Germany abolished tuition fees thereby providing free higher education for Germans and international students at universities in the country. However, tuition fees are not the only expense that a student would be worried about when they are abroad. There are various grants and scholarships for Indian students that would help them study at the best German universities without depending on their parents.

Every year German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) offers financial assistance to over a thousand Indian graduates, post-graduates and doctoral students, and academicians to pursue world-class higher education and research at German universities and research centers. Apart from the DAAD various other organizations provide funding for study and research. DAAD has numerous branches in India and works with the aim of promoting academic exchange between the countries. DAAD scholarships are open to all subjects ranging from architecture to arts and management to technology. Even though a few scholarships are limited to a monthly or yearly stipend, most of them include certain payments towards health insurance cover, travel allowance, a rent subsidy and family allowance.

Here is a list of major scholarship programmes available for Indian students in Germany:

Working Internships in Science and Engineering (WISE)

Students from selected Indian universities can apply for this scholarship and the selection process is based upon academic excellence. This is for students pursuing Bachelor’s degree, dual degree or integrated programmes in fields of engineering, mathematics and natural sciences.

Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding – Dr. Angela Merkel Scholarship

Indian graduate students in the field of law are eligible to apply for this scholarship programme if they wish to complete a Master’s degree program (LLM) in Germany and specialize in European Law at selected German higher education institutions. After a pre-selection round, qualified applicants must attend an interview conducted by a bi-national selection committee at the DAAD office in New Delhi. The selection depends on the committee’s decision.

Development-Related Postgraduate Courses – Educating Professionals for Sustainable Development (EPOS)

This scholarship offers graduates from all disciplines in development and newly industrialized countries to attain a Master’s degree at a state or state-recognized German university. However, the applicant must hold a Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate subject; have an above average academic result and at least two years’ professional experience. In exceptional cases, the applicant may even be given financial assistance to obtain a doctoral degree in Germany.

IIT Master Sandwich Scholarship

This scholarship is exclusively for students from Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) and gives them an opportunity to complete a project work under the guidance of a German professor at selected technical universities.

Study Scholarship for Foreign Graduates in the field of Performing Arts, Study Scholarship for Foreign Graduates in the Field of Music, Research Stays for University Academics and Scientists (Forschungsaufenthalte), PhD Scholarships (Research Grants – Doctoral Programmes in Germany), Study Scholarship for Foreign Graduates in the Field of Architecture, Semester Scholarships for Students of Indian Institutes of Management (IIM), etc. are a few other popular scholarship programmes available for Indian students.