The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom study scholarship (Studienstipendium der Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung für die Freiheit) is for students in their first degree who show liberal and social commitment. The foundation names no age limit. What matters are your study stage, the deadlines and the selection interview.
This guide explains who can apply, how the selection works and how high the funding is according to the foundation and the federal rates.
Short answer: The Friedrich Naumann Foundation funds a first degree up to a consecutive master. The basic grant is based on the federal training grant rules (BAföG), plus a study-costs allowance of 300 euros per month. Applications are possible from 1 to 30 April and from 1 to 31 October; the October window of 2026 closes on 31 October 2026. Status October 2026.
The most important points
- Eligible is a first degree: bachelor and consecutive master together. Second degrees, LL.M., MBA and part-time study are excluded.
- Application windows: 1 to 30 April and 1 to 31 October, each until 23:59. The page gives no year.
- Selection in two stages: a preliminary review of documents, then a selection interview with the selection committee.
- Study-costs allowance of 300 euros per month, independent of parental income. The basic grant is based on BAföG.
- Funding covers at least two semesters or three trimesters. Therefore apply no later than the third-to-last semester before graduation.
Who can apply?
The foundation names no age limit. It funds first degrees, meaning a bachelor and a consecutive master together. You can apply as a school leaver, as a first-semester student or in later semesters, as long as the rules below are met.
| Situation | According to the foundation |
|---|---|
| First degree: bachelor and consecutive master | eligible |
| Second degree, LL.M., MBA | not funded |
| Part-time study | not funded |
| Exceeding the standard period of study | excludes the application |
| Change of subject after the 3rd semester | generally excluded |
| Bachelor for non-EU applicants | not funded |
If you start your studies with a foreign nationality, you must be an EU citizen or eligible for BAföG under section 8 BAföG (German federal training grant). According to the foundation, non-EU applicants are funded only for master programmes or full-time doctorates in Germany.
How does the application work?
You apply online. You need two reports from university teachers, which are submitted through an individual link. The foundation does not accept reports sent by email or post. The deadline cannot be extended. Application documents and the selection interview are in German, and no language test is required.
How does the selection work?
The selection has two stages. First, staff from the scholarship programme and members of the selection committee review your documents together. According to the foundation, the decisive factor is the overall picture of liberal and social commitment, personality and academic performance. If you advance, you are invited to a personal selection interview with the independent selection committee, which decides on the award.
Attendance at the interview is mandatory. There are no alternative dates, and travel and accommodation costs are not reimbursed. You receive the result by email at the latest three weeks after the selection meeting. No individual reasons are given for a rejection. The foundation informs you about the interview invitation by 8 February or 8 August.
How high is the funding?
For German students, the basic grant follows the BAföG rules. On top of that comes a study-costs allowance of 300 euros per month, independent of your parents’ income. The table shows the upper limits of the federal rates, status October 2026.
| Benefit | Amount | Source and status |
|---|---|---|
| Study-costs allowance | 300 euros per month, not dependent on parental income | Foundation page, retrieved October 2026 |
| Maximum rate in university study | up to 855 euros per month, income-dependent under BAföG rules | Heinrich Böll Foundation, status October 2026 |
For international applicants the foundation sets its own rates. The foundation page contains amounts without a date, and we do not adopt them here because their status is not confirmed.
Assumption: You receive the maximum rate of 855 euros and the allowance of 300 euros. Then the upper limit is 1,155 euros per month. The actual basic grant depends on your income and can be lower. Only the foundation can tell you a binding amount.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need two reports?
Yes, the foundation requires two reports from university teachers. They are submitted through an individual link, not by email or post. Plan time for this before the application window closes.
When must I apply if I am already a few semesters in?
Funding covers at least two semesters or three trimesters. For this reason, apply no later than the third-to-last semester before the end of your studies. The foundation states this limit explicitly, and no exception is mentioned.
What happens if I change subject?
According to the foundation, a change of subject after the third semester generally leads to exclusion. If you are considering a change, clarify it with the foundation before you apply.
Is there money for study abroad?
Yes, stays abroad of up to twelve months are possible, but only in connection with your studies. The foundation checks the level of grants on a case-by-case basis. The page does not state an amount.
How do I learn whether I get the scholarship?
The foundation informs you by email at the latest three weeks after the selection meeting. A rejection comes without reasons. Do not commit to a financing plan until you have the result.
What you should do now
- Check that you are in a first degree and can finish the bachelor or master within the standard period.
- Ask your reviewers early for their reports and pass on the individual link.
- Upload your documents online before the deadline, ideally a few days earlier.
- Keep two dates free after an invitation, because the interview is mandatory and travel costs are not reimbursed.
Related guides
- Heinrich Böll Foundation study scholarship: application, selection and funding
- Rosa Luxemburg Foundation study scholarship: application and deadlines
- Scholarships for students in Germany
- How to apply for a scholarship
- Friedrich Naumann Foundation doctoral scholarship: amount and deadlines
Sources: Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, scholarship programme (retrieved October 2026), Heinrich Böll Foundation, scholarship amounts of the scholarship foundations (status October 2026)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
