Should I apply to both the UK and Germany for my master's degree to increase my chances of admission and scholarships?

Applying to both countries is not really about hedging, it is about running two separate competitions in parallel. Admission and funding do not move together, so a strong shortlist splits deliberately across ambitious, realistic and safe options in each country rather than treating apply to both as simply doubling your application count.

Building a UK-Plus-Germany Shortlist

• Ambitious tier: 2 to 3 universities where admission is possible but competitive in either country.
• Realistic tier: 3 to 5 universities where your profile fits typical entry requirements well.
• Safe tier: 2 to 3 universities with strong admission fit and a budget you can actually manage.

Scholarships Are a Separate Competition From Admission

Don't Skip This Step

• Separate the two applications: getting into a university does not mean you have won its scholarship, each has its own deadline and criteria.
• Match experience to eligibility: if you do not yet have 2 years of work experience, Chevening is not available to you this cycle, so weight your German applications more heavily.

This Information Is Also Available On

UK Government, Chevening Scholarships eligibility guidance; DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service), scholarship database.

My Advice

Do not apply broadly just to maximise odds. Apply deliberately across ambitious, realistic and safe options in both countries, and check each scholarship's eligibility before you count on it as funding, especially Chevening's two-year work-experience requirement and its post-study return condition, which rules out using it simply to extend your stay in the UK.