How to get a Konrad Adenauer Foundation scholarship?

Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), a political foundation close to the CDU party — one of Germany's largest PhD/Master scholarship programs. Each year, 20-30 international students are accepted from Turkey.

#KAS Scholarship Categories

#1. KAS Master Studies (from Turkey)

• Duration: 1-2 years
• Monthly: 957 € (close to DAAD)
• Coverage: Health insurance + travel + research + language course
• Goal: Full relocation to Germany for Master studies

#2. KAS PhD in Germany

• Duration: 3-4 years
• Monthly: 1,500 €
• Coverage: Full scholarship + research support

#3. KAS Researcher Programmes

• Duration: 1-12 months
• Monthly: 1,200-2,000 €

#Application Requirements

#Academic

• Minimum GPA: 2.5/4.0 (Turkey 80+)
• Bachelor's degree completed or in final stage
• Bachelor's completed for Master, Master's completed for PhD
• Age limit: Master 30 years, PhD 35 years

#Language

• German minimum B2 (TestDaF 4 or Goethe B2)
• English not required (German-based program)
• German Master/PhD programs are prioritized

#Personal / Political

• Affinity with CDU/Christian-democratic values — foundation priority
• Social engagement (club, association, volunteer work)
• Prove leadership qualities
• Intention to contribute to Turkey upon return

#Application Process

#Step 1: Online Application

• kas.de/scholarship-programmes
• For Turkey: Information can also be obtained through DAAD Information Center İstanbul
• Fill out the online form

#Step 2: Documents

• CV (German + English versions)
• Motivation letter (5 pages, German preferred)
• 3 reference letters (academic + political)
• Diploma + transcript (certified translation)
• German/English language certificate
• University admission letter (for Master/PhD)
• Forschungsexposé (for PhD)
• Letter proving suitability for KAS (political activity)

#Step 3: Interview

• Online (Skype/Zoom) or at the DAAD office in Turkey
• Duration: 30-45 minutes
• Topics:
  • Academic plan
  • Political stance (affinity with CDU values)
  • Intention for social contribution
  • Reason for coming to Germany

#Step 4: Decision

• 2-3 months after the interview
• Acceptance letter is issued
• Scholarship start date is determined

#Application Deadlines (2026)

#KAS Scholarship Features

#Additional Services (KAS Membership)

• KAS Seminars + Workshops — political education
• Academic mentor — advisor assigned
• Networking events — meet other scholarship holders
• Conference + travel support additional funding
• KAS Alumni network — post-graduation career support

#Conditions

• Participation in political education seminars is mandatory (2-3 events per year)
• Adherence to CDU values is expected
• Informing KAS after the scholarship is mandatory (contributing in Turkey)

#KAS vs DAAD Comparison

#In Which Scenario Should KAS Be Preferred?

#Choose KAS if:

• You are close to CDU/Christian-democratic values
• You enjoy political activities (seminars, workshops, networking)
• You intend to return to Turkey + contribute to the community
• You are under 35 + have good academic performance

#Do Not Choose KAS if:

• DAAD has more flexible programs (short-term, sandwich, etc.)
• You do not want to dedicate time to political activities
• You are over 35 (KAS will not accept)

#Turkey Connection

KAS Turkey Office (Ankara):

• Address: Çankaya, Ankara
• Tel: +90 312 466 22 76
• Web: kas.de/tuerkei

KAS Turkey builds a network with Turkish academics who support CDU policies. You can connect with existing Turkish academics upon your return.

Related: DAAD application | PhD scholarships.