UWG students celebrate success: scholarships for talent and commitment!

UWG students celebrate success: scholarships for talent and commitment!

The University of Witten/Herdecke (UW/H) is actively committed to promoting young talent. At a recent event, 39 scholarship holders of the Deutschlandstipendium for the academic year from October 2024 to September 2025 were introduced. This program supports exceptional students in both their academic achievements and their community engagement.

The Deutschlandstipendium, which was launched in 2011 by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), is financed half by government funds and the other half by private sponsors. The scholarship holders therefore benefit from monthly funding totaling 300 euros, with both the federal government and private sponsors contributing 150 euros each. At the University of Witten/Herdecke, funding can be raised by companies, foundations and private individuals to provide financial support to students in need.

Experiences of the scholarship holders

Scholarship holder Jennifer Frey, who is studying human medicine in her fourth semester, reports on her current challenges. After a bouldering accident, she has to take her first MEQ test lying down and has even given up her temporary job because she is struggling with persistent pain. Despite these adversities, she emphasizes the great help that the scholarship offers her in terms of financial relief and support.

Another example is Lisa Kaupert, who studies philosophy, politics and economics (PPÖ) as well as psychology. She is passionately involved in the university community, particularly in the student cultural association and the Senate. For them, the Deutschlandstipendium is not only a guarantee of financial security, but also an appreciation for their commitment.

The role of the sponsors

The UW/H would like to thank its numerous sponsors, including prominent donors such as Anita Pfeil, Christa Thoben and the Volksbank Bochum Witten eG. Dr. Dirk Jakobs, Vice President of the University, emphasizes the importance of the scholarship for participation, diversity and inclusion and emphasizes that such initiatives contribute positively to the development of the University.

Since the start of the Deutschlandstipendium, a remarkable 322 million euros have been mobilized by private sponsors. In 2023 alone, around 33 million euros were made available, which shows how important private support has become in the educational landscape. A total of 31,424 scholarship holders were supported in 2023, which corresponds to an increase of 3% compared to the previous year.

The University of Witten/Herdecke offers several positions for the Deutschlandstipendium every year for interested students, with the next application period taking place from July 1st to 31st, 2025. According to the {{BMBF funding database}}, scholarship holders not only have the advantage of financial support, but also the opportunity to make contacts with important institutions and companies.

Overall, the Deutschlandstipendium shows how Germany's academic landscape can be enriched through collaboration between state and private sponsors. Supporting talented students who excel in performance and commitment is of central importance for the future of education in Germany.