Financial support for refugees

The Philipp Schwartz Initiative is a programme of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation that enables universities and research institutions in Germany to host researchers at risk on the basis of a full fellowship.

The programme is aimed at

• Researchers who are demonstrably at risk

The funding includes:

• Research fellowships for a maximum of 24 months
• An extension of twelve additional months is possible within the framework of a co-financing model.

Both research stays within the framework of a research fellowship and research stays within the framework of an employment contract are possible.

Application requirements

To apply, you must meet the following requirements:

• You must be able to provide credible evidence of risk. Proof can be either a residence status in the context of an asylum-granting procedure within the EU or a detailed, personal statement of a credible third party (e.g. German diplomatic representation abroad, non-governmental organisations or similar).
• You need a confirmation of supervision from a professor in your field of research at TU Braunschweig.
• You must have a doctorate or a comparable academic degree (Ph.D., C.Sc. or equivalent).
• You must not have been outside your home country for more than five years at the time of application.
• You need sufficient language skills to successfully carry out your research project at TU Braunschweig.
• You must provide evidence of your scientific qualifications (e.g. through publications).

Application procedure

Applications can only be submitted through TU Braunschweig and the host professor. Please contact TU Braunschweig's Represantative for Refugees. She will accompany you through the application process and can also establish an academic contact at TU Braunschweig if necessary.

Astrid Sebastian: refugees(at)tu-braunschweig.de

The application deadline under the 11th call of the Philipp Schwartz Initiative was 4 March 2022. Information on the next application deadline will be published here shortly.

Extended deadline for Ukrainian researchers

In view of the situation in Ukraine, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation is extending the deadline for nominations of Ukrainian scholars until 18 March 2022 in the current call for proposals.

More information on the Philipp Schwartz Initiative

The DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) offers grants in the frame of the "Hilde Domin Programme" with funds from the Federal Foreign Office. The programme supports students at risk as well as doctoral candidates in obtaining a degree or doctorate at a German university.

The long-term goal of the programme is to enable students and doctoral candidates to pursue higher education studies or a research stay in a safe environment so that they can make an important contribution to political, economic and social development in their countries of origin (or in Germany or third countries) after completing their studies or doctoral work.

Target group are:

• Students and doctoral candidates who are formally or de facto denied the right to education in their country of origin.

The students and doctoral candidates nominated and selected within the framework of the programme are enrolled in degree programmes of their personal choice and individual qualifications if they fulfil the necessary requirements.

The funding includes:

• A scholarship to cover the necessary costs of the study or research stay.

Application requirements:

• Fulfilment of the requirements for the chosen degree programme (school-leaving certificate, previous academic certificates, language skills).

Nomination and selection procedure

Potential candidates cannot apply for the Hilde Domin Programme on their own, but are nominated by the presidiums/rectorates of an institution that is a legal entity in Germany.

For a nomination by TU Braunschweig, please submit the following documents to the representative for refugees:

• Curriculum vitae
• Transcripts (school, university)
• Language certificates
• If you are unable to submit individual documents, please contact the representative for refugees.

A selection committee will then decide whether the TU Braunschweig can nominate you.

The nominating institutions and organisations must submit a nomination form provided by the DAAD, with a nomination statement to be completed.

To the nomination form.

Afterwards, on the basis of an initial plausibility check, suitable candidates will be contacted by the DAAD and invited to apply via the DAAD's online application portal. The application documents submitted by the candidates are then checked by the DAAD for completeness and formal correctness. The final selection of candidates is made by independent selection committees appointed by the DAAD. In the course of the selection process, both vulnerability and academic performance are assessed.

Further information about the programme.

Contact Person at TU Braunschweig:
Representative for Refugees at TU Braunschweig
Dr. Astrid Sebastian
refugees(at)tu-braunschweig.de

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) offers a scholarship search for students and researchers from Ukraine on its website.

Click here for here for scholarship search

The Volkswagen Foundation wishes to support exiled academics in continuing their research in Germany and to contribute to their integration into German society as well as the local science system.

Information for refugee researchers from Afghanistan

Information for refugee researchers from Ukraine

Refugees who are already studying at TU Braunschweig can apply for a Carolo-Wilhelmina scholarship or a Deutschlandstipendium.

The Carolo-Wilhelmina scholarships are awarded to students of TU Braunschweig whose study plans are threatened by uncertain funding or whose studies are about to be discontinued for purely financial reasons.

When awarding the Deutschlandstipendien, the focus is on the "talent and performance" of the students. The universities may also consider honorary commitment, a sense of responsibility or special personal circumstances when awarding scholarships.

The Technische Universität Braunschweig will award DAAD funding for international undergraduate and graduate students to support the final period of their studies.

The students who are eligible for this programme must have earned their school leaving certificate and university degrees outside Germany and must be enrolled as degree seeking students in undergraduate or graduate degree programmes at TU Braunschweig. Students who are holding a German Abitur or a degree of a German university and exchange students are not eligible.

Only applicants with good grades and results who are expected to finish their studies successfully within the next six months can be funded. The funding should also help students who have run into financial problems to concentrate on completing their degree successfully. Extracurricular activities and a social commitment will raise the chances to be selected for the funding.

Please submit the following documents in one single file (5 MB maximum) to the Incoming Office before the 15^th of April and 15^th of October (deadline).

• Application form for funding
• Letter why you are applying for the funding
• CV
• Transcript of Records
• Copies of your degree certificates (High school diploma, Bachelor and Master degree), if applicable
• Confirmation of your department about the expected end of your studies
• Proof of financial need (e.g. a list of your fixed expenses, last three months bank statements)

We kindly inform you that we cannot proceed incomplete applications.

Contact:
Louise Ruhwald
phone: 0531/391 14343
Email: l.ruhwald@tu-braunschweig.de

To the application for the DAAD-Studienabschlusshilfe

As a recognised refugee in Germany, you are entitled to apply for BAföG funding. BAföG is an educational grant awarded to students by the German government if they or their parents are unable to meet the costs of their studies. Under this scheme, you can receive a monthly payment of up to € 735 for your living and study costs. At the end of your studies, you must pay back 50% of this grant to the German government. More information on BAföG can be found here:

More information on BAföG and BAföG application form

BAföG advisory office at TU Braunschweig

The General Students' Committee (AStA) at TU Braunschweig offers support for students through the Social Department, including an aid fund with options for grants and loans. More information is available on the AStA website or by email:

E-Mail to Social Department

The Hildegardis Association grants interest-free loans to refugee women from Ukraine who want to continue their studies in Germany or start another qualification measure.

More information