Scholarships and Financial Support
Currently, JIMES is a self-financed program, meaning students are responsible for covering their own living and travel expenses. While we do not offer internal scholarships at this time, we strongly encourage applicants to explore external funding opportunities.
We have applied for DAAD funding to support student mobility between Germany and India. A decision is expected in April–May 2025, and we will update all admitted students as soon as we receive news. Until external funding is confirmed, students must be prepared to self-finance their stay at the partner university.
Semester Fee
There are no tuition fees for the JIMES program at the University of Cologne. However, all students whose home university is the University of Cologne pay a semester fee (currently approx. 300 €), which includes:
- A public transport pass for Cologne and the wider NRW area
- Access to university services (canteens, sports, student support)
- Student union contribution
The exact fee is updated each semester: Semester Fee – University of Cologne (currently in German only)
Students whose home university is Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pune, India:
- Only pay the Cologne semester fee during their exchange semester in Cologne
- Continue to pay tuition and any additional fees required by Bharati Vidyapeeth during their studies in India
Please note:
Cologne students will also be required to pay am examination fee when they take exams in Pune. This is the case in their first and second semesters. The fee amounts at 5000 INR (roughly 55 EUR) per semester.
Scholarship Opportunities Outside the Program
DAAD Scholarships
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) offers a wide range of scholarships for international students.
- Start your search with the official DAAD database: DAAD Scholarship Database
- Application is usually submitted in your home country via your local DAAD office or German embassy
- Processing can take several months — plan ahead!
University of Cologne Fellowship for Skilled Students
Particularly skilled students enrolled at the University of Cologne can apply for a performance-based fellowship offered through the university’s foundation “Studium und Lehre.” Note: Information is currently available in German only: Stipendienprogramm der Stiftung Studium und Lehre (German only)
Other Scholarship Options
In addition to DAAD and university programs, many foundations and organizations in Germany offer scholarships based on academic performance, social commitment, or background.
The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) maintains a searchable scholarship portal with hundreds of funding opportunities from various providers: Scholarship Database – BMBF (Federal Ministry of Education and Research)
You can filter by:
- Field of study
- Degree level
- Target group (e.g. international students)
- Personal criteria
Most scholarships require an early application, sometimes before arriving in Germany.