Studienstiftung

The German National Academic Foundation (German: Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes, (lit: Academic Foundation of the German People), short: Studienstiftung) is Germany's largest organisation sponsoring students of outstanding academic achievements. It is non-political and non-denominational. Currently supporting about 0.5 percent of university students in Germany,[1] it is often referred to as "Germany's secret elite university".[2] The Studienstiftung is funded by the Federal Government of Germany, the German Federal States and local authorities as well as by private donors.[3] The foundation's official motto is Leistung, Initiative, Verantwortung (Achievement, Initiative, Responsibility).

German National Academic Foundation, Headquarters, Bonn
German National Academic Foundation, branch office, Berlin

Program

The Studienstiftung promotes promising undergraduates and graduate students in the areas of science, the humanities, business, public administration and the arts. Through its scholarship programme it aims at promoting academic consolidation, interdisciplinary dialogue, a cosmopolitan world view and international experience.

Currently, the foundation sponsors more than 11,000 undergraduates and about 1,300 PhD students (as of October 2010).[4] Awards are granted after a multi-stage selection process and are based on grades, specialized exams, letters of recommendation, personality and character, and interviews with staff and affiliates of the foundation. Under the principles of uniformity and open access currently characteristic of German universities, the Studienstiftung serves as a main instrument to support highly gifted students in Germany.

Members of the Studienstiftung receive quarterly stipends for living and other expenses. Furthermore, they can participate in a wide range of seminars and summer schools, which are considered as even more important by the foundation, as well as in language courses and other extra-curricular activities. They also have the option to visit a week-long retreat with their accommodation and food provided on entry into the scholarship.

Admission

Admission into the German National Academic Foundation is limited to students with German citizenship, students with a European Union nationality studying at a German university, or students of other nationalities with the German Abitur and studying at a German university.

For formally eligible students, there are two principal pathways to be admitted into the Studienstiftung :

Nomination

Following nomination by an eligible individual or entity. Eligible for nominating students are:

The Studienstiftung invites selected candidates to a two-day assessment center. Usually, the selection procedure comprises two individual interviews and several group discussions involving the presentation of a short topic or paper. Applicants are expected to have excelled in their academic achievements, to show a strong sense of initiative and responsibility. The Studienstiftung also expects candidates to have developed and continue pursuing extracurricular interests and activities. Political convictions, ideology, gender, religion as well as economic and social aspects play no role in the selection process.

The average success rate of nominated assessment center candidates depends on the type of nomination and ranges from 33.5% for freshmen to 54.8% for university nominations (2008). Since the nomination process in itself is already highly competitive, only 12000 out of 2.5 million students at German universities, i.e. about 0.5%, are sponsored by the Studienstiftung as of 2012.[6] Until 2006 the German national academic foundation sponsored only 6000 students, i.e. 0.25% of the German student population.[7]

Application

Since 2010, students in their first or second term may choose to apply for a scholarship. They have to take part in a standardized admission test before being possibly invited to the assessment center. In the first application round held in 2010, 87 students from an original applicant pool of 1065 were offered admission after passing test and assessement center, corresponding to an overall admission rate of 8%.[8]

History

The Studienstiftung was founded in Dresden in 1925, dissolved in 1934 and re-founded as a registered association in Cologne in 1948. During its existence, it has sponsored more than 50,000 students.

Notable alumni

See also Category:Studienstiftung alumni

Science

Business and NGOs

Public service

Arts

Journalism

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.studienstiftung.de/leitbild.html
  2. ↑ http://www.welt.de/wams_print/article1896470/Elite_sein_wird_einfacher.html
  3. ↑ http://www.studienstiftung.de/jahresbericht/2013/#1
  4. ↑ Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes, Jahresbericht 2010 (Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes, Bonn, 2011) p.34.
  5. ↑ http://www.bundeswettbewerbe.de
  6. ↑ http://www.studienstiftung.de/leitbild.html
  7. ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20080612021751/http://www.studienstiftung.de/leitbild.html?
  8. ↑ http://www.studienstiftung.de/aktuelles.html?user_press[uid]=186&cHash=cfb5726fcc79ffcfa0c929528b9c795e

External links