The PhD scholarship of the Ernst Ludwig Ehrlich Studienwerk, a German scholarship foundation (Studienwerk) for doctoral candidates, is aimed at a clearly defined group. This guide explains who may apply according to the website, which parts of the support the site mentions and where you need the subpages or the foundation itself for amounts, requirements and deadlines.
Short answer: The foundation describes its doctoral funding for candidates in all subjects except medicine who are at the start of an individual doctorate (Individualpromotion). The start page does not state amounts, grade requirements or a deadline for doctoral candidates. These details are on the subpage for doctoral funding or must be requested from the foundation (last updated October 2026).
The most important points
- According to the website, doctoral funding is open to candidates in all subjects except medicine.
- Support is aimed at candidates at the start of an individual doctorate.
- The foundation states that it particularly supports gifted and committed Jewish students and doctoral candidates, as well as doctoral candidates with a subject-related connection to Judaism.
- Amounts, requirements and deadlines are not on the start page. Check the subpage for doctoral funding and ask the foundation.
- The application period in autumn 2026 (1 to 30 October) applies to funding for students, not to doctoral candidates.
Who can apply for doctoral funding?
The start page describes doctoral funding in one short sentence. It is open to doctoral candidates in all subjects except medicine who are at the start of an individual doctorate. Two features matter here. First, the subject, because doctorates in medicine are excluded. Second, the phase, because the support starts at the beginning of the doctorate and not shortly before completion.
An individual doctorate is one you prepare largely on your own, without a structured doctoral programme or a university position. If your doctorate runs within a graduate school or a structured programme, clarify with the foundation whether your project fits.
| Feature | Statement on the website | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Subject area | All subjects except medicine | October 2026 |
| Phase | Start of an individual doctorate | October 2026 |
| Funding amounts | Not on the start page | Check the subpage |
| Deadlines | No deadline for doctoral candidates on the start page | Subpage or foundation |
Who else is supported, and how does it differ?
The foundation puts its profile clearly on the start page. According to the website, it particularly supports gifted and committed Jewish students and doctoral candidates, as well as doctoral candidates with a subject-related connection to Judaism. This is the foundation’s own focus, and it is a good idea to check whether your profile matches before you invest time in an application.
When you compare scholarship foundations, look at how they structure their support. The Evangelisches Studienwerk Villigst, for example, publishes concrete figures for doctoral candidates on its website. You can read about them in our guide to the Villigst PhD scholarship (in German). Those figures do not apply to this foundation, because each one sets its own support.
Which support components does the website mention?
The start page states in general terms that the foundation offers support for doctoral candidates. Concrete figures for a stipend, book allowance, lump sums or supplements are not on the start page. If you need those amounts, open the subpage for doctoral funding or contact the foundation directly.
For your financial planning this means that you should not count on the scholarship before you have seen the amounts in writing or on the subpage. A rough calculation with figures from elsewhere would mislead you. Plan with a buffer, and compare the scholarship with a position, as described in our guide to financing a PhD.
What to check before you apply
- Clarify whether your doctorate counts as an individual doctorate in the foundation’s sense and whether your subject is not medicine.
- Check which phase your project is in, because the support is aimed at the start of the doctorate.
- Read the subpage for doctoral funding in full, in particular the sections on amounts, requirements and how to apply.
- Ask about the current deadlines, because the start page does not give one for doctoral candidates.
- Note which documents you need for an application and prepare them digitally.
Why the autumn application period is easy to confuse
The start page shows an application period in autumn 2026 from 1 to 30 October. According to the website, this period refers to funding for students. Anyone who glances at it quickly may mistake it for doctoral funding. That is a misunderstanding you should avoid. For doctoral candidates the start page names no such deadline, so the subpage for doctoral funding or the foundation must clarify the dates.
The same applies to other programmes of the foundation. They have their own application periods, which you should check separately.
Does this scholarship suit your situation?
The scholarship suits you if you are doing a doctorate in a subject other than medicine, you are at the start of your project and you identify with the foundation’s focus. It suits you less well if your doctorate is already well advanced, or if you prefer a university position with a salary and social insurance. If you choose a position, know the differences from a scholarship first.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an application period in autumn 2026 for doctoral funding?
The start page gives the period from 1 to 30 October 2026 for funding for students. According to the website, it is not stated for doctoral candidates. Ask the subpage or the foundation about the deadline.
Can I apply if I am studying medicine for a doctorate?
Doctoral funding excludes medicine, as the start page states. If you are doing a doctorate in medicine, look at other scholarship routes.
Is the funding only for Jewish doctoral candidates?
The website names two groups: particularly gifted and committed Jewish students and doctoral candidates, and doctoral candidates with a subject-related connection to Judaism. Which proof is required for each group is not on the start page and must be asked from the foundation.
Where can I find the amounts for the PhD scholarship?
They are not on the start page. They are on the subpage for doctoral funding of the foundation. The website also offers telephone advice, on (030) 3199 8170-0.
What to do now
- Open the subpage for doctoral funding and read it in full.
- Check whether you belong to the target group: outside medicine, at the start of an individual doctorate.
- Ask the foundation about amounts, requirements and the current deadline.
- Compare the details with the Villigst scholarship to see the differences.
- Only then decide whether a scholarship or a position suits you better.
Related guides
- PhD funding: position, scholarship or own savings compared
- PhD in Germany: routes, titles and requirements
- Health insurance for PhD students in Germany
- Evangelisches Studienwerk Villigst: PhD scholarship overview
Sources: Ernst Ludwig Ehrlich Studienwerk, start page with information on doctoral funding (in German, retrieved October 2026); Evangelisches Studienwerk Villigst, Unser Stipendium für Promovierende (in German, last changed 30.09.2026 according to the page)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
