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1. At what point in your studies did you decide to apply for a scholarship? What were your motives?

I applied at the beginning of the third semester because my grades were quite good and I realized that it didn't take that much effort to apply. After all, I had nothing to lose, but a lot to gain.

2. How did you find out about this scholarship opportunity?

I heard about it from fellow students right at the beginning of my studies, but initially assumed that I wouldn't get the scholarship anyway and that it wasn't worth the effort.

3. What would you tell a fellow student who has doubts and reservations about applying for a scholarship?

I would definitely recommend anyone who meets the basic requirements to apply. I didn't think I would get the scholarship at first either and I've heard the same from many fellow scholarship holders. It really isn't much effort, maybe an afternoon, but it can be very worthwhile.

4. What has been the best or most rewarding experience you have had as a scholarship holder so far? What offers have you particularly benefited from?

Last year, I was part of the project group that organized the annual graduation party. It was a really nice experience to work with so many students from different departments and get to know new people. The highlight was of course the annual party itself, which went surprisingly smoothly. The fact that everyone enjoyed the party and we had a great evening together made all the work worthwile

5. What has changed in your life/studies as a result of the scholarship?

I finally had the money I needed to buy a new and decent laptop PC for my studies.

6. What would you like to achieve in the future? Has the scholarship opened up new perspectives for you or helped you to realize what goals you would like to pursue?

My goal is to work in a commercial law firm one day and represent clients from different countries. To achieve this, I would like to study abroad for a year after my degree, preferably in Japan to improve my language skills. The Deutschlandstipendium scholarship allows me to put a little money aside to achieve this goal.

1. At what point in your studies did you decide to apply for a scholarship? What were your motives?

I was recommended for a scholarship by my high school. So I looked into these opportunities quite early on.

2. How did you find out about this scholarship opportunity?

Through school teachers and later university professors. But the topic also came up from time to time in conversations with fellow students.

3. Do you have any tips for other students based on your application experience?

Some application procedures are more extensive, others not at all. If you are wary of a lengthy application process, you can try the Deutschlandstipendium scholarship, for example. The application process is very straightforward.

4. What would you tell a fellow student who has doubts and reservations about applying for a scholarship?

It never hurts to just try. Anyone who has received a scholarship will tell you that. But you should definitely understand that you can achieve just as much without a scholarship.

5. What has been the best or most rewarding experience you have had as a scholarship holder so far? What offers have you particularly benefited from?

I have enjoyed weekend events the most so far. Be it discussion groups on a specific topic or simply getting together and getting to know others. I also find the offers of the Frankfurt regional group very appealing. The personal contact with a personal tutor through my scholarship has also been particularly helpful.

6. What has changed in your life/studies as a result of the scholarship?

I can devote myself fully to learning without any worries. I have learned to see opportunities and seize them.

7. What would you like to achieve in the future? Has the scholarship opened up new perspectives for you or helped you to realize what goals you would like to pursue?

The scholarship has enabled me to interact more with other students. You gain a new perspective because you have to open up to many topics and areas in discussions.

1. At what point in your studies did you decide to apply for a scholarship? What were your motives?

After becoming aware of the scholarship via the university's e-mail distribution list, I decided to apply for the scholarship. At the time, I had just moved to Frankfurt for my Master's degree. As the cost of living in Frankfurt is a lot higher and I had achieved good grades in my Bachelor's degree, it was a good time to apply for the scholarship. In addition to the financial support, the innovative concept of non-material support also appealed to me, as I enjoy being in direct contact with other students from different degree programs and working together on different projects

2. How did you find out about this scholarship opportunity?

I found out about the scholarship via the university's e-mail distribution list.

3. Do you have any tips for other students based on your application experience?

The actual application does not take much time. However, it can't hurt to take a little more time and go over the text again with family or friends, as outsiders will always have different ideas or views on what makes you special and what could make your application stand out from the other applications.

4. What would you tell a fellow student who has doubts and reservations about applying for a scholarship?

Just give it a try! The application process is not time-consuming given that you receive both financial and non-material support for an entire year. What's more, you can reapply for the scholarship every year if it didn't work out on the first attempt. The worst that can happen is that you are not accepted and even then, with a bit of luck, you can move up in the program.

5. What has been the best or most rewarding experience you have had as a scholarship holder so far? What offers have you particularly benefited from?

Planning the annual festival together with fellow scholarship holders was a super exciting experience. As I had never planned such a big event before, I learned a lot from the preparation time together. Private contact with a sponsor is also super exciting, helpful and instructive. I was able to ask my questions and gain an insight into the professional life of my sponsor during the first meeting at the kick-off event.

6. What has changed in your life/studies as a result of the scholarship?

The scholarship has made my life during my studies easier in many ways. As I often spend long periods of time in various lab pratices in my degree program, it is a great relief not to have to work on the side and to be able to concentrate fully on my studies. In addition, I was able to get to know many of my fellow scholarship holders through the non-material support program and was able to expand my own skills while working in the project group.

7. What would you like to achieve in the future? Has the scholarship opened up new perspectives for you or helped you to realize what goals you would like to pursue?

In the future, I would like to work actively in medical research in order to be able to get to the bottom of the causes and treatment options for various diseases together in international working groups. The innovative non-material support concept of the Deutschlandstipendium scholarship in particular opened up new perspectives for me in this regard. Particular attention was paid to personal contacts with sponsors and other scholarship holders, which opened up new perspectives and ideas for me in many ways.

1. At what point in your studies did you decide to apply for a scholarship? What were your motives?

In fact, I was lucky enough for the scholarship to come my way. I was suggested for the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes by my high school. I didn't know anything about this foundation beforehand. But all schools can recommend one of every 50 graduates. I attended the selection seminar in the first few months of my new degree course. It took some courage to sign up for it. Although the school recommended me, I was pretty sure that I wouldn't be accepted anyway. I was about to cancel the selection seminar, but then thought that there was no harm in gaining experience and giving it a try.

2. How did you find out about this scholarship opportunity?

My performance tutor informed me that I was put forward because of my Abitur grades. But schools don't have to do that. They can decide for themselves who they suggest as a candidate. After I was informed, I did some research. But now that I'm here, I can say that not every scholarship holder can speak 5 languages, write theorems for breakfast and play the piano blind. Most of them are just normal people who are enthusiastic about their subjects.

3. Do you have any tips for other students based on your application experience?

My first tip would be: Apply! Sounds basic, but the biggest reason for not getting a scholarship is not applying. Sure, an application can cost a few hours, but it's nothing compared to the freedom and perspective you gain. So it's best to simply apply everywhere. It's easier with every application. Second tip: it's often not the time it takes, but the self-image that gets in the way of an application. Therefore: no matter who you are, you deserve a scholarship if you are enthusiastic about your subject. And those who don't think they "deserve" it are often exactly the right ones.

4. What would you tell a fellow student who has doubts and reservations about applying for a scholarship?

Doubts are okay and normal.

5. What has been the best or most rewarding experience you have had as a scholarship holder so far? What offers have you particularly benefited from?

The €300 is nice, but it's even nicer to spend hours at a curry listening to someone who is studying something completely different and telling me about it enthusiastically. Or going to a summer academy and spending two weeks in the Alps discussing and hiking with a bunch of people, at least some of whom are so interesting that you get far too little sleep.

6. What has changed in your life/studies as a result of the scholarship?

The scholarship came into my life by chance. As a result, among other things, I was given the opportunity to move out from my parents' house.

7. What would you like to achieve in the future? Has the scholarship opened up new perspectives for you or helped you to realize what goals you would like to pursue?

1. At what point in your studies did you decide to apply for a scholarship? What were your motives?

Right at the beginning of my studies, I filled out the online application form for my foundation. I was still in the first few weeks of a new phase of my life and didn't even know what "scholarship" actually meant. In my mind, the whole thing was only for the "elite" and the "super-smart", and I certainly didn't want to count myself among them at this point. After the invitation to the next round of applicants came a few weeks later, I put my process on hold. My father made me feel insecure with the clichés that were anchored in my mind and I was sure that I was unsuitable for such an offer anyway. After the deadline for feedback had passed, my caseworker contacted me personally on the phone and asked why I had dropped out of the process. I explained my reasons and said that I was probably not part of the "elite" target group. The colleague on the other end of the line understood her job well and eased my worries. She explained to me that this was precisely the problem and that I therefore belonged to the target group, which was not just made up of the "elite". She encouraged me to keep going and told me that my previous documents looked more than promising and that she had a good feeling about them. As a result, I summoned up all my courage and continued along the path to the end, and with success. So I would like to take this opportunity to thank Ms. Wegener from the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung's team of applicants once again. I wouldn't be here today without you..

2. How did you find out about this scholarship opportunity?

I don't exactly remember that myself ... at the beginning of my studies in the summer semester of 2020, I was desperately looking for information on many sites to help me find my way around my studies. In the course of this, I must have stumbled across this option. Later, I also got to know the organization Arbeiterkind.de. This also increased the flow of information on the subject of "support during studies" and scholarships in general. I was also able to get further help with the application process from this site

3. Do you have any tips for other students based on your application experience?

Just do it! As primitive, banal and simple as the Friedrich Ebert Foundation's advertising slogan may sound and look at first glance, it is able to convey everything that I believe is important in the process. It takes a bit of courage and a bit of education, but in the end no one has ever failed at trying!

4. What would you tell a fellow student who has doubts and reservations about applying for a scholarship?

Here I can only repeat the words from above "Just do it!". First-generation university students and students from working-class families in particular often have doubts and reservations about scholarships, and I was no different. But that's exactly what the broad range of foundations is there for. There is something for every target group. Don't be shy, try it out, gather tips and hopefully be successful in the end. <3

5. What has been the best or most rewarding experience you have had as a scholarship holder so far? What offers have you particularly benefited from?

In addition to the financial support, the non-material support should not be underestimated. Expanding my network across the country, discovering new people and perspectives and exchanging ideas are the most valuable experiences I have benefited from so far. I enjoy attending the socio-political seminars, for example recently for three days in Berlin with visits to the Bundestag, the Federal Chancellery and many discussions with high-ranking politicians and influential players of our time. For me, there is no substitute for taking part in these experiences with a group of new people and broadening my horizons.

6. What has changed in your life/studies as a result of the scholarship?

The biggest change was probably indeed the financial support from the foundation. It was only thanks to this support that I was able to afford to move to Frankfurt and thus shorten my commute, allowing me to network and anchor myself better at university without having to constantly keep an eye on train departure times and hour-long journeys. This is my own personal new luxury and I wouldn't want to do without it.

7. What would you like to achieve in the future? Has the scholarship opened up new perspectives for you or helped you to realize what goals you would like to pursue?

The scholarship has definitely opened up new perspectives for me. I have gained a lot of insights into the professional world and can now imagine many areas of work as my future ones that I didn't even know about before. But I haven't made up my mind yet; after all, I still have a long way to go before I start my career.

1. At what point in your studies did you decide to apply for a scholarship? What were your motives?

I applied for a scholarship in my second semester. Especially in the humanities and philosophy, making contacts and active exchange is essential. I hoped that the scholarship would enable me to get to know new people: Students, mentors and sponsors. My expectations were exceeded by far: with a podcast that my fellow students and I created, I was able to try out new things and get to know projects that I wouldn't have dared to tackle on my own without the scholarship. I am very grateful for that.

2. How did you find out about this scholarship opportunity?

I found out about this scholarship through friends who are studying at another university in Germany. They encouraged me to simply apply. I did and was successful.

3. Do you have any tips for other students based on your application experience?

The application process is very simple. You are guided through the application process by specific questions. It is not just about good performance or good grades. A student with less good grades but outstanding commitment can also receive a scholarship. Don't worry too much about whether you are eligible for the scholarship or not, because you never know! I also initially had doubts about whether I should put the time into the application process, because I was sure I wouldn't get the scholarship. However, the application didn't take as long as I thought and answering the questions was also easy for me. They made me reflect on my own motivation and the reasons for my application.

My advice: be honest. Tell them why the scholarship is important to you. What are you hoping for?

4. What would you tell a fellow student who has doubts and reservations about applying for a scholarship?

We as humans often tend to question many actions and play through potential scenarios (which may never materialize). We often unsettle ourselves as a result and then don't dare to carry out a certain action. We risk missing a great opportunity out of fear, uncertainty or anxiety. My advice to all students: Have the courage! Try your luck. Don't ask yourself what will happen if you don't get the scholarship. Ask yourself: What opportunities will open up for me? What opportunities will I get? What happens if I do get the scholarship?

5. What has been the best or most rewarding experience you have had as a scholarship holder so far? What offers have you particularly benefited from?

Through the scholarship, I made great friends with whom I keep in touch even after the scholarship period has ended. We were able to work on projects together, set up a podcast, interviewed well-known public figures and are now involved in the Deutschlandstipendium as mentors. I am very grateful to have met these and many other kind and helpful people. The people involved in the Deutschlandstipendium have become a small family because we have always been in close contact. If I had any problems or questions, they were happy to help me as quickly as possible.

6. What has changed in your life/studies as a result of the scholarship?

The experiences I have had have changed my professional goals for the future. I enjoyed working with other students so much that I would like to initiate and organize projects myself in the future. I was also able to try out speaking in front of lots of people during the scholarship and acquire self-confidence. All of this was a lot of fun. Positive feedback strengthened me and helped me overcome my insecurities. The non-material support has really changed my life for the better. 

1. At what point in your studies did you decide to apply for a scholarship? What were your motives?

I decided to apply for the HessenFonds scholarship when I was preparing for my Bachelor's degree in Computer Science in the winter semester 2022/2023 in Frankfurt am Main. My motivations were the financial support, the opportunity to fully focus on my studies and the much-needed help with study-related costs, especially for the purchase of a computer. As a refugee in Germany, I need this support to pursue my education and realize my dream of becoming a computer scientist.

2. How did you find out about this scholarship opportunity?

I found out about the scholarship opportunity through the official HessenFonds website. Most scholarship providers and organizations publish information about their scholarship programs on their websites, including requirements and application procedures.

3. Do you have any tips for other students based on your application experience?

When applying for the HessenFonds scholarship, it is advisable to start early in order to have sufficient time to compile the necessary documents such as transcripts and letters of recommendation from professors. Finally, a convincing letter of motivation is of great importance in order to clearly explain your own goals, experience and motivation for the scholarship.

4. What would you tell a fellow student who has doubts and reservations about applying for a scholarship?

I would say: "Trust in your abilities. Scholarships offer opportunities and financial support. You have nothing to lose, but a lot to gain. Go for it and pursue your dreams!"

5. What has been the best or most rewarding experience you have had as a scholarship holder so far? What offers have you particularly benefited from?

The best and most rewarding experience as a scholarship holder was the opportunity to receive financial support, take part in seminars and meet new people. The opportunity to give my own presentation and organize a workshop at a weekend seminar on "Digital Currency - Economy of the Future" was particularly fulfilling.

6. What has changed in your life/studies as a result of the scholarship?

It has given me financial stability, which has paved the way for a deeper focus on my studies. The opportunity to participate in seminars and events has broadened my intellectual horizons and provided me with valuable contacts. This scholarship has not only allowed me to pursue my academic goals, but has also broadened my career prospects. It is proof that financial support goes far beyond what is written on paper. It is a key to countless opportunities and the realization of dreams.

7. What would you like to achieve in the future? Has the scholarship opened up new perspectives for you or helped you to realize what goals you would like to pursue?

In my future career, I aim to use computers and technologies, especially augmented/virtual reality, to solve social challenges. I am particularly interested in applications in the automotive industry. The rapid growth of mobile software programs and virtual reality in areas such as healthcare and engineering has piqued my interest. These topics are the focus of my academic studies and development. The scholarship has given me the opportunity to further pursue my academic interests and passion for computer science. It has also enabled me to actively participate in summer schools and seminars in Germany and abroad and to connect with leading experts in my field.

1. At what point in your studies did you decide to apply for a scholarship? What were your motives?

I was awarded two scholarships: the Deutschlandstipendium and the 'Lead Germany' scholarship from Bread University. As for the 'Lead Germany' scholarship, I submitted my application after completing my first semester at the university. This decision was motivated by the realization that the initial scholarship amount from the Deutschlandstipendium was insufficient to fully support my studies, and I needed additional funding to ensure a seamless continuation of my education. I had to do some odd jobs during my first semester because I lacked German language skills, which made it challenging to concentrate on my studies fully. This hindered my academic progress, and I found myself in a pressing need for a scholarship to overcome these difficulties and continue my education.

2. How did you find out about this scholarship opportunity?

I started researching scholarship opportunities right after getting admitted, and it's from the university website I learned I could apply for the Deutschlandstipendium. Having seen my leadership potential, I was suggested the "Lead Germany" scholarship by the ESG Frankfurt, and I found more details from the scholarship desk unit of the University.

3. Do you have any tips for other students based on your application experience?

Start Early: Begin your scholarship search and application process well in advance to meet deadlines and thoroughly research opportunities. Be Persistent: Scholarship applications can be competitive, and rejections are common. Don't be discouraged; keep applying and improving your application skills.

4. What would you tell a fellow student who has doubts and reservations about applying for a scholarship?

When applying for scholarships, it's essential to hold onto the belief in yourself, for no one else can have the same unwavering faith in your potential. In a competitive field of applicants, your self-belief becomes your most potent ally. While external guidance and support are valuable, your unique journey and talents set you apart. In moments of doubt or hesitation, remember that your belief in your capabilities will drive you to pursue your educational dream. Trust in your abilities, craft compelling applications, and know that your determination can lead you to the financial support you need to advance your academic journey.

5. What has been the best or most rewarding experience you have had as a scholarship holder so far? What offers have you particularly benefited from?

I have been awarded a leadership scholarship that is dedicated to nurturing my leadership skills through specialized seminars and workshops. The scholarship also provides access to a vast network of individuals who share similar aspirations, which can be immensely beneficial in the future.

6. What has changed in your life/studies as a result of the scholarship?

Receiving a scholarship can profoundly alter one's educational path. The financial relief provided reduces stress, allowing deeper focus on studies. This support opens doors to superior educational opportunities and fosters personal growth. With less worry about expenses, students can explore diverse interests and dedicate more time to academic and extracurricular pursuits. Scholarships often bring access to networks of like-minded peers, creating invaluable connections for future prospects. The recognition received serves as a catalyst for personal development, boosting confidence and encouraging a pursuit of excellence. Overall, scholarships not only ease financial burdens but also enrich academic experiences, shaping brighter futures.

7. What would you like to achieve in the future? Has the scholarship opened up new perspectives for you or helped you to realize what goals you would like to pursue?

As a recipient of a leadership scholarship, I am incredibly grateful for this remarkable opportunity. My aspirations for the future are deeply rooted in making a positive impact on society. With this scholarship, I hope to cultivate and refine my leadership skills, allowing me to become a more effective and influential leader. My goal is to utilize the knowledge and experiences gained through this scholarship to address pressing issues and drive meaningful change in my community and beyond.