We are the youngest German scholarship organisation recognised by the state. We provide scholarships to highly talented and socially engaged Muslim students and researchers.
The financial support consists of a monthly grant and a fixed sum for study or research expenses. It may also include semesters abroad, conferences, internships and language courses abroad.
We offer promising and motivated young Muslims suitable spaces and opportunities to develop academically, to engage with their own faith, and to take responsibility through social engagement.
„Avicenna-Studienwerk is a tremendously ambitious and bold effort to allow a generation of outstanding young German Muslims realize their intellectual and creative capacities. I am unaware of any other scholarship program in the Western world that has gathered the same level of resources for such an effort. Combining financial support, ethical formation and mentoring, this program is a model for other nations.“
Professor Ingrid Mattson, University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada.
In 2013, the Avicenna-Studienwerk has been recognised by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) as the 13th official scholarship organisation in Germany. In its Latinised form, the organisation is named after the great and influencial 11th-century scholar Ibn Sina. Avicenna provides scholarships to highly talented and socially engaged young German Muslim students. Through its special educational as well as mentoring programmes, it provides suitable spaces for promising and motivated young Muslims to develop academically and personally. Avicenna creates a platform for future Muslim decision makers and leaders in all spheres of life.
Scholarship Programmes funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research
The scholarship program is more than just a scholarship, more than just a funding opportunity. Thirteen organizations for the promotion of gifted students, which have joined forces under the umbrella of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), support students and young scientists with exceptional talents.
Students in Germany have many possibilities to choose from and to match their personal interests and their study priorities. There are ideologically neutral organisations as well as others that are more politically associated, denomination-based or run by the unions or employers’ associations. They adopt and represent different views and positions which reflect the plurality of Germany’s democratic society, yet they share the same goal. They are dedicated to promoting the common good and are assuming responsibility for the society in which we live in. They have established common rules and aims in coordination with the BMBF. The motto is ‚Diversity in Unity‘.
In 2014 in an historic ceremony, which also included a reception by the then German President Joachim Gauck, the Avicenna-Studienwerk welcomed its first generation of 65 promising grantees. In 2015, further 80 grantees were accepted into the scholarship programme, which were followed by 120 in 2016 and 2017. By the end of 2019, we reached our aim to have 500 grantees.
Avicenna is the latinized name of the great Muslim universal scholar Ibn Sina (980-1037). He is best known for his outstanding work „The Canon of Medicine“ (written in 1013) which was used as a textbook in Europe until the 18th century. Avicenna is considered to have been a bridge builder between the East and the West and is a symbol of scientific excellence.
Avicenna-Studienwerk e.V. is a non-profit organisation recognised by the German state and funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, BMBF) and by donations from private individuals and foundations.
The foundation Mercator has granted support during the foundation period (2013-2018). It continues to support the Avicenna-Studienwerk with funds for the educational programme (2018-2021).
The Avicenna-Studienwerk promotes highly talented and socially committed Muslim students and doctoral candidates of all disciplines registered at state or state-recognized universities in Germany.
The Studienwerk focuses on Muslims as a marginalised community.
However, in some cases – for example, if someone is particularly committed to the interfaith dialogue or has a specific reference to Islam in their studies – persons of other denominations can also apply.
The scholarship consists of an academic programme and a monthly financial grant.
Scholarship for students:
In order to apply for our scholarship you must fulfil the following criteria:
– university entrance qualification from a German high school (so-called „Bildungsinländer“)
– eligible for BAföG financial support
– for non-German nationals: residence permit
– main place of residence in Germany
– language proficiency at level C1 or DSH-2
– at least 4 semesters until graduating at the time of admission into the scholarship
Scholarship for doctoral candidates:
In order to apply for our scholarship you must fulfil the following criteria:
– registered as doctoral student at a university in Germany
– PhD admission and first supervisor at a German university
– for non-German nationals: residence permit
– main place of residence in Germany
– language proficiency of level C1 or DSH-2.
Scholarship for students: You must wait at least one year before applying again. Make sure that you are (still) eligible for an application.
Scholarship for doctoral candidates: Applicants for a PhD scholarship must wait at least one year before applying again. Otherwise your application will not be considered.
Scholarships for students: You do not necessarily have to be a German citizen or a citizen of an EU member state to apply. However, you must have an university entrance qualification („Abitur“) from a high school in Germany or at a German school abroad in order to apply for our undergrad scholarship.
Scholarships for doctoral candidates: Doctoral candidates are required to prove a language proficiency at level C1 or DSH-2 regardless of the language the doctoral thesis is written in.
Applicants with a refugee status can apply if:
– they are eligible for BAföG,
– language proficiency at level C1 or DSH-2, and
– at least 4 semesters until graduating at the time of admission into the scholarship.
Scholarships for students: If you completed your high school graduation abroad and do not have EU citizenship, you can only apply if you are eligible for financial aid according to § 8 BAföG.
Please note that you need to provide proof of German language skills at level C1/DSH-2.
Scholarships for doctoral candidates: The regulation § 8 BAföG does not apply to doctoral students. They must provide proof of German language skills at level C1/DSH-2 and complete their doctorate at a university in Germany.
If you plan to study in Germany and are eligible for an application, you can apply while living abroad. However, your main place of residence during your studies has to be in Germany.
We provide funding for studies abroad under certain conditions that are considered case by case.
The end of an application period is either April 1st or October 1st.
The next application period does not start on April 2nd or October 2nd, but with an announcement on our website. With the start of the next application, the portal will also be activated. Please check our website for current information before calling the hotline.
Please upload your complete application documents in the online application portal before the deadline on April 1st or October 1st.
References will be sent by the respective referee to the e-mail address gutachten@avicenna-studienwerk.de. In exceptional cases, references can also be submitted after the deadline. Please note the announcements on our website, the portal or via e-mail.
You do not have to complete your application in one session.
After registration, you can open and close the application portal during the application period in order to answer the questions gradually or to upload documents at a later date.
However, please note: Your application is only valid and considered submitted when and if you upload your documents before the deadline on April 1st or October 1st and click on „Complete Application“.
You must provide three reference letters using only the respective form provided on the portal. The referee must fill out the template form and send it to the e-mail address gutachten@avicenna-studienwerk.de themselves.
References can be submitted after the deadline in exceptional cases, the latest however two weeks after the deadline (April 15th or October 15th). Please note the announcements on our website, the portal or via e-mail.
After the deadline, we will gradually upload all references to the online portal.
High school graduates: Obtain two professional references. These can be from your teachers, principals or other people who can assess your academic abilities.
First semester: If you are still in your first semester, you can obtain one of the two academic references from a former teacher at your high school. However, the second reference must be from a current university lecturer. In exceptional cases, the applicant may obtain both references from high school. However, the exception must be justified.
From the second semester onwards: Please have both references issued exclusively by university lecturers (not teachers from school).
PhD students: Please have one of the two references issued by the professor supervising the doctoral thesis. Ideally, the second expertise should be issued by the second supervisor, but it can also be issued by another professor of your department.
References must be sent by the respective referees to the email address gutachten@avicenna-studienwerk.de before the respective deadline.
References can be submitted after the deadline in exceptional cases, the latest however two weeks after the deadline (April 15th or October 15th). Please note the announcements on our website, the portal or via e-mail.
After the deadline, we will gradually upload all references to the online portal.
All application documents are stored in the database for a maximum of 36 months after the end of the selection process and afterwards destroyed in accordance with data protection regulations.
No, you must provide two academic references. Otherwise, your application will be declined.
Please do not upload any documents (certificates, references etc.) that were written in a language other than English or German and for which you do not have a translation.
All documents must be written in either English or German.
The subject you are studying must be at a German college or university. This does not apply to semesters abroad.
