STIBET scholarships for international students and doctoral candidates
You can apply for DAAD STIBET scholarships again until March 31, 2026.
Through the STIBET programs, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) uses funds from the Federal Foreign Office (AA) to support international students and doctoral candidates at German universities. A STIBET scholarship is generally not intended for studies in a (neighboring) country or a semester abroad, but as financial support for studies in Germany.
Application deadlines
March 31, 2026 for an application in the summer semester 2026.
August 31, 2026 for an application in the winter semester 2026/27.
Please send your complete application documents (see notes below) in a single PDF file by e-mail to hoffmann.mareike@mh-hannover.de. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Award criteria
- Graduation within the next year
- Letter of motivation (max. 1 DIN A4 page)
Who can be supported with a STIBET scholarship?
International students and doctoral candidates enrolled at the MHH (foreign students). Language course participants, exchange students, part-time students and foreign students who also have German citizenship are not eligible for STIBET funding. Enrolment at the MHH for the entire funding period is required.
Prerequisite:
- Financial need
- Valid residence permit for study purposes or for the purpose of a doctorate (usually §16 AufenthG)
- Social or higher education policy commitment is desired
Funding amount and duration
The exact amount and duration of the scholarship depend on the funds available. This will be determined by the selection committee and communicated to the scholarship holders in good time.
These include:
- Refugee background
- Degree of disability of at least 50% or chronic illness that makes it difficult to study
- Care of children up to the age of 12 in your own household
- Relatives in need of first and second degree care in Germany
Award criteria
- Justification of the application, including a description of the special challenges faced during studies (max. 1 DIN A4 page)
Who can be supported with a STIBET scholarship?
International students and doctoral candidates enrolled at the MHH (foreign students). Language course participants, exchange students, part-time students and foreign students who also have German citizenship are not eligible for STIBET funding. Enrolment at the MHH for the entire funding period is required.
Prerequisite:
- Financial need
- Valid residence permit for study purposes or for the purpose of a doctorate (usually §16 AufenthG)
- Social or higher education policy commitment is desired
Funding amount and duration
The exact amount and duration of the scholarship depend on the funds available. This will be determined by the selection committee and communicated to the scholarship holders in good time.
Application and application documents
Please combine the following documents into a single PDF file and send it to Mareike Hoffmann by March 31 or August 31. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
- Completed application form
- Letter of motivation (max. 1 DIN A4 page)
Write a letter of motivation in which you justify your application for the respective scholarship. Please also include details of your study situation (progress, problems, goals) and your current personal circumstances (cost of living, social situation, exceptional burdens, etc.). - Current certificate of grades
- Certificate of enrollment
- Copy of your residence permit, if applicable
- If you are involved in voluntary work: Certificate of duration and scope of voluntary work
- Financial self-disclosure and bank statements for the last three months (irrelevant information may be blacked out, for example the supermarket where you shop; however, relevant information must be visible, for example rent payments, cell phone contracts, etc.), for married persons information on family income and proof if applicable
- Further documents required depending on the scholarship:
- Study forecast (available from the Office of Academic Affairs)
- Proof of application for asylum or other proof of refugee background, copy of current residence status; for refugees from third countries: Copy of the last residence permit or other official proof from the country from which you have fled
- Birth certificate(s) of the children
- Proof of a degree of disability of at least 50% (severely disabled person's pass)
- Medical certificate of chronic illness with a description of the associated restrictions
- Proof of the person(s) in need of care: Registration certificate showing the address of the person in need of care; birth certificate(s) showing the relationship
You are welcome to contact us before the application deadline to discuss which proofs are appropriate in your individual situation. Please contact Mareike Hoffmann (hoffmann.mareike@mh-hannover.de).
Notes on awarding the scholarship
- Scholarships are awarded by a selection committee on the basis of the quality of the application documents submitted. There is no entitlement to funding. The applicants will be informed of the selection result in writing.
- Scholarship holders are generally allowed to work while receiving the scholarship. The limit for scholarship installments plus gross additional earnings (per month) is 1,595 euros for students and 1,903 euros for doctoral candidates. If the sum exceeds these amounts, the scholarship installment will be adjusted accordingly.
- If you receive another scholarship, additional funding up to the amount of a full scholarship (currently €992 for students and €1,300 for doctoral candidates per month) is permitted. Beyond this, the STIBET scholarship must be reduced accordingly. It is not possible to claim several DAAD-funded grants at the same time.
- If you receive social benefits (citizen's allowance, housing benefit, etc.), please discuss in advance with your respective contact person whether and to what extent the scholarship will be offset against your social benefits.
- The scholarship can be combined with Federal financial aid (BAföG). However, it must be declared to the BAföG office, which will then check whether the BAföG rate will be reduced.