Scholarships for students from non-academic families are mainly offered by the Begabtenförderungswerke (German scholarship foundations for gifted students). The term „working-class child“ is colloquial. Funders usually speak of Erstakademiker (first-generation students), meaning students whose parents have no university degree. This guide shows how large this group is in funding, which access routes exist and what you can expect financially.
Short answer: First-generation students are a large group among foundation scholarship holders. The Hans Böckler Foundation states that over 60 percent of its scholarship holders are first-generation students (website, 2026). At the Studienstiftung, the share among new intakes was 26.5 percent in 2024. Last updated: October 2026.
The Essentials at a Glance
- First-generation students are strongly represented in many foundations. At the Hans Böckler Foundation, they make up over 60 percent of scholarship holders according to its own figures.
- At the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes, the share among new intakes was 26.5 percent in 2024. Among the 5 percent best school leavers, it was about 24.9 percent in 2022.
- Applications run through nominations by schools, examination offices or university management, or through self-application.
- Funding requires above-average performance. Social commitment and your personal educational path also count.
- For foundations financed by the Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space, the maximum rate for studies is 855 euros a month, income-dependent under BAföG rules, plus a study cost allowance of 300 euros (October 2026).
Who Counts as a First-Generation Student?
In funding, the usual test is whether at least one parent has a university degree. If neither parent has one, you count as a first-generation student. There is also the so-called second educational pathway (zweiter Bildungsweg), meaning students who first completed an apprenticeship, a job or a master craftsman qualification before studying. The Hans Böckler Foundation gives a share of about one third of its scholarship holders for this route.
Definitions differ between foundations. Read the guidelines of the relevant foundation before you decide which group you belong to. If something is unclear, the foundation office can usually tell you.
How Large Is the Group in Foundation Funding?
The figures below come from different years and surveys. They are therefore not directly comparable, but they show the order of magnitude.
| Group | Figure | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-generation students at the Hans Böckler Foundation | over 60 percent of scholarship holders | Website, 2026 (no date) | Hans Böckler Foundation |
| First-generation students among new intakes at the Studienstiftung | 26.5 percent | 2024 | Studienstiftung, DZHW data (German) |
| First-generation students among the 5 percent best school leavers | 24.9 percent | 2022 | Studienstiftung, DZHW data (German) |
| BAföG recipients among students in the standard period of study | 16 percent | year not stated | Studienstiftung (German) |
The figures show that first-generation students are represented in the foundations. At the Studienstiftung, their share among new intakes roughly matches their share among the best school leavers, so it is not disproportionately high. For your planning, this means that background can open doors in the selection but does not replace performance.
How Do You Get Into a Foundation?
The Studienstiftung names several access routes. The most important point is that you do not have to wait to be nominated. The list below shows the routes it names explicitly.
- Nomination by a school: according to the Studienstiftung, it writes to all schools every year.
- Nomination by an examination office or a note to university management.
- Self-application: you can apply directly without a nomination, where the foundation allows it.
- Partner organisations with their own nomination rights, such as the START-Stiftung or the „Talent im Land“ programmes in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.
According to its website, the Hans Böckler Foundation uses above-average performance, social responsibility and a commitment to co-determination as selection criteria. Scholarship holders and trusted lecturers sit on the selection committees. The website does not describe the procedure in full, so a direct enquiry is worthwhile.
What Does This Mean Financially?
The amount depends on the foundation. The Hans Böckler Foundation does not publish sums on its website and refers to its FAQ. For foundations financed by the Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space, the Heinrich Böll Foundation (status October 2026) names a maximum of 855 euros a month for studies, based on BAföG rules, plus a study cost allowance of 300 euros that does not depend on income. Other foundations use the same rates.
Assumption for the example: you receive the maximum rate in full. That gives 855 euros plus 300 euros, so 1,155 euros a month or 13,860 euros a year. This is an upper limit, not a promise, because the rate falls with income. Whether you receive it, and in what amount, is decided by the foundation in your individual case.
What Role Do Commitment and Background Play?
Many foundations want to support students who take on social responsibility and who have made their own way. This shows up in more than grades. Describe how you came to study, which hurdles you overcame and what you put into it. For first-generation students in particular, this part of the application matters, because it shows what grades do not.
Concreteness matters most. A sentence such as „I have always been committed“ does little for the selection. A sentence with a period of time and a result does more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to be a first-generation student to get funding?
No. First-generation students are one group among several that foundations address. Selection depends on performance and personality. Social background is an access route, not an exclusion criterion.
Is funding only available for the bachelor’s degree?
No. According to the Hans Böckler Foundation, foundation funding ranges from the school-leaving stage to the habilitation. Doctoral funding runs through separate programmes that differ in amount and requirements.
Can I apply if I am already studying?
That depends on the foundation. Guidelines differ, including by number of semesters and deadlines. Check them with the foundation you are interested in before you decide.
Can a scholarship be combined with BAföG?
That depends on the funding and on the rules of the BAföG office. For BMFTR rates, the amount follows BAföG rules. Our guide on whether a scholarship is taxable covers related questions, and the German guide Stipendium und BAföG explains the offsetting rules.
What about the Deutschlandstipendium?
The Deutschlandstipendium is a grant from the university with a fixed amount and no income test. It is therefore different from foundation funding. The German guide Deutschlandstipendium has the details.
What to Do Next
- Ask your school, examination office or student advisory service whether a nomination is possible.
- Read the guidelines of the foundation, check deadlines and selection criteria, and note the documents you need.
- Describe in your application how you came to study and what you did to get there, with concrete facts.
- Clarify early how a scholarship interacts with BAföG or other income.
Related Guides
- Scholarships for students: Types, providers, requirements
- How to Apply for a Scholarship: Tips That Impress
- Studying Without Abitur: Routes, Rules and Funding
- Studying Without BAföG: Your Funding Options
Sources: Hans Böckler Foundation: Begabtenförderung, website 2026, in German; Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes: Diversity in Scholarship Programmes, November 2025, in German; Heinrich Böll Foundation: scholarship rates, status October 2026, in German
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
