When I ask about a scholarship for part-time study in an initial consultation, the reaction is almost always the same: that is not for me. Two assumptions sit behind it. First, that scholarships are for twenty-two-year-olds with perfect grades. Second, that anyone working full time is not eligible anyway.
Both are wrong, and the second one costs the most money. There are programmes designed specifically for people who have completed vocational training and spent years in a job. That is precisely where the competition is smallest.
Which Scholarships Actually Fund Part-Time Study
The funding landscape is confusing because it consists of very different pots of money. This overview sorts them by what is practically relevant for working professionals.
| Type of funding | Intended for | Typical benefit | The catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal advancement scholarship (Aufstiegsstipendium) | experienced professionals with completed vocational training and demonstrated achievement | monthly allowance, with a separate lower flat rate for part-time formats | multi-stage selection process, application usually before or early in the programme |
| Continuing education scholarship (Weiterbildungsstipendium) | young skilled workers shortly after completing training | a budget across several years, usable for a degree under certain conditions | age limit, application runs through the responsible chamber |
| Deutschlandstipendium | students at participating universities, part-time included | income-independent allowance, usually for two semesters | only where the university takes part, short application windows |
| Major funding foundations | traditionally full-time students, though some now open up to working professionals | study cost allowance, sometimes additional support | heavy application effort, alignment with the foundation's outlook matters |
| University and provider scholarships | enrolled students of that distance learning university | usually a partial scholarship or a reduction on tuition fees | rarely advertised, you have to ask for it specifically |
| Foundations with a subject or regional focus | narrowly defined groups, by industry, profession or place of residence | varies widely, from a one-off payment to full funding | research is time consuming, but often only a handful of applicants |
In Austria, part of this funding runs through the self-supporter grant and the degree completion grant, both aimed at people who previously supported themselves. In Switzerland, education grants and loans are regulated at cantonal level. Your canton of residence is responsible, and the conditions differ considerably between cantons. Anyone living in Switzerland starts the research there, not with the federal German programmes.
Who Really Stands a Chance With a Part-Time Study Scholarship
Now the part that surprises most people.
Fit beats grades. A funding body gives out money for a purpose, not as a reward for a transcript. Anyone who credibly shows that their plan serves exactly that purpose has the advantage, even with an average bachelor's degree. Anyone with an outstanding degree who cannot explain why this particular body should fund them drops out in the second round.
Professional experience is an argument, not a drawback. In the classic programmes for school leavers you are the special case. In the programmes for experienced professionals you are the standard case, and that is exactly what is wanted there: completed training, years of practice, a concrete plan. Apply where your profile is the one being sought, not where you have to justify it.
The small pots are the realistic ones. Very many people apply to the large foundations. For a subject foundation, a regional foundation or a university-run partial scholarship it is sometimes a handful. The effort per application is lower there too. Purely in terms of arithmetic, that is the better use of your time.
How such funding fits into the overall financing picture, alongside employer contributions, tax deductions and instalment plans, is covered under financing your studies. And before you approach your employer, read how to ask properly, because the two routes do not rule each other out.
Good to know
The most overlooked lever is the partial scholarships and fee reductions offered by the distance learning universities themselves. Many providers run their own schemes, for single parents, for people from particular occupational groups, or for graduates of their own continuing education courses. They are rarely prominent on the website. Ask about them directly in the university's advisory call, in those words, and before you sign anything.
The Application: What Makes the Difference
Three things decide the outcome, and none of them is your grade average.
Timing. Many deadlines fall six months before the programme starts, and some schemes no longer fund you once you are midway through. Which means the scholarship question belongs at the beginning of your planning, right next to the choice of programme, not at the end when the invoice arrives.
The statement of motivation. The most common mistake is writing that you want to develop yourself further. Every applicant wants that. What works is concrete: what you do professionally, what exactly you are missing, what the degree will let you do that you cannot do today. Two specific sentences from your working week carry more weight than a page of good intentions.
The references. Where letters of recommendation are required, a manager who can explain your plan in their own words is worth more than a prestigious signature with no substance. Ask early, and give the person bullet points to work from.
One realistic note to close this section: a scholarship is a possibility, not a basis for planning. Your financing has to hold up without an award. Anything else is a risk you should not take on for a degree that runs several years.
Conclusion: Apply, but Do Not Plan Around It
Here is how to proceed:
- First establish whether you qualify for the programmes aimed at experienced professionals. That is where your profile is the one being sought.
- Ask your preferred university directly about its own partial scholarships and reductions. That is the fastest possible yes.
- Look for two or three small foundations connected to your industry or your region.
- Build your financing so that it works without a scholarship.
And then the point that often delivers more in practice than any funding: check how many modules you can have credited. Recognised prior learning reduces tuition fees directly and without an application process. What is possible in your case is shown by the credit check in a few minutes.
I am studying for my own MBA on a full scholarship, and I say openly that it was tied to my role as an ambassador and is not a general offer. How that came about and what I learned from it about funding decisions is on My MBA.
If you want to know which funding fits your profile and which part-time programme adds up alongside it, book a free initial consultation. We will go through your options in thirty minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Are there scholarships for part-time study?
Yes. Alongside the well known foundations there are programmes aimed specifically at people with vocational training and work experience, plus university-run scholarships and fee reductions from the providers themselves. Part-time formats are explicitly eligible under many of them.
Do I need top grades for a scholarship?
No. A strong degree helps but is rarely the deciding criterion. With target-group programmes what counts most is how well you fit the funding purpose and how plausible your plan is. Professional experience is an argument there, not a drawback.
Can I apply once I have already started studying?
It depends on the programme. Some require the application before you enrol, others allow it during the first semesters, others fund only the remaining duration. Check this point first, it rules programmes out faster than any other criterion.
Is a partial scholarship worth the effort?
Usually yes. A fee reduction across the full duration of the degree adds up, and the application effort for a university-run programme is far lower than for the large foundations. The competition there is smaller too.
The information on this page is general in nature and based on my advisory practice (last updated 04.08.2026). It does not replace an official credit transfer or recognition decision by the respective university and is not legal advice. Specific decisions are made by universities, the ZAB (Germany), the BMBWF (Austria), or the SBFI (Switzerland). I clarify binding next steps with you in the initial consultation.