Scholarships for International Students

In addition to numerous scholarships from various funding institutions, the International Office also regularly awards scholarships to international students at HSBI. The calls for applications are usually published in the months before the start of the semester.

HSBI’s International Office offers the following one-year and one-semester scholarships for international students for the period from the summer semester 2025 onwards:

Commitment scholarships

4 commitment scholarships provided proportionally from HSBI’s internal quality improvement funds and from STIBET I funds financed by the Federal Foreign Office

  • Duration: 1 March 2025–31 August 2025
  • Semester: summer 2025
  • Amount: €496.00/month
  • Total: €2,976.00

The scholarships are provided proportionally from HSBI’s internal quality improvement funds and from STIBET I funds financed by the Federal Foreign Office. In principle, all international HSBI students enrolled in bachelor’s or master’s degree programmes are eligible for the scholarships.

The prerequisite for funding is that the international students have shown good academic performance and outstanding commitment in the university’s international context.

According to a points system of up to 100 points, they can achieve up to 70 points for good academic performance (compared to the average grade of their own study programme). For this purpose, we calculate a relative grade, which we compare to the grade of other applicants.

Students’ cultural and social commitment can earn them up to 30 additional points.

    • Social commitment of at least 1 year: 10 points,
    • Several years or multiple forms of commitment over 2 years: 20 points,
    • Several years and multiple forms of commitment over 3 years and more: score of at least 30.

General prerequisites

  1. Non-German nationality,
  2. Acquisition of university entrance qualification abroad,
  3. Regular enrolment at HSBI in the summer semester 2025,
  4. Good academic performance in comparison to your fellow students,
  5. Proof of social/cultural commitment or membership in a non-profit association .

Application documents:

    • Scholarship form including letter of motivation,
    • CV,
    • Current transcript (can be submitted until 31 January 2025),
    • For first-semester students: Grade of university entrance certificate / Uni-Assist conversion,
    • Proof of membership in a non-profit association/of social commitment.

Selection procedure
Scholarship holders are selected by a committee with members from the International Office, AStA (student union) and a representative from the Gender and Diversity Office. If you are eligible for a scholarship, you will be invited to an interview of approx. 10 minutes.

The scholarship ceremony is expected to take place in June 2025. Participation is mandatory for all scholarship holders.

Only complete applications will be considered. Please send your application documents to:
Hochschule Bielefeld
z.H. International Office
Interaktion 1
33609 Bielefeld

or to international.office@hsbi.de
by 31 January 2025.

Your application will be considered if the International Office confirms receipt in writing by e-mail.
Scholarships to improve opportunities

4 one-year scholarships to improve opportunities provided by HSBI’s internal quality improvement funds:

  • Duration: 1 March 2025–28 February 2026
  • Semester: summer semester 2025 and winter semester 2025/26
  • Amount: €496.00/month
  • Total: €5,952.00

In principle, all international students enrolled in a bachelor’s or master’s degree programme at HSBI who face special challenges in their studies (e.g. being the main caregivers for children or relatives, disability, history of displacement) are eligible for the scholarship.

The scholarship to improve opportunities is awarded to candidates with special challenges in their studies (e.g. caregiving respnsibilities for children or relatives in need of care, disability, history of displacement).

In a preliminary selection, we will check the applicant’s financial need based on the information in their motivational letter, focusing explicitly on the financial situation. However, we do take into account exceptional burdens as well. We will award the scholarships taking into account the number of applications and according to the description of the individual caregiving duties. 

General prerequisites

  1. Non-German nationality
  2. Acquisition of university entrance qualification abroad
  3. Regular enrolment at HSBI in the summer semester 2025 and winter semester 2025/2026
  4. Special burdens during studies (due to relatives, illness, disability, displacement, etc.)

 

Application documents

    • Scholarship form including letter of motivation
    • CV
    • Description of personal burdens, including possible proof

 

Selection procedure

Scholarship holders are selected by a committee with members from the International Office, AStA (student union) and a representative from the Gender and Diversity Office. If you are eligible for the scholarship, you will be invited to an individual 15-minute interview in which you can explain your personal situation.

The scholarship ceremony is expected to take place in June 2025.

Only complete applications will be considered. Please send your application documents to:
Hochschule Bielefeld
z.H. International Office
Interaktion 1
33609 Bielefeld

or to international.office@hsbi.de
by 31 January 2025.

Your application will be considered if the International Office confirms receipt in writing by e-mail.
Scholarships of the German Academic Exchange Service

Please find further opportunities for scholarships in the scholarship database of the German Academic Exchange Service.

 

FAQ on Scholarships for International Students
What does volunteering mean?

Volunteering is a kind of work that is carried out on a voluntary basis, for the common good and without receiving a salary. It can take place in many areas – in a non-profit organisation, in an association, inside and outside the university. Examples of volunteering include:  

  • Commitment in the student council (StuRa) or student union (AStA) 
  • Active participation in the Buddy programme 
  • Homework assistance 
  • Commitment as a trainer in a sports club 
  • Providing support and translations in dealing with public authorities 
  • Commitment in social institutions 

Work as a student assistant or project work as part of your studies are not volunteering.

How do I provide proof that I have volunteered?

If you volunteer in an organisation, ask your contact person for proof. 

If you volunteer privately, please describe your activities.

My transcript is incomplete. What do I do?

If you have successfully completed courses, but they are not yet listed in your transcript, please write a brief comment stating which courses (number of ECTS, grade) this applies to.

Am I allowed to work alongside studies as a scholarship holder?

Whether you are allowed to work alongside your studies as a scholarship holder depends on the scholarship. For some scholarships, a financial necessity or a maximum income are selection criteria.

I receive BAföG. Can I apply?

As a rule, you can receive a scholarship and BAföG at the same time. In any case, please make sure to notify the BAföG office of your scholarship. The BAföG office will then check whether your BAföG rate must be reduced as a result.

I already receive another scholarship. Can I apply?

Whether you can receive two scholarships at the same time depends on the funding institution and the amount of funding for the respective scholarships.