F A Q
General questions
What does the scholarship support?
The foundation supports students worldwide in pursuing their educational goals by financing the costs of living and tuition fees.
What is not supported by the foundation?
We do not support travel cost, internships, conferences, research-stays not related to the studies or other short-term events.
Is there a restriction regarding the university?
No, there are no restrictions.
Does the scholarship also apply to PhD programs?
Yes, PhD projects are awarded on equal terms with other scholarships. The same application documents must be submitted, and the same conditions apply. Please also refer to our page “Application documents”.
Do you also support programs of study abroad and foreign students?
Yes, the country of studies and the country of origin are irrelevant for the award of a scholarship; an application is independent of nationality.
Are secondary studies also supported?
Our focus is usually on first studies, however depending on the individual situation we also support longer-term study projects.
Is there an age limit?
No, the individual situation of the applicant is considered.
Do I have to pay back my scholarship?
Repayment is only expected for the interest-free loans.
When do we start funding?
You can apply at any time, but there must be a remaining period of at least 6 months.
What is the term of a scholarship?
The initial funding period is for a maximum of 6 months. By submitting the certificate of enrolment and certificates that verify successful academic performance, an extension of the scholarship can be requested.
The studies should have a remaining term of 6 months when the scholarship is awarded.
Can I find out before I start my studies whether I can expect a scholarship?
We cannot decide without viewing the complete application documents and unfortunately, we cannot make any promises in advance from our foundation.
Are there application deadlines?
No, we have no application deadlines or application rhythms. Instead, we review applications on an ongoing basis and make decisions based on the motivation, performance, personal profile, and financial situation of the applicant, and of course the available funds of the Foundation.
How long does the application process take?
As a rule, you will receive an invitation to an interview or a letter of rejection approximately 4-6 weeks after submitting a complete application.
Do I need to know German for the scholarship?
No, this is not required.
How do I proceed if I do not yet have a bank account in Germany?
You can add this later, but at the latest before the scholarship is awarded.
Application documents
Which documents must be uploaded?
The following documents should be attached to your application in the portal:
- Letter of motivation (maximum 2 pages)
- Completed scholarship application form
- CV
- Copy of your high school diploma or comparable document
- Certificate of enrollment for your course of study
- Performance record (grade transcript)
- Two letters of reference from professors concerning your planned course of study as well as your personal and academic qualifications
- Income statements from your parents
How should the scholarship application form be filled out?
The application form can be filled out by hand or by machine. Only a signature is required.
Can documents also be submitted in English?
Yes, all documents can be submitted in German or English. For documents and certificates in other languages a simple translation is required. This can be done by yourself.
How do I send the application documents?
All applications are made online, meaning that each candidate must register via the Internet and upload all application documents. Documents sent by e-mail or regular mail cannot be taken into consideration due to data protection reasons. Exception: reference letter from professors.
Does it have to be a certificate of enrollment or is a letter of admission from the university sufficient?
In exceptional cases, a letter of admission from the university is sufficient for the application. However, we need the certificate of enrollment to grant and pay the scholarship.
How must the reference letters from professors be submitted?
The reference letters should be submitted directly, together with the other documents. They can also be sent directly from the professors by e-mail, mentioning the name of the student in the subject of the e-mail.
Is there a guideline for the reference letters from professors?
There is no guideline for the reference letters; these should be drafted individually.
Must the reference letters necessarily be from professors?
Yes, the letters of reference must be from professors.
Is it necessary to submit two reference letters from professors?
Yes, two letters of reference are required.
Exception: start of study, as no reference letters from professors can be obtained.
Which recommendation letters from professors should be submitted?
Provide us with letters of recommendation from your current or former professors (exception: first-year students).
Is it possible to submit a reference letter from professors from the bachelor’s program?
Yes, it is possible.
Can I submit evaluations from my employer instead of a professor reference letter?
No, we require two professors’ reference letters.
Are reference letters from private lecturers sufficient?
We expect professors’ reference letters. If there are reasons why these cannot be submitted, then we request confirmation from the university that a professor’s reference letter cannot be provided in this case.
What exactly is meant by income statements?
Depending on the employment, evidence is submitted in form of tax assessment notices, pay slips, etc.
Do I still have to submit my parents’ proof of income during my PhD or after a certain age?
Yes, even if your parents are no longer liable to pay maintenance, we need the proof of income to assess your family financial situation.
Do you need proof of income from my spouse or partner?
Yes, if you share a common household.