The Rosa Luxemburg Foundation (Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung) offers doctoral scholarships to candidates with high academic achievement and social commitment in the sense of the foundation. Two questions matter most before you apply: When does the application round run, and what funding can you expect?
The second question is hard to answer for this foundation, because the overview page gives no figures. This guide therefore says openly which information is confirmed and which details you must request from the foundation directly.
Short answer: The application round for students and doctoral candidates of the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation closed on 1 October 2026 at 23:59. The overview page states neither a monthly amount nor a grade requirement. The next round is expected to start from mid-August 2027. Last updated: October 2026.
The most important points
- Deadline of the 2026 round: 1 October 2026, 23:59. That deadline has passed.
- According to the foundation, the round opened from mid-August. Check the foundation page for the next date once it is published.
- Selection criteria: High academic achievement and social commitment in the sense of the foundation.
- The overview page states no monthly amount, no grade requirement and no funding period.
- The foundation says details on doctoral scholarships are on a separate subpage. Check it before every application.
When does the application round run?
The foundation runs one round for students and doctoral candidates together. The 2026 round opened from mid-August and closed on 1 October 2026 at 23:59. The page gives no separate deadline for doctoral candidates, so the same date applies to both groups.
| Topic | Information from the foundation | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Application round 2026 | From mid-August 2026 until 1 October 2026, 23:59 | Closed. You can no longer apply for this round. |
| Next round | The page names no date for 2027 | A round from mid-August 2027 is to be expected (assumption, not official). |
Plan for a start in late summer 2027. If you want to be ready by then, have your research outline, expert report and evidence of commitment in order well in advance. Check the date again in late summer on the foundation website.
Who can apply?
The overview page names two selection criteria that apply to all scholarship holders: High academic achievement and social commitment in the sense of the foundation. It does not name a grade requirement, an age limit or a specific admission requirement for the doctorate.
This does not mean that no requirements exist. It only means they are missing from the overview. Read the subpage on doctoral scholarships and the current call before you assemble your documents.
How high is the funding?
The overview page of the foundation does not state a monthly amount. A worked example without a confirmed figure would be guesswork, so we deliberately do not give a sum. The funding period is also not stated.
Before you apply, clarify these points with the foundation so that your financial planning holds:
- the monthly funding, including all flat rates and supplements
- the regular funding period and the option of an extension
- whether and how much health insurance support is paid
- which paid activities are permitted alongside the scholarship
Our guide Financing a doctorate (in German) compares scholarships with other funding routes.
Documenting social commitment properly
Because the foundation names social commitment as a selection criterion, careful documentation pays off. For each activity, note the period, your role and the concrete result. A list of vague terms such as “member” or “volunteer” tells a selection committee very little.
Also make sure your commitment and your research topic fit together. A link is not strictly required, but a clear reason why you are involved where you are makes your application more credible.
Keep health insurance and tax in view
Whether payments from a scholarship are taxable, and how they affect your insurance, depends on your individual case. Our guide scholarships, tax and social insurance (in German) gives an overview. If you are insured yourself during your doctorate, also check our guide to health insurance during a doctorate (in German).
Frequently asked questions
Why does the foundation give no amount on its overview page?
The page refers to a subpage for doctoral scholarships, which may contain details missing from the overview. The overview alone is therefore not enough for financial planning.
Can I still apply for the 2026 round?
No. The deadline was 1 October 2026 at 23:59. If you plan ahead, follow the next round, whose date the foundation will announce.
Is there a minimum grade?
The overview page names no minimum grade. It names high academic achievement as a criterion. How this is assessed in your case can only be clarified with the foundation or in the call.
Do I have to be admitted to a doctorate already?
The overview page gives no information on this. Treat admission to the doctorate as a requirement in your plan until the subpage or the call says otherwise.
Which documents do I need?
The overview page does not list complete documents. Evidence of achievement and commitment is, however, a fixed part of the selection. Plan at least a CV, evidence of your studies and commitment, and a research outline.
What to do next
- Mark the 1 October 2026 deadline as closed and note late summer 2027 as a possible target period.
- Read the subpage on doctoral scholarships on rosalux.de and write down the missing details on funding and duration.
- Put together your evidence of commitment, with period, role and result for each activity.
- Ask the foundation about the monthly funding and which activities are allowed alongside it.
Related guides
- Doctoral scholarship of the Heinrich Böll Foundation: Amount and deadlines
- Doctoral scholarship of the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes
- Doctoral scholarship of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation
- Doctoral scholarship of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation
- Financing a doctorate: Position, scholarship or own funds compared (in German)
Sources: Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, scholarships (German, accessed October 2026), Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, scholarship programme (German, accessed October 2026).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
