If you are comparing German scholarship pages and wondering whether this is a German Academic Exchange Service (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst, DAAD) award: it is not. This page is about the Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung Studienwerk study scholarships (Studienstipendium) and doctoral scholarships (Promotionsstipendium). They are Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung Studienwerk awards: a monthly scholarship plus an ideational programme, with separate domestic and international tracks. Studienwerk states that it expects pronounced engagement in the spirit of the foundation and strong academic results. For the Studienwerk study and doctoral programmes covered on this page, you may apply to only one programme in a round.
Last checked: 23 September 2026 (Africa/Nairobi). Re-check the official application page and Förderprogramm page before submitting. Amounts are marked “currently” (derzeit / z. Z.) on the Förderprogramm page. This is a Scholarship Tally explainer, not an official Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung publication.
Official pages to keep open while you read:
- Studienstipendium: https://www.rosalux.de/stiftung/studienwerk/stipendien/studienstipendium
- Promotionsstipendium: https://www.rosalux.de/stiftung/studienwerk/stipendien/promotionsstipendium
- Förderprogramm: https://www.rosalux.de/stiftung/studienwerk/stipendien/foerderprogramm
- Application: https://www.rosalux.de/stipendienbewerbung
The 2026 portal round opens from 20 August 2026 and closes on 1 October 2026 at 23:59 Uhr, as printed on the German application page. From 19 August 2026 the portal uses two-factor authentication. Applications are online only; post and email submissions are not accepted.
Which track are you actually applying to?
Choosing the wrong programme can put an otherwise suitable application on the wrong track, so confirm the programme before preparing the final submission. Studienwerk runs different programmes with different money sources and rules. Pick first, then polish documents.
- Domestic study track (inländische Studierende): You belong to the group in section 8 of the Federal Training Assistance Act (Bundesausbildungsförderungsgesetz, BAföG). That includes German citizens and non-Germans with BAföG entitlement. You must in principle be BAföG-eligible. You can be enrolled at a state or state-recognised higher education institution in Germany, another European Union country, or Switzerland. Funding can start from the second semester, with remaining standard period of study (Regelstudienzeit) rules by degree type.
- International study track: You are a foreign national coming to Germany to study. You are not in the BAföG section 8 group. Funding comes from the Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt). You need enrolment or at least admission at a state or state-recognised German higher education institution, a completed Bachelor (or completed basic studies for Diplom / Magister / state examination pathways), strong grades, engagement in the spirit of the foundation, and German at level B2 with proof. As a rule you must not have been in Germany longer than 15 months at the time of application (with stated exceptions if you already studied in Germany or prepared specifically for study). Priority goes to applicants from Development Assistance Committee (DAC) countries who are still in their country of origin at application.
- Lux like: First-generation applicants who have not started a degree by the deadline. Name it only so you do not paste a Lux like file into the ordinary study portal. This article does not guide Lux like.
- Doctoral tracks: All fields except medicine. Then choose between the main Promotionsstipendium (including German doctoral candidates in Germany / European Union / Switzerland, and foreign doctoral candidates admitted in Germany who may plan a longer research stay outside Germany) versus the international doctoral programme for foreign nationals admitted at a German higher education institution and residing in Germany for the doctorate.
Studienwerk states that every applicant is expected to show pronounced engagement in the spirit of the Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung and strong academic performance. That is not a side note; it is a stated selection expectation on the study and doctoral pages.
What Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung Studienwerk is funding
These awards combine a monthly scholarship with an ideational programme: introductory seminar, doctoral seminars, methods seminars, educational trips, working groups, regional meetings, and publication routes described on the Förderprogramm page. Domestic study funding and the main doctoral track are awarded under the additional provisions of the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (Bundesministerium für Forschung, Technologie und Raumfahrt, BMFTR). International study scholarships are awarded with Federal Foreign Office means to people who come to Germany to study. International doctoral funding is likewise for foreign nationals admitted at a German higher education institution and residing in Germany for the doctorate.
This is not a tuition-waiver brand. The official Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung pages identify these awards as Studienwerk study and doctoral scholarships, not as a German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) programme.
Domestic study scholarship: who should apply
Use this section as a pass/fail screen before you open the portal.
You need:
– Bachelor: at least half of the Regelstudienzeit still remaining (counting only the Bachelor, or Bachelor plus Master if that combination is the goal). – Diplom, Magister, or state examination at a university: at least four remaining standard semesters. – University of applied sciences: possible if the other criteria are met. – Dual degrees: possible, with training pay counted against the scholarship. – Master: possible if the degree starts in the winter semester. If by the 1 October deadline you are already in the second subject semester of a four-semester Master, funding would cover only the third and fourth semesters if an award is made.
- Membership of the BAföG section 8 group and, in principle, BAföG eligibility.
- Enrolment at a state or state-recognised university or university of applied sciences in Germany, another European Union country, or Switzerland.
- Funding start from the second semester, with these remaining-time rules at the start of funding:
Official non-fundable cases (do not force an application): second full degree; part-time or job-accompanying study; Meisterschüler programme; study completion grants; psychotherapeutic training; overseas stays or language courses for non-scholars; subject change after the start of the fifth semester; subject change in a Master; study outside the European Union; secondary employment of more than 20 hours per week.
International study scholarship: who should apply
You need:
- Foreign nationality and not belonging to BAföG section 8.
- Stay in Germany for the purpose of study.
- Enrolment, or at least admission, at a state or state-recognised German higher education institution.
- Completed Bachelor, or completed basic studies if you are on a Diplom / Magister / state examination pathway.
- Very good academic performance.
- Societal or political engagement in the spirit of the Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung.
- German B2 with required proof.
- Generally no more than 15 months in Germany at application (exceptions if you already studied in Germany or prepared specifically for study).
Official non-fundable cases on this track include: funding for study completion; a Bachelor or Grundstudium; a Meisterschüler programme; a second full degree such as a second Master; part-time study; stays in the home country or third countries; and a subject change in a Master or after the fifth subject semester.
Priority: applicants from DAC countries who are still in the country of origin at application. European Union foreigners who are not in the BAföG section 8 group can apply on this track. The international study scholarship is not a Bachelor / Grundstudium funding route on the official page.
Doctoral scholarships: who should apply
Medical fields are excluded. German B2 proof is required even if the dissertation will be written in English.
Main Promotionsstipendium (BMFTR framework): German doctoral candidates admitted at a state or state-recognised higher education institution in Germany, another European Union country, or Switzerland; and foreign doctoral candidates admitted at a state or state-recognised German higher education institution. Foreign doctoral candidates who plan a longer research stay outside Germany during the doctorate should use this programme, not the international doctoral line.
International doctoral programme: Foreign nationals only, admitted at a German higher education institution, supervised by a university teacher in Germany, residing in Germany for the doctorate. Priority for DAC-country applicants still in the country of origin. Generally no more than 15 months in Germany at application (exceptions if you already studied in Germany or began the doctorate in Germany more than 15 months earlier). Maximum funding duration is three years. Private stays abroad in the home country or third countries are not funded. If you plan a longer research stay outside Germany, apply to the other doctoral programme instead.
Shared bars: no doctoral completion-only scholarships; no double funding with other public means (for example another public scholarship or unemployment benefit alongside the stipend); prior doctoral funding is only compatible if it lasted less than 1.5 years, and that prior time is deducted from the maximum three-year window.
What the money currently covers (and what it does not)
Figures are from the Förderprogramm page as of 23 September 2026. They are labelled current (derzeit / z. Z.). Re-check before you budget.
| Track | What the official page currently lists | Key check |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic study | Income-dependent base oriented to the BAföG rate, plus possible supplements; plus an income-independent study-cost lump sum of 300 € per month. Funding runs to the Regelstudienzeit. Overseas stays (study trips, language courses, research stays, conferences, exchange semesters, mandatory internships abroad) can be supported for scholars. Double funding with BAföG, Deutschlandstipendium, unemployment benefit, or other public scholarships is in principle excluded. | BAföG section 8 and remaining study time |
| International study | Monthly base currently 992 €, plus possible supplements. Duration follows the Regelstudienzeit. Double funding with other public means (for example Deutschlandstipendium) is excluded. | German B2 and the 15-month rule |
| Doctoral (main Förderprogramm wording) | Largely income-independent; currently 1,650 € per month, plus a research-cost lump sum currently 100 € per month, and possible support toward health insurance. Research stays abroad can be funded for scholars. | Doctoral admission and programme fit |
| International doctoral | Monthly base currently 1,500 €, plus a mobility lump sum of 100 € and an incidental lump sum of 20 € for particular costs in Germany. | International doctoral conditions (Germany residence for the doctorate) |
What this page will not invent: acceptance rates, tax treatment beyond what Studienwerk publishes, family supplements not listed for your track, or older internal figures from other foundation materials. Tuition is not framed as a separate line item on these pages; treat the published monthly amounts and lumps as the funding story.
How to apply, in process order
- Confirm the correct programme on the Studienstipendium or Promotionsstipendium page (and the matching document list under Stipendienbewerbung).
- From 19 August 2026, set up two-factor authentication in the portal (Authenticator app such as Authy, Microsoft Authenticator, or Google Authenticator).
- Portal opens from 20 August 2026. Gather every required upload before you submit. Studienwerk states that documents cannot be handed in later.
- Submit in the online portal only. After you send, you lose portal access; further communication is by email.
- If your university is missing in the dropdown, enter “KEINE UNI/FH”. If your subject is missing, enter “andere Fachrichtung”.
- Selection is multi-stage on the application page: formal check; pre-selection by Studienwerk with funding proposals; online Clearing by selection-committee members; then review conversations with Vertrauensdozentinnen and Vertrauensdozenten, or Fachgutachterinnen and Fachgutachter for doctoral candidates. Invitations are as a rule sent between mid-November and mid-January. Studienwerk states that the conversation record is decisive and that individual appointment wishes are not considered. A first email reply is described from about early December. Final committees sit early February for doctoral candidates and early March for students. Decisions are binding. Applicants without a funding recommendation receive a written rejection by email about three months after the deadline. Newly admitted scholars are invited to a compulsory introduction seminar.
Official rule: the deadline is 1 October 2026, 23:59 Uhr on the German application page.
Practical takeaway: finish the upload before that clock time so the transfer completes while the portal is still open.
Myths and mistakes that waste the form
- “This is DAAD.” It is Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung Studienwerk.
- Applying to two programmes. For these Studienwerk study and doctoral programmes, official pages say you may apply to only one.
- Posting or emailing the file. Portal only.
- Submitting early with missing PDFs. Nothing can be added after submit.
- International Bachelor. The international study track expects a completed Bachelor (or completed basic studies on certain pathways), not a first-cycle start.
- Ignoring BAföG section 8. Non-Germans with BAföG entitlement belong on the domestic study track, not the international one.
- English dissertation, so no German. Doctoral pages still require B2 German proof.
- Long research stay abroad on the international doctoral track. Official text tells you to use the other doctoral programme.
- Side job over 20 hours on the domestic study track. Listed as non-fundable.
- Using outdated English overview dates. Prefer the German application page for 2026 open/close times.
- Planning a second Master or a part-time degree on the international study track. Both are listed as non-fundable.
FAQ
Is this a German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) scholarship?
No. It is Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung Studienwerk. Aggregator pages that attach a DAAD label are wrong for this award.
Can I apply to more than one Studienwerk programme in the same round?
No. For these Studienwerk study and doctoral programmes, the official pages say you may apply to only one scholarship programme.
When does the 2026 portal open and close?
It opens from 20 August 2026. The deadline is 1 October 2026 at 23:59 Uhr, as printed on the German application page, as stated on the Stipendienbewerbung page.
Do I need two-factor authentication?
Yes. Studienwerk states that two-factor authentication is used from 19 August 2026. You will need a time-based code from an authenticator app in addition to your password.
Can I post or email my application?
No. Only the online portal is accepted.
What if I forget a file after I click submit?
Studienwerk states that documents cannot be submitted later. After send, you no longer have portal access.
I am a non-German with BAföG section 8 entitlement. Which study track is mine?
The domestic study track. The international study track is for people who are not in the BAföG section 8 group.
I am a European Union citizen without BAföG section 8 entitlement. Can I use the international study track?
Yes, if you meet the other international study rules (German higher education institution, purpose-of-study stay, B2, and the residence-time rule).
Can domestic-track students be enrolled outside Germany?
Yes, at a state or state-recognised higher education institution in another European Union country or in Switzerland, as well as in Germany. Study outside the European Union is listed as non-fundable for this track.
Can international-track students be enrolled outside Germany?
No. The international study scholarship is for study in Germany under Federal Foreign Office funding.
From which semester can domestic study funding start?
From the second semester, subject to remaining Regelstudienzeit rules by degree type.
I am already in the second semester of a four-semester Master on 1 October. Can I still apply on the domestic track?
Yes, according to the Studienstipendium page, if it is a four-semester Master. Funding would then cover the third and fourth semesters if you are awarded a scholarship.
Does the international study scholarship fund a Bachelor?
The official international study requirements call for a completed Bachelor (or completed basic studies on Diplom / Magister / state examination pathways). Do not treat this track as a first-cycle start scholarship.
What German level is required if my degree or dissertation is in English?
Study international track and both doctoral tracks require very good German at B2 with proof. Doctoral pages state that B2 is required even if the dissertation is written in English.
What is the 15-month rule?
On the international study and international doctoral pages, you generally must not have been in Germany longer than 15 months at application. Stated exceptions cover prior study in Germany or (for doctoral) having begun the doctorate in Germany more than 15 months earlier, and study-preparation cases on the study page.
Are medical doctorates eligible?
No. Medical fields are excluded from the Promotionsstipendium.
Do you award doctoral completion grants?
No. The doctoral pages state that Promotionsabschlussstipendien are not awarded.
I already had less than 1.5 years of another doctoral scholarship. Can I still apply?
Possibly. Prior funding under 1.5 years can be compatible, but that prior time is deducted from the maximum three-year funding window.
I plan a long research stay outside Germany during the doctorate. Which programme do I choose?
The main Promotionsstipendium, not the international doctoral programme. The international doctoral page redirects that case to the other programme.
What are the current monthly amounts?
As of 23 September 2026 on the Förderprogramm page: domestic study is BAföG-oriented and income-dependent plus 300 € study-cost lump; international study base 992 €; doctoral about 1,650 € plus 100 € research lump (and possible health-insurance support); international doctoral 1,500 € plus 100 € mobility plus 20 € incidental. Re-check “derzeit” figures before you apply.
Can I combine this with BAföG, Deutschlandstipendium, or unemployment benefit?
Double funding with those public means is excluded on the Förderprogramm wording for the relevant tracks. Do not plan a stack the official pages forbid.
My university or subject is missing in the portal dropdown. What do I enter?
Enter “KEINE UNI/FH” for a missing university, or “andere Fachrichtung” for a missing subject, as stated on the application page.
When are interviews and decisions?
After Clearing, conversations with Vertrauensdozentinnen and Vertrauensdozenten (or Fachgutachterinnen and Fachgutachter for doctoral candidates) are as a rule invited between mid-November and mid-January. A first email reply is described from about early December. Final committees sit early February for doctoral candidates and early March for students; decisions are binding. Rejections without a funding recommendation are sent by email about three months after the deadline.
Before you submit
- You chose one programme only, and it matches BAföG section 8 versus international rules.
- Open the document list for your exact track on the Stipendienbewerbung page (inländische Studierende, Lux like, internationale Studierende, Promotionsstipendium, or internationale Promovierende). This explainer does not replace those lists.
- Every required upload is attached; nothing will be accepted later.
- Two-factor authentication works before the portal rush.
- German B2 proof is ready if your track requires it.
- You can explain your engagement in the spirit of the Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung with concrete activity, not slogans.
- You will re-check open/close times and “currently” euro amounts on the official German pages on apply day. Prefer Stipendienbewerbung over any English overview that may still show older dates.
Official sources
- Studienstipendium: https://www.rosalux.de/stiftung/studienwerk/stipendien/studienstipendium
- Promotionsstipendium: https://www.rosalux.de/stiftung/studienwerk/stipendien/promotionsstipendium
- Förderprogramm: https://www.rosalux.de/stiftung/studienwerk/stipendien/foerderprogramm
- Stipendienbewerbung (portal, dates, process): https://www.rosalux.de/stipendienbewerbung
Retrieval check: 23 September 2026 (Africa/Nairobi). This page is a Scholarship Tally explainer, not an official Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung publication.
