The matter of scholarships is not as complicated as students always believe. It's not always just about excellent grades in your studies. We therefore looked closely at the topic of scholarships and asked the largest foundations for an interview. Here you will not only receive important facts, such as application requirements, but also background information and tips directly from a manager at a foundation.
Our first interview partner is Dr. Susanna Schmidt, Head of the Main Department for Gifted Talent and Culture at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.
allmaxx: Please briefly describe what position you hold at the foundation and how long you have been offering scholarships.
Dr. Schmidt: I have been heading the main department for gifted talent and culture at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation since 2014. The Gifted Fund has been offering scholarships for talented students for five decades - this year we are celebrating its 50th anniversary.
allmaxx: What sets your foundation apart from other foundations?
Dr. Schmidt: We offer a very extensive and diverse seminar program for our scholarship holders. The exchange on topics from politics, economics, culture and science is very important to us. Our network of active and former scholarship holders, to which you have access, is also particularly worthwhile. The Konrad Adenauer Foundation currently supports around 3,500 students and doctoral candidates in all disciplines. The foundation can also rely on a network of 12,500 previous scholarship holders.
allmaxx: Which scholarship programs do you offer and what benefits do the scholarships include?
Dr. Schmidt: We offer programs for students, doctoral candidates, postdoctoral candidates, foreigners, aspiring journalists and artists. The scholarship for students can be up to 597 euros per month, depending on the parents' economic situation. Regardless of this, each scholarship holder receives a monthly study allowance of 300 euros. The scholarship for doctoral students, including research costs, amounts to 1250 euros. Being a scholarship holder of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation not only means receiving financial support, but also being part of an active, lively network. We therefore rely on three pillars in our non-material support: our seminar program that accompanies our studies, personal support from our speakers and our trusted lecturers, and the university groups that are supported by the scholarship holders themselves. Our promotion of young journalists (JONA) offers journalistic training alongside your studies, which corresponds to a traineeship. More information about the individual scholarship programs can be found on our website .
allmaxx: How long does the funding last and can scholarship holders extend the funding if necessary?
Dr. Schmidt: The maximum funding period for students is based on the BAfÖG regulations and corresponds to the standard period of study. In particularly justified exceptional cases, it can be exceeded upon request.
allmaxx: Which students are you looking for?
Dr. Schmidt: We support particularly talented and committed young people. The selection criteria include keen intelligence, commitment to others in politics, society or the church, special performance and a wide range of interests.
allmaxx: What are the application requirements?
Dr. Schmidt: It's not just about outstanding academic and academic achievements that matter to us. Other criteria also count. In addition to good grades, volunteer work and identification with the Christian-democratic values of the KAS are very important to us. Applicants should be socially, politically or ecclesiastically involved. In addition, applications from students must be submitted at a time from which at least four semesters of standard study time remain; A master's degree immediately following the bachelor's degree can be included in this calculation. Students who would like to complete the program to promote young journalists should ideally be able to demonstrate practical experience in journalism - for example through internships or published articles - and be willing to complete seminars and internships during the semester breaks. We recommend that you apply by the 4th semester.
allmaxx: What should the ideal candidate bring with him?
Dr. Schmidt: Intelligence and personal development must keep pace. We therefore expect those receiving funding to get involved in social, political or ecclesiastical areas. Anyone who gets involved in a concrete way develops social skills that are often crucial for later effectiveness in a professional, political and cultural context.
allmaxx: Why do applications fail and what tips can you give applicants?
Dr. Schmidt: In general, applicants should avoid exaggerating their CV. We notice when someone has exaggerated at the latest at the selection meeting. Otherwise, I can only advise everyone not to pretend and just be themselves.
allmaxx: How does the application process work?
Dr. Schmidt: In addition to the completed application questionnaire, a written CV and certificates, applicants must submit a university lecturer's report and a personality report. Based on the application documents, we then decide whether to invite you to the selection meeting or whether to reject it. At the selection meeting, applicants must answer questions about general knowledge, write an essay on a current issue and present their own point of view on a specific topic in a group discussion. There will also be an individual interview with an examination committee. To apply for the promotion of young journalists, applicants must also submit up to five work samples.
allmaxx: When should candidates apply?
Dr. Schmidt: Our application deadlines for student funding and young journalist funding are January 15th (for the summer semester) and July 15th (for the winter semester).
allmaxx: Are parallel scholarships/funding possible?
Dr. Schmidt: Scholarship holders from the Konrad Adenauer Foundation can also receive parallel funding from the German National Academic Foundation. However, you cannot receive double financial support; you will only receive the scholarship from us. Scholarship holders from the Cusanuswerk, the Hans Böckler Foundation, the German Business Foundation, the German National Academic Foundation and the Villigst Studienwerk can apply for the Konrad Adenauer Foundation's young journalist support program and complete the training appropriate to the voluntary work in parallel to the other funding program.
allmaxx: Do the scholarships affect social benefits (e.g. child benefit, housing benefit, maintenance entitlement)?
Dr. Schmidt: Since 2012, all income and benefits, including a scholarship from the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, have basically no longer had any impact on child benefit. However, those who receive housing benefit must note that half of a scholarship from the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, like other scholarships, is taken into account when calculating their annual income. When it comes to child support, a scholarship from the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung as well as other scholarships will be taken into account to reduce your needs. Adult scholarship holders must first support themselves from their own resources before asserting claims against their parents.
allmaxx: What services from your foundation/funding do the scholarship holders particularly value?
Dr. Schmidt: As I already mentioned, in addition to the diverse seminar program, the network of active and former scholarship holders is particularly worthwhile. Our scholarship holders also learn a lot from other subjects - and they get to know many new people from home and abroad, many of whom often become good friends. Our scholarship holders also appreciate that we provide support with career orientation and career entry. We have our own career development department specifically for this purpose.
allmaxx: What has become of former scholarship holders today - can you give some examples of successful graduates?
Dr. Schmidt: Our most recent example is Professor Dr. Stefan Hell, who received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2014. Elmar Theveßen, deputy editor-in-chief of ZDF, and Christof Erhart, director of corporate communications, Deutsche Post DHL, are also former scholarship holders of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. Other well-known examples include the Minister of State for Culture Monika Grütters and the WDR television journalist Mara Bergmann, who completed our young journalist program. Thank you, Dr. Susanna Schmidt, for the interview and continued success!
If you don't know the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and its scholarships, you're missing out! Here you will not only find out facts about the scholarships, but also exclusive tips directly from the source!
