Germany is one of the best countries you can study in right now if you are on a budget but still want quality education.
Most public universities in Germany don’t even charge tuition fees. You might only be paying what they call a “semester contribution,” and even that is less than €300 per semester. So, if you combine that with a full scholarship or even a partial one, you are basically going to school in Europe for almost free.
Germany has some of the most generous scholarship packages in the world, especially for international students from Africa. We are talking full tuition waivers, monthly stipends, relocation funds, health insurance, and even travel allowances worth over €2,000. Some scholarships even pay you over €1,200 per month just to study.
Now imagine you, a young Nigerian, living in Berlin, Munich, or Hamburg; not worrying about rent, fees, or feeding, because a German scholarship is literally taking care of everything while you are upgrading your academic and career game.
Requirements to Apply for Scholarships in Germany
Before you jump into any of these scholarship applications, you need to know what they actually expect from you. Whether you are applying for DAAD, Erasmus+, or any other top German scholarship, the requirements usually follow a similar pattern.
1. A Bachelor’s Degree
Most scholarships in Germany are for Master’s or PhD studies, so if you are still in 200L or 300L, calm down small. But if you are in your final year, doing NYSC, or you have already graduated, you are ready to go.
Also, they usually ask for a minimum CGPA of 2.5 to 3.0 on a 5-point scale, but don’t panic if you are not a first-class student. Many Nigerians have gotten full scholarships with Second Class Lower — what matters is how you package everything else.
2. Academic Transcripts
Academic transcript is the breakdown of your courses and grades in the University. Some schools will accept your statement of results if you haven’t collected your official transcript yet, but eventually, you will need to submit the real one.
Tip: If your school delays transcript processing, start early. Some German deadlines come around October to December.
3. Personal Statement or Motivation Letter
This is your chance to explain why you want to study in Germany, why that course, and what your career goals are. Please don’t copy one from Google. They have seen hundreds of those. Write from your own experience, be honest, ambitious, and smart.
You can even mention how studying in Germany will help you come back and solve problems in Nigeria that always stand out.
4. Proof of English Proficiency
You may not always need IELTS to study in Germany.
Many German universities accept what they call a Medium of Instruction (MOI) letter. This is simply a document from your former university saying that your degree was taught in English.
And yes, it’s accepted for both admission and student visa applications.
5. Letter of Recommendation
Most German scholarships will ask for at least one or two recommendation letters. These should come from either:
- A former lecturer or supervisor (for academic reference)
- Your boss or mentor (for professional reference, especially if you’ve worked before)
What matters is that the person knows you well and can speak about your strengths.
6. CV or Résumé
This is not a job CV, it’s your academic and professional history. Include any jobs, volunteer work, internships, leadership roles, training, or personal projects you have done.
7. Valid Passport
This one sounds basic, but you would be surprised how many people rush to apply for scholarships and forget they don’t even have a valid passport yet. If yours is expired or you have never had one, go and start the process today.
8. Research Proposal
If your goal is a PhD, you will need to submit a clear research proposal that matches the area of expertise of your target university or supervisor. It doesn’t have to be 100% perfect, but it should show that you understand your field and have an idea of what you want to explore.
Scholarships in Germany
Here are some real scholarships you can apply to study in Germany. They are legit, life-changing funding opportunities. They cover everything from tuition to monthly allowance, health insurance, visa fees, and even flight tickets.
Some of them will literally be paying you €1,200+ every month just to attend class. Imagine receiving over $15,000+ in scholarship money per year just for chasing your dream abroad. These are the kinds of scholarships that Nigerian students have been getting quietly for years, and you deserve to be next.
So instead of wasting time on scattered applications, focus your energy on these high-paying, respected German scholarships.
1. DAAD Scholarship
If you know anything about scholarships in Germany, then you have probably heard about DAAD, the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst. That’s German for “German Academic Exchange Service.”
This one is massive. It’s like the German version of Chevening or Fulbright, and it’s funded by the government itself.
Here’s what it offers:
- €934 to €1,200 per month for living expenses (that’s about $1,300 monthly)
- Full tuition waiver
- Health insurance coverage
- Travel allowance of up to €2,000
- Rent subsidy if you’re paying high rent
- Additional support if you’re married or have children
There are DAAD scholarships for Master’s programs, PhDs, and even short courses, and Nigerians are regularly selected. You don’t need to speak German for many of the programs, as long as you are applying for an English-taught course, you’re fine.
2. Erasmus+ Scholarships
You may think Erasmus+ is only for students going to France or Spain, but surprise, many German universities are part of Erasmus programs.
This scholarship can cover:
- Up to €49,000 for a 2-year Master’s
- Monthly allowance between €1,100 and €1,500
- Travel allowance and visa reimbursement
- Free tuition across multiple partner universities
Many Nigerian students don’t know they can use Erasmus to fund studies in Germany, especially in tech, development, public health, and energy fields.
So if you’re applying to a joint program that includes a German school, Erasmus+ can be your ticket.
3. Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Scholarships
This one is for students who want to go into public service, leadership, policy, or law. It’s not just a scholarship, it’s a leadership grooming platform.
The scholarship offers:
- Monthly stipend of €934+
- Access to leadership seminars and training in Germany
- Up to €1,200 annual research grant
- Travel expenses for conferences and networking events
KAS supports international students who are already active in their community, which is perfect for many young Nigerians who have led NGOs, student groups, or advocacy platforms.
4. Heinrich Böll Foundation Scholarships
If you are passionate about sustainability, climate change, environmental justice, or feminism, then the Böll Foundation is for you.
The scholarship provides:
- Over €1,200 monthly allowance
- Research funding for fieldwork in Africa
- Health insurance and visa cost coverage
- Tuition-free studies at public universities
The foundation is highly competitive, but if your passion is real, your voice will stand out. Nigerians in agriculture, energy transition, and gender equality projects often get selected.
5. Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) Scholarships
FES scholarships are all about social democracy and equity. If your work or academic interest aligns with fighting inequality or injustice whether in law, economics, sociology, or political science then this is your shot.
The scholarship offers:
- Monthly stipend of about €950
- Access to exclusive seminars and German networking platforms
- Support for field research abroad worth over €3,000.
They love applicants from the Global South, and Nigeria is regularly represented.
6. Deutschlandstipendium
This one is unique because it’s co-funded by the German government and private donors.
The scholarship provides:
- €300 per month
- Annual total of €3,600, renewable for multiple years
- No restrictions based on your nationality
It’s more academic-focused, so you’ll need to show a strong GPA or innovative project, but there’s no age limit, and both undergrads and postgrads can apply.
7. RWTH Aachen University Scholarships
RWTH is one of the top engineering and tech universities in Europe, and they offer several internal scholarships for international students.
Some of their scholarships offer:
- Up to €10,000 per year
- Research funding of over €5,000
- Part-time job placement assistance
- Tuition-free access to world-class labs and facilities
If you are into STEM, data science, AI, or mechanical engineering, this school should be high on your list.
8. Humboldt Research Track Scholarship
If you are eyeing a Master’s program now and plan to do a PhD in Germany later, this scholarship will interest you.
It’s offered by Humboldt University in Berlin and provides:
- €1,300 monthly stipend for 6 months
- One-time travel or relocation allowance up to €2,500
- Mentorship into doctoral programs
It’s a great springboard for anyone serious about academia and long-term residence in Germany.
9. Rosa Luxemburg Foundation Scholarships
Another political scholarship, but this one is very leftist and pro-activism. If you are involved in social justice, feminism, anti-racism work, or youth empowerment, you should definitely apply.
- Offers €1,000+ monthly
- Full health insurance
- Travel funding to international conferences
- Access to political training and networking
They want people who are not just studying but are also fighting for a cause which aligns well with a lot of Nigerian youth movements.
10. DAAD Helmut Schmidt Programme
This is a special category under DAAD, strictly for future leaders from developing countries.
The scholarship provides:
- Full tuition
- Monthly living stipend of €934+
- Travel allowance up to €2,000
- Full relocation costs and health insurance
- Master’s programs in public policy, governance, and law
If you have ever thought about working in governance or becoming part of policymaking in Nigeria, this scholarship is designed for you. It’s very competitive but it’s also one of the most prestigious programs for African students in Germany.
Conclusion
You don’t need to be super rich, born abroad, or even a genius to win a German scholarship. What you need is information, preparation, and consistency.
These scholarships are not small money. We are talking about $15,000 to $40,000+ worth of value per year, depending on the type of scholarship.
The fact that public universities in Germany don’t charge tuition already gives you a head-start. Add any of these scholarships, and you are literally getting a world-class European education at zero cost.