2026.

The Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes invites all students in their first and second semesters of an undergraduate degree program to take advantage of this opportunity to apply. The Studienstiftung supports students who approach the world with curiosity and drive and who also use their special talents to help others. Scholarship recipients are selected regardless of their origin or political, religious, or ideological affiliations.

The self-application process is a two-stage process: School grades do not play a role in the self-application process. Instead, all candidates first take a cognitive ability test. Registration for this test is open online until February 12, 2026. The selection tests will take place in person at several locations in Germany at the end of February and beginning of March. On March 4, 2026, the test can only be taken online. The Studienstiftung will then invite the best performers to participate in a selection seminar.„

Further information on the application process can be found on the official website of the Studienstiftung.

We wish you every success with your potential application and in the upcoming exam period!

Your FSR1

(Text source: https://www.studienstiftung.de/aktuelles/artikel/stipendium-fuer-dich-studienstiftung-laedt-studierende-im-ersten-und-zweiten-fachsemester-zur-bewerbung-ein-4; Image source: https://www.studienstiftung.de/pool/sdv/public/documents/auswahl/dokumente/30112021-Selbstbewerbung-Graphic_Recording_Koller.jpg)