Scholarship ticker April 2025
In April, you can apply for the following internal and external scholarships and grants. Detailed information, application portals and application forms can be found under the respective links. Have fun browsing!
If you have any questions, please get in touch with the relevant contact person or contact stipendium@orga.hfmdk-frankfurt.de.
Since March, advice has been available by appointment. If required, you are welcome to contact us by e-mail at the above address. From May, there will be regular consultation hours and counseling services again - these will be announced soon.
Grants for HfMDK students
Ensemble Scholarship
The ensemble scholarship is an excellence scholarship endowed with up to 20,000 euros, which is aimed at advanced students of the HfMDK in a fixed formation in the Master's program in Chamber Music or in the Concert Examination program. As an ensemble, the students should pursue the path to professional life in a targeted and effective manner.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 18.05.2025
Lenzewski Foundation Prize
The Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts (HfMDK) holds an annual competition for the Ina and Gustav Lenzewski Foundation Prize for Chamber Music. The focus of the competition varies from year to year.
in 2025, piano chamber music ensembles (from piano trio) and mixed ensembles (strings+ piano/winds+ piano/winds+ strings+ piano) can apply. At least two thirds of the ensemble members must be enrolled at the HfMDK.
The competition is explicitly aimed at ensembles made up of students from the BA and MA KIA or KAM degree programs. Ensembles studying for a Master's degree in Chamber Music or the Concert Examination are excluded from participation.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 01.06.2025
Award of the Alix Steilberger Cultural Foundation
Every year, the HfMDK awards two sponsorship prizes from the Alix Steilberger Kultur-Stiftung to particularly talented third-year female students in the Bachelor's degree program in Dance (BAtanz) - in the categories Contemporary Dance and Classical Dance respectively.
Open to female students in their third year of the BA Dance program.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 01.06.2025
Schimmelhaar grants
HfMDK students can apply for a grant for a set of new strings, new bow covers, instrument maintenance or materials. 50% of the costs can be covered up to a maximum of 100 euros against a receipt from an instrument maker's workshop or music shop.
Open to students of Artistic Training in Music (KAM) or Artistic Instrumental Training and teacher training courses.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Applications can be submitted at any time, there are no deadlines. Students can apply once per semester.
Sustainability Fund
HfMDK students can apply for material resources from the HfMDK Sustainability Department's Sustainability Fund, which is endowed with 5,000 euros annually, for projects that deal with the diverse topics of sustainability in an artistic or pedagogical-artistic way. It does not matter whether the artistic focus is on the consequences of climate change, biodiversity, issues of justice or equal opportunities. Students are welcome to use the 17 global sustainability goals as a guide.
Open to students of all degree programs.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Applications can be submitted at any time. The call for applications for this year runs until 01.10.2025. The projects applied for must be implemented and completed by 31.12.2025.
APPLICATION and INFO: To apply, please contact nachhaltigkeitsreferat@orga.hfmdk-frankfurt.de for an interview
External funding: Artistic study programs
Dance Foundation
Dance professionals in transition to a new profession after an active dance career can apply to the Dance Foundation for a one-off grant (e.g. for tuition fees, course fees or travel expenses).
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 30.06.2025
Academy Music Theater Today
Every year, the Deutsche Bank Foundation awards 15 scholarships for international students and young international professionals in the fields of stage and/or costume design, conducting, dramaturgy, composition, cultural management, libretto/text and directing in the field of music theater/opera. During the two-year scholarship program, the participants must have Europe as their place of work and residence. A very good knowledge of the German language is required. Age limit: 32 years (exceptions see call for applications).
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 01.05.2025
German Foundation for Musical Life: Carl-Heinz Illies Scholarship
The Carl-Heinz Illies Scholarship is a grant specifically for young pianists up to the age of 23. It is intended to enable musicians to attend master classes and competitions abroad right from the start of their training.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 29.04.2025
Music sponsorship Klaus Thimm
For solo artists and music groups of all genres up to the age of 30. Funding for musical instruments, further musical training or projects is possible.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 30.06.2025
Cusanus-Werk
Scholarships for students at music universities.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 01.08.2025
Hans and Eugenia Jütting Foundation: Scholarships Rock, Pop, Jazz
One-off grants for particularly talented young German and Polish artists in the field of popular music. Categories 2025: Jazz, Rock/Pop, Rap/HipHop, Singer/Songwriter (including Folk-Rock). Please also note the competition conditions.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 31.08.2025
Hans and Eugenia Jütting Foundation: Scholarships for classical music
One-off grants for particularly talented young German and Polish artists in the field of classical music. Categories 2025: piano duo (four-handed), voice, trumpet, oboe, recorder
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 15.10.2025
Oscar and Vera Ritter Foundation
The Oscar and Vera Ritter Foundation supports and challenges highly talented young artists in their musical development. The foundation's work focuses on young people who, for example, receive scholarships or can gain stage experience at concert performances. Further information on the individual scholarships can be found via the link below.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Applications can be submitted at any time, there are no fixed application deadlines for new applications.
COMPETITION GRANTS
International Jan Koetsier Competition for Brass Chamber Music
The Jan Koetsier Competition for Brass Chamber Music is a joint event of the Jan Koetsier Foundation Munich and the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich. The competition takes place every two years and is open to different brass ensembles. Further information can be found here and under the detailed information below.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 22.06.2025
International Albert Schweitzer Organ Competition 2025
Repertoire/program requirements see website. The competition is open to organists of any nationality born after 31.12.1991.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 01.05.2025
Otto Ditscher Art Prize 2026
The Otto Ditscher Art Prize 2026 is a composition competition dedicated to the promotion of compositions for young musicians.
Participation in the competition is by submitting two scores (incl. sound file) of a composition. The prize is endowed with €5,000. If a prize is awarded, the individual parts must also be submitted. The competition is open to composers who have a strong connection to the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region and/or the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, i.e. who live here, grew up here or were educated here.
There is no age restriction.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 31.08.2025
External funding: All disciplines
Friedrich Ebert Foundation
Scholarships for exceptionally talented students and doctoral candidates of all disciplines from Germany and abroad who are committed to social democratic values.
Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom
Scholarships for good to very good students and doctoral candidates from all disciplines who actively support liberal values and an open society.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 30.04.2025
Bowel Disease Foundation
Scholarships for students with intestinal diseases.
Age limit: 35 years
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 30.04.2025
Ernst Ludwig Ehrlich Study Foundation (ELES)
Scholarships for Jewish students.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: April 30, 2025, 4:00 p.m
Advancement Scholarship
Study support for experienced professionals
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 09.06.2025
Evangelisches Studienwerk Villigst
Scholarships for students who belong to a Protestant church
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 15.07.2025
Extra tips
"Memory for Melodies". Melody memory test at the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics
The Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics is once again offering exciting studies and tests in April. As part of the initial question "Can musicians really remember music better than non-musicians?", professional musicians and musicians in training are being sought to test their melodic memory in a 45-minute test. The test will take place in the Institute's laboratory and you will receive a small payment in return for your participation.
- Information and registration here
- You can find more exciting tests and studies to browse through here
Impuls neue Musik
Impuls neue Musik promotes music projects that shape the exchange between the German-speaking and French-speaking linguistic and cultural areas with new ideas and network the contemporary music scenes in Germany, France, Switzerland and Luxembourg. We are looking for composers, musicians, sound artists, performers and organizers who contribute to the enrichment of artistic exchange between the four countries. Funding is available for concerts and music theater productions, series or festivals, educational projects and sound art.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 01.05.2025
Cultural counseling Hessen
The LKB Hessen offers cultural professionals and actors in cultural education in Hessen contact points for individual questions on financial support and cooperation and provides referrals to experts on topics such as energy checks, sustainability, business start-ups, organizational development, accessibility and inclusion or tax and legal issues.
Culture pass
Kultur für ALLE e.V. issues the Kulturpass, which offers heavily discounted admission to numerous cultural events. It costs a symbolic 1 euro, is valid for one year and must then be applied for again. Eligible applicants include students who receive support under the Federal Training Assistance Act (BAföG) and refugee students.
Ein Zehner bis 25
This season, the Alte Oper is once again offering students the opportunity to purchase tickets at a reduced price.
Students wanted as supervisors for vacation camp
The organization Bärenstark is looking for students as carers for children with chronically ill or disabled siblings for a 2-week holiday camp in the period 27.07. - 10.08.2025. Further information can be found in the download attachment.