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What fully funded scholarship options are available for Indian students pursuing a master's degree in Germany?

12 Aug 2026 · Answered by Swastika Ghosh · 2 min read
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Indian students can access several fully funded options, including DAAD programmes like EPOS and the Helmut Schmidt Programme, Erasmus Mundus joint masters, and political foundations such as Heinrich Boll or Konrad Adenauer Stiftung. Most pay a monthly stipend near 992 to 1,400 euros and require an APS certificate.

Swastika Ghosh
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You have more fully funded routes available than you might expect, since German public tuition is already free and these scholarships focus purely on covering your living costs. The right one depends on your field and how much work experience you already have.

Major Fully Funded Options

ScholarshipMonthly StipendKey Requirement
DAAD EPOS992 euros2+ years relevant work experience
Helmut Schmidt Programme992 eurosPublic policy or governance focus
Erasmus Mundus Joint MastersUp to 1,400 eurosStudy across two or more countries
Political foundation scholarships934 to 1,200 eurosStrong academic and civic profile

What Every Application Needs

  • A valid APS certificate, which is mandatory for Indian applicants seeking a German student visa
  • IELTS or TOEFL for English taught courses, or a recognised German test for German taught ones
  • Application timing matters, since most funding cycles open around August to November for the following year

My Advice

Start your APS certificate process early, since delays here hold up nearly every other application. Apply to at least two or three scholarship types in parallel rather than betting everything on one, and tailor your motivation letter for each to reflect the specific values that foundation looks for, whether that is research impact or social engagement.

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