That way you’ll get a scholarship – even without a school recommendation

Gিনttingen / Lনenberg.The students are well after all, many they know. They wake up late, go to class when they are fit. Money is tight, but enough to celebrate student jobs. All clichés. In epidemic lockdown phases, temporary work often ends abruptly, there is no money for sudden student excavations or flat shares, and exchanges with others are reduced.

It was difficult for those who expected more from their studies, such as studying abroad, learning new languages, making new impressions and gaining new emotions. A conceivable solution, at least for some students: a scholarship.

A “beautiful comfort”

Hannah Rimtsma, a 21-year-old psychology student at the German Press Agency University of Lneburg, said it was a “beautiful relief”. She is fortunate to have the support of her parents, she also works as a student assistant, but the financial side can play a role for many students.

More important, however, is ideological support and exchange with others. “I would recommend it to everyone,” said Josephine Dabrunge, 20, who is studying physics at the University of Gttingen. Both applied for the scholarship themselves, but their school did not recommend them.

Many foundations donate

In fact, first- or second-semester students can apply for a scholarship from Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes – online registration is possible until February 15, as Studienstiftung has announced. This self-application has existed since 2010, and StudentStftang receives 100 to 150 young people each year at the beginning of their studies – regardless of their own school advice.

Scholarships are also provided by the Henrik Bowl Foundation, the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, the Federal Rosa Luxembourg Foundation, the Friedrich Neumann Foundation or the Conrad Adenauer Foundation. First year students can apply directly to the university.

In 2020, Studienstiftung alone supported 893 (2019: 839) students at Lower Saxony University, with 12,104 (2019: 11,706) student support nationwide. Also, there were 1,298 (2019: 1,247) students who were funded to study at a foreign university and 86 doctoral students who were funded at lower Saxony universities. There were 1244 doctoral students across the country.

There is nothing to lose when applying

Also on offer is an educational program, scholarships for living abroad, language courses and a network of scholarship holders: the “objective support” that these two students spoke of. The desire for additional networking, even during the epidemic, persuaded him to apply, an exchange between young people who did not have to think the same way, Rimtsma explained.

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Her school did not recommend anyone, not even the average 1.0 grade of high school graduates. The issue was always in my mind, the selection test was “quite steep”, but it helped to get an idea of ​​where you want to go and what your own goals are, says the 21-year-old. And “dealing with yourself” is a great opportunity: “You can only get something out of it.” For Dabrunz, on the other hand, a scholarship was always a problem, his brother was also a scholarship holder – and a role model. The test is “not a real obstacle” – anyone who completes it has “nothing to lose”.

By Thomas Stranklenbar / DPA