A total of 85 students from Ulm University were honoured at an award ceremony on Tuesday evening, 28 January, with Deutschlandstipendien. (Germany Scholarships). They will receive 300 euros per month for one year, backdated to the start of the semester in October. Half of this money comes from companies or private individuals, and half from the federal government. In addition to outstanding coursework, the recipients score points for social commitment, professional experience and prizes, for example. The selection committee also took family situation into account.
The scholarship holders were able to meet their sponsoring companies, foundations and private individuals in person at the award ceremony and a joint dinner in the university Mensa. A total of 27 scholarship providers support the students with 150 euros per month for one year, with a further 150 euros coming from the federal government. Some of the sponsors have been involved since the Deutschlandstipendium was introduced in 2011. But new donors are also joining in, such as Robert Bosch GmbH and Dipl.-Ing. Hans Hengartner, former chairwoman of the Ulmer Universitätsgesellschaft e.V. (Ulm University Association), who recently each donated two scholarships.
"Today we are celebrating the impressive service performances of the scholarship holders. They show how important education and cohesion are and send a signal of confidence in the future. I would also like to thank the many scholarship providers for their financial commitment, which is part of the success story of the Deutschlandstipendien at Ulm University. They are the backbone of this initiative," said Professor Olga Pollatos, Vice President Education, in her welcoming address.
One of the recipients is medical student Maximilian Hammrich. He volunteers as a paramedic and sees the Deutschlandstipendium as recognition of his unpaid commitment to disaster control. Theresa Hirschenberger, a third-semester First choice student, adds: "For me, the Deutschlandstipendium also offers the opportunity to make new contacts with other students and scholarship donors who can help me later in my professional life."
The Deutschlandstipendium is one of the most sought-after funding instruments for young students. On the one hand, it is a certificate of achievement for success in their studies and, on the other, it brings companies into contact with the skilled workers of tomorrow. Many companies offer the sponsored students internships and final theses.
The handover ceremony and dinner at Ulm University focussed on getting to know each other and networking. Professor Emma Sayer from the Institute of Botany gave the guests an insight into creative science communication, for example at a music festival, in a lecture entitled "Sex & Bugs & Rock 'n' Roll".
About the Deutschlandstipendium
With the Deutschlandstipendium, the German government aims to support well-trained specialists and young scientists in Germany and establish another pillar of student funding. Talented and high-achieving students receive a monthly grant of 300 euros regardless of their income. Half of the scholarship; (Erasmus:) grant is provided by private donors and half by the federal government. Since the programme began in 2011, private sponsors have raised a total of around 322 million euros. In 2023 alone, this amounted to around 33 million euros, which was used to support 31,424 scholarship holders at over 300 universities nationwide. The students were supported by 9,572 sponsors.
The Deutschlandstipendium at the University of Ulm
Text and media contact: Daniela Stang