German scholarship holders together with Pastor Dionisie Arion. Photo: GNC/LWB Berlin.
Deepening Communion – Strengthening Churches – Supporting Students
Theological and Ecumenical Learning in the Service of the Global Lutheran Communion
Since 1952, the German National Committee of the Lutheran World Federation (GNC/LWF) has awarded scholarships to encourage the theological exchange between member churches of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF).
Through its Scholarship Program, the GNC/LWF enables international and German students and graduates to specialize, conduct research or obtain a degree abroad in academic fields relevant to the church. The aim is to build up and consolidate the Lutheran communion and strengthen worldwide ecumenism.
Eligible are students of theology and other church-related disciplines who are advanced in their studies and respective graduates. They must belong to an LWF member church in Germany or abroad. The Scholarship Program is divided into two areas – international and German applicants – and three funding lines.
For international applicants, the GNC/LWF offers full scholarships for studies in theology and church-related disciplines (religious education, church music, church social services, diakonia studies, Christian journalism, etc.). The target group encompasses international advanced students and graduates from LWF member churches, church staff (trainee pastors, pastors, teachers of religion, socio-diaconal workers), and staff of theological faculties. The funding line focuses on promoting theological and subject-specific exchange, as well as on fostering ecumenical skills or even completing a degree. Doctoral scholarships are only funded in exceptional cases.
Internationale Studierende erhalten ein Vollstipendium. Darüber hinaus werden sie eng durch das Stipendienreferat betreut und nehmen am Stipendienbegleitprogramm teil, das vom Deutschen Nationalkomitee des Lutherischen Weltbundes zusammen mit Brot für die Welt veranstaltet wird.
Bewerbungsschluss ist der 1. Januar eines jeden Jahres, Studienbeginn ist in der Regel das Wintersemester.
- Mitgliedschaft in einer Mitgliedskirche des Lutherischen Weltbundes
- Akademische Qualifikation: Mindestens Zwischenprüfung Theologie/Bachelor bzw. Äquivalent
- Deutschkenntnisse bei Bewerbung mindestens B1-, bei Studienantritt mindestens B2-Niveau. Bei ungenügenden Deutschkenntnissen besteht die Möglichkeit, sich um ein Stipendium für einen Deutsch-Sprachkurs zu bewerben.
Hier finden Sie Informationen zum Deutschkurs. - Kirchliche Empfehlung der Kirchenleitung und zwei akademische Fachgutachten
- Zum Zeitpunkt der Bewerbung dürfen Bewerberinnen und Bewerber nicht länger als 15 Monate in Deutschland leben
- Bereitschaft, nach Abschluss des Stipendiums ins Herkunftsland zurückzukehren
- Bewerberinnen und Bewerber dürfen das 35. Lebensjahr nicht überschritten haben
For applicants from Germany, the GNC/LWF offers partial grants for studies abroad in theology and church-related disciplines. The target group encompasses German advanced students and graduates from German LWF member churches. This funding line facilitates academic exchange and the acquisition of ecumenical and inter-religious competencies, qualifications, and degrees. The GNC/LWF has cooperated in this area for decades with prestigious ecumenical and inter-religious study programs. However, the scholarships are not limited to those institutions.
Studierende aus Deutschland erhalten ein Teilstipendium. Darüber hinaus betreut das Stipendienreferat sie während des Auslandsaufenthaltes, unterstützt sie bei der Vernetzung mit Mitgliedskirchen des Lutherischen Weltbundes im Gastland und lädt ehemalige Stipendiatinnen und Stipendiaten zu einem Auswertungsseminar ein.
- Mitgliedschaft in einer Mitgliedskirche vom Deutschen Nationalkomitee des Lutherischen Weltbundes
- Akademische Qualifikation: Mindestens Zwischenprüfung Theologie/Bachelor bzw. Äquivalent
- Nachgewiesene gute Kenntnisse der Sprache des Gastlandes bzw. des zur Immatrikulation notwendigen Sprachniveaus
- Kirchliche Empfehlung der Kirchenleitung und zwei akademische Fachgutachten
- Bewerberinnen und Bewerber dürfen das 35. Lebensjahr nicht überschritten haben
Bewerbungsschluss ist der 1. Januar eines jeden Jahres für Studienbeginn zum Wintersemester und der 1. Juli für Studienbeginn zum Sommersemester des darauffolgenden Jahres.
With a special funding line, the GNC/LWF offers limited full scholarships for Ecumenical Studies in two locations outside Germany.
- The Theological Study Year Rome at the Melanchthon Centre for Ecumenical Studies in Rome, Italy, focuses on Roman Catholic theology.
- The Ecumenical Semester at the Protestant Theological Institute of the Lucian-Blaga-University in Sibiu/Romania offers deep insights into Orthodox theology.
In both locations, the scholarship focuses on acquiring ecumenical experience and competence in the respective areas. They are available to applicants from LWF member churches outside Germany.
- Benefits and duration of support
- Preconditions for application
- Application forms and award
- Bewerbungsformular
International students will receive a full scholarship, and students from Germany will receive partial grants. In addition, they will be closely accompanied by the Scholarship Desk and benefit from attending seminars and the alumni program of the GNC/LWF and Bread for the World. Scholarships can be granted for at least one semester in all funding lines. The maximum duration for international students studying in Germany is three years (36 months). For international students under the funding line Ecumenical Studies and German students, the maximum duration usually is one year, depending on the duration of the study program.
- You belong to an LWF member church.
- You have a degree corresponding at least to a
- Bachelor's degree at a German university (three years of higher education).
- You have exam results to prove your knowledge of German or the language of study of your intended study program, at least B1 on application and B2 when starting the course abroad (these are levels of achievement on the CEFR scale). If a prospective international scholarship holder does not speak and understand German,
- they can apply to the Scholarship Desk to participate in a preparatory German course at the Department of Protestant Theology in Sibiu (Romania).
- A letter of recommendation from the bishop or executive body of your LWF member church.
- You are no older than 35 when applying, although exceptions are possible.
- You are willing to return to your country of origin after completing the study period.
- When applying, international applicants should not have been in Germany for longer than 15 months.
- The closing date is 1 January of each year. Usually, studies begin in the following winter semester. The GNC/LWF Scholarship Committee decides on awarding scholarships.
- Application form for international applicants studying in Germany
- Application form for German applicants studying abroad
- Application form for Ecumenical Studies in Rome or Sibiu
- For further information, please contact the persons indicated under "Contact".
