Scholarships in Germany for Indian Students 2027: Who Can Apply from India

  • Last Updated on: November 2, 2026 by
  • Swapna Kanchikacherla
Scholarships in Germany for Indian Students
Scholarships in Germany for Indian Students

Scholarships in Germany for Indian students in 2027 come from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), Erasmus Mundus, the political foundations and university awards. The best-known award is the exception: for 2027 funding, the DAAD Study Scholarship for Master Studies pays EUR 992 a month, but India is not on DAAD’s eligible-country list for it. If you built your master’s plan around that award, or worry that every good scholarship needs fluent German, you still have routes. Every scheme below shows whether someone living in India can apply, what it pays and its next date. Start with the profile table to find yours.

Written by
Swapna Kanchikacherla
Head of European Desk
Specialises in Germany and France student admissions and visa documentation, with a focus on Campus France, APS, blocked-account and proof-of-funds files.
9 Years, 1100 Visas
Reviewed by
Sridhar Kongara
Managing Director
Mr. Kongara Sridhar, Director of AOEC India, has over 12 years of experience in overseas education consulting, admissions, and student visa guidance.
Over 12 years Experience

Key Takeaways

  • The general DAAD master’s Study Scholarship (EUR 992 a month, approx. INR 1.06 lakh) is closed to India for 2027.
  • DAAD doctoral awards pay EUR 1,400 a month (approx. INR 1.49 lakh); EPOS is also open; Helmut-Schmidt and KOSPIE windows closed in 2026.
  • Erasmus Mundus pays EUR 1,400 a month (approx. INR 1.49 lakh) with no tuition.
  • Boell and Naumann pay EUR 992 a month (approx. INR 1.06 lakh) but need German; KAS ran no 2026 selection for India.
  • The Deutschlandstipendium (EUR 300 a month, approx. INR 32,000) goes through your German university.
  • Next dates: DAAD doctoral 21 October 2026, Naumann 31 October 2026, Boell 1 March 2027.
  • A German or EU scholarship counts as visa proof of funds; parents’ income in India does not.
Table of Contents
Germany Scholarships Open to Applicants Living in India Scroll here ↓ DAAD Scholarships for Indian Students in 2027 Scroll here ↓ Political Foundation Scholarships: Boell, KAS, Naumann and Others Scroll here ↓ Deutschlandstipendium, Erasmus Mundus and University Scholarships Scroll here ↓ Scholarships in Germany by Study Level Scroll here ↓ Eligibility, CGPA and Documents for German Scholarships Scroll here ↓ How to Apply: The 2027 Scholarship Deadline Calendar Scroll here ↓ Scholarships and the Blocked Account for Your German Visa Scroll here ↓ Frequently Asked Questions Scroll here ↓

Germany Scholarships Open to Applicants Living in India

Germany scholarships open to applicants living in India fall into four groups: DAAD programmes, political foundations, university awards and the EU’s Erasmus Mundus. As of 15 October 2026, the DAAD scholarship database filtered for India shows 18 DAAD programmes. Which group fits depends on your degree level, work experience and German.

In winter semester 2024/25, India was the largest country of origin for international students in Germany, with just under 59,000 in DAAD’s figures. See our study in Germany guide for admission and visas.

Your profileBest routeNext step
Fresh graduate wanting a master’sErasmus Mundus; Boell with German B2 (upper-intermediate); Helmut-Schmidt (public policy, with internships or social work)Pick programmes from the Erasmus Mundus Catalogue; most take applications October to January. Boell closes 1 March 2027
Graduate with 2+ years’ work experienceDAAD EPOS; Helmut-Schmidt for public policyApply to the EPOS course itself
PhD applicantDAAD Doctoral Programmes or CotutelleDAAD deadline 21 October 2026
IIT master’s student in engineering, maths or natural sciencesKOSPIEThe 2026 call ran 20 February to 1 April
Finishing Class 12Deutschlandstipendium; Heidelberg’s Wild scholarship for MINT (maths, computer science, science and technology)Apply through your German university from your first semester
PostdocHumboldt; Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)Humboldt call opens 15 November 2026

If you’re applying for a bachelor’s or master’s, book your APS certificate (the German Embassy’s check of Indian academic documents) first. The APS fee is INR 18,000, non-refundable whatever the outcome, with no fixed processing time. PhD and postdoc applicants may not need APS if their German institution does not require it, and nor may some holders of German or EU publicly funded scholarships who fall under the APS exemption rules; check those rules before assuming you are exempt.

SchemeLevelWhat it paysOpen to applicants living in India?Next deadline or window
Bachelor’s
DeutschlandstipendiumBachelor’s or master’sEUR 300 a month (approx. INR 32,000)Through your German universitySee note 1
Heidelberg Hans-Peter Wild Talent ScholarshipFirst-semester MINTEUR 1,000 a month (approx. INR 1.07 lakh)Not statedSee note 2
Master’s
DAAD Study Scholarship (all disciplines)Master’sEUR 992 a month (approx. INR 1.06 lakh)NoNone for India in 2027
DAAD EPOSMaster’s, 2+ years’ work experienceEUR 992 a month (approx. INR 1.06 lakh)YesSee note 3
DAAD Helmut-Schmidt-ProgrammeMaster’s, public policyEUR 992 a month (approx. INR 1.06 lakh), no tuitionYes1 June to 31 July 2026 (closed)
DAAD KOSPIEIIT master’s thesis stay (engineering, maths, natural sciences)EUR 992 a month (approx. INR 1.06 lakh)Only IIT students20 February to 1 April 2026 (closed)
Erasmus Mundus Joint MastersMaster’sEUR 1,400 a month (approx. INR 1.49 lakh), no tuitionYesMost programmes: October to January
Heinrich Boell FoundationMaster’sEUR 992 a month (approx. INR 1.06 lakh)Yes1 March 2027
Friedrich Naumann FoundationMaster’s, PhDEUR 992 a month (approx. INR 1.06 lakh)Yes31 October 2026 (also 1-30 April)
Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS)Master’s or PhD; bachelor’s after two semesters in GermanyUp to EUR 992 a month (approx. INR 1.06 lakh); PhD up to EUR 1,400 (approx. INR 1.49 lakh)Only once in Germany15 July
Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES)Students, postgraduatesEUR 992 a month (approx. INR 1.06 lakh) for studentsOnly once in GermanySee note 1
PhD and postdoc
DAAD Doctoral Programmes in GermanyFull PhDEUR 1,400 a month (approx. INR 1.49 lakh)Yes21 October 2026
DAAD Cotutelle (bi-national PhD)PhD, part in GermanyEUR 1,400 a month (approx. INR 1.49 lakh) while in GermanyYes21 October 2026
DAAD Research GrantsShort PhD or postdoc stayEUR 1,400 a month (approx. INR 1.49 lakh)YesUsually 7 October

All INR conversions use the live Google-published rate captured on 2026-10-15: EUR 1 = INR 106.6439. Rates fluctuate intraday; figures are indicative.

Notes: (1) Deutschlandstipendium students apply through their own German university; FES takes only applicants already studying in Germany. (2) Heidelberg does not say whether applicants from outside Germany qualify for the Wild scholarship. (3) Each EPOS course sets its own deadline.

Read the India column before the money column. The DAAD Study Scholarship and the FES award both pay EUR 992 a month, yet neither takes an application from someone still living in India.

DAAD Scholarships for Indian Students in 2027

EUR 1,400 a month (approx. INR 1.49 lakh) is the top DAAD rate open to Indian applicants: for funding starting in October 2027, DAAD Doctoral Programmes in Germany pay it for up to four years. DAAD scholarships for Indian students at master’s level are narrower, as the routes below show.

Why the DAAD master’s Study Scholarship is closed to India

This award sits on many Indian shortlists: a stipend plus EUR 460 a year for study costs. But DAAD’s 2027 eligible-country list leaves out India, and “country” means where you live and apply from. For winter term 2027/28, the DAAD STEM study scholarship skips India too.

DAAD India’s master’s list names EPOS, Helmut-Schmidt and arts and architecture study scholarships. Unless you study arts, design or architecture, a fresh graduate’s DAAD master’s option is Helmut-Schmidt, and only with relevant practical experience. The awards that do fit usually add:

  • Insurance and travel: payments toward health, accident and personal liability insurance, plus a travel allowance, unless your home country or another funder already covers travel.
  • Tuition: Helmut-Schmidt holders are exempt from tuition fees.

From our counselling desk: the plan we unpick most often is an English-taught master's applicant counting on the DAAD Study Scholarship. We rebuild it around Erasmus Mundus, a first-semester Deutschlandstipendium bid and a blocked account, plus German B2 in year one for a year-two foundation bid.

EPOS for graduates with work experience

For courses on the 2027/2028 list, EPOS (Development-Related Postgraduate Courses) takes graduates from India with at least two years’ professional experience and a result in the top third. It funds 12 to 42 months, depending on the course, and you apply to up to three listed courses directly, each with its own deadline. One condition: EPOS expects a bachelor’s that is “usually a four-year course”, so a three-year BCom or BSc holder should ask the course first. Our master’s in Germany guide covers admission.

Helmut-Schmidt-Programme for public policy

For the 2027 intake, the Helmut-Schmidt-Programme currently pays EUR 992 a month plus health insurance and fixed travel lump sums, after a mandatory German course of up to four months. You need a degree in social and political sciences, law, economics or public policy, grades in the upper third, and relevant practical experience: work, internships or political or social commitment. Indian applicants are asked for an APS certificate, and the last degree should be issued no earlier than 1 January 2020. The 2027 window ran from 1 June to 31 July 2026 and is closed; the next is the 2028 call.

Doctoral programmes, Cotutelle and short research grants

  • Doctoral Programmes in Germany (a full PhD): up to four years, first granted for up to three; selection around February 2027.
  • Bi-nationally Supervised Doctoral Degrees (Cotutelle, a PhD shared between your home university and a German one): paid only during stays in Germany, for 7 to 24 months, never at your home university.
  • Research Grants in Germany (short stays): 2 to 12 months for doctoral students, 2 to 6 for postdocs, and not for a whole doctorate at a German university.

DAAD also lists summer course scholarships for applicants from India: they fund German language and culture courses for bachelor’s and master’s students, with applications from 1 September to 30 October each year.

Political Foundation Scholarships: Boell, KAS, Naumann and Others

Boell, KAS and FES look like entry routes from India, but each political foundation (Begabtenfoerderungswerke, Germany’s talent-funding foundations) below asks for German. Of these five, only Boell and Naumann take applications from people still living in India, and both pay master’s students EUR 992 a month.

FoundationGerman neededMust you already be in Germany?Next window
Heinrich BoellB2 or DSH 1 (DSH is a German exam for university entry)No15 January to 1 March 2027
Konrad-Adenauer (KAS)B2 minimumYes, for applicants from India (2026)15 July
Friedrich NaumannYes, papers and interview in GermanNo1-31 October or 1-30 April
Friedrich-Ebert (FES)Yes, proof requiredYesAfter you enrol
Rosa LuxemburgB2 or aboveYes1 October, for grants from 1 April

Notes: applicants living in their home country can apply to KAS only through selected KAS offices abroad. For 2026 those were Buenos Aires and Nairobi, so from India KAS starts once you live in Germany, unless KAS names an office for India in a later year. Naumann funds you only if you’ve spent no more than 15 months in Germany before funding starts, not counting study or research stays.

Start with Boell if you’re still in India. For 2027, it gives priority to applicants from DAC countries who haven’t yet moved to Germany, and India is on the OECD’s list of aid-receiving countries (the DAC list) for 2025. Boell funds only master’s programmes with a standard length of four semesters or more. It also notes that non-EU nationals may apply only at irregular intervals, so confirm the round is open before you plan on it.

Expect to show civic work: KAS looks for “a strong commitment to democracy and human rights” and encourages volunteer experience in your home country, and Boell asks for a personal reference on your social commitment. Naumann won’t fund an MBA, a law master’s (LL.M) or a bachelor’s for non-EU applicants.

For most English-taught applicants, foundations are a second-year route: reach B2 in year one, then apply to FES or Rosa Luxemburg from Germany.

Deutschlandstipendium, Erasmus Mundus and University Scholarships

Take a BTech graduate with a 7.8 CGPA, no German and no work experience. Her money comes from three places, in order: Erasmus Mundus, which she applies for first, a tuition award at admission, and the Deutschlandstipendium through her German university.

Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters

Erasmus Mundus is the closest thing to a fully funded master’s from India. An Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EMJM) scholarship is calculated at EUR 1,400 a month for the course length, under the 2026 Erasmus+ Programme Guide. It goes toward travel, visa, installation (settling-in) and living costs, with no tuition charged.

For 2027 entry, most programmes take applications between October and January for courses starting the following academic year. Find them in the EACEA Erasmus Mundus Catalogue, then apply directly to the institution running each one; a programme lasts one to two academic years.

The catch is competition. Each consortium should give no more than 10% of its scholarships to one nationality (top-up regional scholarships excepted), and past EMJM holders can’t get another. Apply to two or three programmes.

Deutschlandstipendium

The Deutschlandstipendium pays EUR 150 a month from a private sponsor, matched by EUR 150 from the Federal Government. First- and higher-semester students of all nationalities apply directly to their German university; personal and parental income are ignored and funding normally runs at least two semesters. Treat it as a top-up, not rent money.

University and state awards

University money mostly means a tuition cut, which matters where non-EU students pay fees:

  • TUM: for 2026-27 entry, master’s tuition for newly enrolled non-EU students is usually EUR 4,000 or 6,000 a semester, and EUR 4,600 or 6,800 from winter semester 2027/28. TUM tuition waivers for outstanding results or financial need are reviewed individually, never automatic.
  • Baden-Wuerttemberg: in 2026, universities such as Tuebingen charge international students EUR 1,500 a semester, with exceptions; Baden-Wuerttemberg Stiftung scholarship holders are exempt. Its BW-STIPENDIUM is exchange-only, through partner universities.
  • Heidelberg: the Hans-Peter Wild Talent Scholarships aim to fund top first-semester MINT applicants until the standard end of the course.
  • RWTH Aachen: the RWTH International Academy runs RWTH’s fee-charging master’s programmes. Its High Potential Student Grant can cut admitted students’ tuition by up to 25%.
  • Universitaet Hamburg: its merit scholarship has no further calls currently planned.

Some public universities charge no tuition at all: LMU Munich as a general rule charges non-EU students none for regular degree programmes. Compare fees in our guide to public universities in Germany.

Scholarships in Germany by Study Level

Picture a Class 12 student in Hyderabad. Most scholarships in Germany for Indian students at bachelor’s level reach her only once she’s admitted to a German university.

Bachelor’s, after Class 12

  • Deutschlandstipendium: you apply through your German university, from your first semester.
  • Heidelberg’s Wild scholarship: aimed at top first-semester MINT applicants.
  • KAS: funds bachelor’s study only after two semesters of a BA at a German university, with German at B2.
  • Closed to you: Naumann excludes bachelor’s study for non-EU applicants, and Bayer excludes bachelor students.

Our guide to studying in Germany after 12th covers the admission side.

Master’s, including engineering

Engineering applicants have the widest choice. In the 2026 call, KOSPIE with Indian IITs funded thesis stays at Germany’s TU9 technical universities for IIT master’s students in engineering, maths or natural sciences. It needed a minimum CGPA of 8.5 and above-average GATE scores. Add Erasmus Mundus and tuition cuts at TUM or RWTH once admitted. Without German or work experience, build your funding on Erasmus Mundus plus a blocked account, and treat a university award as a bonus.

MBA

MBA funding in Germany usually comes from the business schools themselves, such as ESMT Berlin, WHU and Munich Business School. It most often arrives as a partial tuition discount rather than a monthly stipend, including some awards for women in business. Naumann excludes MBAs.

PhD and postdoc

  • Humboldt Research Fellowship: EUR 3,000 a month for postdocs (doctorate in the last four years) or EUR 3,600 for experienced researchers (last twelve years). The call opening 15 November 2026 closes once it reaches 800 applications, the current cap.
  • MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships: open to any nationality with up to 8 years’ research experience after the PhD; the 2026 call closed on 9 September 2026.
  • Elsa-Neumann-Scholarship: EUR 1,350 a month plus EUR 100 for research costs, up to 36 months, for far-above-average doctoral researchers at the four Berlin universities.
  • Bayer Foundation fellowships: in the 2026 programme, up to EUR 10,000 for up to six months for MSc or PhD students, with the placement in Germany if you’re enrolled outside it. The 2026 call closed on 15 April 2026.

Eligibility, CGPA and Documents for German Scholarships

Grades matter for scholarships in Germany for Indian students, but there’s no official CGPA cutoff. DAAD’s EPOS and Helmut-Schmidt ask for grades in the top third. Study-abroad guides commonly put the competitive mark at around 7.5 out of 10 or higher, with figures running from 7.5 to 8.5. Treat 7.5 as the point where you’re in the running, not a guarantee: every award here is competitive.

English and German language proof

  • Foundations and German-taught routes: guides commonly name TestDaF or DSH (German language exams for university entry) as the usual proof of German, but each scheme sets its own level. Boell takes B2 or DSH 1 with a certificate, and KAS accepts a Goethe-Institut B2 certificate.
  • English-taught programmes: the host programme sets the English test (IELTS or TOEFL) and the score, so take the test your course names in its entry rules.

Documents to prepare

Our study in Germany requirements guide covers the admission documents; scholarships add a few of their own:

  • Motivation letter written for this scholarship, not your university SOP
  • CV with dates for study, work and volunteering
  • Letters of recommendation from professors or employers
  • Research proposal, for PhD and research-grant applications
  • Transcripts and degree certificates
  • Language certificate (German, English or both)
  • APS certificate
  • Work experience letters, for EPOS and Helmut-Schmidt
  • Proof of civic engagement, for the foundations

How to Apply: The 2027 Scholarship Deadline Calendar

Most guides say to start about 12 months before your intake, with ranges from 8 to 18 months. The official dates agree: DAAD’s 21 October 2026 doctoral deadline is for funding that starts in October 2027.

  1. Pick your route from the profile table and shortlist two or three schemes, each with its own motivation letter.
  2. Book APS (for a bachelor’s or master’s) and your language test first.
  3. Apply to the university and the scholarship in parallel. Two exceptions: the Deutschlandstipendium goes through your German university, and KAS doctoral funding needs full admission to a doctoral programme.
  4. For Erasmus Mundus and EPOS, apply to the programme or course itself.
  5. For foundations, collect proof of volunteering and a reference on your social commitment; Boell asks for one.
  6. Prepare for interviews; Naumann’s is in German.
  7. Through your German university, apply for the Deutschlandstipendium from your first semester and, once you’re studying in Germany with B2, for FES or Rosa Luxemburg.
DateSchemeWho it’s for
October to JanuaryMost Erasmus Mundus master’s programmesMaster’s applicants
21 October 2026DAAD Doctoral Programmes and CotutellePhD applicants
30 October 2026DAAD summer course (HSK)Bachelor’s and master’s students
31 October 2026Naumann portal closes (reopens 1-30 April)Master’s or PhD, German
15 November 2026Humboldt call opensPostdocs
15 January to 1 March 2027Boell, spring roundMaster’s, German B2
15 JulyKAS, domestic routeApplicants living in Germany, German B2
15 July to 1 September 2027Boell, fall roundMaster’s, German B2
1 OctoberRosa Luxemburg, for grants from 1 AprilMaster’s or PhD, living in Germany

In our counselling files, the letters that fail are the reused ones: a foundation reader spots a university SOP with the name swapped. Our Germany application process guide covers admission timelines.

Scholarships and the Blocked Account for Your German Visa

A German or EU scholarship is one of three accepted ways to prove funds for a German student visa. Under the checklist dated 16 February 2026, German Missions in India accept a blocked account holding EUR 11,904 (approx. INR 12.69 lakh), a sponsor living in Germany, or scholarship proof. Parents' income in India is not listed.

A blocked account (Sperrkonto) is a German account that releases no more than EUR 992 a month. A formal obligation letter (Verpflichtungserklaerung) is signed by a sponsor who lives in Germany. An education loan needs its own proof as well.

The embassy sets no minimum amount for a scholarship. Our working rule: if the award letter doesn’t cover the whole requirement, show the rest another accepted way, usually a blocked account. Our Germany blocked account guide walks through opening one, and the Germany student visa guide covers the rest of the file.

Your stipend also has to carry costs the visa doesn’t check:

Get in Touch

Frequently Asked Questions

Look for a monthly stipend with no tuition to pay. From India, Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EUR 1,400 a month, approx. INR 1.49 lakh, no tuition charged) and the Helmut-Schmidt-Programme (tuition exempt) come closest. DAAD EPOS and doctoral awards also pay a stipend. The general DAAD master’s scholarship is closed to applicants in India for 2027.

The foundations set German rules, not IELTS scores: Boell asks for B2 or DSH 1 and KAS for B2. For DAAD or Erasmus Mundus routes on an English-taught degree, the English test and score come from your host programme, so take whichever test it names in its entry requirements.

On tuition, yes, at some public universities. LMU Munich, as a general rule, charges non-EU students no tuition for regular degree programmes, only a EUR 97 (approx. INR 10,300) Student Services fee each semester as of August 2026. Baden-Wuerttemberg charges international students EUR 1,500 (approx. INR 1.60 lakh) a semester, with exceptions, and TUM charges more.

A few. The Deutschlandstipendium (EUR 300 a month, approx. INR 32,000) is open to first- and higher-semester students of all nationalities, who apply through their German university. Heidelberg’s Hans-Peter Wild scholarship targets top first-semester MINT applicants. KAS funds bachelor’s study only after two semesters at a German university. Naumann and Bayer exclude bachelor’s students.

Yes, for most routes. Apply to the university and the scholarship in parallel. Erasmus Mundus and EPOS applications go to the programme itself, and DAAD’s doctoral deadline of 21 October 2026 comes long before funding starts in October 2027. The Deutschlandstipendium is different: students apply for it through their own German university.

Ardent Overseas has guided Indian students abroad for more than 10 years and has handled over 12,000 visas through its offices in Hyderabad and Tirupati. Its European desk prepares Germany scholarship applications and blocked-account files together for the same intake.

Sources

Official sources first.

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