This is a scholarship for experienced vocational professionals pursuing their first university degree, not a general scholarship for all international students. Nationality and residence eligibility must be checked carefully before presenting it as an opportunity for international applicants.
The Aufstiegsstipendium für Berufserfahrene is a German government scholarship for experienced professionals who want to pursue their first university degree. Eligible full-time students can receive €1,072 per month, while students pursuing a degree alongside employment can receive €3,045 per year.
Applications for the 2027/I selection cycle are open from 22 September to 30 November 2026. The program is designed for applicants with completed vocational training, at least two years of professional experience, and evidence of strong professional performance.
International applicants should confirm their nationality, residence, and vocational qualification eligibility with the scholarship administrator before applying.
International applicants should confirm their nationality, residence, and vocational qualification eligibility with the scholarship administrator before applying.
Scholarship at a Glance
Scholarship
Aufstiegsstipendium für Berufserfahrene
Provider
German Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR)
Administrator
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Naman Kumar has lived in Germany for over eight years and has spent more than five years helping international students navigate German universities, courses, scholarships, and admissions. Having studied in Germany himself and received scholarship support, he combines first-hand experience with practical guidance. He has supported more than 200 students in finding suitable study and funding opportunities in Germany.
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The Aufstiegsstipendium helps professionals with vocational qualifications and practical work experience pursue their first academic degree.
The program is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR). SBB manages the scholarship selection process and supports recipients throughout their studies.
Unlike scholarships that primarily consider school grades, this program focuses on professional achievements and experience.
It supports eligible full-time and work-compatible degree programs at state or state-recognised universities in Germany, other EU member states, and Switzerland.
How much funding does the scholarship provide?
Funding depends on whether you study full-time or pursue a degree alongside employment.
Full-time students will receive:
Basic scholarship
€992/month
Book allowance
€80/month
Childcare allowance, per eligible child under 14
€160/month
Students pursuing a degree alongside employment €3,045/year.
The scholarship is awarded independently of the recipient's income and generally does not need to be repaid.
Funding normally covers the standard duration of the degree program. Scholarship recipients can also access seminars, regional networking groups, and professional development opportunities.
Who can apply for the Aufstiegsstipendium?
You may qualify if you meet the following requirements:
- You have successfully completed recognised vocational training. - You have worked for at least two years after completing your vocational training. - You can demonstrate exceptional professional performance. - You are planning your first academic degree or are already enrolled in its first or second semester.
Applicants can demonstrate their professional performance through a vocational examination result of at least 1.9 or 87 points, a top-three result in a recognised professional competition, or a substantiated employer nomination.
School grades are not used to assess professional performance for this scholarship.
Can international students apply?
The published program overview does not establish that every international applicant is eligible.
Applicants with non-German nationality, foreign vocational qualifications, or an uncertain residence status should confirm their individual eligibility with SBB before submitting an application.
Yes. SBB states that applicants can pursue eligible university studies based on their vocational qualifications and professional experience, even without a school-based Abitur, where the university's admission rules allow it.
What documents are required?
The initial online application is a questionnaire in which applicants provide information about their vocational qualifications, employment history, and planned or current studies.
Supporting documents are requested later if applicants advance to the second selection stage.
These documents must substantiate the professional qualifications, employment experience, and achievements declared in the application.
The official application page provides detailed applicant instructions. Review them before starting, particularly if your qualifications or examination results do not match the standard options in the online form.
How to apply for the Aufstiegsstipendium 2027
The application and selection process has three stages.
1. Complete the online application
Submit the initial questionnaire through the official SBB application portal between 22 September and 30 November 2026. Provide accurate information about your vocational training, work experience, achievements, and intended degree program.
2. Complete the competence assessment
Selected applicants receive an email invitation to an online competence assessment. The access link is valid for seven days. Supporting documents must be submitted by email within three working days after completing the assessment.
3. Attend the selection interview
Applicants who advance to the final stage are invited to an interview. For the 2027/I cycle, interviews are expected between 15 February and 13 March 2027, either online or in person.
The selection process and dates are confirmed on the official SBB website.
Financial support begins no earlier than admission to the scholarship program. If your degree begins later, funding starts when you begin your studies.
Important things to know before applying
You do not need to have started university when you apply. Successful applicants can begin their degree within one year of receiving the scholarship offer.
However, applicants already studying must generally be in their first or second semester.
The program primarily funds a first university degree. A Master's degree is not normally eligible as a new application unless it qualifies as the applicant's first academic degree under the program's specific rules.
