About This Opportunity

The Heinrich Böll Foundation, closely associated with the German Green Party, offers scholarships to outstanding Master's and PhD students who share the Foundation's commitment to green politics, democracy, human rights, and social justice. The foundation funds both domestic and international students — including applicants from Africa — studying at German universities across any field of study, provided applicants demonstrate strong social and political engagement aligned with the Foundation's values.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Enrolled in or applying for a Master's or PhD programme at a German university, or in the process of transferring your studies to Germany
  • Demonstrate strong academic achievement
  • Show active commitment to civil society, green politics, human rights, or social justice — this is a core requirement, not optional
  • International applicants should have strong German language skills, as most scholarship communication and many programmes operate in German
  • Apply in the round relevant to your start date (March round or September round, depending on when your studies begin)

What You Get / Benefits

  • Monthly financial support (stipend) to cover living expenses during your studies
  • Tuition fee support where applicable
  • Integration into the Heinrich Böll Foundation's scholarly community, including seminars, events, and network access
  • Access to the Foundation's academic and political programming in Germany and internationally

How to Apply

  • Visit boell.de/en/foundation/scholarship to review current application requirements and round deadlines
  • Prepare a full application including academic transcripts, a CV, a detailed letter of motivation highlighting your political and civic engagement, and references
  • Applications are submitted online through the Foundation's portal
  • Shortlisted candidates are invited to an interview, typically held in Germany or online for international applicants

    • Tips

    • The Heinrich Böll Foundation takes values alignment seriously — applicants who cannot demonstrate concrete engagement with green, democratic, or human rights causes will not be competitive regardless of their academic record.
    • There are two application rounds per year (typically March and September) — apply in the round that corresponds to your study start date.
    • International applicants should honestly assess their German language proficiency, since most of the Foundation's programming and many study options operate in German.

    ⏰ Deadlines: March 1 and September 1 (Annual) — apply in the round that matches your programme start date. Check boell.de for the exact current cycle dates.