Finding a scholarship
As a student, there are many things one has to think of and take care of. One of the most important points is the financing of the studies.
Beside BAföG, (mini-)jobs or private financing there is also the possibility to get support from a scholarship. Usually, scholarships are given from foundations that have different aims, profiles and criteria of granting.
The foundations can be roughly ranged in three categories:
party-friendly, union related or confessional foundations. Although the membership to a certain party, union or denomination usually is not requested, but the identification with their aims.
Looking for a suitable foundation is not so simple, as there are many requirements for the granting, which have to be met. For example, there are special scholarships for women, for students with migration background and many more. A long and intensive research pays off, as the chances of success at a foundation, requiring your profile, are much higher.
The simple answer to that is yes, everyone is eligible for a scholarship. One doesn’t have to absolutely show a very good university-entrance diploma or the best grades in his or her studies, in order to apply for a scholarship.
Scholarships look for dedicated students, who get involved with social, societal and/or political areas. Commitment besides the studies can be shown, for example, through active participation in youth organizations, campus groups, parishes of students, students councils or other honorary posts.
Further granting criteria are origin, age, social situation (low income, family backgrounds, neediness), study place and subject of study as well as gender, amongst others.
Your complete profile is asked.
There are different ways of scholarships.
The monthly amount of scholarship depends on the particular scholarship, often this is more than the “BAföG” maximum, but can be also just in the form of money for books.
Besides the financial support, many scholarships offer a so-called ideally support. This accompanying program for further education and networking includes seminars, workshops, working groups, etc. These are a very good basis and offer contacts in order to get started in the working environment after studying.
1. Research: Start as early as possible with the research in order to find a scholarship that is suitable to you. In doing so ask yourself the following questions: Is the scholarship suitable to me? Do I represent the aims? Do I fulfill the formal criteria? Do absolutely pay attention to the closing date for applications, often there are two per year.
2. Online application: Besides the search on your own, meanwhile there is also the possibility to register online in order to find a suitable scholarship with the aid of search engines. Like that you can also apply directly online with your documents.
3. Application: Once you know to which foundations you would like to apply to, you should inform yourself about the formalities of the application, i.e. you should organize the required documents and proofs. Often a written application, CV and cover letter are asked for. These application papers should refer individually to the foundation and it’s aims.
4. Applicant selection: After having sent the application, you have to wait for the further procedure. Often the selection happens in the form of personal conversations and group discussions.
We recommend to you:
https://www.daad.de/deutschland/stipendium/en/
https://www.mystipendium.de/ (only in German)
http://www.arbeiterkind.de/studium-finanzieren/stipendien (only in German)
http://www.chancenstiftung.de (only in German)
Usually the universities award the “Deutschlandstipendium” or other scholarships. Therefore, it is also worth to search for the term “scholarship” at your university.
Counseling to the subject scholarship and the application for it is offered from our Social Counselling.
About once or twice per year (usually in the winter semester) the “ESG” offers an event “Der Weg zum Stipendium” (English: The way to a scholarship). The current information can be found in the semester program of the ESG/KHG and on the website of the ESG.