Study Abroad Scholarships

Max Kade Foundation Scholarships for Semester- and Year-Long Study in Berlin

In coordination with the Department of Germanic, Russian, and East European Languages and Literatures and the Rutgers Center for Global Education at Rutgers, the Max Kade Foundation is offering up to two scholarships per year of $5,000 each to undergraduate students enrolled in the Rutgers University Study Abroad programs in Berlin.

Eligibility: Any Rutgers undergraduate in good standing who has applied through Rutgers Study Abroad for a one-semester (either Fall or Spring) or year-long program in Berlin, has done so by the published Rutgers Study Abroad deadline for Fall study in Germany, and has been accepted into the program, will automatically be considered for a scholarship. No separate scholarship application is required, although students who have officially been accepted by Study Abroad into one of our Berlin programs are encouraged to send an e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to provide Prof. Rennie any information about their financial situation that might help in evaluating their need. If one or both scholarships are not awarded to these applicants, later applications may be considered, including applications for Spring study in Berlin. Students are eligible to receive a Max Kade scholarship only once.

Selection process: All complete applications from eligible students will be considered. Applications are reviewed by a faculty committee in the Rutgers German program. Applicants will normally be informed of the committee's decision within three weeks of the application deadline (via the email address they have submitted with their application form). The German program reserves the right not to award any scholarship during a particular application cycle, and to form a waiting list of eligible scholarship candidates.

For additional information, contact the Department of German, Russian, & East European Languages & Literatures by emailing our Program Coordinator, Mary Mehalick, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by calling 848-932-7781.

Max Kade Foundation Travel Grant for Summer Study in Berlin

The German Department, with the support of the Max Kade Foundation, is offering 20 Travel Grants in the amount of $1,500 to support full-time undergraduate students who have been accepted to FUBIS Term II through Rutgers Study Abroad (link here for more information on the program, and to apply). Knowledge of German is not required to apply for the grant and students from across the university are encouraged to apply. Preference is given to students who are German majors or minors or students enrolled in courses in the German program at Rutgers University. 


External Fellowships for Study Abroad

External scholarships, such as those from Fulbright, DAAD (German Academic Exchange), and Rotary, can be the best way for many graduating seniors to spend a year at a university in German-speaking Europe. Our students who have received these and similar scholarships have found their experience abroad invaluable, and have benefited by being able to add these awards to their resumes.

The deadline for many scholarships come early -- some of them before classes begin in September, others in the first weeks of classes. Please see the list of external scholarship options below.

Not also that some of the schools at Rutgers University provide scholarships of their own, and that some of these monies, in particular for study abroad, often go unspent because students fail to apply. Students should contact their school deans' offices for more information.

Keep in mind that most scholarship applications require transcripts, a carefully written personal statement, recommendation letters, and additional materials. Putting an application together is not necessarily difficult, but it takes some time and thought. Students should contact faculty early on for advice and recommendation letters.


Undergraduate Prizes

Prize for Best Project in Advanced German

The prize goes to any student who has written an outstanding essay in German in partial fulfillment of the requirements for Advanced German 231-232. Nominations are made by the instructor. The prize is announced at the end of the academic year at the Department's Spring reception and includes a certificate.

The Marlene Ciklamini Prize for Best Project in German Studies

In honor of a beloved former colleague, Professor Marlene Ciklamini, this prize is awarded for an outstanding non-essay project in German Studies. It may involve German and/or other languages and can in principle be created in any medium. Nominations are made by the instructor (no more than one per class). The prize recipient is announced at the end of the academic year at the Department's Spring reception. This award includes a certificate and a check in the amount of $100.

The Ralph J. Ley Prize for best German Studies Essay in English and the Johanna Ratych Prize for best German Studies Essay in German

In honor of two much-loved and admired former colleagues and teachers, Professors Johanna Ratych and Ralph J. Ley, the German Department offers two annual prizes for the best undergraduate papers written on any topic in German literature and culture at the 200-level or above. The Johanna Ratych Prize is awarded for the best paper in German Studies written in German. The Ralph J. Lay Prize is awarded for the best paper in German Studies written in English. Nominations are made by the instructor (no more than one paper per class). The prize recipients are announced at the end of each academic year at the Department's Spring reception. Each award includes a certificate and a check in the amount of $100.