SBW Berlin International Scholarships 2027 in Germany (Fully Funded). Apply for fully funded scholarships here. The SBW Berlin Scholarship is a real, fully funded programme for bachelor’s and master’s students in Berlin or Potsdam, run by SBW Berlin gemeinnützige GmbH. It’s built around a specific idea: fund your education, and you commit to running a social project alongside it.
Unlike most “fully funded” scholarships, this one has no fixed deadline and applies year-round — but it also has an unusual condition worth knowing before you apply: recipients are generally expected to return home after graduating.
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SBW Berlin International Scholarships 2027 Details:
| Provided by: | SBW Berlin |
| Degree level: | Bachelors, Masters |
| Scholarship coverage: | Fully Funded |
| Eligible nationality: | All countries |
| Award country: | Berlin, Germany |
| Last date: | All the Year |
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Financial Benefits
Every recipient gets furnished housing in one of SBW Berlin’s shared student apartments. Tuition and stipend details depend on your specific scholarship category, so confirm exact figures directly with SBW Berlin.
| Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| Accommodation | Furnished room in an SBW Berlin shared student apartment — included for all recipients |
| Tuition support | It depends on scholarship type and your specific programme. |
| Monthly living allowance | Varies by scholarship type — commonly cited around €480/month in past cycles, but confirm the current figure directly with SBW Berlin |
| Travel contribution | Available depending on scholarship type |
| Application fee | None |
Available Study Programs
Bachelor’s and Master’s, most fields: SBW Berlin funds a wide range of scientific and artistic disciplines, though your specific study programme must be at a state-recognised university or university of applied sciences in Berlin or Potsdam.
Social-sector courses: A separate scholarship type specifically supports study programmes directly in the social field, where the project work can be tied to SBW Berlin’s own initiatives.
Vocational training (special cases): In limited circumstances, SBW Berlin also supports vocational training in Berlin or Potsdam rather than a university degree.
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Top Universities
| University | City | Notable For | SBW Compatibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin | Berlin | One of Germany’s leading research universities | Eligible if a state-recognised programme |
| Freie Universität Berlin | Berlin | Strong across humanities and social sciences | Eligible if a state-recognised programme |
| Universität Potsdam | Potsdam | Strong in sciences and teacher education | Eligible if a state-recognised programme |
SBW Berlin doesn’t fund one specific university — you apply to your chosen Berlin or Potsdam institution separately from the scholarship application itself.
Eligibility Criteria
- Be between 18 and 30 years old at the time of application.
- Hold a higher education entrance qualification or be about to obtain one.
- Have a good academic grade point average.
- Come from a household with relatively low net income — this scholarship is need-based, not solely merit-based.
- Show genuine social commitment: a track record of, or clear intent to develop, a social project connected to a non-profit organisation, ideally in your home country.
- Have no close family members permanently residing in Germany.
- Agree to work in your home country for at least 18 months after graduating or continue non-profit work in Germany until any repayment terms are fulfilled.
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Required Documents
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Letter of recommendation or motivational statement | Reviewed first — you only get access to the full application form if this passes review |
| Academic transcripts | Showing your grade point average |
| Grade conversion report | Via Uni-Assist or a similar service, to convert foreign grades to the German system |
| Legalized academic certificate | Required if your highest degree is from a foreign institution |
| Proof of household income | To demonstrate financial need relative to your home country’s average income |
| Passport copy | With a current photo |
| Additional recommendation letters | Optional, from teachers or employers |
Application Process
- Confirm you meet the age, academic, and financial-need requirements before applying.
- Prepare your letter of recommendation from a social/non-profit organisation or a motivational statement if you’re a bachelor’s applicant.
- Submit this initial document through the SBW Berlin online application portal for review.
- If your recommendation or statement passes review, you’ll be granted access to the full application form.
- Complete the full form with academic, financial, and personal details.
- Upload supporting documents, including transcripts and proof of household income.
- Separately, apply for admission to your chosen university or university of applied sciences in Berlin or Potsdam — SBW Berlin does not do this for you.
- Attend an interview (video or in-person) to discuss your proposed social project and study goals.
- If selected, agree to the scholarship’s terms, including the social project commitment and return-home expectation.
- Move into your assigned furnished room — note that first payments typically begin only after this move-in.
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Student Visa Guide
Non-EU recipients need a German Type D national visa for study purposes, applied for at the German embassy or consulate in their home country before travel.
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Visa type | Type D (National Visa for Study) |
| Financial proof | The confirmed SBW Berlin scholarship award letter typically supports this requirement |
| Health insurance | Minimum €30,000 coverage required for the visa application |
| Biometrics | Required at your visa appointment |
| After arrival | Register your address and apply for a residence permit at the local Ausländerbehörde |
Note: your residence permit purpose will state “study” — this matters later, since SBW Berlin’s scholarship terms are built around leaving Germany after your studies, not settling permanently.
Health Insurance
Health insurance is mandatory for your visa and university enrolment. Confirm with SBW Berlin whether insurance is included in your specific scholarship type or needs to be arranged separately.
Most students without employer-based coverage register with Germany’s statutory health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung), which student rates typically make more affordable than private plans.
Accommodation and Living Costs
Accommodation is handled directly by SBW Berlin — you live in a furnished room in one of its shared student apartments for the duration of your funded studies, which removes one of the biggest cost uncertainties international students usually face.
Beyond housing, your living allowance (which varies by scholarship type) is meant to cover food, transport, and personal expenses in Berlin or Potsdam. Both cities are generally more affordable than Munich or Frankfurt but still require careful budgeting.
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Post-Study Work Opportunities
This is where SBW Berlin differs sharply from typical “study in Germany” scholarships: it’s explicitly not designed as a path to staying in Germany long-term. Recipients agree to work in their home country for at least 18 months after graduating.
If a recipient instead remains in Germany without continuing qualifying non-profit work, SBW Berlin can terminate the scholarship and trigger a repayment obligation, repaid interest-free over 12 monthly instalments.
If you’re specifically looking for a scholarship that supports staying in Germany afterward—through Germany’s standard 18-month graduate job-search permit and eventual EU Blue Card or settlement routes—a different scholarship without this return-home condition will suit that goal better.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a deadline for the SBW Berlin Scholarship? No — applications are accepted all year round, with award decisions depending on available places each semester.
How many scholarships are awarded? Up to 20 places total across all SBW Berlin scholarship categories combined, subject to availability each semester.
Do I need to already be involved in social work? Not necessarily to apply, but a strong social commitment — demonstrated or planned — is central to selection, and a non-profit recommendation letter is required for most applicants.
Can I study anywhere in Germany with this scholarship? No — only at universities or universities of applied sciences in Berlin or Potsdam.
Does this scholarship help me stay in Germany after graduating? No — recipients generally commit to returning home for at least 18 months after their studies or continue non-profit work in Germany instead.
What happens if I break the scholarship’s terms? SBW Berlin can terminate funding and require repayment in 12 interest-free monthly instalments.
Is there an application fee? No, SBW Berlin does not charge application or processing fees.
Conclusion
The SBW Berlin Scholarship is a genuinely fully funded, need-based route into Berlin or Potsdam university study — best suited to applicants who are serious about social impact work and comfortable with its return-home expectation.
If that structure fits your goals, apply directly through SBW Berlin’s official portal and secure your separate university admission in parallel. If your priority is long-term settlement in Germany, look for a scholarship without this specific condition instead.
Official Resources
| Website Type | Official Website | Latest Application Deadline | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official Scholarship (SBW Berlin) | sbw.berlin/en/scholarships | None — Rolling Admissions | Applications Open (Rolling) |
| DAAD Scholarship Database Listing | daad.de scholarship database | None — Rolling Admissions | Official (verification source) |
| University Admissions (example: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin) | hu-berlin.de | Varies by program | Official |
| Student Visa (Type D) | diplo.de (German Missions Abroad) | N/A — apply after admission | Official |
| Immigration / Residence Permit | bamf.de (Federal Office for Migration and Refugees) | N/A | Official |
Benefit figures and terms above reflect the latest publicly available details at the time of writing. Exact stipend amounts depend on your specific scholarship type — confirm current figures and terms directly with SBW Berlin before applying.