Begabtenförderungswerke (talent-support foundations)
Begabtenförderungswerke ·Administered by Begabtenförderungswerke (StipendiumPlus)
Thirteen foundations — from the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes to party-, church-, union- and business-affiliated works — fund roughly 1% of Germany's students with federal money (around 31,000 scholars in 2024). The basic stipend mirrors BAföG's means test, but the €300 monthly Büchergeld goes to every scholar regardless of income, and doctoral scholars receive up to €1,450 per month. On top comes the ideelle Förderung: seminars, networks, mentoring.
Who qualifies
- Strong academic record and engagement — each foundation has its own profile and values
- Nationality rules generally follow BAföG, with foundation-specific exceptions
- Acceptance rate around 10% — applying is still worth it
- Cannot be combined with the Deutschlandstipendium
How to apply
Apply directly to the foundation that fits your profile, or get nominated — routes differ per work; StipendiumPlus links all thirteen.
Deadlines: Deadlines differ per foundation
Apply / official channel →Sources
- StipendiumPlus — Begabtenförderung im Hochschulbereich — Begabtenförderungswerke / BMBFSFJ (retrieved 10 July 2026)
- Die 13 Begabtenförderungswerke — myStipendium (retrieved 10 July 2026)
Last verified 10 July 2026
Related programs
Deutschlandstipendium
€300 per month
€300 per month for talented, committed students — half from private sponsors, half from the federal government, and fully compatible with BAföG.
Erasmus+ mobility grant· Erasmus+
€540 – €600 per month
€540–600 per month for studying elsewhere in Europe from a German university, plus a €250 monthly social top-up for students with fewer opportunities — any nationality.