Scholarships

HSF awards prestigious scholarships to outstanding graduates and postgraduates for studies at universities in Germany, recognizing their exceptional academic merit. Eligible candidates are carefully pre-selected by HSF Jerusalem. The scholarships are granted for periods ranging from five to 24 months, based on the office’s focus and the candidate’s academic requirements.

The Foundation also proudly supports the official scholarship program of the German federal parliament, the German Bundestag, which targets highly talented, German-speaking individuals from across the globe. This initiative promotes educational excellence and cross-cultural exchange between Germany and partner regions.

The Hilde Domin Program enables students and doctoral candidates at risk in their countries of origin to pursue or continue higher education in Germany.

German Scholarship Program

The prestigious German Scholarship Program is awarded based on outstanding merit and offers a valuable opportunity for Israeli and Palestinian students and scholars, regardless of their field of study. The program aims to support academic pursuits or research at renowned universities and higher education institutions in Germany.

Participants receive generous funding, personalized mentoring, access to a diverse seminar program, engagement in local university group activities, membership in an international network, and various capacity-building trainings to further enhance their skills and capabilities.

Financial support

The German Scholarship Program provides the following funding:

• For undergraduate and graduate students: Up to €992 per month (fixed allowance for 5-24 months)
• For Ph.D. students and researchers: Up to €1,300 per month (fixed allowance for 5-24 months)
• Reimbursement of printing expenses (provided certain conditions are met)
• Full coverage of health insurance in Germany (up to €137 per month, subject to status)
• Reimbursement of all major travel expenses to Germany and back to your hometown (up to €500)

How to apply?

Applicants must:

• Hold an above-average high school diploma or university degree (with good or very good grades, minimum above 3.0 GPA)
• Be consistently and actively engaged in voluntary work
• Show strong interest in current political and civil society developments (in the MENA region and Germany)
• Identify with the goals and values of HSF and support democracy, the rule of law, and human rights
• Have solid German language skills (minimum level B2 at the time of application), with the expectation to reach level C1 after the first scholarship year
• Be admitted to a German university or higher education institution (for students only)

To apply, submit the following documents:

• Brief tabular curriculum vitae
• Detailed curriculum vitae
• Proof of German language proficiency (minimum level B2 for all courses of study, including programs in English)
• Provisional time plan of the academic project in Germany (see FAQs for more information)
• Recommendation letter confirming personal suitability and academic performance
• For students: Written proof of enrollment at a German university (to be submitted by the end of the application process)
• For Ph.D. students: Letter from a teacher/lecturer confirming academic supervision
• For Ph.D. students and researchers: Detailed description of the research project
• Proof of current residency and nationality
• Other relevant certificates

Submit all required documents by e-mail to the HSF Jerusalem Office at jerusalem(at)hss.de. Applications are accepted year-round (no deadline); international selection rounds take place from January and July each year, and are preceded by local pre-selection rounds. If your application meets HSF’s requirements, you will be contacted for an interview.

Good to know

• Meeting all the above requirements is necessary for any application. Incomplete or incorrect applications cannot be considered. For more details, see HSF's FAQs.
• Tuition fees, family/child allowances, and visa fees are not covered.
• Current pupils becoming students are considered students for application purposes; current students becoming Ph.D. students are considered Ph.D. students.
• If you live in a country without a national HSF office, submit your application to the nearest HSF office.
• You may only apply for a scholarship at the HSF Jerusalem Office if you are not eligible for BAföG. Otherwise, please use the domestic application procedure.
• If you are living in Germany or are a German citizen with a German secondary education (Abitur), apply directly for an HSF scholarship through the domestic application procedure.
• For further information, see FAQs / On scholarships.

Click here to view the official German Scholarship Flyers. 

Erfolgreich bei der HSS bewerben - so geht es! (Quelle: Legmon)

Why did you choose HSF's scholarship program? Scholarship holder testimonial (in German) from 2022. You will find more testimonials here.

40 years of scholarships with HSF. Official video (in German) with Dr. Jutta Möhringer, Head of HSF’s Institute for Scholarship Programs, from 2022. You will find more scholarship videos here.

International Parliamentary Scholarship

Furthermore, HSF actively supports the esteemed International Parliament Scholarships (IPS) of the German federal parliament Bundestag. This prestigious program is specifically designed for young individuals under the age of 30 who have a keen interest in politics, hold a university degree, and are committed to actively promoting core democratic values and fostering a vibrant civil society in their home countries. The program offers participants a unique opportunity to engage in meaningful political experiences and contribute to the advancement of democratic ideals.

Who can apply?

Applicants must:

• Be citizens of one of the participating countries
• Hold a university degree
• Be under 30 years of age
• Have solid German language skills (at least level B2)

For more details, please visit the official Bundestag application site (in German) for Israel and the Palestinian Territories. Information on the additional program for applicants from Arab countries is available here (in English).

Please note that the IPS scholarship program is offered directly by the Bundestag and conducted entirely in German, so strong German language skills are mandatory.

Introduction video of the Bundestag on IPS from 2018. You will find more scholarship videos here.

Hilde Domin Program

HSF is authorized to nominate students and doctoral candidates from around the world for the Hilde Domin Program.

The Hilde Domin Program supports students (for up to 24 months) and doctoral candidates (for up to 48 months) who, due to circumstances in their country of origin, face serious obstacles to accessing higher education or continuing their academic work. This may include situations in which their right to education or other fundamental rights are at risk, for example because of their identity or their political or civic engagement.

Who can apply?

Eligible for nomination are applicants pursuing a master's degree as well as doctoral candidates from all academic disciplines, with the exception of human medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, and law, who:

• can demonstrate or credibly substantiate to the nominating institution that their personal well-being or safety is at risk (e.g. due to physical violence, arrest, or the denial of civil or educational rights);
• hold educational qualifications that provide access to higher education and meet the admission requirements for the intended degree programme or research project, as determined by the anabin database; and
• are not residing in Germany or another EU member state at the time of nomination.

The program is implemented by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and funded by the German Federal Foreign Office. Further information is available on the program's web page and in its FAQs.

If you would like HSF to nominate you and believe you meet the eligibility criteria, please contact us at jerusalem(at)hss.de.

Please note that prospective candidates cannot apply directly to DAAD. Applications are only possible through nomination by an authorized institution such as HSF. Nominees should demonstrate strong academic potential and meet the admission requirements of a German higher education institution. A nomination is an important first step in the selection process, but does not guarantee a scholarship or admission to a German university.

Welcome address by the DAAD President, Prof. Dr. Joybrato Mukherjee, on the occasion of the launch of the Hilde Domin Program.

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