2026 RWTH Aachen University Degree Completion Scholarships for International Students

The International Office awards Degree Completion Scholarships through the DAAD’s STIBET I program, funded by the German Federal Foreign Office.

This scholarship supports qualified international students at RWTH who are in the final phase of their studies and need financial assistance to successfully complete their degree.

Table of Content

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

Summary

• Application DeadlineJune 1, 2026
• Study LevelMasters
• SponsorRWTH Aachen University
• Eligible CountryAll Countries

Benefits

Funding is awarded for a period of one to five months, with a monthly stipend of €500.

Requirements

You are eligible to apply if you meet all of the following requirements:

• You are enrolled as a degree-seeking student at RWTH (exchange and short-term students, as well as participants in German language courses, are not eligible).
• You will remain in Germany for the entire duration of the scholarship (semesters or internships abroad are excluded).
• You earned your university entrance qualification outside Germany (not at a German school in Germany or abroad).
• You do not hold German citizenship.
• Your studies will continue at least through December 2026.
• You are not receiving any other scholarship during the funding period.
• Your gross income from employment is below €1,248 per month.
• You are in the final phase of your studies and will complete your degree within twelve months from the start of funding.
• You will remain in Germany during this final phase of study.
• You are currently experiencing financial hardship during the final phase of your studies.

Application Documents

Please submit the following documents in full via the online application portal:

• Current certificate of enrollment
• Résumé (CV)
• Current transcript, including your GPA
• Copy of your passport and, if applicable, a copy of your residence permit (front and back)
• Bank statements for all personal accounts for the past three months (joint accounts must also be included for married applicants)
• If you have additional income: copy of your employment contract and recent pay statements
  • Please inform the International Office immediately if your employment status or working hours change during the scholarship period.
  • If your gross income exceeds €556, the scholarship amount will be reduced.
• BAföG notification or rejection letter, if applicable (BAföG is Germany’s federal student aid program).
• Proof of thesis registration (via the ZPA or transcript entry). If you have not yet registered your thesis at the time of application, please provide documentation of your thesis writing period (official completion time frame).
• Advisor statement outlining your academic achievements and progress.

Application Deadline

How To Apply

• First round: Application period October 25 - November 25, 2025, with funding from February to June 2026
• Second round: Application period May 1 - June 1, 2026, with funding from August to December 2026

For more details, visit RWTH Aachen University Scholarship webpage