Scholarships and Funding Programs

General requirements

• University entrance qualification (Abitur)
• Enrolment at the Heidelberg University of Jewish Studies (HfJS) in the degree programs B.A. Jewish Studies 50% (teaching degree), B.A. Jewish Studies 50% or 75%, M.A. Jewish Studies or Master of Education (teaching degree at grammar schools or extension subject)
• Compulsory attendance at the HfJS
• Age limit: 35 years
• German language skills: C1 and higher

Application documents

• Curriculum vitae
• University entrance qualification
• Letter of motivation
• Proof of membership in a Jewish community affiliated with the Central Council of Jews in Germany
• Proof of affiliation to Judaism
• Letter of recommendation from a Jewish religious teacher, a rabbi, a Jewish organization or a Jewish regional association
• Proof of voluntary work (if available)

Scope and framework of the grant

• the basic monthly scholarship amounts to 1,300 euros.
• The surcharges for children up to the age of 13 are: 1st child 200 euros, 2nd child 100 euros, for each additional child 50 euros.
• The scholarship is initially granted for a period of twelve months.
• Further approval will be granted annually after review of the continuing eligibility requirements on the basis of semester or progress reports and performance records to be submitted.
• The scholarship is limited to the standard period of study. Exceptions are only possible in justified cases.
• When transferring from a Bachelor's to a Master's degree course, a new application for a scholarship is required.
• During the course of study, at least one four-week internship must be completed in a Jewish school or community during the semester break.
• The scholarship holder undertakes to work in a Jewish organization, Jewish community or Jewish educational institution in Germany for one year after graduation for each year in which the scholarship was received.
• Multiple sponsorship is generally excluded.
• The award is subject to the availability of funds.
• The Central Council of Jews reserves the right to revoke and reclaim funding in whole or in part in the event of false information or violations of the funding conditions.

Note on the selection procedure

• In addition to the formal examination of the documents, a personal or digital selection interview may take place. The Central Council of Jews in Germany reserves the right to request further information.
• There is no legal entitlement to the award of a scholarship. Decisions of the selection committee cannot be contested.

Application form

Please send your application documents to stipendien(at)zentralratderjuden.de

Postal applications cannot be considered.

Application Deadline: 1st of May 2026
Scholarship announcement see downloads

Amount of the current funding rates

Funding opportunities:

Study scholarships (1 to 6 months)
Funding is available for both short scholarships (e.g. for final theses) and scholarships of up to six months, e.g. for semester stays by students.
Doctoral students cannot apply for this program area. Applications can be made for monthly partial scholarship installments and a one-off lump sum for travel expenses in the amount of the country-specific DAAD funding rate.

The awarding of PROMOS semester scholarships within the framework of the Joint Degree M.A. "Jewish Studies - History of Jewish Cultures" for the semester abroad at KFU Graz is only possible in two exceptional cases: For students who have already received funding once within this ERASMUS cooperation during their study stay in Graz and therefore cannot receive another ERASMUS grant, and in the event that the ERASMUS funding contingent of the HfJS for the current academic year has already been exhausted.

Language courses (3 weeks to 6 months)
Language courses for students and doctoral candidates at universities abroad can be funded worldwide. Applications can be made for a one-off lump sum for course fees as well as monthly partial scholarship installments and a one-off lump sum for travel expenses in the amount of the country-specific DAAD funding rate.

Summer courses / specialized courses (up to 6 weeks)
Summer courses / specialized courses for students and doctoral candidates at universities or academic
scientific institutions abroad can be funded worldwide. Applications can be made for a one-off lump sum for course fees, a one-off lump sum for travel expenses in the amount of the country-specific DAAD funding rate and (if the duration is appropriate) a monthly partial scholarship installment.

Internships (1 to 6 months)
Internships for students in countries outside the ERASMUS area can be funded. Applications can be made for monthly partial scholarship installments as well as a one-off lump sum for travel expenses in the amount of the country-specific DAAD funding rate.

Funding for internships within the ERASMUS plus area is only possible for students who have already received funding for an internship within the framework of ERASMUS and are therefore no longer eligible for funding under the ERASMUS+ program. Doctoral students cannot apply in this program area.

Travel allowance
The amount of the one-off travel allowance corresponds to the country-specific DAAD funding rate.
No further costs (e.g. tuition fees) can be covered over and above the above-mentioned funding rates.

Application requirements

Students who are enrolled in one of the HfJS degree programs or as doctoral candidates at the HfJS with the aim of completing either a degree or a doctorate at the HfJS are eligible to apply.

Funding for a stay in the home country (country of citizenship or former place of residence) is not possible.

Application documents
The application must be accompanied by

• a convincing letter of motivation of 2-3 pages,
• a curriculum vitae,
• the expert opinion of a lecturer at the HfJS,
• the completed application form (see downloads),
• an overview of previous academic achievements and a copy of the transcript of records, or alternatively a current transcript of previous academic achievements (see downloads),
• proof of required language skills, if applicable,
• a list of the grants and scholarships received, approved or applied for in the current study phase (BA / MA / teaching degree / doctorate) (see Downloads).
   

Scholarship holders are expected to organize their stay abroad on their own responsibility and take care of their own insurance cover. It is possible to participate in a DAAD group insurance.

Information on the selection procedure
PROMOS scholarships at the HfJS are awarded by a scholarship committee on the basis of the written application. There are no selection interviews. Decisive for the awarding of PROMOS scholarships are the previous academic achievements and the usefulness of the stay abroad for the course of study taken at the HfJS.

Application deadline: June 15, 2026
Scholarship duration: Initially for 1 year with the option to extend (maximum approval period in total: 3 years)
Scholarship amount: 1,650 euros/month (incl. 100 euros travel and material allowance)

Application requirements:

1. Completed university degree in Jewish Studies or comparable degree (proof must be provided by the application deadline)
2. Acceptance as a doctoral candidate by the HfJS
3. Academic supervision by a professor or private lecturer at the HfJS
4. Outstanding academic qualifications and an academic project that can be expected to make a recognizable contribution to research in Jewish Studies and its sub-disciplines
5. Willingness to regularly participate in graduate colloquia organized by the supervising chair and other relevant events at the university

Any employment in addition to your studies must be related to the subject in which the doctorate is being completed.

Please note: The net income earned within 12 months may not exceed 25% of the annual income of salary group TV-L E 13, level 3 according to the applicable table of the collective agreement for the public service of the federal states (TV-L), tariff area West. If this amount is exceeded, the LGF scholarship will be reduced accordingly.

Please also note the information provided by the Graduate Academy of Heidelberg University

Send the application once as a printed version by post to

University of Jewish Studies
Mr. Maximilian Hörmann
Landfriedstr. 12
69117 Heidelberg

and once as a PDF (please put everything together in one document) to: maximilian.hoermann(at)hfjs.eu

Further information:

• Landesgraduiertenförderungsgesetz, LGFG (PDF)

Steps to apply

1. Application for a scholarship in accordance with the Landesgraduiertenförderungsgesetz (LGFG)
2. Attachments to the application:

• Brief summary (outline of the topic, max. 1 DIN A4 page)
• Work report/plan (max. 15 pages. Describe the project methodologically and state the object of investigation. If the project is based on previous work, list this as well. Attach the master's or state examination thesis and explain what the new approach is beyond this preliminary work)
• Bibliography (1/2 to 1 page)
• Supplement applicant for each of the two expert opinions [Part I]
• Expert opinion from 2 university teachers [Part II]
• Copy of the school leaving certificate
• Copy of university certificates (intermediate diploma, diploma, state examination)
• Curriculum vitae in tabular form
• Certificate of acceptance as a doctoral candidate from the Hochschule für Jüdische Studien
• Certificate of enrollment (doctorate) from the Hochschule für Jüdische Studien
• If applicable, certificate of enrollment from Heidelberg University

Information on extending the scholarship after the first or second year of funding

• Information sheet on extension applications (PDF)

The funding period will begin October 2025 upon arrival in Heidelberg and entails monthly payments of an amount equivalent to the "BAFöG-Höchstsatz", for a maximum duration of 12 months. The number of scholarships for candidates studying the M.A. programme "Jewish Civilizations" is limited to three.

This scholarship is exclusively for students with a Jewish family background and without a citizenship of an EU country. Please note that due to their own statutes, the Szloma-Albam-Stiftung can only support Jewish students that will have to be proven by any form of documentation.

Preference will be given to highly focussed candidates that want to do "Jewish Civilizations" as their first final study degree. Being able to prove strong ties to their own Jewish communities or being institutionally engaged in fostering Jewish life and culture are advantages.

Applications can be in German or English and should include:

• A Letter of Motivation (no more than two A4 pages), outlining

1. how the MA in Jewish Civilizations is instrumental in achieving your professional goals
2. why financial assistance is required (also list your past, current and requested scholarships), and
3. what your Jewish belonging means to you personally.

• Your Curriculum vitae with listed details on education, personal interests and language skills (no more than two A4 pages)
• Academic, community-oriented or professional recommendations, references or certificates
• Verification of your membership in a Jewish community or your Jewish background
• Verification of your enrollment at the Hochschule für Jüdische Studien Heidelberg (to be handed in later).

The deadline for submissions is January 15th, 2027

Please send all application materials as a single PDF to

Mr. Grischa Zeller, Head of Funding
E-Mail: grischa.zeller(at)szloma-albam-stiftung.de

Phone: 0 30 - 23 63 20 18-3
Fax: 0 30 - 23 63 20 18-9

Szloma-Albam-Stiftung, Ansbacher Straße 74, D-10777 Berlin

Applications by Jewish candidates for scholarships for other qualification programs are also possible, please enquire or consult www.szloma-albam-stiftung.de.