SBW Berlin Scholarship

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Description

The SBW Berlin Scholarship supports socially committed international students who plan to use their education to develop non-profit or social projects in their home countries. It is open to those pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree at universities or universities of applied sciences in Berlin or Potsdam, with all scientific, social, and artistic disciplines eligible. In exceptional cases, vocational training programs in these cities may also be funded. The scholarship is awarded based on professional qualifications, personal suitability, and financial need. A key requirement is existing involvement with a non-profit or social organization in the applicant’s home country, as the program focuses on prior social commitment and motivation. After completing their studies, recipients must return to their home country or work non-profit in Germany under specific conditions. They are expected to continue and develop their social projects for at least 18 months post-graduation. Continued participation in SBW Berlin meetings to discuss career progress is required. The scholarship emphasizes linking academic content with practical project work. It supports recipients in achieving their goals through collaboration with home-country institutions. Funding is limited strictly to Berlin or Potsdam and does not extend to other German states or abroad. No financial support is provided beyond the standard study or training duration.

Commitment to Social Impact and Project Development

The SBW Berlin Scholarship supports international students during their studies in Berlin or Potsdam while placing strong emphasis on their commitment to social impact. Scholarship recipients are expected to develop and implement social or non-profit projects in collaboration with a non-profit or social institution in their home countries. These projects, aimed at supporting people in need and advancing the goals of the associated institution, must be presented in the application as a detailed project description. As part of the program, recipients attend workshops, submit project reports, and give presentations about their work, supported by SBW Berlin’s ongoing mentorship and guidance. A letter of recommendation from the partnering institution is required to verify the applicant’s prior and ongoing involvement. This letter must explain how the applicant’s studies and project align with the institution’s mission and detail their roles and responsibilities. The program encourages active exchange between SBW Berlin, the student, and the home-country institution during and after the scholarship period. If a recipient chooses not to return to their home country post-graduation, they are required to repay the full amount of the scholarship through a notarized agreement in twelve interest-free monthly installments. This repayment clause highlights the importance of genuine intent to return and serve the home community. Scholarship recipients must dedicate 2 to 8 hours weekly to their projects and consistently demonstrate their involvement. Additionally, maintaining good academic performance throughout the program is essential. 

Who can apply?

• Foreign nationals, whose home countries appear to have a particular need for development assistance 
• Holders of a student visa for Germany or a residence permit with the purpose of taking up or carrying out a course of study in Germany 
• Students whose studies in Germany are already being funded by another scholarship are not eligible to apply 

An exception to this rule is assistance under the Federal Education Assistance Act (BAföG). In this case, the amount of the scholarship is adjusted according to the BAföG allowance. 

Application Requirements

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

Applications which do not meet all the requirements stated above cannot be considered.

Deadlines and Application Documents

SBW Berlin does not charge any application or processing fees. There is no fixed application deadline; applications are accepted all year round. When applying for the scholarship, proof of the applicant’s social commitment in the form of a letter of recommendation from a non-profit organization or social institution is required. The nonprofit organization or social institution submits the letter on behalf of the applicant as a PDF to application@sbw.berlin. After carefully reviewing the letter, outstanding prospects will be granted access to the application form.

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

• Letter of recommendation from a non-profit organization or social institution or one of SBW Berlin’s partner organization (by email)
• Application form (A link will be shared with outstanding applicants.)
• Project description (two to five pages)
• Qualification for university entrance
• Information about the net household income
• Copy of the last school or university certificate that shows the grade point average and a grade overview
• Copy of the highest academic degree (high school diploma or university certificate) that shows the grade point average and a grade overview.

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

• Admission to a university or university of applied sciences (Fachhochschule) in Berlin or Potsdam 
• 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
  

They recommend that all applicants 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 

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, they also ask for a translation into German or English.

Non-certified copies and simple translations are sufficient for the application.

After the successful completion of the selection process, certified copies are sometimes required in the verification process.

Scholarship Benefits

For the duration of the scholarship (max. funding period is equivalent to the regular period of the study program), SBW Berlin covers the 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 month15 
• tuition fees 
• possibly also a travel contribution for the journey to Berlin before the start of the course of study and for the journey home after successful completion of the course 

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.

Applicants who receive benefits under the Federal Education Assistance Act 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.

Duration of Funding

The duration of funding is at least 30 days up to a maximum of 48 months. The respective standard period of study is decisive. Funding is granted on a periodic base, usually for the upcoming semester.

Before the end of each semester, it is determined whether further funding is justified. The continuation of the selection criteria, the successful completion of most academic courses in the last sponsored semester, and proof of the social project’s proactive development (e.g., in the form of a project report) are considered. Any funding after the regular study period has ended is unattainable. They have a total of 20 scholarship places. Each semester, only as many scholarships can be awarded as there are vacancies. SBW Berlin can terminate any funding in the event of two failed compulsory examinations or two postponed examinations. The repeat exam must be taken in the next possible examination period, which the university or the training center must confirm. Another reason for ending the funding is the failure to meet the target agreements set for the social/non-profit project and when the funds are not used as intended. In these circumstances, there will be a repayment agreement that will be notarized. Consequently, the scholarships or the monetary benefits previously provided by SBW Berlin must then be repaid in 12 monthly installments without interest, starting 3 months after the end of the funding period or the standard period of study. 

Return to the Home Country and Repayment Obligation

The SBW Berlin scholarship program usually provides for a limited stay in Germany, which is limited to the duration of your studies. After the end of the funding or the end of the course, scholarship recipients have two options:
a. They return to their respective home countries18, develop, and implement their projects locally for at least 18 months in cooperation with the local non-profit organization or social institution. In this case, there is no obligation to repay the grant.
b. They remain in Germany after the end of their studies or funding, but the financial benefits of the SBW Berlin scholarship must be repaid. The previously notarized repayment plan in 12 monthly installments begins 3 months after the end of the study or funding period. 

Final Provisions

Scholarship recipients must inform SBW Berlin immediately as soon as the circumstances that formed the basis of the funding change. You also inform SBW Berlin about your graduation and submit a copy of your diploma or degree certificate.

In addition, during the courses of study, all scholarship recipients must submit their current university transcript and/or performance records (graded and non-graded) after each semester without being asked by SBW Berlin.

Further rights and obligations of the scholarship recipients are listed in the scholarship contracts and these contracts may differ slightly from one another. For more clarification see the Project Description.

Website URL

https://sbw.berlin/en/portfolio-items/sbw-berlin-scholarship