Requirements for application
Applicants who wish to commence their studies at the University of Freiburg during a summer semester may apply, so can students who are enrolled on an undergraduate degree programme or a Master’s degree programme there. Applications by the following students cannot be considered, as funding is not permitted:
- Doctoral candidates (except for doctoral candidates in Human Medicine and Dental Medicine, who are taking their doctorate in parallel with regular studies)
- Short-term students in accordance with Section 60(1)(5) Landeshochschulgesetz (LHG, the federal state law on universities and vocational colleges) and students who are on an exchange programme, who are not aiming to take a degree at the University of Freiburg
- Students who are enrolled on the pre-semester course in German and on the Studienkolleg foundation course
- Students who are only studying a supplementary subject on the Master of Education degree programme at the University of Freiburg, but who are enrolled for the major subjects on the Master of Education degree programme at another university.
- Applications only with the Master of Education degree programme supplementary subject
No. If you enrol for the first time in the winter semester, you can only apply the following March for a scholarship from the summer semester.
No, if you are not enrolled at the University of Freiburg it is not possible to receive the Deutschlandstipendium.
The maximum funding period is determined by the standard period of study for the degree programme. If the period of study is extended for serious reasons such as a disability, pregnancy, the care and upbringing of a child or a study-related stay abroad, then the maximum funding period may be extended. Besides offering a personal explanation, you must provide suitable proof, e.g. confirmation of completing an internship or a stay abroad. You will also need confirmation from the dean and/or your academic supervisor that the extension of the standard period of study was justified.
On account of the pandemic, for students who were enrolled in the summer semester 2020, in the winter semester 2020/2021, in the summer semester 2021 and in the winter semester 2021/2022, the individual standard period of study is extended by one semester for each of these semesters (Section 29(3a) LHG and Section 1 Verordnung des Wissenschaftsministeriums über die Verlängerung der individuellen Regelstudienzeit dated 11 August 2021). No special explanation of this extension of the standard period of study is required from you, the additional semesters are allowed automatically.
If you are still within the standard period of study at the start of funding (summer semester), you do not have to do anything special when applying.
If you are applying with just the average grades and cannot show engagement in the above fields (other criteria), you will receive 0 points for these criteria.
Yes. The scholarship is paid both during the period without lectures and also during a study-related stay abroad.
Yes. You may apply despite taking leave, however, the Deutschlandstipendium cannot be paid out during the period of leave. The funding period is however adjusted on notification from the scholarship holder and payment of the scholarship resumes for the remaining funding period (up to a total of 12 months) after the leave period.
If the leave is taken during a semester abroad or for a mandatory internship, the scholarship will continue to be paid. The approval period is not extended in this case.
Yes. The scholarship will continue to be paid during a study-related stay abroad within the approved period. This applies in relation to the ERASMUS programme even if you are receiving a mobility grant from DAAD.
Yes. However, the scholarship can only be approved and paid once you are enrolled at the University of Freiburg.
Yes, international students can also apply for a Deutschlandstipendium. Translations into German, English or French of all application documents and supporting documentation must be included with the online application. Supporting documentation in other languages must be submitted as a copy of the original and a certified translation into German or English.
Besides undergraduate degree programmes (Bachelor’s, State Examinations) Master’s degree programmes and part-time degree programmes while working (including second degree) are funded.
Yes. You can apply with your Bachelor’s certificate as transcript of records. You will however only receive sponsorship if you really are enrolled at the University of Freiburg at the start of funding.
Yes, you can apply. Please submit your Bachelor’s certificate as transcript of records.
Yes, however you must inform the university in which month you complete your last examination, so that the Deutschlandstipendium is paid for the last time in this month.
The conditions that give you the best chance of a scholarship.
No. The Deutschlandstipendium does not fund doctoral candidates. You are only entitled to funding if you are studying Human Medicine or Dental Medicine and taking your doctorate in parallel to regular studies.
No. Guest students cannot receive funding from the Deutschlandstipendium.
Selection criteria
You can learn more about this under ‘Conditions and selection criteria’ on this page.
No, these average grades are a prequalification. If you don’t meet this criterion, the application can’t be accepted.
Past activities will also be considered provided they meet the required minimum duration.
They must be competitions that were officially announced either by a federal state, the German government or an international institution. For example, the following are recognised: Scheffel Prize, Ferry Porsche Prize, Apollinaire Prize, DPG Awards, Rotary Club Prize, Heidehof Foundation, national competitions: e.g. Jugend musiziert, Jugend forscht, Jugend debattiert, etc.
The following are not recognised: language certificates: TOEFL, DaF, DELF/DALF, etc., stays abroad, participation in seminars and conferences: e.g. simulation games, prizes at school and association levels: e.g . school graduation prizes issued by unofficial institutions, e-fellows.net scholarships, DAAD scholarships, training awards, Chinese Bridge competition inc. from Confucius Institute Frankfurt, Hydrology scholarship, Duke of Edinburgh Award, participation in MINT-Kolleg KIT advanced course
Questions about calculating grades
Only the first point after the decimal point is relevant to the application for a Deutschlandstipendium. A grade 1.39999 is counted as 1.3. For law studies, the points are not rounded, i.e. 11.83 is counted as 11 points.
The grades from all subjects are included equally in the average grade, provided these grades are shown in the transcript of records.
No, the unweighted average of all grades included in the white section of the transcript of records (EXA 251 in the Campus Management System) applies. You can calculate this grade yourself; it will be recalculated during the application process.
To calculate the average grade, we take all grades obtained during the entire degree studies and included in the white section of the transcript of records (EXA 251 in HISinOne). The grades in the pale grey and dark grey sections of the transcript of records may be weighted, therefore only the grades in the white fields are considered. If grades are made up of several grades likewise shown in the transcript of records, the respective individual grade will be referred to for the calculation.
Yes, the current transcript of records is used for calculation of the average grade. The last examination grade is only submitted for calculation of the average grade if no graded work has been completed on the current degree programme. The transcript of records must be uploaded in any case.
To calculate the average grade, all grades included on the submitted transcript of records are used. If a transcript of records is available (uploaded in the online application) by the end of the application period that shows the necessary average grade, the application can be considered. Questions about the visibility of grades in the transcript of records must be clarified by applicants with their respective examination offices.
The unweighted average of all grades included in the transcript of records at time of application applies. Grades from previously discontinued studies are not considered.
Study credits are not normally graded. However, if they are given a grade in the transcript of records, they will be considered.
Rules for Medicine and Law degree programmes
There is a grade threshold of 1.3 for students of Medicine.
No. This would discriminate against students whose subject does not allow improvement of grades with suitable tests.
To calculate the average grade, we take all grades obtained during the entire degree studies and included in the transcript of records. If grades are made up of several grades likewise shown in the transcript of records (EXA 251 in HISInOne), the respective individual grade will be referred to for the calculation .
Online application
It is only possible to apply electronically via the online application portal; click on the green box at top right of this page.
You can see what documents are necessary in the current call for submissions and in the section ‘Application documents and selection’ on this page.
Only transcripts of records from the Campus Management System HISinOne are accepted. You can download yours from your account there under EXA 251. Certification by the examination office isn’t necessary. Screenshots and manually-issued transcripts of records will not be accepted.
Only applications that are completed and sent within the deadline via the online portal are processed. Supporting documentation may be uploaded using the message function in the online portal up to 31 March and cannot be sent in by email or post.
It is only possible to submit documents later up to 31 March via the message function in the online portal.
Supporting documentation can be included with the online application in German, English or French. Supporting documentation in other languages must be submitted as a copy of the original and a certified translation into German or English.
Several items of supporting documentation can be uploaded for one selection criterion by combining them in one PDF document and uploading this.
Supporting documentation that is not in German, English or French must be submitted as a copy of the original and a certified translation into German or English. No certification is required for any other supporting documentation.
No.
Unfortunately, training and continuing education certificates cannot be considered as qualifications for the Deutschlandstipendium.
Nature and duration of sponsorship
Yes. The scholarship is paid both during the period without lectures and also during a study-related stay abroad.
No, the funding will however be resumed at a later date after the leave and the approval period for the scholarship will be adjusted on notification from the scholarship holder. The period of leave is therefore not counted toward the funding period.
The Deutschlandstipendium funding is granted for one year. It may be extended after one year. In order to extend the funding, scholarship holders must submit a full application as for their first, on account of legal requirements.
The Deutschlandstipendium offers funding of €300 monthly. The funding period begins on 1 April. The first payment is made retroactively for past funding months, following the end of the selection process.
No, the scholarship is only awarded once a year at the start of the summer semester.
Normally at the end of the funding period of one year. Or, alternatively, when :
- the last examination is completed
- studies are discontinued prematurely
- the student switches course
- the student unenrols
If any of these occurs, scholarship holders are obliged to inform the university immediately.
Combining the Deutschlandstipendium with other sources of funding
The Deutschlandstipendium is on principle not counted against other social benefits, e.g. unemployment benefit (II). One exception is the receipt of housing allowance.
BAföG and the Deutschlandstipendium are two complementary programmes. Normally, students can claim both forms of funding at the same time without deductions.
Since 1 January 2012, all income and earnings, and therefore also the Deutschlandstipendium, no longer affect child benefit. Under the Steuervereinfachungsgesetz (Tax simplification act) 2011, the income of children of legal age up to the completion of their first vocational training or first degree is no longer checked.
The Deutschlandstipendium does not affect the contribution to statutory health insurance provided the scholarship holder has mandatory statutory health insurance (normally up to completion of the 14th study semester and/or 30 years of age). The case is different if the scholarship holder is (subsequently) insured as a voluntary member. The law stipulates that voluntary members pay minimum contributions. Therefore, the contributions are calculated on a basis determined by law. If the contributory income of the insured party (including scholarship holders) exceeds this amount, the relevant income is liable for contributions.
The Deutschlandstipendium is unaffected by your income and parents. Your income situation is not checked.
In the case of child support, the Deutschlandstipendium is deemed to reduce need. Students of legal age are obliged to support themselves from own funds before claiming against their parents. The Deutschlandstipendium hereby counts as own income of the scholarship holder.
The Stipendienprogramm-Gesetz (StipG, law on scholarship programmes) was designed so that Deutschlandstipendia are not normally treated as liable for tax or social security contributions (there may be exceptions in the case of certain constellations of private, state-recognised universities; the universities can provide information on this).
It is not possible to make general statements about whether the Deutschlandstipendium can be combined with other scholarship programmes. In principle, anyone who has already received an aptitude and performance-related material funding of on average €30 or more per month cannot receive the Deutschlandstipendium. For double funding to be approved, this must be agreed with the relevant sponsor. See also ‘Nature and duration of sponsorship’ on this page.
The University’s respective selection committee decides on the award of Deutschlandstipendia. The selection criteria are based on the relevant statutes which set out the process in detail, as well as on the law creating a national scholarship programme (Stipendienprogramm-Gesetz – StipG).
Obligations/duties of scholarship holders
No, students who receive sponsorship are as a matter of principle not obliged to provide any service in return. It is however recommended that, in their own interests, students take part in events with the sponsors or in Internet forums, as this can produce contacts which can frequently result in interesting internship opportunities or career entry opportunities. In addition, the sponsors’ interest in making a financial commitment towards scholarship holders increases in parallel with their interest to the sponsor.
No, there are no obligations, such as limitation of weekly secondary employment, tied to the Deutschlandstipendium. It is paid regardless of income and parents. However, while loans or other agreements with the sponsors are excluded, contact between sponsors and scholarship holders is desirable.
Repayment
No.