Fewer scholarships for foreign students

April 15, 2015

The Foreign Office wants to cut funding to the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) by up to 18 million euros in 2014.

The cuts would have concrete consequences. It can be assumed that, among other things, around 1,000 fewer scholarships could be awarded to foreign students next year. The DAAD would also have to make savings in other corners, for example in the support of foreign students at individual universities. Most likely, agreements with foreign governments and universities would also have to be broken. This would have a major impact on Germany's international reputation, and especially Germany as a research location. According to a press release, the DAAD assumes that “a country like Germany, which relies largely on its innovative strength, will only hold its own in global competition if it intensifies international academic exchange.”

The DAAD is now working to ensure that the planned cuts do not come into force and that the budget for scholarships is increased instead. Last Wednesday, a resolution was passed at the DAAD general meeting in which exactly these demands were expressed. Although the Foreign Office has already announced that it is discussing the reversal of the cuts and would like to reverse them if possible, the DAAD is not holding out too much hope. The final decision on budgetary resources lies with the German Bundestag. The resolution is therefore aimed primarily at the federal government, but it will not decide on the budget for 2014 until the fall after the elections. Until then, the DAAD's financial budget remains uncertain.

The Foreign Office wants to cut funding to the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) by up to 18 million euros in 2014. The cuts would have concrete consequences. It can be assumed that, among other things, around 1,000 fewer scholarships could be awarded to foreign students next year. The DAAD would also have to work on others

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