Greetings everyone! We would like to announce that the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Scholarship Programme for 2023 is currently open for all eligible applicants. We are excited to welcome all qualified individuals to apply and take advantage of this wonderful opportunity. Please read on for more information regarding the basic requirements and the step-by-step procedures to apply online.
Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Detail
With its establishment dating back to 1925, the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) stands as Germany’s oldest political foundation, renowned for its extensive social democracy legacy. Its founding father, Friedrich Ebert, was the first democratically elected President of Germany. The foundation’s mission is based on Ebert’s political legacy, and it strives to promote the fundamental principles of social democracy, which encompass solidarity, justice, and freedom. FES remains closely tied to social democracy and free trade unions through its political foundation activities.
FES Scholarship Programme Benefits
The FES Scholarship Programme provides benefits to foreign scholarship holders, including a monthly payment of 934 € for the basic scholarship programme or 1,200 € for the graduate scholarship programme.
Family allowance of 276 € may also be provided if applicable, and health care costs are refunded. It’s worth noting that any income above 400 € per month will be deducted from the scholarship.
Recipients of the scholarship are expected to actively participate in extracurricular seminars and activities hosted by FES campus groups, and maintain above-average performance in their degree courses.
FES also hopes that scholarship holders will continue and increase their commitment to socio-political causes.
FES Scholarship Programme Requirements
The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Scholarship Programme is open to gifted students from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe who show excellent promise for an academic or professional career. Applicants must be admitted to a state or state-recognized higher-education institution in Germany and have above-average performance in school and studies. The programme also requires a sufficient knowledge of German, even though the courses are conducted in English, as proven by a ‘Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang’ of at least DSH level 2, a ‘Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache’ of at least level 4 or a ‘Zertifikat C 1’ by a Goethe Institute.
Candidates must also demonstrate a commitment to the values of social democracy and have a thirst for knowledge, tolerance and openness, team orientation, critical ability, and self-reflection. The scholarship offers a monthly allowance of 934 € for the basic programme and 1.200 € for the graduate programme, as well as a family allowance of 276 €, if applicable. Health care costs are also covered, but any income exceeding 400 € per month will be credited against the scholarship.
Moreover, FES expects scholarship holders to participate in extra-curricular seminars and activities of FES campus groups regularly and achieve above-average results in their degree courses while continuing and intensifying their socio-political commitment.
FES Scholarship Programme Criteria for Interview
The FES provides support for students pursuing academic subjects, including those from public or state-approved universities and universities of applied sciences/polytechnical colleges (FH). They also offer support for postgraduate programs, such as PhD programs.
However, the FES does not provide support for second degree courses, study visits outside Germany, or postgraduate courses in medicine. Additionally, they do not support the final phases of academic studies.
FES Scholarship Programme Application Steps
- To apply for the FES scholarship, interested applicants must use the “Online-Bewerbung” on the FES website, which is currently available only in German.
- After submitting the online application, selected candidates will be invited for two individual interviews as the second step of the selection process.
- The first interview will be conducted by one of the FES lecturers, while the second interview will be led by a member of the FES scholarship committee (AWA).
- Based on the interviews, two reports will be written and presented to the AWA for their consideration.
- The AWA, an independent body composed of experts from different fields, will discuss and make the final decision on each application. They meet at least three times a year to consider all applications.
- The AWA reviews each application thoroughly before making their decision.
- Applicants will be notified in writing of the AWA’s decision. For more information about the application process, please visit the FES website.
Note that application deadline has not been specified