Stipendienfeier Deutschlandstipendium 2026

RUB/Kantus

What is the Deutschlandstipendium?

The Deutschlandstipendium offers students at Ruhr University Bochum (RUB) valuable financial support. With a monthly grant of 300 euros, you can concentrate even more on your studies and continue your social commitment at the same time.

The Deutschlandstipendium

The Deutschlandstipendium is a scholarship program that supports students with very good academic achievements and social commitment. They receive 300 euros per month for one year, from October to September, to support their studies.

The Deutschlandstipendium has been in existence at RUB since 2011. Each Deutschlandstipendium is composed of private funds raised by Ruhr University Bochum from companies, foundations, associations and private individuals as donations, and funds from the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR). Private and public funds are “matched” and paid out as scholarships by RUB.

Further information can be found here:

Deutschlandstipendium

Legal Basis

Act to Create a National Scholarship Program:

Scholarship Program Act (StipG)

Ordinance on the Implementation of the Scholarship Program Act:

Scholarship Program Ordinance (StipV)

Who can Receive a Deutschlandstipendium?

The Deutschlandstipendium is aimed at all (prospective) students at Ruhr University Bochum (RUB) within the standard period of study who:

have very good academic or school results and
are socially committed.

Another prerequisite is that you are enrolled at RUB and re-registered by October 1. However, you can already apply for the Deutschlandstipendium if you are still waiting for admission to RUB.

Eligible Applicants

Stipendienfeier Deutschlandstipendium 2026

Foto: Vier Personen stehen vor einem blauen Aufsteller. Sie lächeln in die Kamera. Auf dem Aufsteller sind die Logos des Deutschlandstipendiums und der Ruhr-Universität Bochum zu sehen.

RUB/Kantus

Students and part-time students of all disciplines at RUB, also applicable to second, supplementary, master, part-time or dual studies
High school graduates and prospective students waiting for admission to RUB
Distance learning students and students with permanent residence abroad
Refugees and people seeking asylum
International students can apply; preference will be given to students already enrolled at RUB.

Doctoral students are not eligible for the Deutschlandstipendium.

You can find important information on eligibility for funding and double funding, compatibility with other benefits as well as regulations for graduation, changing university and subject area, internships, stays abroad and time off here:

Important information and frequently asked questions

Selection Criteria

The faculties select applicants based on their academic achievements. Some scholarships are therefore only awarded from a certain semester onwards. There are also general scholarships for students of all disciplines.

Basic Criteria of the Deutschlandstipendium

Basic criteria: Outstanding academic achievements and social commitment
Maximum funding period: Standard period of study in the respective degree program
Eligible degree programs: First, second or supplementary degree and Master's degree programs

Additional Faculty-Specific Information & Selection Criteria

Humanities and Social Sciences

Faculty of Protestant Theology

General and faculty-specific scholarships
The basic criteria of the scholarship program apply.
No additional faculty-specific criteria

Faculty of Catholic Theology

General and faculty-specific scholarships
The basic criteria of the scholarship program apply.
No additional faculty-specific criteria

Faculty of Philosophy and Educational Research

General and faculty-specific scholarships
The basic criteria of the scholarship program apply.

Preferred applicants:

Students from the 3rd semester upward (Educational Science)

Faculty of History

General and faculty-specific scholarships
The basic criteria of the scholarship program apply.

Preferred applicants:

5th or 6th semester (Bachelor's degree)
Master's students

Special scholarships for students with a thematic focus:

History of the Ruhr area and structural change in heavy industrial conurbations
Banking history

Faculty of Philology

General and faculty-specific scholarships
The basic criteria of the scholarship program apply.

Preferred applicants:

3rd semester upward

Faculty of Law

The basic criteria of the scholarship program apply.

Preferred applicants:

Students who are at least in their 3rd semester and at most in their 6th semester in the winter semester of application.

Faculty of Management and Economics

General and faculty-specific scholarships
The basic criteria of the scholarship program apply.

Preferred applicants:

Completion of the foundation phase
Grade of the foundation phase is taken into account

Special scholarships:

Bachelor's: "Accounting, Finance, and Taxation"
Master's: "Finance, Accounting, Auditing, Controlling, Taxation (FAACT) study program"

Faculty of Social Science

General and faculty-specific scholarships
The basic criteria of the scholarship program apply.
No additional faculty-specific criteria

Faculty of East Asian Studies

General and faculty-specific scholarships
The basic criteria of the scholarship program apply.

Preferred applicants:

3rd semester upward
Students overcoming biographical challenges, e.g. special family circumstances, health conditions, refugee background, etc.

Faculty of Sport Science

General and faculty-specific scholarships
The basic criteria of the scholarship program apply.
No additional faculty-specific criteria

Faculty of Psychology

General and faculty-specific scholarships
The basic criteria of the scholarship program apply.

Preferred applicants:

Bachelor's students are given priority if they are at least in their 3rd semester.

Engineering Sciences

Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering

General and faculty-specific scholarships
The basic criteria of the scholarship program apply.

Selection criteria:

Outstanding academic performance
Social commitment
Appropriate duration of study

Special scholarships:

For certain Master's degree programs

Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

General and faculty-specific scholarships
The basic criteria of the scholarship program apply.

Preferred applicants:

2nd semester B.Sc.
No student assistant at the faculty
Overcoming biographical hurdles, e.g. family circumstances, health challenges, financial need
Underrepresented groups, e.g. first-generation academics

Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology

General and faculty-specific scholarships
The basic criteria of the scholarship program apply.

Preferred applicants:

Overcoming biographical challenges, e.g. special family circumstances, health conditions, refugee background, etc.

Faculty of Computer Science

General and faculty-specific scholarships
The basic criteria of the scholarship program apply.

Preferred applicants:

Overcoming biographical challenges, e.g. special family circumstances, health conditions, refugee background, etc.
Underrepresented groups, e.g. first-generation academics, women

Natural Sciences

Faculty of Mathematics

General and faculty-specific scholarships
The basic criteria of the scholarship program apply.

Preferred applicants:

Students who have successfully completed the beginner modules
Students with children, especially single parents, with appropriate grades
Special personal or family circumstances, e.g. family circumstances, health challenges, financial need

Faculty of Physics and Astronomy

General and faculty-specific scholarships
The basic criteria of the scholarship program apply.
No additional faculty-specific criteria

Faculty of Geosciences

General and faculty-specific scholarships
The basic criteria of the scholarship program apply.

Preferred applicants:

3rd semester upward

For questions:

dennis.edler@ruhr-uni-bochum.de

Faculty of Chemistry and Biochemistry

The basic criteria of the scholarship program apply.

Preferred applicants:

Students in their 3rd or 4th semester (Bachelor) who have achieved at least 83 credit points

Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology

General and faculty-specific scholarships
The basic criteria of the scholarship program apply.

Preferred applicants:

Students with children, especially single parents, with appropriate grades

The following grades are included in the selection process:

for Bachelor students: Grades of the foundation module examinations
for Master's students: Grade of the Bachelor's degree and, if applicable, grades of Master's examinations already taken

Medicine

Faculty of Medicine

General and faculty-specific scholarships
The basic criteria of the scholarship program apply.

Preferred applicants:

Students in the clinical study phase

The following grades are included in the selection process:

Grade of the first interim exam ("Physikum")

Note:

No transcript of records needs to be submitted with the application.

Interdisciplinary Scientific Institutions

Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict

General and faculty-specific scholarships
The basic criteria of the scholarship program apply.
No additional specific selection criteria of the institution.

Scope of Funding

Funding Amount

Foto: Ein Sparschwein mit Blumenmuster. Oben guckt ein 5 Euro-Schrein raus.

Scholarship holders receive 300 euros per month for the duration of one year, from October to September inclusive.

As a scholarship holder, you receive a total of 3,600 euros in one year.

The amount is made up of two parts:

50 percent from the federal government
50 percent from private donors

Runtime

A Deutschlandstipendium has a duration of one year, i.e. two semesters. Funding always begins in the winter semester.

Further funding is possible after a new application. However, the scholarship will not be paid for longer than the standard period of study.

Important Information & Frequently Asked Questions

Double Funding & Compatibility with other Benefits

Double funding

You can only receive a second, simultaneous scholarship under certain conditions.
Anyone who already receives a talent and performance-based material grant of 30 euros or more per month from another institution cannot receive a Deutschlandstipendium.
Information on double funding can be found in the overview of double funding of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) (link leads to a German-language web page).

Offsetting against social benefits & other funding

The Deutschlandstipendium is generally paid regardless of your income and BAföG.

BAföG (student loans): no offsetting, unless the total funding exceeds 300 euros/month.
Unemployment benefit (ALG II) & other social benefits: no offsetting.
Child benefit (Kindergeld): no offsetting
Housing benefit (Wohngeld): Parallel payment possible, but half of the scholarship is counted as income. If you have any questions regarding housing benefits, please contact the housing benefits department responsible for you.
Health insurance - compulsory insurance (up to the age of 30 or 14th semester): no offsetting.
Voluntary health insurance: The scholarship may lead to higher contributions.
Alimony entitlement against parents: The scholarship is deducted from the child support payments and counts towards the scholarship holder's income.
(Half) orphan's pension: No offsetting, as the Deutschlandstipendium is calculated independent of income.

Taxes & social security contributions

Generally, the Deutschlandstipendium is not subject to tax or social security contributions.

Secondary employment

Working student jobs or other part-time jobs are permitted.
However, the scholarship may not be dependent on a consideration for the sponsor or a job commitment.

University funding programs

Those are only an exclusion criterion if they are dependent on talent & performance.
Allowed: Mentoring programs, soft skills courses, interdisciplinary training.
Not allowed: Cash or non-cash benefits, e.g. internet allowance.

Regulations upon Graduation & Degree Change

Transition from Bachelor to Master

Application possible if the transfer takes place without interruption: no waiting semesters, no exmatriculation.
Required documents: current transcript of records, Bachelor's degree certificate (if available), certificate of study for the 1st semester in the Master's program.
Completion of the Bachelor's degree must be reported to us immediately.

Completion of Studies or Change of Subject

Upon successful completion of studies: Funding ends with the announcement of the overall result, at the latest two months after the last exam.
Otherwise: The scholarship ends at the end of the month in which the scholarship holder discontinues their studies, changes their field of study or is exmatriculated.

Change of University

Transfer within the same subject: Scholarship continues for one transitional semester.
Applies to university transfers in Germany and abroad.

Internship, Time Abroad, Leave of Absence and Time out

Leave of absence

Scholarship is suspended during leave of absence, e.g. pregnancy, raising children, caring for a close relative.
No payment for voluntary internships or non-subject-related stays abroad.
Leave of absence must be reported to us, reclaim possible.

Internship & leave of absence

Mandatory internships in Germany and abroad: Scholarship remains in place.
Internship not provided for in the study regulations: Scholarship is suspended for that semester. The leave of absence must be communicated immediately. RUB reserves the right to reclaim any overpayment of scholarship funds.

Voluntary internship without leave of absence

Short-term (during semester break or only a few days per week): Scholarship remains in place.
Internship with the current sponsor: Scholarship remains in place.
Long-term (longer than 8 weeks, full-time): RUB reserves the right to end the scholarship and to reclaim any overpayment of scholarship funds.

Study abroad

Subject-related including ERASMUS+: Scholarship remains in place, even with DAAD grant.
Recommendation: If possible, study abroad outside the funding period in order to ensure regular exchange and contact with donors and other scholarship holders.

Temporary waiver of the scholarship

Possible, e.g. for the period of study abroad funded by the DAAD or while receiving other funding that cannot be received at the same time as the Deutschlandstipendium.
This does not extend the approval period.

Foto: Eine Frau überreicht einer anderen Frau ein Dokument. Sie lächelt. Daneben stehen weitere Personen.

Deutschlandstipendium

How do I Apply?

Here you will find all the important information on application deadlines, the required documents and the application process for the Deutschlandstipendium.