Ernst Ludwig Ehrlich Studienwerk: Scholarship and Application Window

The Ernst Ludwig Ehrlich Studienwerk (a German scholarship programme) supports particularly gifted and committed Jewish students and doctoral candidates in Germany. If you want to apply, first check whether you belong to the target group, then keep an eye on the application window, which is limited in time. This overview sums up what the Studienwerk publishes on its website and where you need to ask directly.

Key points at a glance

• Target group according to the website: particularly gifted and committed Jewish students and doctoral candidates.
• Doctoral programme: doctoral candidates in all disciplines except medicine, at the start of an individual doctorate.
• Application window for the student programme in autumn 2026: 1 to 30 October 2026.
• Funding amount, number of selection rounds, committees and selection dates are not on the homepage. Ask the Studienwerk directly.
• Israeli students at Berlin universities have a separate programme (Beck Berlin). Jewish students from around the world can apply to Global Jewish Leadership.
• Besides financial support, the website emphasises non-material support.

Who can apply?

The Studienwerk describes its core work as supporting Jewish students and doctoral candidates. The website also lists doctoral candidates with a connection to Jewish studies as a target group. In the doctoral programme, medicine is excluded, and the programme addresses doctoral candidates at the start of an individual doctorate. These points are the first filter for most applicants, so check them before anything else.

The homepage does not give grade limits, age limits or detailed requirements for your stage of study. If these apply to you, ask the Studienwerk before you prepare documents. A short enquiry saves time, and the answer is more reliable than guesses from forums.

Which programmes exist and when can you apply?

The table shows that there is not one single procedure but several programmes with different target groups. The homepage was last changed on 26 October 2026, so it can change at short notice. Check whether a window is still open before each application.

How does the selection work?

The homepage does not describe the process. It gives no number of selection rounds, no committees and no selection dates. Application documents often contain more detail than a homepage. Ask directly which documents are required, whether there is a selection interview and when you can expect a reply. These three answers determine how much lead time you need.

What does the Studienwerk fund, and what does the website say?

According to the website, financial support consists of a scholarship, and the Studienwerk stresses that non-material support is especially important to it. The homepage gives no amounts for the basic scholarship, no allowances and no supplements. It also says nothing about income dependence. If you want to compare the amount with BAföG or other scholarships, you need the official figures from the Studienwerk.

Whether a scholarship can be combined with BAföG depends on the rules of each organisation and should be clarified before you accept an offer. For advice on applying, see how to apply for scholarships (in German), and for the tax side read scholarship taxation (in German).

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply if I am not Jewish?

The homepage names Jewish students and doctoral candidates as the target group, and doctoral candidates with a connection to Jewish studies. It does not say whether exceptions are possible. Ask the Studienwerk directly before you spend time on an application.

Is there an age limit?

The homepage does not mention an age limit. If one exists, it would be in the application documents. Ask the Studienwerk before you apply so that a formal hurdle does not catch you late.

When is the next application window?

For the student programme in autumn 2026 the window was 1 to 30 October 2026. The homepage, as of October 2026, does not give a date for the next window. Check the website regularly or ask.

Can I apply to several programmes at the same time?

The website describes the programmes separately, each with its own target group. Whether multiple applications are allowed is not stated on the homepage. Clarify this with the office before you prepare several applications.

How high is the scholarship?

The homepage gives no amounts. Reliable figures are only available from the Studienwerk itself. If you find a figure on a comparison portal, check its date and source, because portals often repeat outdated values. Do not build a financial plan on a number the Studienwerk has not confirmed.

What to do now

1. Check whether you belong to the target group, and note the difference between the student and the doctoral programme.
2. Put the application window in your calendar and plan time for documents and questions.
3. Ask the Studienwerk about funding amount, selection process and dates before you commit.
4. Look at other offers in parallel, so you do not depend on a single decision.

Related guides

• scholarships overview (in German)
• how to apply for scholarships (in German)
• scholarship taxation (in German)
• BAföG 2026: Eligibility, Amount and Repayment Explained
• PhD funding options (in German)

Sources: Ernst Ludwig Ehrlich Studienwerk, homepage (accessed October 2026)

Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.