Scholarship providers can pay a family allowance on top of the basic scholarship if you have children. The amount depends on the source of the funds and on the guidelines that apply to the scholarship.
Short answer: According to an overview by the Heinrich Böll Foundation dated October 2026, the family allowance in a BMFTR-funded doctoral scholarship is 155 euros per month. In the Foreign Office programme for international students it is 276 euros. The overview does not list a childcare allowance. Last updated: October 2026.
The key points at a glance
- The family allowance is paid on top of the basic scholarship, which the overview lists at up to 1,750 euros per month.
- In the BMFTR programme the family allowance is 155 euros, in the Foreign Office programme 276 euros.
- The reviewed overview does not mention a childcare allowance. It also lists no disability or equal-opportunity supplements.
- A child supplement (Kinderzuschlag) is mentioned without an amount. The exact amount is set in the scholarship guidelines.
- Child benefit is paid separately by the family benefits office and does not depend on the scholarship.
How high is the family allowance in a doctoral scholarship?
The Heinrich Böll Foundation publishes an overview of doctoral scholarship amounts as of October 2026. It distinguishes two funding lines.
| Item | BMFTR funding | Foreign Office funding |
|---|---|---|
| Basic scholarship (maximum) | 1,750 euros per month | 1,500 euros per month |
| Family allowance | 155 euros per month | 276 euros per month |
| Study, research or mobility allowance | 100 euros per month | 100 euros per month |
| Eligible group | German, education-resident and EU students | international students from outside the EU |
Source: doctoral scholarship amounts, Heinrich Böll Foundation (in German) (as of October 2026). The binding document is always the notice or guideline of your scholarship provider. Older values of 1,450, 1,550 or 1,650 euros for the basic scholarship are outdated.
Is there a childcare allowance in a doctoral scholarship?
Not in the overview we reviewed. It only mentions a child supplement without an amount, and no childcare allowance appears. Whether your scholarship provider pays further supplements for childcare is set out in its guidelines.
Ask the scholarship provider directly whether there is a child supplement or childcare support, and in what amount. A written answer helps you plan.
How does the family allowance change your overall budget?
Assumption: a BMFTR scholarship with the maximum basic scholarship of 1,750 euros, family allowance of 155 euros, allowance of 100 euros and one child. That makes 2,005 euros per month from the scholarship. Child benefit of 259 euros is added if you apply for it. In total that is 2,264 euros per month, before taxes and contributions. A possible child supplement is not included, because no amount is given.
For the tax and social-insurance treatment of scholarships, see the German guide on scholarship taxes. For the full picture with parental allowance, see parental allowance for students.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to apply for the family allowance separately?
The scholarship provider decides this. Check which evidence it requires for children before you apply.
Is the family allowance higher for international students?
According to the overview, yes: 276 euros in the Foreign Office programme compared with 155 euros with BMFTR funds. The basic scholarship there is lower, at a maximum of 1,500 euros.
Does this apply to all doctoral scholarships?
No. The overview covers the programmes named in it. Other foundations, universities or third-party projects have their own rules, which can differ.
Do I receive child benefit on top?
Yes. Child benefit is a separate benefit from the family benefits office and does not depend on your scholarship. In 2026 it is 259 euros per child and month (section 66 EStG).
What to do now
- Read your scholarship: basic scholarship, family allowance and allowances are in the notice or the guidelines.
- Ask the scholarship provider about child supplements and childcare support if they are not named.
- Calculate your total with the example in this guide and check taxes in the guide on scholarships.
- Apply for child benefit with the family benefits office, independent of your scholarship.
How to read an overview of scholarship amounts
Scholarship amounts are often given as maximum values. A basic scholarship marked “max.” is an upper limit, not a guaranteed sum. Your actual rate follows the rules of your scholarship provider.
- Basic scholarship: the monthly core funding, listed in the overview as a maximum.
- Family allowance: the supplement for children, shown explicitly in the overview.
- Allowances: supplements for costs such as research, study or mobility, depending on the programme.
- Eligible groups: which group applies determines the funding route that fits you.
Which funding line applies to whom?
The overview separates two groups. German students, students resident in Germany for education and EU citizens are assigned to the BMFTR programme. International students from outside the EU who begin a doctorate in Germany are covered by the Foreign Office programme. Whether you belong to one of these groups and which admission rules apply is decided by the funder.
Which evidence do you need for the family allowance?
The reviewed overview says nothing about this. The scholarship provider sets the evidence it accepts. Ask which form it accepts before you submit, and whether it sets deadlines for later submission.
Why the guideline matters more than the overview
An overview summarises, but it does not replace the notice or the guideline. If amounts change, the state of your notice applies. Keep the notice and every written reply from the funder, so that you have a basis for queries. More on financing a doctorate as a whole is in the German guide on financing a doctorate.
What else you should check
A family allowance is only one component. Read the funding conditions around the duration as well, because they decide how you can plan with a child.
- Funding period: how long the scholarship runs and whether an extension is possible.
- Interruptions: whether periods without funding, for example parental leave, are counted.
- Reports: which evidence of progress is required and when it is due.
- Taxes: how the funding is taxed. The basics are in the German guide on scholarships.
When comparing, check the reference date. The overview is dated October 2026, and new funding guidelines can change the amounts. With these points you plan more realistically than with the sum from the overview alone.
Related reading
- Doctorate with a Child: Post, Scholarship and Parental Allowance
- Stipendium steuerpflichtig? Steuern und Sozialversicherung im Überblick (in German)
- Promotion finanzieren: Stelle, Stipendium oder Eigenmittel im Vergleich (in German)
- Dr. or Ph.D.: Which doctoral title you may use in Germany
Sources: Doctoral scholarship amounts, Heinrich Böll Foundation (as of October 2026); Section 66 EStG (accessed October 2026).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
