Costs, Scholarships and Funding
Students and doctoral candidates have a wide range of options for financial and material support to cover the costs of their studies - for example through BAföG, loans, scholarships and funding programs!
Costs of the study program
Semester fees, long-term tuition fees, fee-based degree programs, cost of living: Find out about the costs of studying!
Loans
50% interest-free loan, 50% grant: You may be eligible for assistance under the Federal Training Assistance Act (BAföG). The Student Services Osnabrück (Studierendenwerk Osnabrück) can advise you on this topic!
International students can also apply for BAföG without a German passport if they meet certain requirements.
Temporary, low-interest Training loans (Bildungskredite) can be applied for online at the Federal Office of Administration. These leans are granted irrespective of the student’s own income and the assets of their parents or partner. Alternatively, banks offer student loans with varying terms and conditions.
Students experiencing an acute financial emergency can apply for an Interest-free loan for emergencies from Osnabrück Student Services (Studierendenwerk Osnabrück) or a Small loan for unforeseen financial emergencies via the Student Government AStA.
Funding at the university
Scholarships and Funding Awards
At Osnabrück University, students can apply annually for a "Deutschlandstipendium" scholarship, a "Landesstipendium Niedersachsen" scholarship and a "Förderpreis" funding award.
Social Fund
If local or international students at Osnabrück University or Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences find themselves in a temporary financial emergency through no fault of their own, they have the opportunity to apply to the Sozialfonds für Osnabrücker Studierende (SOS) e. V. (Social Fund for Osnabrück Students) for quickly accessible, short-term and unbureaucratic emergency aid for students.
The International Office provides detailed information on scholarship and funding programs for Osnabrück students abroad (outgoings) and international students at Osnabrück University (incomings). The International Office also awards Ambassador Scholarships to international students from partner universities (currently not advertised).
Hardship grants
The Hilde Domin Program of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is a scholarship program for at-risk students and doctoral candidates who are in need of financial support to enable them to continue and complete their studies and/or research projects at German universities. Funding can be provided regardless of whether the individual person is still abroad or already in Germany. Students must apply themselves after being nominated by the university.
The Ecumenical Emergency Fund, which is provided by 17 partners of Brot für die Welt (Bread for the World), supports international students from the Global South and Eastern Europe who find themselves in financial difficulties with payments (3 times a maximum of €500 each). Applicants are asked to contact the University Chaplaincy of the Protestant Student Community Osnabrück.
Female students in the final stages of their doctoral studies may be supported by a scholarship from the Pool for the Advancement of Women.
Students at the university who are single parents can find support through the Madame Courage Osnabrück University support program, which is run by the Sozialdienst katholischer Frauen e. V. (Catholic Women’s Social Service).
Scholarships from organizations for the advancement of gifted students
Traditional organizations for the advancement of gifted students, such as the Friedrich Ebert Foundation or the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, award scholarships according to very different criteria. These include above-average academic achievement, social engagement, cultural interests, and religious affiliation. Many scholarship providers expect their scholarship holders to be committed to the organization and to uphold its principles. It is therefore very important to do your research before applying, as scholarships are non-repayable. The respective liaison lecturers at Osnabrück University will be happy to answer any questions you have about the scholarship organizations.
The StipendiumPlus portal provides an informative overview of the scholarship organizations.
Search portals for scholarships
The european-funding-guide.eu platform offers a framework for finding the right scholarship.
Comprehensive information on financing study-related stays abroad can be found on the website of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).
The website e-fellows.net offers a scholarship search by target group, educational phase and type of scholarship, among other things.