Germany – Free Education for Refugees - International Scholarships

In Germany, refugees have the opportunity to study at German universities, especially if their refugee status is recognized.
Some universities have special programs for refugees. These include trial courses, transition courses, courses auditing, and supplementary courses.
The application and admission process for entry into a degree program is similar to that of an international student.

Funding Options

Most German universities charge low tuition fees, or no tuition fees at all.
A refugee is eligible for financial aid depending on how long he/she has been in Germany, his/her age, and the residency status.

Scholarships

Several organizations, universities, cities, and states offer scholarships for refugees.
Once you choose the university where you would like to study, find out about scholarship options available.
The best option for funding for refugees is BaföG (BundesAusbildungsförderungsGesetz), a government funding program.

What does BaföG cover?

BaföG funding comes in two equal parts – one part is a grant and the other part is a zero-interest government loan.
The payment of this loan is required no earlier than five years after graduation.
No individual pays back more than €10,000.
The amount received by each refugee depends on certain factors. The maximum amount received is however €735 per month.

Am I Eligible to Apply?

For refugees, entitlement to BaföG is as follows:

Recognized Refugee – A recognized refugee is one who is entitled to asylum, has been granted refugee status, or is under subsidiary protection. If you are a recognized refugee, you can apply for BaföG irrespective of how long you have been in Germany.
Tolerated Refugee – If you are a tolerated refugee or a holder of a specific humanitarian residence permit, you can apply for BaföG 15 months after the date you originally applied for asylum in Germany.

If your application for asylum is still being processed, you are not eligible for BaföG.

University entry requirements include:

Sufficient language skills (German and/or English, depending on the level of study)
University entrance qualifications depending on the course applied for and the university.
Refugees who have studied previously can have their coursework and certificates certified in Germany.

How Do I Apply – Next Steps

Fill out the application forms and submit them to the Studentenwerk (student service organization) office at the university at which you would like to study.
A checklist for filling out the BaföG application is found at the Studentenwerk website.
Documents and certificates are also required. These include:
- Certificates from universities previously attended
- Bank statements showing your income and assets

NOTE: You can only receive BaföG if your application is complete.

How do I get more information?