The more diverse the educational path, the more complex the question: How do I finance such a degree? Not everyone gets student loans; Many are considered too rich or too old; Students studying dual and part-time also suffer. However, there are more scholarship programs that are specifically targeted at students of specific subjects. These are often lesser known, so you have a better chance. Many niche scholarships combine financial with professional support, providing insight into the professional world and a network. And they involve students in applied science universities, who are usually a minority in the case of traditional student-funded institutions.
Especially in the case of education and upbringing, there are many funding channels that you need to track first. Since 2018, the Klaus Murmann study funding agency of the German Business Foundation (sdw) has been supporting early childhood education students working towards a management position. “Our goal is to support today’s youth by promoting high-quality education and equal opportunities in future day-care centers,” explains Fanny Gunthel, head of the youth initiative “Equal-Opportunity Day-Care Center” (NIC). The amount depends on the income of the parents – there is a wide range of educational programs open: from educational subject events to personal, team and organizational development.
The lack of skilled workers has allowed the municipality to be creative
Johanna Weiss, one of the first 16 scholarship holders, said: “Of course we learn a lot during training. But a university can rarely do so intensively in a small group.” In a dual course of study, the 21-year-old combines training to become an educator with a course in early childhood education at the Evangelical University in Nuremberg. With this combination, he wants to know thoroughly both theory and practice, working as an educator as well as the basics of early childhood education and training. Aiming to work one day in the leadership or management of the organization. She is currently doing a practical semester at a day care center in Munich. He sees being able to apply for coaching as a major benefit of the scholarship: “Educational work, being able to reflect on one’s appearance in front of children is very rare.”
At SDW, the promotion of gifted students in the field of early childhood education is related to a program that began in 2007 with a pioneering character: “Studyenkoleg”, the target group of future school directors who currently support 400 student teachers and 20 doctoral students. Around the same time, in 2008, the Harty Foundation launched its first ever scholarship program to attract more young people to vocational training, including immigration backgrounds. From 2008 to 2017, the “Horizons” program supported about 200 potential teachers and 45 educators. It was then handed over to the Klaassen-Simon Foundation, the Jার্rgen Sempiel Foundation, each located in Hamburg and to the Durr Foundation in Berlin. These promote teacher training students with a migration background, but only at the University of Hamburg. A – rather extra – 300 euros per month and in addition to book money, seminars and a network on school-related topics are offered. Another foundation that only supports university students is the Hop Foundation for Computer Literacy and Informatics. Their goal is to strengthen digital education; Potential computer science teachers at the University of Heidelberg are supported in terms of content and money.
In the face of a shortage of skilled workers, municipalities also advertise scholarships. Each year, the city of Bremerhaven offers scholarships and professional support of up to 600 euros per month to about 15 student teachers and 50 prospective educators – if they promise to work in the city for at least the next two years.
In 2019, the state of Berlin for the first time awarded 18 scholarships to social work students at Berlin universities and combined a monthly fund of 850 euros with internships in youth, health or social welfare offices. Thus, according to the advertisement, “a strong connection with the state of Berlin” should be established. In Nuremberg, the city receives funding from the Andreas Stoudt Foundation, which – “very limitedly,” a spokesman says – provides scholarships for potential teachers, social workers, psychologists and artists. Here is the condition: The applicant must be registered in Nuremberg before the training can begin.
In the field of health, B. located in Melsanjen. The Brown Foundation supports 20 more training grants for pharmacists, doctors, hospital managers and nurses; Such as for nursing studies or additional professional qualifications. The maximum amount is 8500 euros. Acceptance is given in a multi-professional network. For those under the age of 25 who have completed the training, another training grant funded by the Federal Ministry of Education is an option – primarily for all professional groups. The Foundation for the Promotion of Gifted Vocational Education (SBB) is responsible for awarding health awards; Funding of up to 8100 euros is provided for part-time study and further training. The scope of the healthcare profession is wide, says SBB spokesman Andreas van Nahl; These range from “further training in intensive and palliative care to an extra-professional health management course”. SBBO coordinates promotion grants. It targets people of all professions who have been working for at least five years and now want to study.