TU Berlin President’s Scholarship 2027 (Winter School Tuition Waiver)

Let me clear up the confusion first, because a lot of what's floating around online about this one is wrong. The TU Berlin President's Scholarship is not a full degree scholarship, and it's not a monthly stipend. It is a full tuition fee waiver for one on-campus TU Berlin Winter (or Summer) School course — an intensive short course at one of Germany's most prestigious technical universities. That's still a genuinely valuable award: Winter School course fees are substantial, and this wipes yours out completely.

In short: The TU Berlin President's Scholarship offers a full course-fee waiver for one on-campus TU Berlin Winter School course to an outstanding international student. The 2027 scholarship round had not been published at the time of writing — here's exactly what it is, who qualifies, and how to position yourself for the call.

Quick Overview

• Host Country: Germany (Berlin)
• Host Institution: Technische Universität Berlin (TU Berlin)
• Degree Level: Short-term Winter School courses (2–4 weeks); applicants must be enrolled students
• Program Duration: 2–4 weeks (Winter School 2027: 5–29 January 2027 on campus)
• Funding Type: Funded (full tuition waiver for one on-campus course)
• Deadline: Not yet announced for the 2027 scholarship round

Benefits of the TU Berlin President's Scholarship

Here's exactly what the award covers — and what it doesn't. Honesty matters here.

• Full waiver of the course fee — The scholarship covers the complete tuition for one on-campus TU Berlin Summer or Winter School course, awarded to an exceptional applicant.
• No registration fee for scholarship applicants — You don't pay the standard €60 registration fee when you apply for the scholarship.
• English-taught intensive courses — Winter School courses cover Python programming, AI and AI coding, data science, innovation and entrepreneurship, CanSat satellite design, Industry 5.0, and space-related studies. Some carry up to 6 ECTS credits.
• On-campus TU Berlin experience — Full access to the on-campus programme structure: labs, facilities, and the international cohort.
• Networking in Berlin — Two to four weeks surrounded by students and professionals from around the world, in a city full of research institutes and startups.

What it does not cover: accommodation, travel to Berlin, health and liability insurance, and daily living costs are on you. TU Berlin is explicit that accommodation and travel are not included.

Eligibility Criteria for the TU Berlin President's Scholarship

These are the conditions stated on TU Berlin's official scholarship page:

• Currently enrolled student — You must be studying and enrolled at a university at the time of application.
• Reside outside Germany — The award is for international students living outside the country.
• At least one year of university study — Or equivalent professional work experience.
• English at B2 level (CEFR) — Courses are taught in English, so you need to demonstrate suitable proficiency.
• Meet the Winter School's general admission rules — Each course may have its own prerequisites (for example, programming basics for the AI courses), so check your chosen course's requirements.
• On-campus course only — Scholarship applications can only be made for on-campus courses, not the online option.

How to Apply for the TU Berlin President's Scholarship

Once the 2027 scholarship call is published, this is the established application process from TU Berlin's official page:

1. Register for the TU Berlin Winter School through the official online registration portal, selecting the on-campus course you want to take. 2. Complete all registration steps — but do not pay the €60 registration fee. Scholarship applicants skip that payment. 3. Prepare a single PDF file (max 5 MB) containing your documents: motivation letter (about 1–2 pages), CV (max 2 pages), official transcript of records, and a recommendation letter from a professor (recommended, not mandatory — but unsigned letters are not accepted). 4. Upload the PDF in the "Documents" section of the application form in the online registration portal. 5. Watch your inbox. You'll receive a confirmation email within about 48 hours of submitting — check your spam folder too. 6. Wait for the decision. Historically, one exceptional applicant receives the award, so your motivation letter and academic record carry enormous weight.

While you wait for the 2027 scholarship announcement, register your interest on TU Berlin's Winter School pages and monitor the official scholarships page — the call typically opens a few months before the January session.

Required Documents

Based on the official application instructions:

• Motivation letter (approximately 1–2 pages)
• CV (maximum 2 pages)
• Official transcript of records
• Recommendation letter from a professor (recommended, not mandatory; must be signed — unsigned letters are rejected)

All four combined into one PDF, maximum 5 MB, uploaded in the Documents section of the registration portal.

TU Berlin President's Scholarship 2027 Deadline

Here is the honest position: the 2027 President's Scholarship round had not been published at the time of writing. TU Berlin announces the scholarship call on its official scholarships page, and until that announcement appears, there is no deadline to hit and no application to submit.

For context, the Winter School 2027 itself is confirmed: on-campus courses run 5–29 January 2027, and online courses run 4–29 January 2027. The paid registration for the Winter School has an early-bird course-fee discount deadline of 1 October 2026 — note that's a discount on paid courses, not the scholarship. If you can't wait for the scholarship call, the early-bird route still saves you €100 on the course fee. Keep checking the official scholarships page from autumn onward; the scholarship call, when it comes, will land there first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the President's Scholarship fully funded?

It fully waives the tuition fee for one on-campus Winter (or Summer) School course. It does not cover accommodation, travel, insurance, or living costs — so "fully funded" in the sense of a free degree is wrong. Think of it as a complete course-fee waiver.

Can I apply if I'm not a university student?

The scholarship itself requires you to be currently enrolled. The Winter School courses separately are open to graduates and working professionals too, but the scholarship eligibility is narrower.

Do I need to know German?

No. The courses are taught in English, and the requirement is English at B2 level. No German certificate is needed.

Can I apply for the scholarship for an online course?

No. Scholarship applications can only be submitted for on-campus courses.

How competitive is it?

Very. Historically the award goes to one exceptional applicant per call. A strong academic record plus a genuinely compelling motivation letter — specific about why that course, why TU Berlin, and what you'll do with the skills — is what separates winners from the pile.

Should I pay the €60 registration fee?

No — not if you're applying for the scholarship. The official instructions say scholarship applicants should not pay it. If you're registering as a regular paid participant, then yes, it applies.

What if the 2027 scholarship call never comes?

Then you still have options: the Winter School runs regardless, and the early-bird discount trims the fee. You could also aim for the Summer School 2027 President's Scholarship instead — the award covers one Summer School course too.

Can the scholarship be combined with other funding?

The official page doesn't advertise combinations. Since it waives the course fee entirely, there'd be little to combine for tuition — but you can absolutely fund your travel and stay through other means.

Do recommendation letters have to be from professors?

The official guidance asks for a recommendation letter from a professor. It's listed as recommended rather than strictly mandatory, but for an award given to one exceptional applicant, skipping it would be a mistake. And make sure it's signed — unsigned letters are rejected.

I'm from Pakistan. Am I eligible?

The scholarship is open to international students residing outside Germany who are currently enrolled — nationality isn't restricted. As long as you meet the student status, study-year, and English requirements, you can apply.

Final Words

The TU Berlin President's Scholarship won't pay for a degree, but a full waiver on an intensive, ECTS-bearing course at TU Berlin — in Berlin, in January, surrounded by an international cohort — is nothing to shrug at. The catch is patience: the 2027 call isn't published yet. Get your documents ready now (that motivation letter deserves real thought), pick your course, and be first in line when the announcement drops.