The 11 Biggest Misconceptions about Scholarships

1. Scholarships are only for the gifted

Many secondary school students believe this is true. As a result they are put off from applying for funding. But the assumption is not true. There are many organisations that award scholarships, but only a small percentage do so on the basis of outstanding academic achievement.

Most use different criteria for choosing a candidate. This could be anything from your father’s occupation, to your place of residence. The best advice is to carefully check the selection criteria of the scholarships that interest you.

2. There are not many scholarships available

The big scholarship awarding organisations are the most widely known. As a result they receive the most applications. But there are thousands of organisations across the EU which award scholarships to students or doctoral candidates - in Germany alone there are over 2,300 foundations and more than 3,200 scholarship programmes. And many of them suffer from a lack of candidates: more than 90 % of students apply to fewer than 1 % of foundations.

Unless you research everything that is available, you will not know if there is something suitable for your circumstances.

3. You must be socially committed

This misconception is also common as it is the main selection criterion at some larger organisations. While social commitment is a criterion for some scholarships there are just as many where it has no relevance. Therefore you can still get a scholarship even if you are not yet involved in community work.

4. The funding will not be enough

The amount of funding available varies greatly, depending on the scholarship. Grant amounts range from a one-time payment of a few hundred euros, to monthly payments of around €2,000. Typically the funding available for doctoral candidates is much higher - for example, the Hans Böckler Foundation pays €1,750 per month for doctoral funding (from winter semester 2025/26), and doctoral scholarships in Germany generally range from €1,300 to €2,000 per month.

Some organisations award partial scholarships, but they allow you to get another scholarship or loan to make up the difference. Or you can get a part-time job. Be aware, however, that combining scholarships is often restricted: many providers apply a „no double funding” rule, meaning you cannot receive two full scholarships at the same time. Partial scholarships are more often combinable, but always check the specific rules of each programme before applying (see also Misconception 11 below).

The most important concrete rule to know concerns the Deutschlandstipendium: under § 4 (1) of the German Scholarship Programme Act (StipG), it cannot be combined with any other merit- or talent-based scholarship whose value averages €30 per month or more. In practice, this rules out parallel funding from most of the major German talent-promotion foundations (such as the Studienstiftung, Friedrich Naumann Stiftung, Heinrich Böll Stiftung or Cusanuswerk). BAföG, by contrast, is complementary and does not fall under this exclusion. DAAD scholarships are generally not combinable with other German government or political foundation scholarships, but they can be held alongside the Deutschlandstipendium.

5. It’s time-consuming, and the outcome is uncertain

In the past finding suitable scholarships was difficult. You had to use various different resources, many of which were incomplete.

Creating a profile at european-funding-guide.eu, on the other hand, only takes a few minutes. Once done you will get an overview of the scholarships that match your profile. This reduces the time you have to spend researching.

6. Applying for a scholarship takes too long

In reality many of the application processes are simple. Often they are done by E-Mail and require less information than when you apply for a job. And if you are successful you will be able to concentrate on your studies, rather than worrying about your finances. In that context, the time it takes to apply is not great.

That said there are some scholarships that require more detail, including references or comprehensive CVs. In our section about application forms you will find advice and information on how to prepare your application form quickly.

7. There are lots of applicants so my chances are slim

Many students apply for the largest and best-known scholarships because they receive the most publicity.

But smaller organisations often complain that they do not get enough candidates. As you go through your list of results at european-funding-guide.eu, you will find scholarships that are less competitive.

The numbers back this up: success rates at the large German talent-promotion foundations (Begabtenförderungswerke) are typically only around 10-20 %, with an aggressive multi-stage selection process involving detailed CVs, expert references and multi-day assessment events. Smaller, less well-known foundations often only ask for a CV and a motivation letter, and because they attract far fewer applicants your realistic chance of success can be several times higher. Casting a wider net across smaller providers is often the single most effective way to improve your odds.

8. I must be in need to receive a scholarship.

This misconception is also common among students, and it prevents many from making an application. But the selection criteria for scholarships vary greatly. Some exist to help students who are most in need, but others have different goals. For example, the scholarship might want to promote a particular profession, or support students from a specific district. The best advice is to get an overview of all the scholarships that are available, even if you come from a wealthy background.

9. Scholarships are only awarded at the beginning of a course

There are many scholarships that are specifically awarded to students with a degree. But for most organisations, the stage of study is not relevant. This means it is worthwhile finding out about scholarships, even if you are in the last semester of your studies.

10. Scholarships are only available for living expenses

In addition to grants for living expenses there are also scholarships for books, money, property, travel expenses and printing costs. Also you can find tuition scholarships and scholarships for internships, as well as for other types of support. And many organisations provide scholarships for studies or internships abroad, as well as for language courses, research stays, and reconnaissance trips. So there is a scholarship for almost every student need.

11. Scholarships are only available for certain fields of study

Another widespread misconception is that scholarships only exist for a handful of „prestigious” subjects. In reality, scholarships are available across a huge range of disciplines and interests. Alongside general, subject-independent scholarships there are also many field-specific programmes - covering STEM subjects, business, the arts, journalism, music, and much more. Some scholarships are set up by private donors specifically to support students in a particular field, and the criteria are set by the donor rather than being tied to top academic marks. Whichever subject you study, it is worth searching broadly - the fit between you and the awarding organisation’s values and goals matters just as much as your grades.