If students have scholarships, do they still need to maintain the blocked account amount in Germany?
No, you generally do not need a blocked account if your scholarship fully covers Germany's living cost of EUR 992 a month, or EUR 11,904 a year. A partial scholarship still leaves you needing a partial blocked account for the shortfall, backed by an award letter for your visa office.
Your German student visa needs proof of funds, not necessarily a blocked account specifically, so a full scholarship from a recognised provider can stand in its place. What matters is whether your scholarship meets the government's monthly threshold, and whether your award letter spells out the terms clearly enough for the embassy to accept it in place of a Sperrkonto.
Blocked Account Versus Scholarship Coverage
| Scenario | Blocked Account Needed | What You Must Show |
|---|---|---|
| Full scholarship meeting or exceeding EUR 992 a month | No | Official scholarship certificate or award letter |
| Partial scholarship, for example EUR 500 a month | Yes, for the remaining balance | Partial blocked account or alternative proof covering the deficit |
| No scholarship | Yes, full amount | EUR 11,904 deposited in a blocked account |
What Your Scholarship Award Letter Must State
- The total amount of funding awarded.
- The exact monthly stipend amount.
- The duration or timeline of the scholarship.
- Confirmation that the funds are guaranteed and not conditional.
- Accepted providers typically include DAAD, the Heinrich Boll Foundation, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, your home government, or other recognised international bodies.
My Advice
Ask your scholarship provider today for a formal award letter that names the exact monthly figure, and if it falls short of EUR 992, open a partial blocked account for only the difference rather than the full amount, which saves you from locking up money you do not need to.
Which German scholarships can you actually get?
Matched to your CGPA, course and budget. Find out in 30 seconds.
More Scholarships & funding questions
- Is it possible to get a fully funded scholarship if he scores seven or above (seventy percent) in the third year in Germany?
- Do I need to score well in GRE, GMAT, or IELTS to get good scholarships in top business schools for a MBA?
- When does the Korean Government Scholarship open applications for undergraduate students from India?
- What kind of questions might be asked during scholarship evaluations?
- Are you helping with educational loans or bank loans for studying abroad in UK/Ireland for a Master's?
- Is the scholarship available for the next intake in USA for a Master's?
- Which entrance exam should an average scoring 12th grade student prepare for to study abroad without family funding?
- What percentage of scholarship can I possibly get for my profile in USA?
More Germany questions
- Other than Canada and Netherlands, are there better countries to study science and technology in Germany/Singapore?
- What are some effective online German language classes for Indian students preparing to study in Germany?
- Is Germany the best first priority country for my course and career scope for a Master's?
- Why is the dMAT subject module called Battery Science and Technology in Engineering?
- Is it better to spend 12 lakhs in India or go abroad for higher studies in Germany for a Master's?
- Can I target Germany, Italy, or the Netherlands for a master's in computer science without a computer science background?
- Does my 12th grade percentage affect my master's application in Germany/France for a Bachelor's?
- Would you suggest me to give IELTS first before starting the application process in Germany/Italy for a Master's?