Master Plus Scholarship 2026

The Master Plus funding programme is aimed at students of all disciplines who are beginning a Master’s degree programme (full-time, on-site, non-dual) at a public university or university of applied sciences in Germany. With the financial support we ensure that our scholars can dedicate themselves entirely to their studies. At the same time, we accompany their personal development with our complementary support programme. 

Table of Content

• Summary
• Benefits
• Requirements
• Application Documents
• Application Deadline
• How To Apply

Summary

• Application DeadlineJune 14, 2026
• Study LevelMasters
• SponsorClaussen-Simon-Stiftung
• Course to study
• Eligible CountryAll Countries

Benefits

• Financial support: independent of BAföG (German Federal Training Assistance Act) or parental income; scholarships from €300 to a maximum of €992 per month (based on individual living expenses) are possible.
• Budget for active conference participation at home and abroad
• Grants for stays abroad that are closely related to the research or study project (e.g. semester abroad, research stays, archive visits)
• Non-material support: regular workshops, regional group meetings and networking events with other scholarship holders and alumni of the Claussen-Simon Foundation
• Funding period: maximum 4 semesters (standard period of study)

Requirements

• You will begin your Master's studies at a state-run German university/college in the upcoming semester . At the time of your application, your Master's studies have not yet commenced.  Applicants from the private Bucerius Law School in Hamburg can apply for the Master Plus scholarship due to the long-standing institutional affiliation between the Claussen-Simon Foundation and the Bucerius Law School, as well as the existing Claussen-Simon Foundation Professorship there.
• You will study full-time in an on-campus program. Dual study programs or distance learning are not possible.
• Joint degree or double degree programs, or more than one planned semester abroad as part of your master's studies: If you plan to spend at least 50% of your standard study period outside of Germany, then we cannot consider your application.
• At the time of your application, you are no older than 35 years.
• You have (likely) completed your Bachelor's degree with a grade point average of 1.7 or better. Alternatively, you are among the top 10% of graduates in your field in your year (official confirmation from the examination office is required).
• They do not yet have a master's degree or another equivalent university degree.
• Extracurricular activities, e.g., community involvement, are encouraged.
• German is your first language, or you can demonstrate very good German language skills (B1 level) (DSH certificate, TestDaF, university course, adult education center course, or Goethe-Institut language certificate).
   

Application Documents

• Completed form (see Application Portal)
• Signed tabular CV, application photo optional
• High school diploma or university entrance qualification
• Bachelor's degree certificate including transcript of records, alternatively: current academic record (transcript of records) of the Bachelor's degree program
• Application or acceptance confirmation from the future university for the Master's program (e.g., screenshot of the university's email)
• Letter of motivation (max. 4,000 characters, including spaces)
• Two regular, informal, and preferably recent letters of recommendation from university lecturers with (digital) signatures (the second letter can alternatively come from a meaningful internship/employment/volunteer experience); letters of recommendation can be uploaded to the application portal or alternatively sent separately and confidentially by the issuing person via email to [email protected]
• Please indicate a maximum of four relevant extracurricular activities in the form; corresponding supporting documents are desirable (internship, professional experience, language, voluntary work, social engagement, family engagement (e.g., caregiving, raising children), time spent abroad, scholarship, competition, other).
• Financial requirements: a tabular overview of the (expected) cost of living, other expenses and income during the Master's program
• For applicants whose first language is not German: Proof of German language skills, at least level B1 or equivalent (DSH certificate, TestDaF, university course, adult education center course or Goethe-Institut language certificate)

Check also:
2026 Fully Funded Humboldt Research Fellowship
2026 Eutopia PhD Co-tutelle Call

Application Deadline

How To Apply

• For more information, kindly visit the Master Plus Scholarship webpage.