You and Europe - European Scholarship Programme

• The upcoming scholarship call for Master’s students commencing their studies in fall 2026 will be open to applicants from selected countries. The list of eligible countries will be announced in autumn 2025.

• Open to students intending to pursue a three- to four-semester master’s degree programme in Germany (incl. binational programmes); proof of admission to a German university does not have to be available at the time of application but it must be submitted no later than by the start of the funding period.

• Open to students of all disciplines at universities and universities of applied sciences (except students at colleges of art and music and those at universities of applied sciences pursing studies inthe visual and performing arts, design, film and music)

• Open to students who have achieved above-average results in their previous studies and who have shown outstanding commitment to their studies (10-15% top performers of the year)

• Open to students who commence their Master's studies without undue delay after completing their Bachelor's degree. Gaps of more than 12 months must be justified.

• Open to students who have a strong interest in European issues

• Open to students who are fluent in English (fluency in German is not a prerequisite for admission)

• Students who have already completed their higher education entrance qualification or a bachelor's degree in Germany are not eligible for a scholarship.

• Only in exceptional cases, open to students who were already enrolled in a Master's degree programme (regardless of whether they have a degree or not). If this applies to you, please contact us directly and provide a detailed explanation of the circumstances that required you to change your academic path.

You are planning to study a non-Masters programme in Germany (State examination, Diploma etc.) and are admitted to a higher semester so that you expect to graduate in two years? Please contact us so that we can check the suitability of your study plan for our programme.

• Need-based monthly scholarship, ranging between EUR 300 and EUR 1,112 plus additional benefits (e.g. health insurance subsidies, family allowance, etc.) for the standard duration of a master’s degree course. Extensions may be requested in duly substantiated cases.

• Two annual network meetings on European subjects with all You and Europe scholarship holders. The costs of accommodation, meals and programme fees will be covered, travel expenses will be subsidised.

• Optionally, participation in the Studienstiftung’s educational programmes relating specifically to Europe, such as the Europe Academy, an EU simulation game or a digital Europe-themed series. The costs of accommodation, meals and programme fees will be covered, travel expenses will be subsidised.

• Use of a digital programme area as an exchange and networking platform in the Studienstiftung Forum.

• Inclusion in the Studienstiftung’s peer programme. On request, Studienstiftung will identify a Studienstiftung scholar in the university town who will act as a direct contact for new arrivals, offering on-site guidance and support.

• For students from EU countries and EU accession countries admission to the Studienstiftung’s scholarship programme.

• Students from EU countries and EU accession countries may also be granted funding under the Studienstiftung’s general sponsorship programme.

7 – 9 November 2025: Initial meeting in Hamburg

13 – 17 May 2026: Network meeting in Siggen (Ostholstein)

6 – 8 November 2026: Network meeting in Hamburg

4 - 8 May 2027: Final meeting in Siggen (Ostholstein)

From autumn onwards, we’ll be hosting monthly online info sessions for everyone interested in the scholarship programme. Join us to learn more and ask your questions directly. Registration will be required.

Candidates can only apply for You and Europe if they have been nominated by a university lecturer. University lecturers can submit nominations for suitable candidates in the form below. If the nomination is successful, the university lecturer will be invited to submit a letter of recommendation. The letter of recommendation should be issued as a subject-specific reference within the applicant’s field of study. A guideline for writing the letter will be provided when the referee is invited to submit their recommendation. Based on the nomination and the letter of recommendation, the Toepfer Stiftung invites candidates to submit their application documents. For this purpose, the candidates receive a link for an application form via e-mail. The selection procedure consists of two stages. On the basis of the submitted documents, a jury decides in a preselection round which applicants will be invited to take part in the main selection procedure. In the latter, the finalists have the opportunity to introduce themselves and their studies. The selection interviews are conducted online and mainly in English.

See also the Explanation Video below!

The nomination process will open in Autumn 2025.

The Toepfer Stiftung has academic advisors in each participating country. They mainly advise us on country-specific conditions in the academic field and give us their assessment of the applications of students from their country.