topic Academia

Germany Scholarship: The Whole Future for Half the Price

Time For a New Scholarship Culture

Many people achieve great things at an early age - academically, in their family lives and for society. Germany Scholarship is designed to encourage them and support them in their decision to pursue a higher level of education. Our country's prosperity, economic growth and innovative strength were achieved largely thanks to a highly qualified workforce. In future, this will be more important than ever before. Against the background of demographic change and growing international competition, it is becoming increasingly important to provide targeted support for high achievers. This can only be achieved if state and society join forces and give talented young people their full backing.

With Germany Scholarship, the Federal Government is establishing a new scholarship culture. Other countries are one step ahead in this respect. In the USA, for example, about two thirds of the expenditure of universities is funded by alumni, companies and other private sources. In Germany, the corresponding figure is 15 percent, far below the OECD average of approximately 30 per cent. Germany Scholarship aims to change this. The Federal Government, universities and private sponsors are working together to offer strong incentives for excellence, counteract skills shortages and contribute to the long-term development of our society, which is also in the interests of future generations.

"Supporting talented young people, helping them to get the best possible education and training, and offering them incentives for excellent performance is both a challenge and a great opportunity for German science, business and industry," explains Federal Minister of Education and Research Annette Schavan. "For this reason, the Federal Government has introduced Germany Scholarship, which will lay the groundwork for a new scholarship culture in our country. Germany Scholarship will strengthen the increasingly important networks between science and industry, and encourage foundations, associations and private individuals to invest in young people's futures."

How Germany Scholarship Works

The programme was launched at state and state-approved universities in Germany in the 2011 summer semester. It is designed to support talented and high-achieving students. As well as excellent academic results, the criteria for awarding a scholarship include social commitment and special personal achievements, such as a student overcoming obstacles in his or her educational career.


Each successful candidate will receive €300 per month; €150 supplied by private sponsors and €150 by the Federal Government. About 10,000 students are to receive this type of joint funding in the first year alone. In the medium term, up to eight percent of all students at German universities (about 160,000) are to be given a scholarship through this programme.

Outstanding students and prospective students can apply directly to a university that offers the scholarship programme. The universities will structure the selection procedure, select the successful candidates and use financial support from the Federal Government to approach potential sponsors.

As far as possible, Germany Scholarship is designed to support students throughout the standard period of study. It is provided for a duration of at least two semesters. The university will then check whether all funding prerequisites are still being met and whether private funds are still available for the following academic year.