Learn with us
It does not matter where you come from. What counts is where you want to go!
Learn with us
It does not matter where you come from. What counts is where you want to go!
You determine your path and goals. We want to be a reliable companion and support you along your journey with our decades of experience.
Holistic support
The Global Scholarship Program supports you throughout your journey of higher education - during your studies at the university of your choice or during your voluntary civic engagement, in line with our organizational policies and guidelines.
You’ve got the ideas, we provide the necessary support! During your studies, we cover your costs for travel, health insurance, accommodation, living expenses, study materials and tuition fees so that you can fully concentrate on your studies. During your civic engagement with the Rise & Help Program, we cover your living costs so you can concentrate on your voluntary civic engagement.
We know how important it is to have someone by your side – in both your professional and personal life. Challenges are part of life and our coordinators are there to listen and support you.
To prepare for a successful and fulfilled career, we also support you with career guidance by experienced experts.
Who can apply?
We support you during your Bachelor's or Master's degree or during your voluntary civic engagement with the Rise & Help Program. We do not provide scholarships for PhD studies.
For Bachelor’s or Master’s scholarships, the Global Scholarship Program is aimed at young people who have grown up in an SOS Children's Village or have been supported by programs of SOS Children’s Villages such as the Family Strengthening Program.
For the Rise & Help Program grants, the Global Scholarship Program is aimed at young people who have grown up in an SOS Children's Village or have been supported by programs of SOS Children’s Villages such as the Family Strengthening Program as well as young people from the community who have not been participants of programs of SOS Children’s Villages as long as they meet the defined criteria.
To be eligible for a Bachelor’s or Master’s scholarship, you must meet the following criteria:
- You want to study a Bachelor or Master program.
- You have been in a program of SOS children’s Villages for at least 6 months, e.g.:
SOS Children’s Village.
Small group home of SOS Children’s Villages.
Family Strengthening Program.
Any other program of SOS Children’s Villages. - You are between 18 and 34 years old by the time your scholarship support from us begins.
- You have been accepted to your university before you apply.
- If you are planning to study in a foreign country, you must send your application at least 3 months before the start of the term, due to visa regulations and required documentation.
Please note: Children of SOS Children’s Villages employees are not eligible.
To be eligible for a Rise & Help Program grant, you must meet the following criteria:
- You are highly motivated and passionate about making a difference in your community.
- You are between 18 and 30 years old by the time your financial support from us begins.
- You are based in one of the participating countries.
- You have secured a voluntary, non-employment position to address a social issue with a community-based organization or institution.
Please note: Children of SOS Children’s Villages employees are not eligible.
Ready to apply? What we need from you.
If the criteria above apply to you, we look forward to receiving your application. What we need from you in addition to the above-mentioned criteria, and which application documents you must submit, you will find here:
Please note: The maximum amount a Bachelor’s or Master’s student can be supported with to cover all costs is the equivalent of 15.000 USD per year.
The maximum amount for the Rise & Help Program, is set by each participating country, therefore please check with the National Office of SOS Children’s Villages if your country is one of the participating countries.
Please note: The disbursements for each year are subject to SOS-Kinderdörfer weltweit's income and the favorable decision of SOS-Kinderdörfer weltweit's Supervisory Board on SOS-Kinderdörfer weltweit's budget.
Submit your application for Bachelor’s and Master’s scholarship
Please send complete applications for Bachelor’s or Master’s scholarships to global.scholarship@sos-kd.org.
Exceptions: Scholars planning to study in Jordan, Sri Lanka or in a Latin American or Carribean country, please send your application to your designated contact person:
Jordanian universities: gsp.mena@sos-jordan.org
Latin American and Caribbean universities: BecasGSP.LAAM@sos-kd.org
Sri Lankan universities: pavith.kaluarachchi@soscvsrilanka.org
All other universities: global.scholarship@sos-kd.org
Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. An application does not guarantee the award of a scholarship.
Submit your application for Rise & Help Program
Please send complete applications for Rise & Help Program grants to the National Office of SOS Children’s Villages in your country:
Brazil: juventudes@aldeiasinfantis.org.br
Ethiopia: Anketse.birhanu@sos-ethiopia.org
Guatemala: riseandhelp.guatemala@aldeasinfantiles.org.gt
India: rise.help@soscvindia.org
Palestine: rise.help@sos-kd.org
Rwanda: sosbnc@sos-rwanda.org
Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. An application does not guarantee the award of a grant.
How are candidates for a Bachelor’s or Master’s scholarship selected?
Once submitted, applications are reviewed by the Global Scholarship Team, who assess your application based on the following criteria. Once your application has been reviewed and is deemed complete, you will be invited to an interview. Please make sure you send in a complete application.
The application will be reviewed on the following criteria:
- You have submitted all required documents and information.
- You have submitted a document showing the expected tuition costs.
- Your transcript shows that you have good grades.
- Your transcript shows an improvement in your grades even if you started with bad grades.
- Your CV and motivational letter show that you have been involved in activities and programs in or outside of school.
- You have clear motivation, and you clearly understand the program which you have chosen to study and how this will contribute to your future plans.
When you are invited to an interview, you should be aware of the following:
- Make sure you are ready to have an interview and show up on time.
- If a candidate cannot make it for an interview, the candidate should communicate this latest 1 hour before the time of the scheduled interview.
- Should a candidate fail to show up for a scheduled interview or reschedule in time, this will be considered as a withdrawal of scholarship application.
How are candidates for a Rise & Help Program grant selected?
- You have submitted all required documents and information.
- Your application form has been fully completed, and all required information has been provided.
- You have submitted a fully completed host-organization form, signed and stamped.
- You have clearly explained how a year of civic engagement will contribute to your career development goals and plans.
You are selected for a Bachelor’s or Master’s scholarship
Successful candidates will receive a contract via email from SOS-Kinderdörfer weltweit which they have to read, print, sign by hand and scan, then send back to SOS-Kinderdörfer weltweit.
- A contract is a binding agreement between two or more persons or parties; a business arrangement for the supply of goods, funds, or services at a fixed price.
- Scholarship recipients are expected to respect the conditions of the contract.
A Financial Guarantee Letter (FGL) will be issued via email to the successful candidate upon submission of a signed contract. This Financial Guarantee Letter (FGL) is proof that the candidate is part of the Global Scholarship Program.
You are selected for a Rise & Help Program grant
Selected candidates will receive an acceptance mail and participation agreement which they have to sign and send back to the National Office of SOS Children’s Villages in their country.
- A participation agreement is a binding agreement between two or more persons or parties; a business arrangement for the supply of goods, funds, or services at a fixed price.
- Rise & Help Program grant recipients are expected to respect the conditions of the participation agreement.
Partner with us
We are looking for universities, companies and program partners who want to contribute to a fairer world with us.