Scholarships for students with a Migrationshintergrund (migration background) are a topic where many questions remain open: who counts as having a migration background, which programmes exist and how large this group is in funding. This guide answers these questions with the figures and programmes available, status October 2026.
Short answer: At the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes, the share of students with a migration background among new intakes was 25.7 percent in 2024. Among the 5 percent best school leavers, it was about 15.6 percent in 2022. For school students with a migration link, the START programme exists. Last updated: October 2026.
The Essentials at a Glance
- Funders define migration background differently. The guidelines of the specific programme decide who qualifies.
- At the Studienstiftung, the share among new intakes was 25.7 percent in 2024, and among the best school leavers 15.6 percent in 2022.
- The Hans Böckler Foundation states on its website that 39 percent of its students have a migration background. The statement is undated.
- For young people with a migration link, the START foundation offers a three-year programme with 3,500 euros in total, consisting of courses, workshops and mentoring.
- Integra, a DAAD programme for refugees, ran from 2017 to 2021 according to the Studienstiftung and has ended.
Who Counts as a Student With a Migration Background?
Funders use different terms. What is usually meant is that you have come to Germany yourself or that a parent has. START uses exactly this definition: its participants have immigrated themselves or are the child of an immigrant parent. Other programmes define the link more narrowly or more broadly, so read the guidelines before you classify yourself.
A note on terms: many foundations speak of Migrationshintergrund (migration background), others of migration history or immigration. The terms are not identical. If you are unsure, ask the body that runs the programme.
How Large Is the Group in Funding?
The figures come from different years and different analyses, so they are not directly comparable. They do show the order of magnitude.
| Group | Figure | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| New intakes at the Studienstiftung | 25.7 percent with migration background | 2024 | Studienstiftung, DZHW data (German) |
| 5 percent best school leavers (Studienstiftung analysis) | 15.6 percent with migration background | 2022 | Studienstiftung, DZHW data (German) |
| Students at the Hans Böckler Foundation | 39 percent with migration background | Website, undated | Hans Böckler Foundation (German) |
The figures show that the group is larger among the new intakes of the Studienstiftung than among the best school leavers of 2022. Whether this reflects the selection process, the survey method or other factors cannot be read from the numbers. The Studienstiftung addresses diversity in its own publication, cited in the sources below.
Which Programmes Exist?
There is no single programme for all students with a migration background. Instead, offers fall into several groups that you should check in turn.
- Foundations for gifted students: they fund on performance, social commitment and personality. Migration background is one of several groups they reach, according to the figures.
- Partner programmes: the Studienstiftung works with partner organisations such as the START foundation that have their own nomination rights.
- Universities: local programmes and the Deutschlandstipendium are open to students directly through the university, where it is offered.
- Time-limited programmes: Integra, a DAAD programme for refugees, ran from 2017 to 2021 according to the Studienstiftung. It is not a current offer.
The START Route for School Students
If you are still at school, the START programme lets you start early. According to the 2026 call, it is aimed at young people aged 14 to 20 with a migration link who are expected to attend a secondary or vocational school in Germany for three more years. The call states that school performance, type of school and intended qualification are not decisive.
The programme runs for three years with 3,500 euros in total, in the form of courses and workshops on personal development, career orientation and commitment, plus educational support in your own federal state. According to the call, registration through start-campus.de was possible from 1 February 2026. The call does not name a single closing date, and registration deadlines differ by programme.
What Does This Mean for Funding at University?
For foundations that use Federal Ministry funds, the Heinrich Böll Foundation (status October 2026) names a maximum rate of 855 euros a month for studies. It follows BAföG rules and falls with income. A study cost allowance of 300 euros is added, which does not depend on income.
Assumption for the example: you receive the maximum rate in full. That gives 855 euros plus 300 euros, so 1,155 euros a month. This is an upper limit, not a promise. If you also receive BAföG, check the offsetting in good time.
Which Routes Are Open to You?
- Nomination by a school, an examination office or university management. According to the Studienstiftung, it writes to all schools every year.
- Self-application with foundations that expressly allow it. Check the guidelines of the relevant foundation.
- Partner programmes such as the START foundation, if you are still at school or want to plan early.
- University offers and the Deutschlandstipendium, which you can check in parallel because they need not rule each other out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to have immigrated myself?
Not necessarily. START also accepts participants whose parent immigrated. Other funders define the term differently. Read the guidelines of the programme before you classify yourself, and ask if you are unsure.
Are there scholarships only for refugees?
Integra, a DAAD programme, was aimed at refugees. According to the Studienstiftung, it ran from 2017 to 2021 and has ended. Whether a similar offer exists today has to be checked currently, because offers change regularly.
Does migration background affect selection?
The figures show shares, not selection rules. How background is considered in the process differs between foundations. The guidelines are decisive in every case. An application should focus on performance, commitment and your path.
Can I combine a scholarship with BAföG?
That depends on the funding and the BAföG office. The German guide Stipendium und BAföG explains how the two interact. Report every funding source early.
What to Do Next
- Check whether you belong to the target group of a programme as a school student or as a student.
- Make a list of programmes with deadline, amount and application route.
- Apply before the deadline and describe concretely which hurdles you have overcome and what you want to achieve.
- Clarify early how a scholarship fits with BAföG or other funding.
Related Guides
- Scholarships for students: Types, providers, requirements
- How to Apply for a Scholarship: Tips That Impress
- Studying Without BAföG: Your Funding Options
- Is a Scholarship Taxable? Tax and Social Insurance
Sources: Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes: Diversity in scholarship programmes, November 2025, in German; Hans Böckler Foundation: scholarship programme, website, undated, in German; START foundation: 2026 call, official gazette of Saxony-Anhalt, 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.
