The Heinrich Böll Foundation grants scholarships to approximately 1500 undergraduates, graduates, and doctoral students of all subjects and nationalities per year, who are pursuing their degree at universities, universities of applied sciences (‘Fachhochschulen’), or universities of the arts (‘Kunst-/Musikhochschulen’).

Heinrich Böll Foundation expect the scholarship recipients to have excellent academic records, to be socially and politically engaged, and to have an active interest in the basic values of the foundation: ecology and sustainability, democracy and human rights, self determination and justice.

The scholarship department of the Heinrich Böll Foundation grants scholarships to graduates, and doctoral students from outside Germany. An application for a scholarship for an undergraduate degree is not possible.

International applicants have to prove their proficiency in German. Good or very good knowledge of the German language is required (at least B2 Level or DSH1).

The key criteria for assessing written applications and admission to the next stage of the procedure are:

Very good school or college/university academic record
Social commitment and political interest
Convincing reasons for applying to the Heinrich Böll Foundation
German language proficiency (DSH 1 or Level B 2)

Please enter the following data online into the pdf form:

Your personal data and CV
Your motivation for are applying to the Heinrich Böll Foundation
An outline of your motivation for studying your chosen subject and of your main areas of interest
An outline of your social commitments and political interests et al.

University entrance qualification
A copy of your Abitur, baccalaureate or university entrance qualification
If required, a German or English translation by a certified translator

Certified copy of your first degree certificate
Certified copy of the degree certificate, with German or English translation if required, along with an
explanation of the grading if it differs from the German system (cf Modifizierte Bayerische Formel on
the Internet)

Student enrolment certificate (“Immatrikulationsbescheinigung”): must be submitted with application
or submitted at the latest by the time of the selection interview. If not possible, please informe us when
you can expect to receive your certificate of enrolment

For international applicants: Written proof of German language proficiency
Minimum requirement: „Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang“ DSH 1 or Level B 2
The proof ist absolutely necessary.

A third-party reference on your social commitment
This should be a confirmation and detailed description of your social commitment by a person of your
choice who knows you well and is able to assess your previous and current commitment. This person
should be neither a friend nor a member of your family. Wherever possible, he or she should be a
representative of an institution or an organisation. Internship testimonials are not suitable for this purpose.
Foreign applicants from conflict areas or similar who are unable to provide a reference must explain why.
Please inform your reference writer to use the provided form from the website. 

The reference should contain the following information:

• A description of your social commitment, especially in areas in which you have actively assumed
  responsibility. The reference should state exactly what you have done or achieved to date, assessing
  in particular aspects of your commitment that are not sufficiently apparent from your CV or your
  statement of motivation.
  
• A personal assessment of your specific concerns and which particular causes you support
  
• An assessment of your ability to reflect on political affairs and an appraisal of your personality
  
• The context in which the referee made your acquaintance and how long he or she has known you.
  
• You can upload the reference to the application portal. The reference must include the author’s contact
  details (full name, institution/organization, email address phone number, etc.) at the top and must be
  signed. Alternatively the reference writer may email the personal reference directly to the Heinrich Böll
  Foundation.
  
• A signature is not required if the reference is emailed directly by the author from his*her email
  account.