Studienstiftung

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German organisation sponsoring students

title: "Studienstiftung" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["scholarships-in-germany", "education-in-germany", "organisations-based-in-bonn", "government-scholarships"] description: "German organisation sponsoring students" topic_path: "geography/germany" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Studienstiftung" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary German organisation sponsoring students ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox government agency"]

FieldValue
nameStudienstiftung
typeScholarship foundation
logoLogo sddv.jpg
imageMainBuildingStudienstiftung2.jpg
image_captionGerman Academic Scholarship Foundation, Headquarters, Bonn
formed
preceding2
superseding2
jurisdictionGermany
headquartersBonn
coordinates
budget€126 million (2023)
minister2_pfo
chief1_name
chief1_positionPresident
chief2_nameAnnette Julius
chief2_positionSecretary General
parent_agency_type
child2_agency
keydocument1
websitestudienstiftung.de
::

| name = Studienstiftung | native_name = | native_name_a = | native_name_r = | type = Scholarship foundation | seal = | seal_size = | seal_caption = | seal_alt = | logo = Logo sddv.jpg | logo_size = | logo_caption = | logo_alt = | image = MainBuildingStudienstiftung2.jpg | image_size = | image_caption = German Academic Scholarship Foundation, Headquarters, Bonn | image_alt = | formed = | preceding1 = | preceding2 = | dissolved = | superseding1 = | superseding2 = | agency_type = | jurisdiction = Germany | status = | headquarters = Bonn | coordinates = | motto = | employees = | budget = €126 million (2023) | minister_type = | minister1_name = | minister1_pfo = | minister2_name = | minister2_pfo = | deputyminister_type = | deputyminister1_name = | chief1_name = | chief1_position = President | chief2_name = Annette Julius | chief2_position = Secretary General | parent_agency_type = | child1_agency = | child2_agency = | keydocument1 = | website = studienstiftung.de | agency_id = | map = | map_size = | map_caption = | footnotes = | embed = The German Academic Scholarship Foundation (German: Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes, or Studienstiftung for short) is Germany's largest and most prestigious scholarship foundation. According to its statutes, it supports "the university education of young people who, on account of their exceptional academic or artistic talents and their personalities, can be expected to make an outstanding contribution to society as a whole". The Studienstiftung is non-political, non-denominational and ideologically independent. Its headquarters are located in Bonn; it also has an office in Berlin. The current president is University of Bonn director , and its patron (**) is the President of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

The Studienstiftung, like 12 other scholarship foundations (), is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, with funds from the federal government, the German federal states and local authorities, numerous foundations and businesses as well as numerous private donors. In 2023, the Studienstiftung's budget was over €126 million. Between 1925 and 2024, it has supported over 100,000 students and doctoral candidates; , it had over 84,000 alumni worldwide.

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ad/StudienstiftungBerlin.jpg" caption="German Academic Scholarship Foundation, branch office, Berlin"] ::

The selection process is extremely rigorous and only those students who show outstanding academic and personal promise are chosen. The Studienstiftung awards scholarships to fewer than 0.5% of German students. It is sometimes referred to as Germany's "secret elite university".

History

Initially founded in Dresden in 1925 as a department of the Deutsche Studentenschaft, an amalgamation of German student committees, the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes was dissolved in 1934 under National Socialism and replaced by the "Reichsförderung", a department of the newly founded Reichsstudentenwerk. The Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes was newly formed as a registered association in Cologne in 1948. ::data[format=table title="Presidents of the {{Lang|de|Studienstiftung}}"]

PresidentIn office
Adolf Grimmelast=Kunze
Karl Theodor Bleek1963–1967:276
Rudolf Sieverts1967–1980:276
Werner Maihofer1980–1982:276
Manfred Eigen1982–1993:276
1993–2003
2003–2011
Reinhard Zimmermann2011–2023
2023–
::

::data[format=table title="'''Secretaries General of the {{Lang|de|Studienstiftung}}'''"]

Secretary GeneralIn office
Heinz Haerten1948–1970:286
Hartmut Rahn1970–1995:365
Gerhard Teufel1995-2012
Annette Julius2012–
::

Admission

The Studienstiftung offers a general scholarship for bachelor's and master's studies that consists of both financial and academic support. Eligibility is based on the criteria for BAFöG, the German state support system for students. The Studienstiftung scholarship accepts only applicants that study full time at university. A part of an applicant's university studies must be at a university in Germany, in another EU country, or in Switzerland. German or EU citizenship are not required, and there are no age criteria.

The Studienstiftung accepts exceptionally talented students and doctoral candidates selected in accordance with its mission statement, which is based upon the principles of "excellence, initiative and responsibility". Scholarship holders (scholars) are admitted through various channels:

  1. Nomination by a school: The principal of a high school or school with an upper secondary level can nominate one in 30 senior students for admission to the Studienstiftung. This student must excel both academically and in terms of social commitment. Nominated students attend a three-day selection seminar where their eligibility for funding is assessed in individual interviews and group discussions. 26.6% of students nominated in 2023 were offered admission to the Studienstiftung. There is no set admissions quota for the number of students admitted each year.
  2. Nomination by professors: Students at universities and universities of applied science can be nominated directly by university teachers. Again, candidates attend a selection seminar. In 2023, 40,8% of students nominated by their professors were offered admission to the Studienstiftung.
  3. Nomination by an examination board: Just as students can be nominated by schools, one in every 50 students in the second academic year in his/her respective study programme can be nominated by universities and universities of applied science. The nomination must be supported by a professor. The selection seminar is organised along the same lines as the selection seminar for students nominated by schools. In this case, however, the candidate's proven academic achievements at university also carry weight. In 2023, 23,5% of nominees were offered admission.
  4. Winners of a national or federal competition or nomination by select cooperation partners: Winners of or participants in various competitions on a national, federal or international level (e.g. Bundeswettbewerb Informatik, Bundeswettbewerb Mathematik, Bundeswettbewerb Fremdsprachen, Jugend forscht, Jugend debattiert, Internationale Mathematik-Olympiade, Internationale Physik-Olympiade, Altsprachenwettbewerb des Landes Baden-Württemberg) may be offered admission to the Studienstiftung. Select cooperation partners (e.g. START-Stiftung) may also nominate potential sponsorship candidates.
  5. Assessment Test: Since February 2010, candidates can also put themselves forward for a scholarship. First and second-semester students can sign up for the Studienstiftung assessment test in January/February/March each year. The test is held at test centres throughout Germany. The applicants with the best results are invited to attend the selection seminar. While the assessment test determines applicants' cognitive abilities, the selection seminar focuses on motivation, extracurricular interests, social commitment and social skills, which are assessed in personal interviews and group discussions.
  6. Nomination by alums: Studienstiftung alums may also nominate students who they consider appropriate, having taught them personally in school or university courses.
  7. Support of musicians and artists: After an internal pre-selection procedure, universities can nominate students of the fine arts, music and the performing arts for participation in a Studienstiftung selection seminar. If admission occurs before the end of the fourth semester, sponsorship is usually granted until the end of the sixth semester. An extension of the scholarship beyond the sixth semester usually depends on academic performance in the first four semesters. In borderline cases, aspects other than academic achievements – such as exceptional social engagement or particular personal circumstances – may positively influence the decision to approve further funding. After an application has been approved, funding is awarded from the 6th semester until studies are completed (for example, until the master's degree or state examinations have been completed). In 2023, 93,5% of requests for further funding were approved.

The Studienstiftung also offers a doctoral scholarship for highly qualified and prosocial PhD students. The doctoral scholarship accepts applications from doctoral candidates at universities in Germany and at universities worldwide under certain conditions.

Scholarships

General scholarship for undergraduate, graduate and PhD students

The general Studienstiftung scholarship consists of both financial and academic support.

Financial support

Financial support includes an allowance (€300 monthly) and subsidies for health and long-term care insurance. Scholars can receive a need-based basic scholarship, which is calculated according to the BAföG (Federal Training Assistance Act) and can be up to €855 per month. Additional funds are provided for studendts with children.

PhD scholars receive a monthly award of €1,550 (from 1st October 2025: 1,650€ plus a research allowance of €100. Additional funds are provided for PhD students with children. Financial support is regulated by the guidelines of the German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). Visits abroad are also supported by grants or overseas allowances and the partial payment of tuition fees. Under the terms of No. 11 Einkommensteuergesetz (EStG – German Income Tax Law) scholarship payments are tax-free.

Academic support

The Studienstiftung's academic support includes summer schools, research groups, language courses, workshops and mentoring by liaison professors, academics who carry out this task for the Studienstiftung on a voluntary basis. Scholars are required to submit a report on their studies and other activities every semester during the first semesters (usually until the end of the fourth semester), and once a year thereafter. Scholars can also apply for funding in order to organise their own conferences and other events.

The Studienstiftung offers yearly two-week subsidised summer academies, which are its "central event format" for scholarship holders. Scholars themselves can also organise shorter academies and benefit from similar subsidisation. For instance, queer scholarship holders have been making use of this possibility to organise annual meetings since 2001, with financial support from the Studienstiftung since the 2014 edition.

Internal scholarship programmes

In addition to its regular scholarship scheme, the Studienstiftung offers internal scholarship programmes for selected scholars and alumni. Examples include the KAUST-Studienstiftung programme, a joint partnership between the Saudi Arabian King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and the Studienstiftung under the patronage of the German Federal Foreign Office which allows scholars from the STEM disciplines to join KAUST for research internships or to enrol in Master or PhD programs. In the musical field, for example, in cooperation with the Beethoven House residence scholarships are awarded for young composers.

Open scholarship programmes

Moreover, the Studienstiftung offers open scholarship programmes, which are run and financed in cooperation with other organisations. They include the McCloy Academic Scholarship Program, the ERP-Stipendienprogramm and the Carlo-Schmid-Programm. Participation in these scholarship programmes does not require previously holding a regular scholarship by the Studienstiftung.

Since 2005 the Studienstiftung has also been running the Max Weber scholarship for students in Bavaria, introduced by the regional (Land) administration via the Bavarian Elite Support Act (BayEFG).

Statistics

Source:

  • In 2023, the Studienstiftung approved 2,179 scholarships and 301 doctoral scholarships.:109,120
  • , 71.5% of scholars received a study expense allowance of €300, 16.4% received a partial need-based scholarship, and 11.1% the maximum need-based scholarship.:114
  • 55.4% of scholars were women.:112

::data[format=table] | Year ||colspan="3" class="unsortable"|Studienstiftung scholars:109|| rowspan="2" |Number of students in Germany | Studienstiftung | Undergraduate | Doctoral | Total | |---|---|---|---|---| | 2005 | 6,966 | 993 | 7,959 | 1,985,765 | | 2006 | 7,352 | 946 | 8,298 | 1,979,043 | | 2007 | 8,438 | 1,080 | 9,518 | 1,941,405 | | 2008 | 10,030 | 1,194 | 11,224 | 2,025,307 | | 2009 | 11,482 | 1,211 | 12,693 | 2,121,178 | | 2010 | 11,336 | 1,303 | 12,639 | 2,217,294 | | 2011 | 11,123 | 1,350 | 12,473 | 2,380,974 | | 2012 | 11,373 | 1,274 | 12,647 | 2,499,409 | | 2013 | 11,195 | 1,273 | 12,468 | 2,616,881 | | 2014 | 11,858 | 1,184 | 13,042 | 2,698,910 | | 2015 | 12,158 | 1,141 | 13,299 | 2,757,799 | | 2016 | 12,879 | 1,156 | 14,035 | 2,807,010 | | 2017 | 12,749 | 1,202 | 13,951 | 2,844,978 | | 2018 | 12,752 | 1,270 | 14,022 | 2,868,222 | | 2019 | 12,953 | 1,321 | 14,274 | 2,891,049 | | 2020 | 13,402 | 1,393 | 14,795 | 2,944,145 | | 2021 | 14,241 | 1,426 | 15,667 | 2,941,915 | | 2022 | 13,902 | 1,359 | 15,261 | 2,920,263 | | 2023 | 13,626 | 1,262 | 14,888 | 2,869,500 | ::

::data[format=table title="German universities where over 1% of students are Studienstiftung scholars (2023):113–114"]

UniversityTypeStudienstiftungStudents inStudienstiftung
Heidelberg Universitypublic university65729,1472.25%
Hannover Medical Schoolpublic university783,8902.01%
Charitépublic university1449,1721.44%
University of Freiburgpublic university34824,1871.44%
University of Mannheimpublic university11711,5601.01%
University of Lübeckpublic university605,9311.01%
Bucerius Law Schoolprivate university718448.41%
Hertie Schoolprivate university197622.49%
Zeppelin Universityprivate university106751.48%
Witten/Herdecke Universityprivate university383,0111.2%
::

Notable alums==

Natural sciences

Social sciences

Business and NGOs

Politics and civil service

Arts

Journalism

Notes

References

References

  1. (12 April 2016). "Begabtenförderungswerke: Die 13 Stipendiengeber im Überblick".
  2. (31 August 2020). "Begabtenförderungswerke".
  3. "Studienstiftung mit technischen Problemen". Der Tagesspiegel Online.
  4. "Facts and figures {{!}} Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes".
  5. "Schirmherr {{!}} Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes".
  6. BMBF-Internetredaktion. "Die Begabtenförderungswerke – BMBF".
  7. "Jahresbericht {{!}} Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes".
  8. "Daten und Fakten".
  9. "Facts and figures {{!}} Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes".
  10. Lehn, Das Gespräch Führte Birgitta Vom. (13 April 2008). "Elite sein wird einfacher". DIE WELT.
  11. Kunze, Rolf-Ulrich. (1 January 2009). "Die Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes seit 1925". Akademie Verlag.
  12. NDR. "Adolf Grimme - Kulturpolitiker und Generaldirektor des NWDR (Seite 3)".
  13. "Uni Regensburg feiert ihr "Urgestein"".
  14. "Pressemitteilungen {{!}} Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes".
  15. "Präsidentschaft von Reinhard Zimmermann {{!}} Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes".
  16. "Pressemitteilungen {{!}} Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes".
  17. Kunze, Rolf-Ulrich. (2001). "Die Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes seit 1925: zur Geschichte der Hochbegabtenförderung in Deutschland". Akad.-Verl.
  18. "Dr. Gerhard Teufel".
  19. Studienstiftung. "Lebenslauf Annette Julius".
  20. "Voraussetzungen {{!}} Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes".
  21. "Mission Statement {{!}} Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes".
  22. "Bewerbung und Auswahl {{!}} Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes".
  23. "Aktuelles – Neuer Auswahltest der Studienstiftung".
  24. "Selbstbewerbung Test".
  25. "Alumni {{!}} Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes".
  26. "Auswahl für Studierende künstlerischer und musikalischer Fächer: Musik, Bildende Kunst, Design/Film, Darstellende Kunst {{!}} Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes".
  27. "Bewerbung {{!}} Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes".
  28. "Financial support {{!}} Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes".
  29. "Akademien {{!}} Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes".
  30. "SmP – Stipendiatinnen und Stipendiaten machen Programm {{!}} Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes".
  31. (1 June 2021). "Queerstifti Bundestreffen".
  32. (27 November 2013). "Stipendiaten machen Programm!".
  33. (26 February 2017). "KAUST-Programm der Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes – Forschung, Sprache und Kultur im Königreich Saudi-Arabien". Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes.
  34. (3 June 2018). "Förderung für Studierende – Komponistenresidenz". Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes.
  35. "Offene Stipendienprogramme {{!}} Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes".
  36. (16 June 2015). "Zehn Jahre Max Weber-Programm".
  37. "BayEFG: Bayerisches Eliteförderungsgesetz (BayEFG) Vom 26. April 2005 (GVBl. S. 104) BayRS 2230-2-3-WK (Art. 1–11) – Bürgerservice".
  38. "State of Bavaria: Max Weber Programme".
  39. "Jahresbericht {{!}} Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes".
  40. "Jahresbericht 2015".
  41. "Jahresbericht 2020".
  42. "Studierende insgesamt und Studierende Deutsche nach Geschlecht".

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