German Scholarships

Updated on June 27, 2017

German scholarships support students who descended from German or German-American ancestors or those studying the German language. German heritage scholarships usually focus less on what the student studies and more on their background and German heritage. German language scholarships usually focus on funding study abroad and language immersion opportunities and students pursuing a major in German.

Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility requirements for German scholarships are often merit-based. Whether you are pursuing a German study scholarship or a German heritage scholarship, most eligibility requirements will include academic performance and community involvement criteria. German heritage scholarships usually require you to be of German ancestry, which is usually determined by your relationship to a German-American or by your or your relative's membership in a German heritage organization. Other eligibility requirements may include:

  • Are a high school graduate or graduating senior

  • Are of German descent

  • Are a legal U.S. resident

  • Meet specific GPA, SAT, GRE, or other merit requirements

  • Enrolled in an accredited program

  • Planning to study a specific subject or field

  • A member of or related to a member of an German heritage organization

The above list is not all-inclusive and each scholarship is unique with its own set of eligibility standards. Also, candidates who meet the eligibility requirements are not guaranteed the award. However, there are numerous German scholarships available, including those listed below:

Types of German Scholarships