2171-1429061817

Study financing

Part-time job: scholarship holder

Stop. Don't turn the page yet. Yes, there is often a bad word on this page that scares everyone away. SCHOLARSHIP. Maybe you think this isn't for you. But a scholarship isn't just for people with high IQs or noses. Who actually told you that? Yes, that's right, comparatively few students in Germany have a scholarship, according to the Allensbach Institute only five percent. But there are more than 4,000 different support programs for students in Germany. Approximately one in five foundations cannot find suitable scholarship holders. Many scholarships remain unused because no one applies for them. How come? Because the students don't have the confidence to do that: more than two thirds have never applied for a scholarship. Or because they don’t know anything about the foundations and their scholarships. Many small foundations select their scholarship holders based on very specific criteria. These can range from your field of study to your parents' profession to your place of birth.

The Foundation

Even if you only hear about a handful of foundations on a regular basis, there are all sorts of scholarship providers. In addition to state foundations, there are scholarships from companies and private individuals. Sometimes the focus is on money, sometimes on course-related training. Companies want to use scholarships to find potential new employees; private donors can have different interests.

The Deutschlandstipendium brings together private donors and students. The universities are responsible for recruiting and selecting donors; for every scholarship of 150 euros per month, the state adds the same amount. The twelve major organizations supporting gifted students include the five political foundations, the Cusanuswerk of the Catholic Church and the German National Academic Foundation.

Even if you don't receive a student loan replacement because your parents earn too much, you will receive 300 euros in book money per month as a scholarship holder, which does not have to be paid back. With many funding programs, financial support ends at the end of the standard period of study at the latest. Are your parents not from Germany? Do you work at the post office? Are you a mother yourself? Or do you have a disability? There is money from various foundations for these and many other features. In addition, there are many subject-specific scholarships specifically for students in almost all subjects.

The strangest scholarships

The online scholarship

Students from all over Germany can apply for the online scholarship from e-fellows.net. Behind it are Telekom, McKinsey, Holtzbrinck and other companies. The scholarship holders do not receive any money, but they do receive free internet connection, free access to subject-specific databases or free subscriptions to newspapers.

One euro per “like”.

The Graduate scholarship pays up to 5,000 euros for specific expenses related to your studies, such as books, semesters abroad or internships. In this first democratic German scholarship, it is not a commission that decides, but the Internet community: the applicants with the most votes win. Funding is available until the annual budget is exhausted: www.stipendium.de

The anti-nerd scholarship

The private Zeppelin University in Friedrichshafen supports anti-nerds, such as former sedentary students or college dropouts. Anyone who receives a scholarship will have their tuition fees at the private university waived.

Needy daughters of Bavarian officials

The Emilie Porzersche Foundation supports the daughters of Bavarian civil servants. Up to 300 euros are paid per semester, for a maximum of three years.

Jewish singing students in Mainz

The Anni Eisler Lehmann Foundation awards scholarships to Jewish music students from Mainz. Preference is given to students majoring in singing.
Works about homosexuality
The August von Platen Foundation pays for scientific work on the subject of homosexuality: a maximum of 500 euros for up to one year.

The application

The internet portal http://www.mystipendium.de lists over 1,500 funding programs. The scholarships are arranged according to application requirements. The applicant can create their personal profile and thus find the scholarships that suit them. According to Mira Maier, founder of the portal, there are an average of 15 - and around 40 percent of all applications are successful, says Maier, as long as you follow a few rules.

Absolutely:

  1. Search early and thoroughly. If a foundation only has one deadline per year, you shouldn't miss it. Keep checking: New scholarships are constantly being added and your profile will change over the course of your studies.
  2. Find scholarships that really suit you. You shouldn't just apply to the best-known foundation, but where you have the best chances - preferably to several foundations.
  3. Take care of a report from a lecturer. Almost all foundations require this to confirm your professional qualifications. Many lecturers are happy to do this. To help them assess you better, you can offer them your resume and a conversation with you over coffee. The report should not be missing an express recommendation for a scholarship.

What doesn't work at all:

  1. Anonymous mass applications. The applicant should be clear about why they are applying to this foundation of all places - and be able to convey this credibly.
  2. Incomplete application documents. Many foundations completely reject incomplete applications.
  3. Impatience: It often takes months, sometimes half a year, for an answer to come from the foundation. Smaller foundations often give notice within four weeks.

INTERVIEW

Mira Maier received her doctorate from the University of Witten/Herdecke and founded mystipendium.de. The platform is the largest German information portal for student funding and has been honored by the Donors' Association for German Science.

Ms. Maier, who do you think should receive a scholarship?

Maier: Basically, I am happy about anyone who would like to support students with a scholarship, regardless of their chosen target group. However, we are particularly concerned about students who have so far received little or no scholarship support. We are currently setting up a number of programs for students who particularly need a scholarship, but for whom there are currently few offers. The first scholarship in this series is currently advertised together with Mawista GmbH and is aimed at birds of paradise, exotics and oddballs - i.e. students with unusual CVs ( http://www.mawista.com/stipendium ).

What do you think a student should be able to do to receive a scholarship?

Maier: Anyone who aspires to a training path is someone who, in my opinion, deserves to be supported. That's why we are committed to making niche scholarships with exotic selection criteria accessible. Together with partners, we are creating new scholarship programs for all those who need money for their studies and have not previously been the focus of sponsors. That's why I'm actively committed to ensuring that the application process is as simple as possible.

What advice do you have for hesitant students?

Maier: I can only advise everyone to find out about scholarships. Because no one can know straight away whether they can receive a scholarship. There is a very wide range of selection criteria that foundations use when making their selection. We identified 34 criteria. Some foundations award scholarships to students who were born in the same town as the donor. Most people still think that scholarships are only for highly gifted people who are both particularly committed and incredibly needy. And very few people think they’re that great. However, the term “scholarship” simply means that money or a non-material service is provided free of charge and does not have to be repaid. Around 40 percent of all scholarships are not awarded based on performance characteristics.

Jenny Kallenbrunnen only applied for her scholarship to show her harassing friend that she couldn't do it. She is very grateful to her friend today.

Four misconceptions about scholarships that I can disprove myself

You need a great high school average

No. Almost all foundations pay attention to the whole package: who you actually are, apart from those numbers that you have filed away in cling film. When I once had breakfast with two scholarship holders, my high school average was the sum of their averages. Yes, sum.

Only those who spend a lot of time doing voluntary work receive a scholarship

Yes, I have a voluntary position. But I started this work when I was mildly admonished for it during the interview at my foundation. So I had already made it to the second round without it. If the requirements profile says that you should do volunteer work, then look for one that matches your interests and talents. The volunteer exchange in your area will be happy to help you. Here volunteers are brought together with institutions that need help. The range is wide: supporting the DRK with blood donation campaigns, distributing flyers for Amnesty International, reading aloud in a retirement home or training the kids in a sports club. Anything that benefits others and is not compensated for. And you're probably already doing something like this, casually.

Scholarships are only available for first-year students

I received my scholarship in the fourth semester. There are also many scholarships that are specifically aimed at advanced semesters. You can also receive funding for your final thesis, a semester abroad or an internship.

You can't write out your CV in four pages

But already. Simply go into each phase of your life and write down what you learned during these stages, whether you liked it and how it made you who you are today. The advantage of a well-written CV is that you finally have the opportunity to explain straight away why you had to change your field of study or how good it was for you that you repeated the eleventh grade.

Related articles:


Part-time job: Scholarship holder Stop. Don't turn the page yet. Yes, there is often a bad word on this page that scares everyone away. SCHOLARSHIP. Maybe you think this isn't for you. But a scholarship isn't just for people with high IQs or noses. Who actually told you that? Yes, that's right, there are comparatively few students in Germany

Back to blog

Stylish support

With our shirts for students you donate 5€ to the UNICEF education mission . Join in and support a better future.