Deutschlandstipendium Scholarships Awarded

They stand out due to their great achievements and are active in the community: 116 students from the University of Bremen will receive a Deutschlandstipendium scholarship. The scholarship includes financial support as well as comprehensive accompanying offers.

“I would like to offer my heartfelt congratulations to all scholarship holders and thank all sponsors for their support,” stated the President of the University of Bremen, Professor Bernd Scholz-Reiter, at the awarding ceremony on Tuesday, November 30, 2021. “I am pleased that the program also honors social commitment alongside special achievement.”

A Special Feature of the University of Bremen

The University of Bremen has been awarding the Deutschlandstipendium scholarship since 2011. This year will mark the tenth round. The 116 scholarship holders are only some of the more than 28,000 sponsored students across the country. Within the frame of the Deutschlandstipendium scholarship, the government, companies, associations, foundations, and private persons provide support to high-achieving students. In this way, society takes on responsibility for young talent and makes an important contribution for the future. For one year, the scholarship holders receive a monthly sum of 300 euros. One half of said amount is paid by the government and the other half is paid by private sponsors. A special feature with regard to the University of Bremen is that the selection criteria is not only made up of the school or university achievements but also social/community commitment. The scholarships are awarded by a scholarship committee, which is made up of students and professors of the university.

Students’ Good Grades and Social Commitment

Many sponsors have been part of the Deutschlandstipendium scholarship program for many years and are convinced of the holistic and sustainable concept. “Early-career academics have a place close to our hearts,” says Alexander Witte, executive board member of the Wolfgang Ritter Foundation. “We enjoy supporting projects that also offer perspective for the community as well as offer academic achievements. That is something that the Deutschlandstipendium scholarship program does in a near perfect way. Students who have good grades, are particularly socially active, and have overcome personal challenges are supported by the program.”

Giving Back to Society

“I am aiming to initiate positive changes in society with my degree,” says the scholarship holder Selin Ersoy. “That is why I have been active in diverse social organizations for many years. I am a member of UNICEF, the Bremen law student body, vice president of the Golden Z Club Bremen for the strengthening of women’s rights, and most recently, I became a member of the Amnesty-Anti-Racism Group in Bremen. I think that one should appreciate the privileges that one has - simply by having the opportunity to study - and should give back to society by means of community commitment.” The scholarship holder is sure that the Deutschlandstipendium scholarship will give her “motivation for future goals and projects” alongside many new opportunities.

The Majority Receive Support for the First Time

Of the 116 supported students, the majority (69) are receiving financial support for the first time. 10% of them care for children or relatives. More than half study on a part-time basis alongside working.
Nearly half are master’s students. Around 58% come from a so-called non-academic household and 15% have a health restriction or disability. The large majority (more than 85%) carry out some form of voluntary work alongside their studies.

Workshop Offers

After the awarding ceremony, the ideal accompanying support for the scholarship holders at the University of Bremen enters the next phase. The support, in this case workshops, helps them to acquire soft skills for mastering life and career decisions. Offers from the sponsors provide insights into various fields of work and valuable networks. With the help of this support, the students are able to apply their own potential and networking opportunities more effectively.