Copernicus e.V. - Copernicus Scholarship

What the Copernicus Scholarship gives you

You will receive a fully funded six-month stay in Hamburg, Germany. You will study for three months at the University of Hamburg and then undertake a two- to three-month work placement at a company, a government department or an organisation. You will also receive a monthly allowance of 310 EUR. The programme covers your accommodation, meals, health insurance, enrolment at the university, use of local public transport, visa fees and the cheapest journey to and from Hamburg. Most scholarship holders stay with a host family. The scholarship is awarded by COPERNICUS e.V., a Hamburg-based association founded in 1992 to support students from Eastern and Central Europe, Central Asia and North Africa.

Who can apply

• Where you are from: You come from Eastern, Central or South-Eastern Europe, Central Asia or North Africa (for example, from Poland, Ukraine, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Serbia, Romania, Tunisia or Egypt).
• Level: You are a Bachelor’s or Master’s student. PhD students and postgraduates are not eligible to apply. If you have completed your Bachelor’s degree but are still enrolled at your home university, you may still apply.
• Study progress: At the start of the scholarship, you will have completed at least one semester at your home university. You will complete your degree no earlier than six months after the end of your stay.
• Field of study: Law, Political Science and International Relations, Economics, Humanities and Social Sciences, Natural Sciences or Computer Science. Medicine is only permitted for the winter semester, and only if you are in your 4 or 5 year of study during your stay in Hamburg.
• German: You must have a command of German at level B2 or C1. Applicants who do not meet this standard will not be admitted.
• Time in Germany: You have spent no more than four months in Germany and have never completed a semester of study there.
• Age: You are at least 18.
• Engagement: You are committed to contributing to society, for example through voluntary work or by working for the common good. You are also open to staying with a host family and helping to shape the programme.
• Financial need: If two applicants are equally suitable, preference will be given to the one who would not be able to afford a semester abroad without financial support.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted online using the form on the association’s website, in German. The deadline for applications is 1. September for the following summer term (starting: 1 April) and on 1 March for the following winter term (starting: 1 October). Selection is based on your academic achievements, your community involvement and your financial circumstances.

How realistic are your chances?

This scholarship is very restrictive. You must come from a specific group of countries, be enrolled on one of the listed degree programmes, and already have a knowledge of German at level B2 or higher. This rules out most applicants from the outset. If you clearly meet these requirements and can demonstrate genuine social commitment, your chances are good, especially as financial need works in your favour. Proficiency in German is the most important selection criterion, so a solid certificate at level B2 or C1 will put you in the running.