FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

The scholarship holders receive a monthly grant of 300 EUR for one year. The scholarships are financed half by private sponsors (companies, private individuals, foundations and associations) and half by the federal government.

As a scholarship holder, you undertake to inform us immediately of any changes that are relevant to the award of the scholarship. This includes, for example, changes of address, account details, notification of suspension, change of course of study, termination of studies and the receipt of another scholarship.
In addition, you must provide the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology with the data required to fulfill your obligation to provide information in accordance with 134 (2) No.1 (4) StipG (guideline § 5).
Of course we would also be pleased if you would attend the scholarship celebration in November to get to know your sponsor. However, there is no obligation to attend.

The Deutschlandstipendium is always awarded in the winter semester.

No. The Deutschlandstipendium is awarded each year in the winter semester for a period of one year.

Up to 300 scholarships are expected to be awarded in the winter semester.

The Deutschlandstipendium is awarded on the basis of the Scholarship Programme Act (Stipendienprogramm-Gesetz - StipG), the Scholarship Programme Regulation (Stipendienprogramm-Verordnung - StipV) and the Statutes (1, 2, 3, 4)of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) for the award of the Deutschlandstipendium scholarships.

Students and study starters at KIT can apply. HECTOR School, Carl Benz School of Engineering, and Studienkolleg students cannot apply.

The application process is exclusively online. Please note that all necessary documents must be available when filling out the online application. In exceptional cases, documents can be submitted subsequently by e-mail to  deutschlandstipendium∂kit.edu  

The Deutschlandstipendium supports students whose current career path promises outstanding academic achievements. In addition to particular successes at school and/or university, the criteria for support include social commitment, for example in associations or in university politics, in church or political organisations, as well as commitment in the social environment, in the family or in a social institution. The overcoming of particular personal hurdles resulting from family or cultural background is also taken into account. Further information on the selection criteria can be found here.

Yes, you must be within the regular period of study of your degree programme for the entire funding period, i.e. the winter semester 2021/22 and the summer semester 2022. Funding can only be granted until the end of the standard period of study. An extension of the maximum funding period in the framework of the Germany Scholarship beyond the regular period of study is only permitted in special cases. If the duration of studies is extended for difficult circumstances (e.g. handicap, pregnancy, care and upbringing of a child, or a stay abroad related to a specific field of study), the maximum funding period can be extended upon application.

Yes, even then an application is possible. The payment will be stopped at the end of the month in which the scholarship holder has passed his or her last exam, has broken off his or her studies, changes subject area or is ex-matriculated. If a student changes universities while retaining the same field of study, the scholarship can be continued for one semester.

Yes. You can submit your university entrance qualification later.

Yes, before the final decision on the awarding of the scholarship in September, we will check whether an application from you has been submitted to KIT. The KIT application does not have to be submitted to us separately.

Ja. Auch ein Aufbau- und Zweitstudium sind förderfähig.

Yes.

In this case please submit the school leaving certificate (Abitur) instead.

Your proof should show how intensively you have committed yourself and what kind of commitment it is. The proof of a voluntary activity, which you still carry out today, must not be older than one year, otherwise we can no longer consider it to be a current voluntary commitment.

Personal hurdles include, for example, students with children, caring for relatives, own physical and psychological impairments, a non-academic parental home, experience of Asylum and political persecution or a proven, long-term fragile financial situation.

Your evidence should indicate the type of obstacle and the extent to which it affects you in your studies. The proof must be dated and signed by an authorized person.
If you would like to provide proof of a migration background, you can, for example, submit a copy of your own passport and/or a copy of the passport/visa of a parent with a migration background to the proofs.
If you would like to provide evidence of a non-academic parental home, you can, for example, provide a short written explanation/self-disclosure. This must be signed and contain a reference to truthful information.

Yes. The Deutschlandstipendium is open to students of all nationalities.

No average grade is required for the award of the scholarships. The individual applications are considered in their overall context, whereby the achievements in the course of study are only one criterion, in addition to other (social, societal, honorary and political) commitments and special personal obstacles.

You can describe special personal, family-related or financial circumstances which you have had to overcome in the past or which you still have to overcome in the present will be taken into account when awarding the scholarships in addition to achievements in your studies or social, voluntary or political commitment. Please note that the selection committee can only consider information that is documented by supporting documents when assessing your application.

In any case, you should submit evidence of employment, internships or, if applicable, of voluntary work in an association, organisation or similar.

Yes, when you apply online, please choose one of your two courses of study and indicate which one you wish to study. The credit points and grade point average will then only count for this degree programme.

Yes, reasons for this include motherhood leave, parental leave or DAAD-funded study abroad. The scholarship is not paid out during the suspension. The scholarship can be resumed when continuing studies at KIT, but only until the end of the committed period.

A selection committee of the respective faculty decides on the awarding of the scholarships.

No.

No. The Deutschlandstipendium is only awarded to students up to Diplom or Master level.

No.

Yes, each scholarship holder is assigned to a sponsor.

Yes. A rejection doesn't mean you've been rejected "forever". You can reapply again. However, given the current relatively low number of scholarships, you should be among the best in your year and faculty.

Yes. The Bachelor's certificate will be used to assess your eligibility.

No. 

Students of all study programmes can apply.

Semester abroad: The scholarship is also continued to be paid even if you are on a stay abroad related to your field of study. Provided that one goes abroad during the duration of the scholarship. This applies regardless of any suspension from the university awarding the scholarship. If you are studying abroad via the ERASMUS programme, the Deutschlandstipendium will continue to be paid even if you are also receiving a mobility grant from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).
Internship abroad: Here a distinction must be made between compulsory internships in Germany and abroad and other internships. Compulsory internships in Germany are integrated into the course of study and do not prevent the scholarship from being paid. The situation is similar with internships abroad, as far as they are provided for in the respective study regulations; they can be regarded as "subject-related stays abroad". If the scholarship holder takes a leave of absence for other internships that are not provided for in the respective study regulations, the scholarship will not be paid during this time.

Anyone can apply for a scholarship at the end of their studies. It is at the discretion of the respective faculty which applications are accepted and whether your application is successful or not.

If the student continues to study for a Bachelor's or Master's degree and continues to study the same subject, the scholarship can still be paid for one semester if the student changes universities.

Yes. You may reapply.

No.

If you are on maternity leave, parental leave or a DAAD-supported study abroad, you can also take a leave of absence from the Deutschlandstipendium. The scholarship is not paid out during the leave of absence. The scholarship will continue to be paid if the stay abroad is related to the study subject. This applies regardless of any leave of absence from the university awarding the scholarship. If you are studying abroad via the ERASMUS programme, the Deutschlandstipendium will continue to be paid even if you are also receiving a mobility grant from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). Those who receive a DAAD full scholarship cannot receive the Deutschlandstipendium at the same time, as both scholarships are dependent on talent and performance. If, on the other hand, you receive a partial DAAD scholarship, you can receive the Deutschlandstipendium at the same time.

This depends on the amount and type of scholarship funding. Anyone who already receives a material support dependent on talent and performance, which amounts to more than 30 euros per month, will not receive a Deutschlandstipendium during the period of approval. An overview of the eligibility of receiving other scholarships at the same time as the Deutschlandstipendium can be found hier.

Double financial support with the organisations for the promotion of gifted persons and other support organisations is excluded if the sum of this support exceeds a monthly average of 30 €.

This depends on the amount and type of scholarship funding. Anyone who already receives a material support dependent on talent and performance, which amounts to more than 30 euros per month, will not receive a Deutschlandstipendium during the period of approval. An overview of the eligibility of receiving other scholarships at the same time as the Deutschlandstipendium can be found hier.

Short answer: The Deutschlandstipendium is tax-free and, according to §5 Abs. 3 StipG, is usually not credited as income for social benefits. The Deutschlandstipendium therefore does not constitute remuneration for a specific occupation and - like all other comparable scholarships - is not to be considered as income for social security benefits.

You will receive a confirmation email after successful registration. Please keep this mail until the selection procedure is completed. If you do not receive a confirmation mail, please contact us immediately at deutschlandstipendium∂rsm.kit.edu so that we can check receipt.

Try PDF files, each with a maximum size of 2 MB and not exceeding 8 MB in total.

Yes, but only with your permission.

KIT does not see the Deutschlandstipendium as financial aid only, but also wants to promote contact between scholarship holders and scholarship providers at an early stage. This may lead to long-term networking opportunities.