Are you an international student dreaming of studying at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU)?
Known for its academic excellence, LMU is one of the top universities in Germany and a hub for global talent. Financing your studies can often be a daunting challenge, but LMU offers numerous scholarships to support international students. These scholarships enable students to access world-class education and achieve their academic aspirations in Munich.
Let’s explore some of the best LMU Munich Scholarships for international students:
1. SIST LMU Study Scholarship – LMU Munich Scholarships for International Students
Awarded by: LMU International Office, funded by the Federal State of Bavaria
Eligibility Criteria: Registered international students and doctoral candidates enrolled in full-time study programmes, demonstrating academic excellence, demonstrable knowledge in their field of study, and declaration of financial need.
Amount: Up to €650 for a maximum of ten months
Application Deadline: 15 January – 28 February 2025
For more details: https://www.lmu.de/en/workspace-for-students/student-support-services/finance-your-studies/scholarships/scholarships-for-international-students/
2. SIST LMU Study Completion Scholarship – LMU Munich Scholarships for International Students
Awarded by: LMU International Office, funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
Eligibility Criteria: International students and doctoral candidates registered in full-time study programmes, demonstrating academic excellence and declaration of financial need, who will earn their first academic degree at LMU within one year.
Application Deadline: 15 January – 28 February 2025
For more details: https://www.lmu.de/en/workspace-for-students/student-support-services/finance-your-studies/scholarships/scholarships-for-international-students/
3. SIST LMU Equality Scholarship – LMU Munich Scholarships for International Students
Awarded by: LMU International Office, funded by the DAAD
Eligibility Criteria: Registered full-time international students and doctoral candidates with proven academic excellence and financial need who have an impairment such as disability, chronic illness, and/or refugee background.
Application Deadline: 1 March – 2 September 2025
For more details: https://www.lmu.de/en/workspace-for-students/student-support-services/finance-your-studies/scholarships/scholarships-for-international-students/
4. Assistance in Case of Financial Difficulty (LMU Nothilfe) – LMU Munich Scholarships for International Students
Awarded by: LMU International Office, funded by the State of Bavaria
Eligibility Criteria: International students and doctoral candidates at LMU experiencing short-term and unexpected financial need.
Amount: One-time payment of €650
Application Deadline: For the summer semester 2024 and the winter semester 2024/25: 30 November 2024.
For more details: https://www.lmu.de/en/workspace-for-students/student-support-services/finance-your-studies/scholarships/scholarships-for-international-students/
5. Grant for German Language Courses – LMU Munich Scholarships for International Students
Awarded by: LMU International Office
Eligibility Criteria: International students who have successfully completed a German language course but require further training and demonstrate financial need.
Amount: Up to €150 (covering a maximum of 80% of course fees)
Application Deadline: 15 January – 30 November 2025
For more details: https://www.lmu.de/en/workspace-for-students/student-support-services/finance-your-studies/scholarships/scholarships-for-international-students/
6. Oskar Karl Forster Scholarship – LMU Munich Scholarships for International Students
Awarded by: Oskar Karl Forster Scholarship for books and learning materials
Eligibility Criteria: All LMU students and doctoral candidates.
Amount: Up to €500
For more details: https://www.lmu.de/en/workspace-for-students/student-support-services/finance-your-studies/scholarships/oskar-karl-forster-scholarship/
7. Deutschlandstipendium (Germany Scholarship) – LMU Munich Scholarships for International Students
Awarded by: LMU Munich and private sponsors
Eligibility Criteria: Enrolled LMU’ students of all nationalities demonstrating excellent academic performance and above-average commitment.
Amount: €300 per month for one year
Application Deadline: The selection process has been completed for 2024.
For more details: https://www.lmu.de/en/workspace-for-students/student-support-services/finance-your-studies/scholarships/deutschlandstipendium/
8. BayBIDS-Motivationsstipendium – LMU Munich Scholarships for International Students
Awarded by: BayBIDS
Eligibility Criteria: Excellent graduates of foreign PASCH schools about to start an undergraduate degree program at a state or church-run Bavarian university. Requires proof of German language proficiency.
Amount: €425 or €450 per month
Application Deadline: 30 June 2025
For more details: http://www.baybids.de/Motivationsstipendien.html
9. Aufstiegsstipendium – LMU Munich Scholarships for International Students
Awarded by: The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) through the SBB – Stiftung Begabtenförderung berufliche Bildung
Eligibility Criteria: Individuals with a completed vocational training, at least two years of work experience, and demonstrable exceptional job performance. This can be evidenced by excellent results in a vocational training exam, advanced training, placing in the top three in a national vocational competition, or an/employer’s recommendation.
Amount: €1,072 monthly for full-time studies (€992 base plus €80 for books). A childcare allowance of €160 per month is available for each child under 14 for full-time students. €3,045 annually for part-time studies.
Application Deadline: There are two application periods each year.
For more details: https://www.sbb-stipendien.de/aufstiegsstipendium.html
10. Bavarian State scholarships for international students of financial need – LMU Munich Scholarships for International Students
Awarded by: LMU’s International Office, funded by the Federal State of Bavaria
Eligibility Criteria: International students and doctoral students at LMU registered for full-time study programs. Requirements include academic excellence, demonstrable knowledge in their field of study, and financial need.
Amount: Up to €650 for up to 10 months (regular scholarship) or 4 months (for thesis completion scholarship).
11. Friedrich Ebert Stiftung – LMU Munich Scholarships for International Students
Awarded by: Friedrich Ebert Stiftung
Eligibility Criteria: Offers financial support to German and international students from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe for all academic subjects. Requires certain German language certificates. Applicants must be living in Germany and enrolled at a German university.
For more details: https://www.fes.de/studienfoerderung/other-languages
12. LMU Travel Grant
Awarded by: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Eligibility Criteria:
- Doctoral candidates at LMU with a completed university degree (or doctoral candidates in medicine after successfully passing the second medical examination (2nd state examination)).
- Not a member of a doctoral programme where travel funds are provided
- Not a member of a Collaborative Research Centre (SFB), Cluster of Excellence or other collaborative project.
- Have a position of a maximum of 65% of a full-time position at the university or a non-university research institution.
- Unable to obtain travel funds as part of an individual scholarship.
Amount: A maximum of €900 can be applied for per doctoral candidate during the doctoral phase. The grant is awarded according to the following scale:
- Maximum of €300 for destinations up to 750 km away (e.g. Germany and neighbouring countries)
- Maximum of €600 for destinations between 750 and 3,000 km away (e.g. European region).
- Travel to destinations more than 3,000 km away cannot be funded.
- The km information refers to the beeline, one-way distance. Reimbursement of costs is made only after the end of the trip upon presentation of original receipts/invoices and a travel report (one page). No down payments can be made in advance.
Application deadline:
- February 15, 2025 for the travel period of April 1, 2025 – October 31, 2025.
- July 15, 2025 for the travel period of September 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026.
For more details: https://www.graduatecenter.uni-muenchen.de/foerderung/foerderung/reisefoerderung/index.html
13. LMU Graduation scholarship – LMU Munich Scholarships for International Students
Awarded by: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Eligibility Criteria: Doctoral candidates at LMU with a university degree entitling them to a doctorate, who have no other funding for the requested period. The applicant’s doctoral project must be nearing completion.
Amount: €1,350 per month. No additional family allowances, insurance subsidies, travel and material expenses are paid3.
Application Deadline:
- March 15, 2025 for the funding period of June 1, 2025 – December 31, 2025.
- June 15, 2025 for the funding period of September 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026.
For more details: https://www.graduatecenter.uni-muenchen.de/foerderung/foerderung/abschluss/index.html
14. STIBET Mentoring Scholarship Program – LMU Munich Scholarships for International Students
Awarded by: German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
Eligibility Criteria: Highly qualified foreign doctoral candidates committed to supporting international students within their department, demonstrating outstanding academic performance.
Application Deadline: Currently suspended
For more details: https://www.lmu.de/en/about-lmu/working-at-lmu/academic-careers/funding-opportunities/stibet-mentoring-scholarship-program/
Conclusion
Financing your education abroad is a crucial step toward fulfilling your academic dreams, and LMU Munich provides numerous opportunities to make this possible. The scholarships listed above are designed to cater to various needs, from academic excellence to financial difficulties. Take the time to research each program thoroughly, meet the eligibility requirements, and submit your applications before the deadlines. With persistence and careful planning, you can unlock these opportunities and embark on a transformative academic journey at LMU Munich. Best of luck!
