Heinrich Heine University Dusseldorf Stibet Completion Of Studies Grant 2027 | Study in Germany — Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, funded by the German Federal Foreign Office through DAAD
⚠️ This scholarship's deadline has passed and it's no longer accepting applications.
A strong academic record can still collapse under financial pressure in the final stretch of a degree, and Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf built its STIBET Completion Grant specifically to prevent that outcome.
About the Scholarship
The STIBET Completion of Studies Grant at HHU Düsseldorf is funded through the German Federal Foreign Office and distributed via DAAD’s STIBET I programme. It targets international students with good to very good academic records who are within twelve months of finishing their degree but face financial difficulties they did not cause themselves, such as a sudden loss of family support or an unexpected expense.
Scholarship Benefits
The grant is sized to make a real difference during a short, defined period.
- A monthly stipend of 992 EUR
- Funding aimed at bridging the final year before graduation
- No repayment obligation, since the award is a grant rather than a loan
- Access to HHU’s broader international student support services alongside the grant
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must hold a non-German university entrance qualification and must not hold German citizenship. They must be living in Germany for study purposes and enrolled at HHU, with graduation expected within twelve months of receiving the grant. Students who are abroad during the funding period are not eligible, and the financial difficulty must have arisen through no fault of the applicant’s own.
Fields of Study Covered
The grant is open to students in any degree programme at HHU Düsseldorf, since eligibility depends on academic standing, stage of study, and financial circumstance rather than subject area.
Required Documents
- Completed STIBET application form
- Proof of enrollment and expected graduation date
- Academic transcript showing good to very good performance
- A written explanation of the financial difficulty and its cause
- Supporting documentation of financial circumstances
How to Apply (Step-by-Step)
1. Confirm that graduation is expected within twelve months of applying.
2. Document the specific financial difficulty, including when and why it arose.
3. Gather academic transcripts showing a strong record to date.
4. Submit the application during the window opening July 27 and closing August 31 for the winter semester cycle.
5. Await the decision from HHU’s International Office.
6. If approved, receive the monthly stipend through the agreed completion period.
Selection Process
HHU’s International Office reviews applications for genuine, well-documented financial hardship alongside confirmation that graduation is realistically close. Academic performance to date is also weighed, since the grant is designed to help strong students finish rather than fund students who are struggling academically as well as financially.
Tips to Improve Your Chances
Being precise about the timeline, both of the financial setback and of the expected graduation date, helps reviewers assess the application quickly and clearly. Supporting the explanation with concrete documentation, rather than a general statement of hardship, makes a stronger case to the committee. Students at other universities facing a similar late-stage funding gap might also look at the TU Dresden DAAD-STIBET Scholarship and Mentoring Programme to see how STIBET funding varies by institution.
Frequently Asked Questions
How soon before graduation can I apply?
Applicants should be within twelve months of their expected graduation date when applying for this specific completion grant.
Does the grant cover tuition fees?
No, HHU charges only modest semester fees, so the stipend is intended to cover living costs during the final stretch of study.
Can students currently studying abroad on exchange apply?
No, students who are abroad during the funding period are not eligible for this grant.
Is there a minimum GPA requirement?
A good to very good academic record is required, though a specific numeric threshold is assessed alongside the overall application.
Can I apply if my financial difficulty was due to a personal spending decision?
No, the grant is reserved for hardship that arose through no fault of the applicant, so the cause of the financial difficulty matters in the review.
How long does the application review take?
Processing time varies, but decisions are generally communicated before the start of the semester following the application window.
Does the grant affect eligibility for other scholarships?
Students already receiving another scholarship should check with HHU’s International Office, since combining full funding sources can affect eligibility for this hardship-based grant.
Is the application reviewed faster for urgent cases?
The International Office generally processes applications within the standard window, though students facing acute hardship are encouraged to reach out directly to explain the urgency of their situation.