The Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes supports highly qualified, socially committed doctoral researchers across all disciplines. The scholarship funds full-time dissertation work at a German university, with a conditional route for German citizens pursuing a doctorate abroad.
Recipients combine financial support with academic advising, a liaison professor, doctoral forums, workshops and access to the foundation’s wider academic programme. Applications are reviewed first for formal eligibility and then through two academic assessments, including an interview in the second review.
Benefits & funding
- A monthly stipend of €1,650.
- A research allowance of up to €100 may be paid at the end of each year.
- Eligible scholars may receive 50% of documented health-insurance costs, up to €100 per month, when employment does not cover that insurance.
- Family and childcare allowances and grants for research travel, laboratory visits and conferences abroad are available on application.
- Funding is initially granted for three years and may be extended by up to six months after a successful progress review.
- Academic support includes an adviser, a liaison professor, doctoral forums, workshops, academies and seminars.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be accepted to a doctoral programme at a German university where the thesis will be submitted; nationality is irrelevant for this route.
- German citizens pursuing a doctorate abroad may apply subject to available funds and must explain why the project is best carried out abroad and how it remains academically connected to Germany.
- The most recent degree must normally be no more than four years and three months old, with documented exceptions for pregnancy, childcare, serious illness, incapacity for work and qualifying care responsibilities.
- Applications may be submitted from the final semester of a master’s or equivalent programme; fast-track candidates may qualify after a bachelor’s degree under the published conditions.
- The doctorate must be pursued full-time; part-time doctorates and doctoral work undertaken alongside a medical degree are not eligible.
- The programme generally supports a first doctorate, with a stated exception for applicants whose first thesis was part of a medical degree.
- Selection considers academic achievement, an ambitious and innovative three-year project, appropriate supervision, broad interests and active social engagement.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
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Education required
Bachelor · Master Enrolled · Master
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Application process
- 1Confirm that the doctoral route, degree timing and full-time project meet the formal requirements before the 14-day call opens.
- 2Secure the proposed supervisor’s support and complete the applicant and supervisor forms.
- 3Assemble the required documents, including chronological and narrative CVs, degree records and ranking, a thesis summary, a doctoral exposé of no more than 20 pages and at least two proposed academic reviewers.
- 4Submit a complete application during the published call using the current instructions and forms on the official application page.
- 5If the preliminary formal and eligibility review is successful, proceed to two academic reviews; the second includes an interview, usually by video call.
Program timeline
Next application call opens.
Oct 1, 2026
Application deadline for the next call.
Oct 14, 2026
Approximately six weeks after pre-selection begins
Applicants learn whether they advance to the main selection round.
May 2027
Selection meeting for the October 2026 call.
Earliest possible scholarship start for the October 2026 call.
Jul 1, 2027