The Saarland Graduate Research and Arts Funding Programme – GraduSaar

• Doctoral scholarship:
  Applicants must have completed a university degree that qualifies them for doctoral study, and their research project is expected to make a meaningful contribution to research in their chosen discipline.
• Scholarship for artistic projects:
  Applicants must have completed a degree at HfM Saar or HBKSaar and have demonstrated above-average levels of achievement. The proposed project must also have been approved by the relevant institution and is expected to contribute significantly to the development of artistic forms and artistic means of expression. Funding may also be awarded to individuals in order to support the further development of outstanding artistic ability and talent.
• The project must be carried out at one of the participating higher education institutions in Saarland.
• GraduSaar funding is intended to be the sole funding for the project's stated purpose. Other funding for the same project purpose is excluded.
• Further information is available in the Regulations Governing Graduate Funding Ordnung zur Graduiertenförderung.

• Basic scholarship:
  A basic scholarship supports academic research or artistic projects from the initial phase onwards.
• Completion grant:
  A completion grant supports academic research or artistic projects that are expected to be completed within one year.
• Start-up or bridge funding grants:
  In certain cases, funding may be awarded as a start-up grant or interim support – either to help launch a project or to close a funding gap in an ongoing project.
• Further information is available in the Regulations Governing Graduate Funding  Ordnung zur Graduiertenförderung.

• Applications must be submitted via the online form by 15 May each year (with funding normally starting on 1 October).
• The application form requires you to provide details of your personal information, educational background, and research or artistic project.
• Please upload the following documents with your application:
  • Personal statement that also explains why you require financial assistance
  • If you have dependent children, please provide proof of your family circumstances
  • Please provide proof of your financial circumstances within the meaning of Section 8 of the Regulations Governing Graduate Funding Ordnung zur Graduiertenförderung
  • Copy of your identity card, passport or comparable proof of identity
  • CV
  • Copies of degree certificates/transcripts
  • Outline of proposed project (work/research plan and schedule) – do not exceed 10 A4 pages
  • Project supervision agreement, i.e. written consent from at least one authorized supervisor at the relevant institution (authorization as defined in the relevant doctoral degree regulations or, in the case of artistic projects, the applicable regulations of the relevant institution)
  • Two letters of recommendation, one of which must be issued by a member of one of the participating institutions
  • Where appropriate, additional proof that the applicant is suitably qualified to undertake the proposed artistic project (e.g. academic and examination results, proof of artistic aptitude/accomplishments, experience and skills acquired or demonstrated within or outside an art college or art academy)
  • Where applicable, a statement from the supervisor confirming that any secondary employment is compatible with the project if that secondary employment – within the meaning of Section 7 of the Regulations Governing Graduate Funding Ordnung zur Graduiertenförderung - exceeds the scope of a low-wage position (‘mini-job’) as defined in German employment law.
• We recommend applying online. If you wish to apply by post, please print and complete the GraduSaar scholarship application form.
• Further information is available in the Regulations Governing Graduate Funding Ordnung zur Graduiertenförderung.

• Selection is made by an awards committee comprising representatives of the participating institutions.
• Selection is merit-based and competitive, with decisions taken primarily on the basis of personal aptitude and suitability as well as on the academic/expert assessments submitted. Personal aptitude and suitability are assessed predominantly in terms of an applicant's capacity for and proficiency in pursuing fundamental and applied academic or artistic work, as well as the quality of previous degree results.
• Applicants are also expected to provide a well-reasoned case for why financial support is required to realize the proposed project.
• Further information is available in the Regulations Governing Graduate Funding Ordnung zur Graduiertenförderung.

• As of 1 June 2023, scholarship holders receive €1,350 per month.
• For each dependent child, the amount is increased by the child benefit stipulated in the Federal Child Benefit Act (BKGG).
• The scholarship may be reduced if you have additional income; however, this does not apply to income from approved part-time secondary employment (see below). Any BAföG funding received in addition to the scholarship will be fully deducted from the scholarship.
• Further information is available in the Regulations Governing Graduate Funding Ordnung zur Graduiertenförderung.

• On 14 June 2025, the revised version of the Regulations Governing Graduate Funding (Ordnung zur Graduiertenförderung) dated 16 March 2025 entered into force.
• Under the revised version, the funding duration is:
  • three years for a basic scholarship
  • one year for a completion grant
  • a maximum of six months for a start-up or bridge funding grant
  • Note: under the revised version of the regulations, an extension of the basic scholarship is no longer available.
• Under the previous version of 7 July 2020, the funding duration is:
  • two years for a basic scholarship
  • one year for a completion grant.
  • Under the previous version of the regulations, scholarship or grant holders could apply for an extension of up to one year for the basic scholarship and up to three months for the completion grant if this was justified by project progress.
  • Important note: Students who were awarded the scholarship before 14 June 2025 are governed by the earlier regulations and are therefore eligible to apply for a one-year extension to the basic scholarship.
• If project completion is delayed due to circumstances that could not have been foreseen when the scholarship was awarded and for which the scholarship holder is not responsible, an extension of up to six months (basic scholarship) or up to three months (completion grant) may be awarded.
• For further information, please refer to the Regulations Governing Graduate Funding  Ordnung zur Graduiertenförderung.

• Secondary employment activities that are research-related, research-adjacent or artistic in nature are deemed compatible with the scholarship, provided that they do not exceed 10 hours per week and do not hinder project progress.
• Secondary employment that exceeds the legally defined scope of low-wage employment ('mini-job') must be applied for in advance. The decision determining whether the proposed secondary employment is compatible with the academic research or artistic scholarship project is made by the awards committee. Scholarship holders wishing to take on secondary employment activities must apply to the committee beforehand and must include a statement from their project supervisor.
• Further information is available in the Regulations Governing Graduate Funding Ordnung zur Graduiertenförderung.

• In addition to the scholarship itself, scholarship holders may apply for €1,000 per year towards material and travel costs.
• In addition to financial support, GraduSaar provides scholarship holders with access to subject-specific and cross-disciplinary training courses as well as professional development opportunities.
• Further information is available in the Regulations Governing Graduate Funding Ordnung zur Graduiertenförderung.

1) Does the Saarland Graduate Research and Arts Funding Programme (GraduSaar) provide funding for a Master's project?

Answer: No.

2) Does the Saarland Graduate Research and Arts Funding Programme (GraduSaar) provide funding for a Meisterstudium (postgraduate master-class programme in the arts)?

Answer: Yes.

3) Does the Saarland Graduate Research and Arts Funding Programme (GraduSaar) provide funding for a doctoral research project at the University of Art and Design Saar (HBKsaar)?

Answer: Yes.

4) Do I need to be enrolled at HBKsaar to apply for a GraduSaar scholarship?

Answer: No.

5) What is a completion grant?

Answer: A completion grant supports the completion of a major artistic project that has already been started. It cannot be used to fund the completion of a study programme such as a Bachelor's or Master's degree.

6) How is an artistic project defined?

Answer: The nature, scope and requirements of an artistic project are defined by HBKsaar itself. This explicitly includes the fields of design and media.

7) Can scholarship holders take on part-time secondary employment or have additional income?

Answer: Any part-time, secondary employment must be declared and must not exceed 10 hours per week. You can earn a total net income of up to €7,670 per year without affecting your scholarship. Higher income must be declared and may lead to a reduction in the monthly scholarship amount – see Section 8 of the Regulations Governing Graduate Funding (Ordnung zur Graduiertenförderung). Income from secondary employment permitted under Section 7 of the Regulations Governing Graduate Funding (Ordnung zur Graduiertenförderung) will not affect the scholarship.