Since most German public universities already charge little to no tuition, the universities below stand out for how they fund living costs, research, and specialized master’s and MBA programs for international students.
The ten universities below each have a strong, well-documented scholarship track record.
1. Technical University of Munich
TUM supports a number of international undergraduates and graduate students with merit-based scholarships intended to help cover living costs during study.
2. RWTH Aachen
RWTH Aachen offers merit-based scholarships to strong international students in engineering and technical fields, providing a monthly stipend for part of the degree.
3. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
KIT runs a dedicated [KIT Scholarship for International Master’s Students](/kit-masters-scholarship/), supporting students in engineering and science programs with a monthly living stipend.
4. Heidelberg University
Heidelberg hosts the [DAAD EPOS Scholarship for International Health](/heidelberg-daad-epos-international-health/), a specialized master’s funding route in public and global health.
5. University of Freiburg
Freiburg offers both general international student scholarships and the [DAAD EPOS Scholarship for Environmental Governance](/freiburg-epos-environmental-governance/) for a specialized master’s program.
6. ESMT Berlin
ESMT Berlin runs multiple MBA-specific scholarships, including the [Dean’s Excellence Scholarship](/esmt-berlin-deans-excellence-scholarship/) and the [Women in Business and Global Leaders Award](/esmt-berlin-women-global-leaders-award/).
7. HHL Leipzig
HHL Leipzig offers the [Young Leipzig Leader MBA Scholarship](/hhl-leipzig-young-leader-scholarship/) and [Regional Merit Scholarships](/hhl-leipzig-regional-merit-scholarships/) for strong incoming international MBA candidates.
8. WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management
WHU’s [MBA Scholarship for International Students](/whu-otto-beisheim-mba-scholarship/) reduces tuition for admitted candidates based on overall application strength and leadership experience.
9. University of Gottingen
Gottingen hosts an [International Max Planck Research School for Molecular Biology](/imprs-molecular-biology-gottingen/), funding doctoral candidates with a living stipend throughout a structured PhD program.
10. Humboldt University of Berlin
Humboldt University participates in several DAAD-linked scholarship schemes, including political foundation awards, that support international students across a wide range of academic fields.
Because many German scholarships focus on living costs rather than tuition, comparing a city’s overall cost of living alongside the scholarship amount offered gives a more realistic picture of affordability than tuition fees alone.
Because most of these universities keep tuition low regardless of scholarship status, the real decision for many applicants comes down to comparing stipend amounts against each city.’s cost of living, which varies considerably between Munich and smaller university towns.
Applicants should also check each university.’s language of instruction policy closely, since a program listed as international can still require intermediate German for certain modules or everyday campus life.
Contacting a university.’s international office directly, rather than relying solely on general DAAD guidance, often clarifies which scholarships are actually administered by the university itself versus a separate foundation or government body.
Students accepted into a salaried PhD position rather than a stipend-based scholarship at any of these universities should also budget time to register with local tax and health insurance authorities shortly after arrival.
Reading recent graduate reviews or forum discussions about a specific university.’s scholarship experience can also surface practical details about disbursement timing and renewal conditions that official pages sometimes leave out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do German public universities charge tuition for international students?
Most do not, aside from a modest semester contribution, which is why scholarships at these universities mainly focus on living costs rather than tuition fees.
Are these scholarships only for science and engineering students?
No, while several of these universities are known for technical fields, scholarships at places like Humboldt University cover a broad range of academic disciplines.
Is German language proficiency required at all of these universities?
It depends on the specific program. English-taught degrees generally require only an English test, while German-taught programs require a recognized language certificate.
Are MBA scholarships at ESMT, HHL, and WHU need-based or merit-based?
They are primarily merit-based, assessed from the overall strength of the MBA application rather than financial need.
How competitive are scholarships at Germany’s technical universities?
Competition is strong, particularly at well-known institutions like TUM and RWTH Aachen, given their global reputation in engineering and applied sciences.
Do these universities offer scholarships at every degree level?
Most offer undergraduate and master’s scholarships, while PhD-specific funding, such as at Gottingen’s Max Planck Research School, is handled through structured doctoral programs.
Is it necessary to apply separately for university scholarships and DAAD funding?
Generally yes, since university-level scholarships and DAAD-administered programs typically run their own separate application processes.