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HessenFonds Scholarships
for Refugee Students and Researchers At Risk
With the HessenFonds, the Hessian Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and the Arts (HMWK) provides scholarships for high achieving university students and researchers with refugee status and for researchers at risk at state universities in Hessen. The funding shall enable them to continue their studies or their scientific career at a state university in Hessen. The scholarship is awarded for one year. Students are to be supported primarily in the introductory phase of their studies.
The scholarship is not intended as a permanent doctoral, study or research scholarship. The goal is to support the start of studies or research in Hesse/Germany. Follow-up funding opportunities (e.g. via other scholarship programs) should be examined at an early stage.
Current call for proposals
The current call for proposals runs until January 4, 2026, for funding from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027.
Funding line: refugee students, doctoral students or researchers
Requirements
- Eligible for asylum or status as a recognized refugee (usually according to §25 para. 1-3 or §24 Residence Act) or residence according to §22 Residence Act. (Exception: follow-up funding in the Philipp Schwartz Initiative, 3rd funding year). The asylum procedure must have been completed.
- Eligible applicants are not longer than four years registered in Germany, i.e. the asylum request has not been submitted longer than for four years ago and the continuous stay in Germany does not exceed five years. Exception: for periods of parenting max. 7 years since entry and does not apply to subsequent applications. Relevant documents as proof (e.g. birth certificate, proof of parental leave) must be enclosed with the application documents.
Follow-up applications are generally possible, but must be justified separately. Scholars should therefore seek follow-up funding (e.g. from other scholarship providers) in good time. This applies in particular to doctoral projects or academic projects lasting several years.
Students
- Enrollment at Marburg University
- Outstanding academic achievements
Doctoral students
- Acceptance as doctoral candidate incl. confirmation of supervision at Marburg University (Acceptance by the doctoral committee as well as the supervisor's report including an assessment of the nominee's academic achievements)
- outstanding scientific achievements
Researchers and scholars
- Guarantee of a research or teaching placement as well as supervision promise from Marburg University (in the form of an expert opinion or letter from the host, including an assessment of the nominee's scientific achievements, also with regard to integration in the research field)
- Outstanding achievements in research and/or teaching
Scope of funding
The HessenFonds scholarship includes the following scholarship rates:
- Students: 300 euros/month
- Doctoral students: 1,200 euros/month
- Researchers: 2,300 euros/month
Payment of a family allowance is generally possible.
Funding periods
For 12 months from April or from October
Funding line: doctoral students and researchers at risk
Requirements
- Nomination is open to individuals who face a threat in their country of origin based on ethnic, sexual, gender, or religious identity, or political or civic engagement based on liberal democratic principles and striving to contribute to positive, social change
- Threats may include threats to personal well-being or security (e.g., physical violence, arrest, denial of civil and educational rights, loss of employment/promotional position for political reasons, or the like), and armed conflict in the country of origin
- Applicants must be residing in their country of origin or in a third country outside the EU at the time of application if they have already had to leave their country of origin for the above reasons
Follow-up applications are generally possible, but must be justified separately. A maximum of one follow-up grant is possible. Funding recipients should therefore seek follow-up funding (e.g. from other scholarship providers) in good time. This applies in particular to doctoral projects or academic projects lasting several years.
Doctoral Students
- Acceptance as doctoral candidate incl. confirmation of supervision at Marburg University (Acceptance by the doctoral committee as well as the supervisor's report including an assessment of the nominee's academic achievements)
- Outstanding scientific achievements
Researchers and scholars
- Guarantee of a research or teaching placement as well as supervision promise from Marburg University (in the form of an expert opinion or letter from the host, including an assessment of the nominee's academic achievements, also with regard to integration in the research field)
- outstanding achievements in research and/or teaching
Funding Period
For 12 months from April or October. A later start is possible in exceptional cases with the approval of the HMWK, e.g. in the case of longer visa procedures. The scholarship should be started no later than 6 months after receiving the scholarship approval, otherwise a new nomination is usually required.
Scope of funding
The HessenFonds scholarship includes the following scholarship rates:
- Doctoral students: 1,200 euros/month
- Researchers: 2,300 euros/month
- A family allowance is possible.
- Note: Applying for a visa and preparing for departure is the responsibility of the applicant. Arranging appointments with the foreign representations, speeding up procedures, booking flights and providing logistical services and security services are generally outside the mandate and sphere of influence of the HMWK and the university.
Application and selection procedure
For the application please use only the attached forms. The other documents to be submitted are listed on this website. Please ensure that they are complete and in the correct order.
Applications must be submitted in full, in electronic form and in a compressed PDF document, to the International Office of Marburg University by the deadline. Please note that incomplete applications will not be considered.
The subsequent selection process consists of two steps. In the first step, Marburg University nominates qualified applicants in a ranking list via the President at the Hessian Ministry of Science and Research, Arts and Culture. The internal university nomination procedure is regulated by Marburg University. A maximum of 10 people can be nominated per university, including a maximum of 4 doctoral candidates and/or researchers (including refugees and/or persecuted persons). Accordingly, Marburg University reserves the right to make a selection.
In the second step, the Hessian Ministry of Science and Research, Arts and Culture carries out the final selection process according to the award criteria. Please refer to the call for applications for the award criteria.
Important: The selection process can take up to three months.
There is no legal claim to the granting of a scholarship.
Overview of documents to be submitted
In the following order in a PDF, correctly and completely filled out, digitally filled out (no handwritten notes), signed, in German or English:
If documents are missing, please make a note.1. Doctoral candidates and researchers: Table of contents
2. Application form
incl. letter of motivation and from doctoral students and reseachers: Short description of the project. Please do not submit any additional letters of motivation next to the application form. The letter of motivation should be as informative as possible. Please pay attention to the key questions (motivation to study, goals after graduation, research project goals, planned career after the funding).
If you live outside Hessen, you must state in your application documents whether you plan to move to or near the university if you are accepted for the "HessenFonds". This does not apply to places of residence in other federal states that are close ("commuting distance") to the university location in Hessen. A regular presence of the scholarship holder at the university is a prerequisite for funding.
3. Residence Status
Only from refugees: Proof of residence status (copy of residence certificate), if applicable, birth certificates of children if the residence in Germany is longer than 5 years ; only for persons at risk: description and (if available) proof of the threat situation
4. Complete curriculum vitae
in Europass format, max. 3 pages and, for academics, list of max. 10 most important publications. Start with the most recent station, in bullet points, with average grades. School and university education as well as professional and non-professional experience.
5. Letter of Recommendation
Students: Lecturer's reference - use the form provided. The reference should be informative and explain the applicant's qualifications. Particularly if students do not yet have any academic achievements. If possible, current achievements should be mentioned.
Doctoral candidates and researchers: Letter of recommendation from the supervisor at Marburg University with letterhead of Marburg University, which provides information about academic qualifications. No expert opinion, but a generally understandable assessment of the academic personality, relevance of the research project and integration into the department as well as the prospects after completion of the one-year HessenFonds funding.
As a rule, one expert opinion per application should be attached. A further letter of recommendation (including letters of recommendation from previous positions) can be attached if this is (particularly) meaningful in addition to the first letter of recommendation. No more than two letters of recommendation should be attached.6. Acceptance at Marburg University
Students: Certificate of enrollment or confirmation of study place (the certificate of enrollment must be available at the start of funding).
Doctoral candidates: 1. Certificate of acceptance as a doctoral candidate from the department and 2. acceptance by the doctoral committee and 3. timetable for the doctoral project
Researchers: 1. Confirmation of supervision and 2. Confirmation of research and teaching position co-signed by the Dean's Office and 3. Description/abstract of the teaching/research project and 4. Timetable of the teaching/research project7. Graduation certificates
in a notarized translation.
Students: 1. certificate of university entrance qualification and 2. current transcript of records, Bachelor's certificate if applicable
Doctoral students: University degree certificates
Researchers: doctoral certificate or proof of comparable academic achievements and university degree certificatesThe submission of certified translations of the certificates is sufficient. Please do not submit (extensive) certificates in the original language (except German or English).
8. Proof of German or English language skills
Only necessary for doctoral students and researchers. Certificates or confirmation from supervisor, that language skills are sufficient.
9. If applicable, other relevant documents
e.g. proof of voluntary work
Follow-Up Applications
The following documents are required for an application for an extension:
1. Current application form with current letter of motivation with status of research and timetable
2. Current expert opinion from a lecturer/ the supervisor
3. For students: current transcript of recordsAwarding Criteria
The following criteria, among others, are used to assess the performance and talent of the candidates:
- Ranking by the nominating university
- Grades of the university entrance qualification or, if applicable, first university degree
- Previous academic achievements in the home country and in Germany (if available) or previous achievements in research and/or teaching
- Assessment by the expert opinion
- Description of the doctoral or research project
- Letter of motivation
- If applicable, voluntary commitment, special achievements
- Proof of appropriate language skills, if applicableContact
Call for proposals and application documents - Refugees
Call for proposals and application documents – researchers at risk