University of Potsdam Scholarships 2027 Online Info Event and Application Process Guidance

A scholarship application is much easier when you can ask successful scholars what actually worked for them.

That is exactly the opportunity the University of Potsdam is creating this autumn. Although applications for its current Universitätsstipendium Potsdam (Deutschlandstipendium) 2026/27 round have already closed, the university is inviting students to a dedicated “Studying with a Scholarship” information event on October 5, 2026—months before the next scholarship cycle begins.

For international students planning Bachelor’s or Master’s study at Potsdam, this makes the event more than a general information session. It is an early opportunity to understand how German scholarship committees evaluate grades, voluntary work, personal circumstances and motivation before the next University Scholarship application open.

Lets First Walk Through the Scholarship Details Quickly

€300 a Month — But Grades Alone Are Not Enough

The University Scholarship Potsdam is part of Germany’s Deutschlandstipendium programme.

Successful Bachelor’s and Master’s students receive €300 per month, with half financed by private companies, foundations or sponsors and the other half funded by the German Federal Government.

The award is designed for strong students, but the university’s selection model is broader than simply ranking GPAs.

Academic performance matters alongside motivation, voluntary or social engagement, practical qualifications, awards and difficult personal circumstances that may have affected an applicant’s educational journey.

For an international student, that creates an important opportunity: volunteering performed outside Germany can count too.

The university specifically says that evidence of comparable voluntary work completed in an applicant’s home country during the previous five years can significantly strengthen the application.

Can International Students Apply for Potsdam University Scholarship?

Yes. German citizenship is not required. Also, the international students enrolled at the University of Potsdam can apply, as can prospective first-year students who are still completing the university admission process.

Applicants coming from another university only temporarily through an exchange programme such as Erasmus are excluded, as are doctoral candidates from this particular scholarship.

Prospective students do not necessarily have to wait until final enrolment either. First-year applicants who are awaiting an admission decision may submit a scholarship application and provide their matriculation certificate later within the specified deadline.

International Grades Need One Extra Step

This is probably the most important technical point for applicants educated outside Germany.

Your foreign grades need to be translated into the German grading system.

The University of Potsdam specifically asks applicants to provide an appropriate German-grade conversion, for example through uni-assist. Without the converted average grade, the scholarship application may not be processed.

Documents can be submitted in German or English. Documents originally issued in another language require authenticated translations.

Why Attend the October 5, 2026 Scholarship Event?

Because scholarship webpages can tell you the rules; scholarship holders can tell you how those rules played out in an actual application.

The University of Potsdam’s “Studying with a Scholarship” event will be held on:

October 5, 2026 at 2:30 p.m.
Campus Griebnitzsee, Building 06, Room H03

The Central Student Advisory Service is organizing the session, where students can meet scholarship recipients from established funding organisations and ask about their experiences applying for scholarships. The event is scheduled to be conducted in German.

For an international applicant preparing for 2027, useful questions would include:

• What evidence makes volunteer work convincing?
• How heavily are grades weighted against social engagement?
• What personal circumstances are worth explaining?
• How should international achievements be documented?
• What mistakes weaken otherwise strong applications?

The 2027 Application Should Start Before July

The next University of Potsdam scholarship application phase for winter semester 2027/28 is scheduled to begin July 1, 2027. Applicants should therefore spend the coming months preparing rather than waiting for the portal to open.

A strong international applicant should already be collecting:

• Proof of academic performance;
• A German conversion of foreign grades;
• Evidence of voluntary and community activities;
• Certificates for internships, work experience or awards;
• documentation of relevant personal circumstances; and
• A clear explanation of motivation.

There is also a double-funding restriction. Students already receiving another merit- or performance-based scholarship averaging €29.99 per month or more generally cannot simultaneously receive the Potsdam University Scholarship. Erasmus or qualifying DAAD mobility grants, however, are treated differently and do not automatically constitute prohibited double funding.

Why This €300 Scholarship Is Still Worth Competing For

€300 per month will not finance an entire international degree in Germany, but that is not really the point of the Deutschlandstipendium.

Over a standard 12-month award period, it provides €3,600 in additional support, while also connecting recipients with sponsors, other scholars and potential professional networks.

For international students interested in the 2027/28 cycle, the immediate opportunity is therefore not to submit an application—it is to learn how to build a stronger one before July 2027.

If you are unsure whether your foreign grades, volunteer work, nationality, prospective University of Potsdam admission or another scholarship affects your eligibility, leave your question in the comments below this article.