SBW SCHOLARSHIP FOR REFUGEES 2025

The SBW Berlin Scholarship for Refugees supports young talented refugees in Germany who want to get socially involved and use the skills they acquired during their studies in social projects during and after their studies.

Table of Content

• Summary
• Benefits
• Requirments
• Interview Process
• Application Documents
• Application Deadline
• How To Apply

Summary

• Application DeadlineNot Specified
• Study LevelGrants
• SponsorSBW Berlin Gmbh
• City to studyBerlin
• Eligible CountryAll Countries

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Benefits

For the duration of the scholarship (max. funding period is equivalent to the regular period of the study program or vocational training), SBW Berlin covers necessary living expenses of the scholarship recipients. The scholarship includes:

• a furnished room in shared student flats at Rudower Str. 67, 12351 Berlin
• cost-of-living allowance currently in the amount of 480 Euro per month
• tuition fees

First payments can only be made after the scholarship recipient has moved into the shared student apartment. Part-time jobs are generally not approved by SBW Berlin.

If vocational training is funded, the amount of the scholarship is adjusted to the training allowance. In this case, SBW Berlin provides a room in one of our shared flats for students and subsidizes the cost of living if the training allowance is not sufficient.

Applicants who receive benefits under the Federal Education Assistance Act (BAFöG) can only be granted benefits that are not counted as income according to §21 Para. 3 No. 2 BAföG. The cash value of the accommodation granted must be taken into account when calculating the allowance.

As a rule, these applicants only receive a “flat rate” or book allowance in the amount of maximum 100 Euro per month.

Requirements

• Between the ages of 18 and 30
• Professional or volunteer experience in the non-profit/social sector after the start of your stay in Germany (documented by a letter of recommendation from a social institution or non-profit organization is desirable)
• Motivational Statement
• Living in Germany or demonstrably not having resided in Germany for more than 6 years prior to application
• University entrance qualification (if, study is aspired)*.
• Intention after grant end for min. 18 months to continue the social project or to engage in charitable work in Germany Demonstrably relatively low net income (see guidelines)
• Average grade equivalent to a German grade point average of at least 2,5
• Application before the start of studies/training or fully enrolled in the first, second or maximum third semester at a state-recognized university (in Germany or abroad) or application for a master’s degree shortly before or after obtaining a bachelor’s degree

* Interested applicants should note that an application for a place at a university or university of applied sciences (Fachhochschule) in Berlin or Potsdam is required. This is done separately to the scholarship application, i.e. applicants are responsible for this themselves.

Our “Good to Know” video series on our YouTube channel presents the general university system in Germany and the universities in Berlin and shows how to apply apply to a university in Berlin.

Note: One or more family members of the scholarship recipients may not be brought to the SBW Berlin premises for a permanent family reunion after the beginning of the funding period.

Interview Dates and Process

• A collaboration between the applicant and a social institution in Germany (e.g., in Berlin or Potsdam) or in their country of origin is advantageous. In addition, the following criteria are decisive for the selection of incoming scholarship recipients:
• In need of assistance are all applicants who meet the requirements of § 1 BAföG (German Federal Education Assistance Act). The individual amount of funding will depend on the personnel circumstances of each applicant.
• In need of assistance are also applicants whose total household income does not exceed the Officially stated average income for Germany, last status as of 2024: 2,697 euros. The income of all household members and all sources of income of the family and/or the applicant (e.g., from employment, business activities, property, child benefit or pensions) will be considered.
• Eligible are all applicants whose intellectual abilities, as substantiated by the application documents and during the interview, justify the expectation that the applicant will easily meet the performance requirements of the funded studies and degree or training program.
• Worthy of assistance are all applicants whose personality and social commitment suggest that they will achieve the goals of this scholarship during their studies or training program.
• In addition, the applicant’s non-profit/social project if they propose their own will be evaluated.
• The granting of any additional, financial resources to implement the project will be decided case-by-case.

Application Documents

Only complete applications can be considered. Applicants must submit at least the following documents:

• Motivational statement (by email) and/or letter of recommendation written by a non-profit organization or social institution (by email)
• Application form (A link will be shared with outstanding applicants.)
• Qualification for university entrance (if applicant wants to study)
• Information about the net household income
• Copy of the last school or university certificate that shows the grade point average and a grade overview (if available)
• Copy of the highest academic degree (high school diploma or university certificate) that shows the grade point average and a grade overview (if available)

If available, copies of the following documents should also be included:

• For course of study: admission to the university or university of applied science (University of Applied Sciences) in Berlin or Potsdam
• For vocational training: trainee contract
• Internationally recognized language certificate for the language in which your studies will be taught
• All already obtained university certificates and records of achievements (graded and ungraded)
• All previous work, training, apprenticeship and internship certificates and references

We recommend to all applicants to submit the following additional documents, which are not mandatory:

• one or two letters of recommendation from professors, schoolteachers, employers, etc.
• evidence of the net household income
• project description of an own project

The application and all enclosed certificates and supporting documents must be submitted in German or English. If the original document was issued in another language, we also ask for a translation into German or English.
Non-certified copies and translations are sufficient for the application.
After the successful completion of the selection process, certified copies are sometimes required in the verification process.

Application Deadline

How To Apply

There is no fixed application deadline; applications are accepted all year round.

• When applying for a scholarship, proof of the applicant’s social commitment in the form of a motivational statement is required.
• If applicants have been working with a non-profit organization or social institution, a letter of recommendation is also required.
• Applicants submit the motivational statement as a PDF to [email protected].
• The non-profit/social institution submits the letter of recommendation on behalf of the applicant to [email protected].
• After carefully reviewing the statement/letter, outstanding prospects will be granted access to the application form.

For more information, kindly visit SBW scholarship webpage.