Heinrich Boll Scholarships
The Heinrich Boll Foundation offers around 1,500 scholarships every year to German and international undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students studying any subject at a German higher education institution. Students interested in the Heinrich Boll Scholarships must have outstanding academic records, and be politically and socially engaged. Also, they should have a keen interest in the foundation’s basic values, including sustainability and ecology, human rights and democracy, and justice and self-determination.
Notably, the foundation awards scholarships as per the guidelines set by the Foreign Office and Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). Scholarships are offered for the regular period of study.
| Type of Funding | Private |
| Scholarship Type | Merit-based |
| Eligible Candidates | Undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students from any country studying any subject |
| Approximate Number of Scholarships Granted Annually | 1,500 |
| Available To International Candidates | Yes |
| Application Deadlines | March 1 every year for the spring session and September 1 for the autumn session |
| Participating Countries | All |
| Official Website | www.boell.de/en/scholarships |
Heinrich Boll Scholarships Reward Amount
For undergraduate and graduate students: Students educated in Germany and EU nationals (not educated in Germany) may receive a monthly amount of up to USD 713 plus USD 330 book money. This funding varies according to the recipient’s personal or parental income and assets. Non-EU nationals (not educated in Germany) will receive a monthly amount of USD 934 along with various individual allowances.
For doctoral students: Students educated in Germany and EU nationals (not educated in Germany) will receive a monthly amount of USD 1484 along with USD 110 every month for covering research costs. Non-EU nationals (not educated in Germany) will receive a monthly amount of USD 1319 along with USD 110 every month as mobility allowance and various individual allowances.
Highlights
| Scholarship Type | Company-Sponsored, Merit-Based |
| Offered by | Trust |
| Organization | N/A |
| Application Deadline | Sep 01 ,2024 |
| Number of Scholarships | 1500 |
| Amount | Variable Amount |
| Renewability | No |
| International Student Eligible | Yes |
| Scholarship Website Link | https://www.boell.de/en/scholarships |
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for applying to Heinrich Boll Scholarships, students must meet certain criteria. The eligibility requirements are different for students educated in Germany, students educated in one of the EU member states (excluding Germany) and the ones educated anywhere other than EU member states. Following are the eligibility requirements for various categories of students:
For Undergraduate and Graduate Students:
| Requirements | German/Foreign students (educated in Germany) | EU nationals (not educated in Germany) | Non-EU nationals (not educated in Germany) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree required to qualify for the scholarship | First degree only (Diploma, Bachelors, and Staatsexamen) | Master’s degree only (first professional qualification proof must be provided) | Master’s degree only (first professional qualification proof must be provided) |
| Earliest application date | Immediately before the start of studies | Immediately before the start of studies | Immediately before the start of studies |
| Latest application date | During your degree course’s third semester (enclosed student registration required) |
During your degree course’s first semester (enclosed student registration required) |
During your degree course’s first semester (enclosed student registration required) |
| Eligible courses | All | All | All |
| Eligible host universities | state or state-approved universities in Germany or other EU member states | state or state-approved universities in Germany or other EU member states | state or state-approved universities in Germany |
| German proficiency proof | - | Level DSH 2 or B2 (certificate required) | Level DSH 2 or B2 (certificate required) |
For Doctoral Students:
| Requirements | German/Foreign students (educated in Germany) | EU nationals (not educated in Germany) | Non-EU nationals (not educated in Germany) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doctoral studies Admission | Proof of doctoral studies admission at a state or state-approved university must be attached to the application | Proof of doctoral studies admission at a state or state-approved university must be attached to the application | Proof of doctoral studies admission at a state or state-approved university must be attached to the application |
| Application date | Preliminary work must have been finished and the submission of a valid timetable for completion is required | Preliminary work must have been finished and the submission of a valid timetable for completion is required | Preliminary work must have been finished and the submission of a valid timetable for completion is required |
| Eligible fields | All (subjects related to the foundation’s basic values will be given priority) | All (subjects related to the foundation’s basic values will be given priority) | All (subjects related to the foundation’s basic values will be given priority) |
| Regular scholarship period | Two years (maybe extended two times at the most by half a year) | Two years (maybe extended two times at the most by half a year) | Two years (maybe extended two times at the most by half a year) |
| German proficiency proof | – | Level DSH 2 or B2 (certificate required) | Level DSH 2 or B2 (certificate required) |
Application Process
How to Apply for Heinrich Boll Scholarships?
The Heinrich Boll Foundation only accepts online applications. The online portal opens around six weeks prior to the deadline for applying. To apply for the scholarship:
- Check the next deadline on the official website of the Heinrich Boll Foundation.
- Access the form from the foundation’s online portal.
- Fill the form completely and correctly.
- Attach the required documents in PDF format to the online application.
- Submit the completed application and all the necessary documents before the deadline.
Required Documents
Following are the documents applicants are required to submit while applying for the scholarship:
- Completely and correctly filled application form along with the applicant’s personal data and CV, motivation for applying, motivation for studying the chosen subject, an outline of his/her political interests and social commitments, and an outline of the Ph.D. thesis project (for doctoral students only)
- A copy of the applicant’s university entrance qualification, Abitur or baccalaureate. Attach an English or German translation by a certified translator, if required.
- If an applicant has already commenced the studies, he/she is required to submit a list of study certificates to date.
- Foreign applicants seeking to pursue a master’s degree must submit their first-degree certificate’s certified copy (with English or German translation if required). Applicants will also have to submit an explanation of the grading in case it is different from the German system.
- Student enrolment certificate
- A 1-2 page long reference on the applicant’s social commitment by a representative of an organization or an institution
- A 1-2 page long expert reference by a university/college lecturer or a school teacher (in case of secondary-level students). Those applying for doctoral scholarships have to submit two expert references.
- Doctoral students are also required to attach a detailed exposé of their research project.
Selection Process
The selection process for granting the scholarship comprises three stages:
- Stage 1: Submission of written application along with the required documents that include an expert reference from a school teacher or a university lecturer and a personal reference on the applicant’s social commitment. Each application is reviewed based on the applicant’s academic record, his/her political interest, and social commitment, the reason for applying for the scholarship and the quality of research project (in case of doctoral students).
- Stage 2: After the application has been assessed, an hour-long interview is held with a liaison lecturer usually at the applicant’s university or near his/her residence. The interview can also be telephonic. After the interview, a report written by the liaison lecturer is attached to the application.
- Stage 3: Suitable applicants will have to attend a selection workshop held in Berlin that consists of a group discussion and personal interview.
Only a few applicants are selected at the end of each stage. The decision taken at the selection procedure’s each stage is communicated to the applicants in writing. Students may reapply if they could not clear the first or the second stage. However, applicants who have participated in the selection workshop and were rejected are not allowed to reapply.
Grant Details
The Heinrich Boll Foundation has its headquarters in Berlin-Mitte and supports around 1,500 students every year with scholarships to study at a German university. The foundation works with over 100 partner projects across 60 countries and has offices in 32 countries, including France, Turkey, India, the United States, China, Mexico, Russia, Ukraine, and the Middle East. Its main objective is to encourage political education across the world to promote socio-political commitment, democratic will, and international understanding.
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