Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes

Studienstiftung

German Academic Scholarship Foundation, Headquarters, Bonn
Scholarship foundation overview
Formed	1925 (1925)
Jurisdiction	Germany
Headquarters	Bonn
Annual budget	€126 million (2023)
Scholarship foundation executives	Michael Hoch [de], President Annette Julius, Secretary General
Website	studienstiftung.de

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 Michael Hoch [de], and its patron (Schirmherr [de]) is the President of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

The Studienstiftung, like 12 other scholarship foundations (Begabtenförderungswerk [de]), is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, with funds from the federal government, the German federal states and local authorities, numerous foundations and businesses as well as numerous private donors. In 2025, the Studienstiftung's budget was around €137 million. Between 1925 and 2026, it has supported over 100,000 students and doctoral candidates; as of 2026^[update], it had over 90,000 alumni worldwide.

The selection process is extremely rigorous and only those students who show outstanding academic and personal promise are chosen. The Studienstiftung awards scholarships to ca. 0.51% of German students. Since April 2017, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has been the patron of the German Academic Scholarship Foundation, thereby continuing the tradition of the Federal Presidents that began with Richard von Weizsäcker in 1984. Following its example, the Swiss Study Foundation (Schweizerische Studienstiftung [de]) was established in 1991.

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.

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. Since 2026, the school administration may additionally nominate a suitable person from the cohort in the year before the Abitur examinations. Nominated students attend a three-day selection seminar where their eligibility for funding is assessed in individual interviews and group discussions. 28.2% of students nominated in 2025 were offered admission to the Studienstiftung.
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 2025, 43.9% 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 2025, 21.9% of nominees were offered admission.
4. 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.
5. Nomination by alums: Studienstiftung alums may also nominate students who they consider appropriate, having taught them personally in school or university courses.
6. 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.
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.
8. Doctoral funding: Academically outstanding and socially engaged doctoral researchers can apply for funding for their doctoral project together with their supervisors. Requirements include a degree completed with results far above average, broad interests, and a scientifically highly demanding and innovative doctoral research project.

Selection from among the nominations and applications takes place during a multi-day selection seminar conducted by a committee. On average, around 25% of those nominated are ultimately admitted to the German Academic Scholarship Foundation's merit-based support programme. The selection committee bases its decision on five criteria, which are assessed through individual interviews, presentations, and discussion sessions:

• Intellectual abilities
• Commitment to achievement and motivation
• Communication and articulation skills
• Social Competence
• Social engagement and a broad range of interests

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 (students need to be in the top 10% to 15% of their class). 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 2025, 95% of requests for further funding were approved.

Funding

The German Academic Scholarship Foundation is primarily funded through public resources. The Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (Ministerium für Forschung, Technoloie und Raumfahrt [de]) is the largest contributor, accounting for around 91% of the total budget. In addition, the budget is composed as follows (as of 2025):

• 4% from grants provided by federal states and municipalities
• 1% from the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Engerie (Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Engerie [de]
• 2% from cooperation pgrammes, foundations, and companies
• 5% from the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts (for the implementation of the Max Weber Programme)
• 3% from private donations, contributions from corporate partners, participants' own contributions, and reimbursements for programmes and events

Scholarships

Statistics

Source:

• In 2025, 71.8% of scholarship holders received only a study allowance of €300, 16.8% received partial funding, and 11.4% received a full scholarship.
• In 2025, around 90% of the German Academic Scholarship Foundation's funding came from public resources, with the largest share provided by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space.
• In recent years, the Foundation has increased the proportion of students from non-academic family backgrounds and students with a migration background: in 2025, 26.9% of scholarship holders came from non-academic family backgrounds, and 22.2% had a migration background.
• The proportion of women among recipients of undergraduate funding was 55.1% in 2025, while the proportion of women receiving doctoral funding was 51.4%.

* The statistics do not include doctoral researchers who are not enrolled at a university; however, these individuals are included in the figures reported by the German Academic Scholarship Foundation (in 2024: around 70,000 doctoral researchers).

Notable alums

See also

• Swiss Study Foundation (Schweizerische Studienstiftung)
• National Merit Scholarship Program in the United States

Notes

References

Further reading

• Nik Afanasjew: RAF und die Studienstiftung: Aus Stipendiaten wurden Terroristen. In: Der Tagesspiegel. 3. Oktober 2011.
• Anant Agarwala: Wie sich die Stipendiaten der Studienstiftung ändern. Die Spitze wird bunter, in: Die Zeit 21/2016.
• Zentrum für Evaluation und Methoden (ZEM) der Universität Bonn: Evaluierung des Auswahlverfahrens der Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes e.V., Bonn 2012.

External links

• Website of the German Academic Research Foundation e.V.
• Alumni of the German Academic Research Foundation e.V.