Scholarships

HSF Jerusalem helps talented students, graduates and young professionals access selected scholarship opportunities in Germany. Depending on the program, HSF either manages the application and pre-selection process, supports candidates applying to an external program, or acts as a nominating institution.

The three opportunities presented below are:

German Scholarship Program - HSF scholarships for academically outstanding Israeli and Palestinian students and researchers pursuing study or research in Germany.
International Parliamentary Scholarship - a Bundestag program for politically engaged young graduates with strong German-language skills.
Hilde Domin Program - a DAAD protection program for students and doctoral candidates who are individually at risk and unable to pursue their education safely.

German Scholarship Program

HSF offers scholarships to academically outstanding Israeli and Palestinian students, doctoral candidates and researchers who plan to study or conduct research in Germany. The program is open to applicants from all academic disciplines and combines financial support with academic mentoring, seminars, university-group activities and access to HSF's international scholarship network.

Scholarship holders are expected not only to demonstrate strong academic performance, but also to show sustained civic engagement, an interest in political and social developments, and a commitment to democracy, the rule of law and human rights.

Financial support

Depending on the applicant's academic status and individual circumstances, support may include:

• up to €992 per month for undergraduate and graduate students;
• up to €1,300 per month for doctoral candidates and researchers;
• health-insurance costs of up to €137 per month, depending on status;
• reimbursement of eligible travel expenses of up to €500; and
• reimbursement of certain printing costs where applicable.

Scholarships are generally awarded for periods of five to 24 months. Tuition fees, visa fees and family or child allowances are not covered.

Who can apply?

Applicants must:

• demonstrate above-average academic achievement;
• be actively and consistently engaged in voluntary or civic activities;
• show a strong interest in political and civil-society developments in the MENA region and Germany;
• support HSF's values and commitment to democracy, the rule of law and human rights;
• have German-language proficiency of at least B2 at the time of application, with the expectation of progressing to C1 after the first scholarship year; and
• for degree students, obtain admission to a recognized German university or higher-education institution.

How to apply

Applicants should submit the following documents to the HSF Jerusalem Office:

• a short tabular CV;
• a detailed CV;
• proof of German-language proficiency at B2 level or above (for all courses of study, including programs in English);
• a provisional timetable for the proposed study or research period in Germany;
• a recommendation letter addressing both academic performance and personal suitability;
• proof of residency and nationality; and
• any additional relevant certificates.

Additional documents

Students must provide proof of enrolment at a German university by the end of the selection process. Doctoral candidates must provide confirmation of academic supervision. Doctoral candidates and researchers must also submit a detailed description of their research project.

Applications may be submitted throughout the year to jerusalem(at)hss.de. HSF Jerusalem conducts a local pre-selection before candidates proceed to the Foundation's international selection process. International selection rounds generally take place twice a year. Applicants whose documents meet the formal requirements will be contacted regarding the next stage of the selection process.

Good to know

• Applications must be complete and meet all formal requirements. Incomplete applications cannot be considered.
• Tuition fees, visa fees and family or child allowances are not covered.
• Your applicant category is based on the academic status you will hold during the scholarship period.
• Applicants who are eligible for BAföG must use HSF's domestic German application procedure rather than applying through HSF Jerusalem. BAföG is Germany's federal student financial-assistance system.
• German citizens who completed the German Abitur, as well as applicants already covered by HSF's domestic application procedure, should apply directly through HSF Germany.
• Applicants living in a country without an HSF office should contact the nearest HSF country office.
• Further details are available in our scholarship FAQs.

Click here to view the official German Scholarship Flyers. 

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

Scholarship holder testimonial: A former HSF scholarship holder explains why they chose the program. Video in German (2022). You will find more testimonials here.

40 years of HSF scholarships: Dr. Jutta Möhringer introduces HSF's scholarship program and its history. Video in German (2022). You will find more scholarship videos here.

International Parliamentary Scholarship

HSF supports the International Parliamentary Scholarships (IPS) of the German Bundestag, which gives politically and socially engaged young graduates the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of Germany's parliamentary system.

Please note: IPS is administered and awarded directly by the German Bundestag. HSF does not award this scholarship.

Who can apply?

Applicants must:

• be citizens of an eligible participating country;
• hold a university degree;
• meet the program's age requirements; and
• have German-language proficiency of at least B2.

The program is conducted entirely in German. Current eligibility criteria, participating countries and application deadlines are published on the official Bundestag website.

Introduction to IPS (2018). You will find more scholarship videos here.

Hilde Domin Program

HSF is an authorized nominating institution for the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)'s Hilde Domin Program, an academic protection program for students and doctoral candidates who cannot safely pursue their education because they are individually at risk in their country of origin.

The program supports master's students for up to 24 months and doctoral candidates for up to 48 months. It is administered by DAAD and funded by the German Federal Foreign Office.

Who may be nominated?

Candidates must:

• be pursuing a master's degree or doctorate;
• demonstrate strong academic potential;
• credibly demonstrate an individual risk to their personal safety, fundamental rights or access to education related to their ethnic, sexual, gender or religious identity and/or their political or civic engagement;
• meet the academic requirements for the intended degree or research project in Germany; and
• not be residing in Germany or another EU member state at the time of nomination.

Human medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy and law are excluded from the program.

How the nomination process works

Individuals cannot apply directly to the DAAD for the Hilde Domin Program. Candidates must first be nominated by an authorized institution such as HSF.

If you believe you meet all eligibility requirements and would like HSF Jerusalem to consider you for nomination, please contact jerusalem(at)hss.de.

HSF will first assess whether the formal eligibility and individual-risk requirements appear to be met. A nomination by HSF does not guarantee admission to the DAAD selection process, award of a scholarship or admission to a German university.

Current nomination periods, application deadlines and funding conditions are published on the DAAD website. 

Good to know

• Candidates cannot apply directly to the DAAD. Applications are only possible following nomination by an authorized institution such as HSF.
• Candidates must credibly demonstrate that they are individually at risk; living in a conflict-affected or unstable environment alone does not necessarily establish eligibility. For further information on this, see FAQs / On scholarships.
• Nominees should demonstrate strong academic potential and must meet the admission requirements for their intended degree or research project at a German higher-education institution.
• A nomination by HSF is the first step in the selection process and does not guarantee a scholarship.
• A nomination or scholarship award does not automatically constitute admission to a German university. University admission requirements apply separately.
• Current nomination periods, deadlines and funding conditions should be checked on the official DAAD Hilde Domin Program website.

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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