The Hessian Ministry of Higher Education, Research and the Arts (HMWK) awards scholarships to particularly talented and high-performing refugee students, doctoral candidates, and researchers at Hessian state universities as part of the "HessenFonds" program.
Table of Content
Summary
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Benefits
The funding is intended to support the continuation of studies or an academic career at a Hessian state university and comprises 300 euros per month for students, 1,200 euros per month for doctoral candidates, and 2,300 euros per month for researchers, each for one year.
Requirements
- Person entitled to asylum or status as a recognized refugee
- Eligible applicants are generally not registered in Germany for more than four years at the time the funding starts, i.e. the asylum application has been submitted and the continuous residence in Germany does not exceed five years.
- Enrollment at a state university in Hesse, or acceptance as a doctoral student/teacher/researcher
- Outstanding achievements
Application Documents
- Application form (including data protection consent, pages 1-3)
- Application form for refugee students
- Application form for refugee doctoral candidates
- Application form for refugee researchers
- Application form for persecuted doctoral candidates
- Application form for persecuted scientists
- Letter of motivation (max. 2 pages, in the form)
- Academic report from a Goethe University faculty member. The template can be found here: Template: HessenFonds Report (pdf)
- Please contact us early if you have difficulties obtaining an academic reference from a Goethe University lecturer.
- If applicable, a supplementary sheet detailing additional documents to be submitted (can also be placed at the beginning of the application form)
- If applicable, explanations of child-rearing periods since entering Germany with supporting documents (see page 2)
- Copy of residence permit
- CV: Europass format (max. 3 pages)
- if applicable, proof of language skills
- if necessary, further relevant documents and evidence (e.g. about voluntary work, special achievements, max. 3 pages)
- For studies: Certificate of enrollment or confirmation of admission from Goethe University (The certificate of enrollment must be submitted at the start of the funding period).
- For doctoral studies: Certificate of acceptance as a doctoral candidate by the respective department and acceptance by the doctoral committee (the latter can be submitted later if necessary) and table of contents
- for science: confirmation of supervision and teaching/research position (co-signature of the dean's office required) and table of contents
- for research and doctoral studies: timetable for the teaching/research project or for the doctoral studies
(Certificate) documents and other evidence of performance:
- for studies : certificate of university entrance qualification and, if available, current evidence of achievement from the studies (usually transcript of records), if available: bachelor's certificate or similar, study grades from the country of origin
- for doctorate : university degree certificate(s)
- for science: doctoral certificate or evidence of comparable scientific achievements and university degree certificate(s)
Note: Certificates must be submitted as a copy/scan of the certified translation or in the original German or English. Foreign language certificates (except in English) should not be submitted separately. Any missing documents must be indicated in the application documents.
Application Deadline
July 21, 2025How To Apply
All required documents must be submitted by email to the "Study & Escape" service center.
For more information, kindly visit Goethe University HessenFonds scholarship webpage.
