Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung Scholarship 2027: Fully Funded Master’s & PhD in Germany
Quick Overview
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung (RLS) Scholarship for International Students & Doctoral Candidates |
| Funded by | German Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) |
| Coverage | Monthly stipend at German BAföG rates + non-material (ideelle) support programme |
| Level | Master’s (international students) & PhD (Promotionsstipendium) |
| Who can apply | Foreign nationals (incl. EU nationals) studying or admitted at a German university |
| Application window | Opens August 20, 2026 |
| Deadline | October 1, 2026, 23:59 (online portal only) |
| Program start | April 1, 2027 (summer semester) |
The Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung (RLS) is one of Germany’s six major political foundations, and its scholarship department (Studienwerk) funds highly qualified students and doctoral candidates who combine excellent academics with strong social and political engagement. For the 2027 cycle the application round opens on August 20, 2026 and closes on October 1, 2026 — right in the same window as other big German deadlines like DAAD and Heinrich Böll, so start now.
This guide covers everything verified from the official rosalux.de pages: eligibility, funding, the two-track application (study + PhD), and exactly how to prepare a competitive application before October 1.
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What Does It Cover?
| Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| Monthly stipend | Funding at the German BAföG scale — the same rate used for German state student aid, adjusted annually (exact amount confirmed in your award letter) |
| Ideelle Förderung | Mandatory non-material support programme: seminars, networking, workshops on politics and society |
| Duration (study) | Standard funding period for a Master’s programme |
| Duration (PhD) | Standard doctoral funding period (typically 3 years) |
| Eligible fields | All disciplines for Master’s; all disciplines except medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine for PhD |
| Additional support | Hardship support, childcare support, and special allowances under the foundation’s social provisions |
The RLS gives preference to women, applicants from non-academic and migrant backgrounds, the socially disadvantaged, and people with disabilities when qualifications are comparable — and explicitly encourages applications from science, technology, engineering and administrative-science students.
> ⚠️ Note: The RLS is a partial-to-full funding scholarship at the German BAföG standard. Unlike DAAD’s flat €992/month, the RLS amount follows the state-aid scale based on your personal circumstances. Check the current rates on rosalux.de before applying.
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Eligibility
✅ You Must:
- Be a foreign national (including EU citizens) coming to Germany to study — the international scholarship is funded by the Federal Foreign Office
- Have enrollment, or at least one admission, at a state or state-recognized university in Germany
- Hold a completed Bachelor’s degree (or completed basic studies if enrolled in a Diplom/Magister/Staatsexamen programme)
- Have excellent academic performance
- Show social or political engagement in the spirit of the Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung (democracy, social justice, anti-discrimination)
- Have very good German language skills — B2 level, with proof
- Not be eligible for BAföG under §8 (the international track is for students who do NOT qualify for German state aid)
- Be staying in Germany for the purpose of studying
- Not have been in Germany longer than 15 months at the time of application (exceptions: you already completed a degree in Germany or were preparing for university studies)
❌ Not Eligible If:
- You are applying for a Bachelor’s programme (the international study scholarship covers Master’s-level study)
- You already hold a Master’s and want a second full-time Master’s (a second degree is not funded)
- You want to fund a change of major mid-Master’s or after the 4th semester
- You plan study abroad in your home country or a third country during the funded period
- You cannot demonstrate B2 German at application time
> Priority: Applicants from DAC (development-assistance) countries who are still in their home country at the time of application are given priority in the international track — so if you’re applying from your home country, say so clearly.
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How to Apply: Step by Step
Step 1: Check the portal opens (August 20, 2026)
The new application round opens August 20, 2026. The RLS uses an online application portal only — applications by post or email are not accepted. The link appears on the Stipendienbewerbung page (rosalux.de/stipendienbewerbung) on opening day.
Step 2: Prepare your documents
Have ready before the portal opens:
- Proof of enrollment or admission at a German university
- Bachelor’s certificate / transcript (or proof of completed basic studies)
- German language proof (B2) — e.g., Goethe-Zertifikat B2, TestDaF, DSH
- CV and motivation letter covering your social/political engagement
- Academic references
Step 3: Submit the online application (before October 1, 2026, 23:59)
Fill out the form on the RLS portal, upload your documents, and submit before the October 1 deadline. One application only — you cannot apply for the study and PhD tracks simultaneously, and you cannot apply to more than one RLS programme.
Step 4: Assessment interviews (mid-November 2026 – mid-January 2027)
Shortlisted candidates are invited to interviews with RLS trust lecturers (Vertrauensdozent:innen) or expert reviewers. Invitations are sent by email — the interview protocol is decisive for the award, so keep the entire Nov–Jan window free and reply to invitations immediately.
Step 5: Results & start (February – April 2027)
- PhD results: beginning of February 2027
- Master’s results: beginning of March 2027
- Funding starts: April 1, 2027 (summer semester)
- Unsuccessful applicants receive written notice about 3 months after the deadline.
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Insider Tips
1. Your social/political engagement is the differentiator
RLS explicitly funds people “in the spirit of the Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung” — democracy, social justice, anti-discrimination, solidarity. Trade-union work, migrant-community organizing, anti-racism projects, feminist activism and similar activity carries real weight. If you have it, document it concretely (roles, years, outcomes).
2. B2 German is a hard gate — don’t bluff
The official requirements state “very good German language skills (B2 level – proof of language acquisition)”. A Goethe/TestDaF/DSH certificate is expected. If you’re below B2, this is not the scholarship to apply for this cycle — but the DAAD programmes are more flexible on language for English-taught programmes.
3. Apply from your home country if you can
DAC-country applicants still in their home country at application time get priority. If you’re currently outside Germany, make that visible in your application — it’s an explicit preference, not a footnote.
4. The 15-month rule catches people out
You must not have been in Germany more than 15 months at application (with narrow exceptions). If you’ve been in Germany longer, the international track closes — check the Heinrich Böll and DAAD routes instead.
5. Don’t mix the tracks
You can apply for only one RLS scholarship programme. Decide between the study scholarship (Master’s) and the doctoral scholarship (PhD) — they have different review processes, and a second application in the same round is rejected.
6. Use the ideelle programme deliberately
The non-material programme (seminars, political education, networking) is mandatory and a core part of the scholarship. Mention in your motivation letter which RLS themes you want to contribute to — the foundation funds people who want to participate, not just receive.
7. Submit early — the portal is online-only
Postal/email applications are not accepted, and the portal closes at 23:59 on October 1. Submit a few days early; the last-day rush is a real failure mode.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is the Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung scholarship fully funded?
A: It provides a monthly stipend on the German BAföG scale plus the ideelle programme, and doctoral funding on the foundation’s doctoral rates. It is a substantial state-scale scholarship, but the exact monthly amount depends on your personal circumstances — confirm current rates on rosalux.de.
Q: Can EU citizens apply?
A: Yes. EU nationals are explicitly eligible for the international students’ scholarship, provided they are in Germany for study purposes and do not qualify for BAföG §8.
Q: Can I apply for a Bachelor’s?
A: No. The international study scholarship funds Master’s-level study (or Diplom/Magister/Staatsexamen after completing basic studies). Bachelor’s degrees are not funded on the international track.
Q: Is there an age limit?
A: The official pages do not state a hard age limit; selection is on academic merit and engagement. Check the current call documents for any age caps.
Q: When do I need to be enrolled?
A: You need enrollment — or at least one admission — at a state or state-recognized German university at the time of application. You don’t need to have started the programme yet.
Q: What if my German is B1 but my programme is English-taught?
A: The RLS international track requires B2 German regardless of programme language. For English-taught Master’s in Germany, DAAD is the better fit.
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Timeline Table
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| Application round opens | August 20, 2026 |
| Application deadline | October 1, 2026, 23:59 |
| Interviews / assessment | Mid-November 2026 – mid-January 2027 |
| PhD results | Beginning of February 2027 |
| Master’s results | Beginning of March 2027 |
| Funding starts | April 1, 2027 (summer semester) |
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Your Action Plan
1. This week: Confirm you meet the B2 German + engagement requirements; collect your admission/enrollment letter.
2. Before August 20: Draft your motivation letter around your social/political engagement; line up academic referees.
3. August 20 – September 25: Complete the online application; submit at least 5 days before the deadline.
4. November – January: Keep the window free for interviews; respond to RLS emails within days.
5. March 2027: Check results — then accept your funding and prepare for the April 1, 2027 start.
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The Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung funds people, not just papers — bring your engagement, your German B2, and your best academics before October 1. Share this with someone who wants to study in Germany fully funded.