SBW Berlin International Scholarship 2027 in Germany

The SBW Berlin Scholarship is run by SBW Berlin gGmbH, an independent non-profit based at Rudower Str. 67, Berlin. It has no connection to any Baden-Württemberg business foundation — a common misconception found on several scholarship sites.

The scholarship programme supports young people from abroad who are already socially committed and will use the skills they acquire during their studies to develop social or non-profit projects at non-profit organizations or social institutions in their home countries.

SBW Berlin runs three scholarship tracks:

• Courses in the social field

• Refugees living in Germany

• International students — This is the track relevant to most applicants

The international students track funds a bachelor's or master's degree, occasionally vocational training, at a university or Fachhochschule (University of Applied Sciences) in Berlin or Potsdam, in exchange for a social project the recipient runs back home.

Related: Learn more about SBW Berlin and studying in Germany.

Successful SBW Berlin scholarship recipients receive comprehensive financial support, including:

• Furnished room in shared student flats — Located at Rudower Str. 67, 12351 Berlin; flats assigned by gender

• Monthly cost-of-living stipend of €480 — For food and other daily needs (may be adjusted if recipient also receives BAföG)

• Tuition fees coverage — SBW Berlin pays university fees, though a deductible may apply if fees exceed the national average

• Travel allowance — Up to €500 for journeys within Europe; up to €1,000 for journeys outside Europe (applies to most international applicants)

• BAföG adjustment — For recipients already receiving BAföG, SBW Berlin adjusts the stipend; typically a flat-rate benefit of up to €100 per month for books

• Mentorship and project support — Regular project meetings, workshops, and consistent mentorship from SBW Berlin staff

• Professional development — Support for implementing study content into social projects

Note: Part-time jobs are generally not approved once you hold the scholarship, since the funding is designed to cover living expenses in full. First payments only begin after you move into the shared student flat, not on the date your scholarship is confirmed .

Initial Application Documents

• Letter of recommendation from a non-profit organization or social institution — Must be emailed directly by the organization to application@sbw.berlin, not by the applicant

• Project description (2 to 5 pages) — Describe your social project and how it applies specifically to conditions in your home country

• University entrance qualification — Class 12 marksheet or equivalent, with English or German translation

• Net household income proof — Pay slips, pension documents, or bank statements for all family income sources

• Latest academic certificate with grade overview — Converted to the German 2.0-equivalent scale

• Highest academic degree — Bachelor's certificate for master's applicants, with grades

Additional Documents (If Available)

• Admission to a Berlin or Potsdam university — Not mandatory to apply for the scholarship first, but strengthens your file

• Internationally recognized language certificate — IELTS or TestDaF/Goethe certificate for the language your programme is taught in; can follow later if not ready at first submission

• All previous university certificates and records — Graded and ungraded

• Work, training, apprenticeship, and internship certificates — If available

• One or two additional recommendation letters — From professors, teachers, or employers (recommended but not mandatory)

Verification Stage Documents (After Selection)

• Copy of passport with current photo

• Copy of student visa or residence permit — For study purposes in Germany

• Uni-Assist evaluation report — Converts your degree and grades to the German system

• Legalized academic certificate — If from a foreign institution

Important: All documents must be submitted in German or English. If the original document was issued in another language, a translation must be provided. Non-certified copies and translations are sufficient for the application; certified copies may be required in the verification process

Applicants must meet the following requirements to be eligible for the SBW Berlin International Scholarship:

Essential Requirements

• Age between 18 and 30 years old

• Professional or volunteer experience in the non-profit/social sector — Proven by a letter of recommendation from a social institution or non-profit organization

• Not have lived in Germany for more than 18 months before applying

• University entrance qualification — Or an equivalent bachelor's degree for master's applicants

• Intention to work in your home country for at least 18 months after graduation — Or engage in non-profit work in Germany until the repayment plan is fulfilled

• Household income at or below the average officially stated for your home country — Must be able to prove relatively low net income

• Average grades equivalent to a German grade point average of 2.0 or better

• No first-degree family members permanently residing in Germany

• Application before starting your degree, or while enrolled in the first, second, or at most third semester — Or for a master's shortly before or after your bachelor's

Additional Eligibility Notes

• Not receiving another German scholarship — If you already receive another scholarship for studies in Germany, you cannot apply. The one exception is BAföG, where SBW Berlin adjusts your stipend instead of disqualifying you

• Citizens of developing countries — The scholarship targets foreign nationals whose home countries appear to have a particular need for development assistance, including countries across Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and South America

• Refugees and homeless foreigners — Also eligible under specific conditions

Tip: Most applicants assume the award is a merit scholarship first and a social-work scholarship second. It is the reverse. SBW Berlin's own guidelines put the letter of recommendation from your non-profit ahead of your grades in the selection sequence .

Follow these steps to complete your application for the SBW Berlin International Scholarship:

1. Confirm your eligibility — Verify you meet all requirements, especially your NGO track record and income cap, before requesting a letter of recommendation

2. Secure a letter of recommendation — Contact a recognized non-profit or social organization in your home country. They must email the letter directly to application@sbw.berlin

3. Await application form link — If your LOR is approved, SBW Berlin will send you a link to the online application form

4. Prepare your project description — Write a 2-5 page plan detailing your social project for your home country

5. Gather all required documents — Academic transcripts, income proof, degree certificates, language certificates (if available), and any additional supporting documents

6. Complete the online application form — Fill in all required fields accurately

7. Upload all documents — Ensure everything is in German or English (with translations if needed)

8. Submit your application — Review thoroughly before final submission

9. Await interview invitation — Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for Stage 3 interview

10. Attend interview — Prepare to discuss your motivation, project plan, and practical problem-solving

11. Verification process — If selected, submit additional documents (passport, visa, Uni-Assist report, etc.)

12. Sign scholarship agreement — Finalize terms and move to Berlin to begin your studies

Important: SBW Berlin does not charge any application or processing fees.