Education Germany

Germany: updated rules on research stays, scholarships and tuition

18 October 2026 Matthias Kurth

What this means for you

If you plan a research stay, an artist stay or a study program in Germany, check how often you can apply for funding and whether tuition fees apply to your specific program. You will need to confirm at the time of application that no fees will be charged for your whole study period.

Now Research and artist stays can be taken multiple times, typically every three years, while research scholarships are limited to once per educational stage (e.g., PhD or postdoc). General tuition fees are not permitted for certain study programs, though exceptions exist for private universities and state universities in Baden-Württemberg and parts of Bavaria; applicants must confirm no fees for the entire study period at the time of application.

According to available data, Germany has changed its rules on research and artist stays, research scholarships and tuition fees. Research and artist stays can be taken multiple times, typically every three years. Research scholarships are limited to once per educational stage, such as a PhD or postdoc.

General tuition fees are not permitted for certain study programs. Exceptions exist for private universities and state universities in Baden-Württemberg and parts of Bavaria. Applicants must confirm that no fees apply for the entire study period at the time of application.