Heinrich Boll Scholarships

To be eligible for applying to Heinrich Boll Scholarships, students must meet certain criteria. The eligibility requirements are different for students educated in Germany, students educated in one of the EU member states (excluding Germany) and the ones educated anywhere other than EU member states. Following are the eligibility requirements for various categories of students:

For Undergraduate and Graduate Students:

For Doctoral Students:

How to Apply for Heinrich Boll Scholarships?

The Heinrich Boll Foundation only accepts online applications. The online portal opens around six weeks prior to the deadline for applying. To apply for the scholarship:

• Check the next deadline on the official website of the Heinrich Boll Foundation.
• Access the form from the foundation’s online portal.
• Fill the form completely and correctly.
• Attach the required documents in PDF format to the online application.
• Submit the completed application and all the necessary documents before the deadline.

Required Documents

Following are the documents applicants are required to submit while applying for the scholarship:

• Completely and correctly filled application form along with the applicant’s personal data and CV, motivation for applying, motivation for studying the chosen subject, an outline of his/her political interests and social commitments, and an outline of the Ph.D. thesis project (for doctoral students only)
• A copy of the applicant’s university entrance qualification, Abitur or baccalaureate. Attach an English or German translation by a certified translator, if required.
• If an applicant has already commenced the studies, he/she is required to submit a list of study certificates to date.
• Foreign applicants seeking to pursue a master’s degree must submit their first-degree certificate’s certified copy (with English or German translation if required). Applicants will also have to submit an explanation of the grading in case it is different from the German system.
• Student enrolment certificate
• A 1-2 page long reference on the applicant’s social commitment by a representative of an organization or an institution
• A 1-2 page long expert reference by a university/college lecturer or a school teacher (in case of secondary-level students). Those applying for doctoral scholarships have to submit two expert references.
• Doctoral students are also required to attach a detailed exposé of their research project.

The selection process for granting the scholarship comprises three stages:

• Stage 1: Submission of written application along with the required documents that include an expert reference from a school teacher or a university lecturer and a personal reference on the applicant’s social commitment. Each application is reviewed based on the applicant’s academic record, his/her political interest, and social commitment, the reason for applying for the scholarship and the quality of research project (in case of doctoral students).
• Stage 2: After the application has been assessed, an hour-long interview is held with a liaison lecturer usually at the applicant’s university or near his/her residence. The interview can also be telephonic. After the interview, a report written by the liaison lecturer is attached to the application.
• Stage 3: Suitable applicants will have to attend a selection workshop held in Berlin that consists of a group discussion and personal interview.

Only a few applicants are selected at the end of each stage. The decision taken at the selection procedure’s each stage is communicated to the applicants in writing. Students may reapply if they could not clear the first or the second stage. However, applicants who have participated in the selection workshop and were rejected are not allowed to reapply.