Questions about application requirements

How good do my grades need to be in order to apply for a scholarship?

A grade point average of 'good' is considered a benchmmark. However, there is no predetermined grade point average. First-year students should have a correspondingly 'good' Abitur grade. 

Can I apply as a doctoral student?

No, funding for doctoral students is not possible or provided for under the UDE scholarship programme. Students of medicine are exempt from this rule.

I have just completed my secondary education and will be enrolling for the winter semester. Can I still apply?

Yes, but you must be enrolled at UDE at the start of the scholarship in October. You cannot receive the UDE scholarship if you are studying/enrolled at another university.

I am not studying at the UDE, can I still apply?

Yes, if you enrol at UDE for the winter semester. Only students enrolled at UDE are allowed to receive a scholarship.

Can I apply as a foreign student?

Yes, if you are already enrolled at UDE, your student grades will be evaluated. If you have not yet applied to UDE, please contact the International Office at the following email address: essen-io@uni-due.de.

I have exceeded my standard period of study. Can I still apply?

In principle, anyone can apply. However, you must complete your studies within the standard period of study in order to receive the scholarship. If your studies are extended for study-related reasons, such as a stay abroad or an internship, you may still be eligible for a scholarship under certain circumstances. If you exceed the standard period of study for your bachelor's degree and begin a master's degree, the standard period of study for the master's degree will start again from the beginning.

I am currently completing my bachelor's degree and will begin my master's degree at the UDE in the coming winter semester. Can I apply?

Yes, please enter the degree you are aiming for under “Desired degree”; the degree you will be pursuing starting in the coming winter semester.

I am already a scholarship holder of a scholarship foundation or I am already receiving another scholarship. Can I apply?

Double funding through multiple scholarships is prohibited under Section 4 and Section 1(3) of the Scholarship Act (see ‘https://www.deutschlandstipendium.de/files/DStip_Uebersicht_Doppelfoerderung.pdf'). This refers to all talent- and performance-based financial support averaging more than 30 euros per month. Non-financial support is not affected by this. Erasmus mobility grants are also not affected. You are obliged to inform us of any possible double funding. If you are unsure whether double funding exists, please contact the Higher Education Funding Team.

Is it also possible to apply for a scholarship if the expected remaining study period is not 12 months but only 6 months?

Yes, if you receive the scholarship and leave early, we will fill the vacancy until the end of the funding period. So you can apply without any problems, provided you have not exceeded the standard period of study.

Questions about the application and information in the online application form

The application phase has not yet begun. Can I still view the application form and prepare for the questions?

No, unfortunately that is not possible. During the approximately one-month application period, you will have plenty of time to view and complete the form online. You can also save your progress and edit it later. The last version you submit will then count as your application.

How do I apply online?

Once the application phase has begun, the university funding agency will provide a link that allows access to the online application form. You must first register once with your email address and confirm the data protection guidelines. The form will then be activated and accessible to you individually.

I am getting an error message and cannot continue. What should I do now?

If the field in question is not marked in red and you cannot find the incorrect entry, please send us a screenshot with your details and we will try to find the error. Typing and formatting errors are particularly common with numbers and grades. For example, an extra space. Copying your letter of motivation from Word can also lead to errors in the form. If you want to write your text in advance, it is better to use a text editor instead of Word. Filling out the application on a smartphone or tablet is also more prone to errors than on a laptop or computer.

I have special circumstances/I am involved in social or voluntary work/I have a migrant background. Can I mention this on the application form?

Yes, you can provide this information on a voluntary basis. Please note that this information may have a positive effect on your application. Some scholarship providers, out of a sense of social responsibility, prefer to give preference to applicants with special personal, family or social circumstances if their academic performance is equal.

What should you enter under ‘Desired qualification’?

Please enter the degree you will be pursuing next. The starting point is the status for the coming winter semester. If you are enrolled in a bachelor's programme in the coming winter semester: Bachelor. Even if you are planning to pursue a master's degree or perhaps even a doctorate afterwards, please enter bachelor's first.

I am currently writing my bachelor's thesis and would like to start my master's degree in the winter semester. I don't have a grade yet. Do I have to specify the bachelor's or master's degree as my intended qualification?

Please indicate the Master's programme, as you will be enrolled in a Master's programme starting in the winter. We will receive your final grade from the faculty at a later date.

My grades and ECTS credits for the winter semester were only recorded this summer. Can I still enter them for the past winter semester?

Yes. The grades refer to the previous winter semester. You can easily provide them. You can calculate your grade point average yourself. Your information will then be checked for accuracy internally by the university.

My grades and ECTS credits have not yet been recorded. How can I enter them?

All grades and ECTS credits that you are aware of can be calculated. They must be submitted to the Examination Office and available for inspection by the end of September at the latest. Please ensure that your achievements are recorded by the Examination Office. You can also calculate your grade point average yourself. Your information will be checked for accuracy internally by the university.

I am studying to become a teacher (or a dual-subject degree programme) and am applying for one of my subjects. Can I include all my grades and ECTS points, or only those for one subject?

Please only apply with the grades and ECTS credits that are relevant to the subject you are applying for. You must primarily be assessed on the basis of your performance in this one subject.

How are academic achievements assessed?

Applicants' academic achievements are verified internally by the university (faculty, examination office). However, you have the option of indicating your academic achievements at the end of the previous winter semester on the application form.

What should I put under ‘Contact’ in my CV?

As a contact, please provide a reference who can confirm the internship, stay abroad, training, social engagement or club membership you have specified. The name and contact details, i.e. address, email address or telephone number, are sufficient.

I accidentally submitted the form too early or would like to correct some information. How can I access the application form?

You can edit and/or correct your application as often as you like. The last completed application submitted will be used for the award process.

What should be included in the letter of motivation?

The letter of motivation is a cover letter that highlights aspects of your CV that are not sufficiently covered in the tabular form. You can also describe your reasons for applying and what you hope to gain from a scholarship. Further information on how to write a letter of motivation can be found here: ‘https://www.stipendienkultur.de/motivationsschreiben-verfassen’.

General questions about the application and selection process

Can I also send my application documents by post?

No. It is also not possible to submit letters of recommendation, etc. We do not usually open email attachments. Applications can only be submitted using our application form, which will be activated during the application phase. You can upload supporting documents in various places on this form.

Are school or university grades decisive in the awarding of scholarships?

School and university grades are an important factor, but other criteria are also taken into account in the selection process: involvement in a club, in politics or in the church, for example, raising children, caring for relatives, helping out in the family business or overcoming particular obstacles in one's life. The selection process takes into account the applicant's entire personality.

Who selects the scholarship recipients?

The respective faculty is responsible for subject-specific scholarships, while a central selection committee decides on subject-independent scholarships. All non-subject-specific scholarships are distributed among suitable applicants from the faculties in proportion to the size of the faculty.

When will the procurement process be completed?

Expected in October. All applicants will then receive an email notification informing them whether or not they have been awarded a scholarship. Selected scholarship recipients will then receive an official letter. Please understand that the award process will take some time.

When will the decisions on the applications be made? Will this possibly be quicker for extensions than for new applications?

In both cases, you will only receive information in October, as various organisational procedures have to be completed before then. We cannot provide any information on interim results; the selection of scholarship recipients is not in the hands of the Higher Education Funding Agency.

Other questions about funding and further scholarships

I am a BAföG recipient. Will the scholarship be taken into account?

No, the scholarship is awarded independently of the BAföG and income.

Does the scholarship have to be repaid?

No. However, if false information is provided or failure to notify the scholarship provider of changes to study conditions, the scholarship may be withdrawn and repayment may be required. This means that if the eligibility requirements are no longer met, repayment will be due for the period during which the scholarship was received unlawfully.

In addition to the financial aspect, does the scholarship also include a support programme or non-material support?

In addition to purely financial support, the university offers other benefits, such as events for all scholarship holders (information events, large thank-you celebrations with all sponsors, etc.). In some cases, sponsors also organise additional accompanying programmes or invite scholarship holders to their own events.

I have completed my studies, what do I need to do?

As soon as it becomes apparent that you will successfully complete your studies or that you wish to discontinue your studies at the University of Duisburg-Essen, please notify us immediately (deutschlandstipendien@uni-due.de). In this case, funding will no longer be available until the end of the approval period if you complete your studies in the current semester.

I am planning a stay abroad for which I will receive additional funding/another scholarship. What do I need to do?

Stays abroad and other scholarships must be declared to the university funding agency. This means not only providing this information on the application form, but also sending a direct written notification by email or post. This allows us to check whether the additional scholarship can be received or whether there is an inadmissible double funding (see "https://www.uni-due.de/ imperia/md/content/dokumente/2023/2023-07-20-dstip_uebersicht_doppelfoerderung.pdf" ).

I was abroad through the ERASMUS programme. Does that count as double funding?

No, the ERASMUS programme is not a means-tested grant; it aims to promote student mobility and academic exchange beyond ‘national educational boundaries’. Nevertheless, you should mention this in your application. If you are unsure, please feel free to contact us.

I am receiving a DAAD scholarship. Can I still apply?

If you receive a full DAAD scholarship, you cannot receive the UDE scholarship at the same time, as both scholarships are based on talent and performance. However, you can take a leave of absence from the UDE scholarship while you are receiving the full DAAD scholarship. If, on the other hand, you receive a partial scholarship from the DAAD, you can receive parallel funding through the UDE scholarship (see “https://www.uni-due.de/imperia/md/content/dokumente/2023/2023-07-20-dstip_uebersicht_doppelfoerderung.pdf”).

Other questions about the UDE scholarship

According to the scholarship distribution, my faculty receives only a few scholarships compared to other faculties. Do I have any chance at all?

You should definitely apply. In addition to the scholarships awarded by the faculties, the UDE selection committee awards further scholarships centrally and independently of the subject area.

I am studying two subjects from two different faculties to become a teacher. Can I apply for a scholarship separately for both subject areas? How can I find out which faculty offers me better chances?

You can only apply to one faculty – as you usually had to choose one of the two faculties for your affiliation when you enrolled, you should specify this. As scholarships are awarded on an ongoing basis, unfortunately we cannot provide any information on how many scholarships each faculty will ultimately have.

Are there any conditions attached to the scholarship (e.g. internship at the sponsoring company)?

No. We only invite scholarship holders to joint events, which they can attend voluntarily.

Can I continue to receive funding after one year?

Yes, you can or must apply for further funding after one year. The scholarship is not automatically renewed.

What happens if something changes after I have been awarded a scholarship?

You are obliged to inform the university immediately of any changes (change of address, change of subject or place of study, sabbatical semester, internships, graduation, further funding commitments, etc.). Changes relevant to your studies may affect your scholarship.

Can I continue to receive the grant if I complete an internship relevant to my studies during a leave of absence?

In this case, a distinction is made between compulsory internships and other internships. Compulsory internships do not preclude payment. (Internships abroad that are provided for in the respective study regulations do not affect the scholarship either.) If the scholarship holder takes leave of absence for internships that are not provided for in the study regulations, the scholarship will not continue to be paid during this period.

You cannot find an answer to your question here?

Feel free to email us your question: deutschlandstipendien@uni-due.de

We will reply as soon as possible. Please keep in mind that we can only reply during our regular office hours.