Heinrich Böll Foundation Doctoral Scholarships for All Disciplines in Germany and EU Heinrich Böll Foundation in Germany

The Heinrich Böll Foundation, recognized as the Green political foundation, annually supports around 1,450 students and 200 doctoral candidates from diverse academic backgrounds and institutions in Germany and abroad. Under the 'promoting talent' initiative, the foundation awards up to 250 new scholarships each year, preparing recipients to take responsibility and advocate for the foundation's ideals in an international context. These ideals include democracy, ecology, solidarity, and nonviolence, reflecting the foundation's commitment to green policy and social values.

Doctoral scholarships are open to particularly gifted German and international candidates from any discipline who are completing promising doctoral dissertations at a German higher education institution. Applicants must show excellent academic promise and demonstrate civic engagement aligned with the foundation's values. The programme is designed to foster personal growth, interdisciplinary qualification, and key skills development through non-material support such as annual PhD scholar forums and workshops.

Academic requirements include admission to post-graduate studies at a state or state-recognised institution of higher education in Germany, with initial preparatory work for the doctoral project completed. German doctoral candidates and international students qualifying as 'Bildungsinländer' may also pursue a doctorate in another EU country. While funding is available for research projects on all topics and from all disciplines, priority is given to projects related to the foundation's core topics, such as democracy, ecology, and solidarity.

Each year, about 200 scholarships for doctoral candidates are awarded. The standard funding period is three years, with the possibility of renewal for up to six months. The scholarship provides both financial and non-material support, including forums and workshops aimed at fostering academic and professional development. Detailed information on current funding amounts and application procedures is available on the foundation's website.

Applicants must submit application forms and all required documents by the deadline. The application process and eligibility requirements are outlined in the downloadable PDF and on the DAAD scholarship database. The next application deadline is 1 September 2026. For further information and to apply, visit the DAAD scholarship database link provided.