University of Cologne Scholarships for International Students 2026

Cologne, Germany
Location
50,800
Population
3
Number of Scholarships

University of Cologne offers access to scholarships that can reduce tuition burden and sometimes support additional costs. Below are top options prioritized by funding level.

When reviewing university scholarships connected to University of Cologne, these are often the first awards worth checking due to the typical scale of support. Free Tuition is commonly categorized as full tuition support, and coverage that often includes full tuition fees for four years for bachelors degrees, two years for masters degrees, and up to six years for doctorate degrees.

If you are building a wider scholarship strategy for University of Cologne, external and government programs can be important additions. Here are a few to consider. DAAD Scholarships is usually considered fully funded, and typical coverage can include €992 for master's and €1,300 for Ph.D. students, health insurance, and one-time research allowance.

For more opportunities beyond these highlights, explore the scholarship listings below on this page.

What Scholarship Recipients Say:

"My name is Esayas Bamlack Bishaw. I am from Ethiopia and currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Political Science at the University of Cologne, Germany."

DAAD Leadership for Africa Scholarship Master's in Political Science

Esayas Bamlack Bishaw

Read the full story

"Choosing to study Political Science and International Relations has been one of the best decisions of my life."

DAAD Leadership for Africa Scholarship Master's in Political Science

Esayas Bamlack Bishaw

Read the full story

University of Cologne Scholarship Recipients

Esayas Bamlack Bishaw profile image

Esayas Bamlack Bishaw

Master’s in Political Science
Ethiopia
DAAD Leadership for Africa Scholarship

Esayas Bamlack Bishaw from Ethiopia is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Political Science at the University of Cologne, Germany, supported by the DAAD Leadership for Africa Scholarship. Prior to this, he completed a fully funded MA in International Relations at the Social Sciences University of Ankara under the Türkiye Scholarships. His academic path reflects a strong commitment to understanding global politics and social systems through immersive, multicultural learning experiences.

Read his story to see how he secured this fully funded scholarship.

Maheen Sohail profile image

Maheen Sohail

Master’s in Business Analytics and Econometrics
Pakistan
Deutschlandstipendium Scholarship

Maheen Sohail from Pakistan completed a Master’s in Business Analytics and Econometrics at the University of Cologne, building strong expertise in data analytics, econometrics, and machine learning after graduating top of her class in Accounting and Finance. She was awarded the Deutschlandstipendium Scholarship, providing partial funding during her studies in Germany.

Read her story to discover how she secured this partially funded scholarship.

University of Cologne FAQ

Are there any scholarships at the University of Cologne that are for online courses?

Most University of Cologne scholarships are tied to being enrolled as a degree student (so they’re primarily designed for regular on-campus study).

Are courses taught at the University of Cologne in English or in German?

Both exist. Many programs are taught in German, but there are also English-taught degree options (especially at the Master’s level). For example, Business Analytics & Econometrics is offered as an English-taught program, and some Business Administration Master’s tracks are also in English.

From the recipient side, Maheen Sohail (M.Sc. Business Analytics and Econometrics) confirmed: “My Master’s degree was fully taught in English.” At the same time, medicine-related state examination degrees are typically German-taught, so German is essential for those pathways.

Is there an age limit to get scholarships at the University of Cologne?

University of Cologne scholarships generally focus on enrollment status and academic progress rather than age. In the University of Cologne’s scholarship FAQs, eligibility is framed around being enrolled (and within the standard period of study), not an age cutoff.

For which subjects does the University of Cologne offer scholarships for?

University of Cologne scholarships are generally open across subjects because they are awarded at the university level and cover students from different faculties, so applicants come from business/economics, STEM (math, natural sciences, computer science), humanities, law, and medicine.

For which nationalities does the University of Cologne offer scholarships for?

For many university-managed scholarships, nationality is not a barrier as long as you are enrolled at the University of Cologne and meet the requirements. Its scholarship FAQ states that foreign students enrolled at the University of Cologne can apply.

You can see the international range in recipient stories: Maheen Sohail is from Pakistan, and Esayas Bamlack Bishaw is from Ethiopia and pursued Political Science at the University of Cologne.

Is having a language proficiency test necessary (IELTS, TOEFL, DSH, TestDaF, etc.) for the University of Cologne?

It depends on your program’s language of instruction. English-taught programs commonly require proof like IELTS/TOEFL, while German-taught programs commonly require German proof such as TestDaF/DSH (or equivalent), depending on the specific admission rules.

In recipient stories, language tests mattered in real life: Maheen Sohail wrote, “I completed the IELTS… achieving an overall score of 6.5,” and Esayas Bamlack Bishaw said, “I decided to take the IELTS twice to improve my score,” highlighting how language certificates can strengthen scholarship and admission readiness.

Is there a minimum grade for acceptance at the University of Cologne?

It varies by program. Some degree programs are unrestricted admission, while others are restricted admission (NC) and/or have minimum grade thresholds, especially for competitive fields and certain Master’s programs.

For example, some English-taught business Master’s tracks show a “minimum grade” requirement/threshold in their program listings, and Human Medicine (State Examination) is listed as restricted admission (NC). Always check the exact program page because “minimum grade” rules are program-specific.

What is a good academic background to get a scholarship at the University of Cologne?

A strong academic record helps, but scholarship success is often a mix of grades, motivation, and proof of potential. Maheen Sohail is a clear example of a high-achievement profile. She reported a German-equivalent GPA of 1.1 (Magna Cum Laude) and built a quantitative foundation for Business Analytics & Econometrics.

But it’s not “grades only.” University of Cologne scholarship guidance emphasizes a clear motivation letter and a compelling CV, and Esayas described tailoring: he “modified my motivation letter” to fit scholarship contexts—exactly the kind of strategy that can make an application stand out.

What documents do I need to apply for the University of Cologne?

It depends on whether you mean admission documents or scholarship documents. For University of Cologne scholarships (Deutschlandstipendium, Sozialstipendium, Inklusionstipendium), the university lists core items like a tabular CV, cover/motivation letter, higher-education entrance qualification, and transcript of records (or Bachelor’s certificate/grade for Master’s applicants).

The recipient stories match the real workload: Maheen mentioned “a detailed motivation letter,” plus “academic transcripts” and “credential evaluations,” and Esayas described organizing “authenticated documents… and recommendation letters,” which is a good checklist mindset for both admission and scholarship preparation.

Is there an application fee at the University of Cologne?

For the application process itself, many international applicants pay fees if their program uses uni-assist for document review. Uni-assist charges handling fees (commonly €75 for the first chosen study program and €30 for each additional one in the same semester). Scholarship applications through the university’s own portal are typically about submitting the required documents rather than paying an application fee.

University of Cologne Admissions

Here are the official admission pages for University of Cologne:

University of Cologne Application Deadlines

Degree Admission Deadline
Bachelor's and Master's (Summer)January 15, 2026 (Different Bachelor's and Master's programs have different deadlines)
Bachelor's and Master's (Winter)July 15, 2026 (Different Bachelor's and Master's programs have different deadlines)

Tuition Fees at University of Cologne for International Students

Degree Tuition Fee Range
Bachelor's Tuition Free
Master's Tuition Free

Please note that tuition fees can vary based on the specific program you choose. To get accurate tuition fee information, be sure to consult the official tuition fee pages.

About the Author: Hyun Lee

Hyun Lee profile photo
Hi! I am Hyun, and I am the founder at Global Scholarships. I've received a full-tuition scholarship at Birmingham-Southern College and a $1,000 Burger King Scholarship for my undergraduate degree and was offered a fully funded scholarship consisting of tuition, living stipend, and health insurance for computer science Ph.D. program at North Carolina State University. You can read more about my scholarship journey here. If you are interested, you can follow me on Linkedin where I regularly write about scholarships.

4 Comments

  1. Jonah B. miller November 4, 2023 at 1:45 am - Reply

    I want an legitimate email address for the university of cologne admissions office

    • Hyun Lee November 7, 2023 at 2:46 pm - Reply

      Hello, maybe you can try to find it at the University of Cologne website?

  2. Anonymous January 31, 2024 at 2:00 am - Reply

    I want to receive a scholarship in University of Cologne.

    • Hyun Lee February 16, 2024 at 4:22 pm - Reply

      Hello, the University of Cologne’s scholarships is in the form of free tuition, which is available for everyone. All you have to do is to get accepted.

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