FAQ

All students who are currently enrolled at the TU Darmstadt and are still within the regular study timeframe (the prescribed amount of semesters for your degree) can apply. In bachelor and master programmes as of the first semester.

The application period is expected to begin every year in September.

To apply visit the application portal for the Deutschlandstipendium at the TU Darmstadt.

Yes, international students are also eligible to receive the Deutschlandstipendium. In this case, the applicant have to submit a translation of their foreign transcripts with the grades translated into the German grading system.

Yes, students in master programs and those studying a second degree or a complementary degree can also apply.

Yes. Students in their second degree or complementary studies are allowed to apply.

Yes. Students in part-time study programmes are allowed to receive the Deutschlandstipendium, too. There are no differences in the funding sum.

No, doctoral students cannot apply. Information about scholarships can be found on the websites for doctoral candidates.

Yes. Students who are receiving BAföG from the state are also eligible to receive the Deutschlandstipendium. BAföG does not affect the scholarship amount, as the two are complementary programs.

Double degree students have to decide on one degree programme to apply for the scholarship.

The normal scholarship length is two semesters. Recipients may apply each year for a scholarship extension, in which case the student’s performance will again be monitored. A student can receive the Deutschlandstipendium at the latest until the end of the regular study timeframe.

The sum of the scholarship is 300 Euro per month, which is split between a private sponsor and the government.

Scholarship recipients have no obligations to their sponsors.

A good relationship to your sponsor helps to encourage the sponsor of future sponsoring, if students should be selected again. Sponsors offer financial support, furthermore often nonmaterial offerings (e.g. excursions) or would like to meet you in person.
Prompt, friendly and firm answers to invitations and offerings from your sponsor contribute to a successful communication.

The individual departments select recipients by means of a two-stage process.

In the first stage, academic accomplishment is the deciding factor. In the second stage, applicants are asked to provide further non-academic application material, which focuses on the individual’s personal development, social involvement and willingness to take on responsibility. Here, other special circumstances are also taken into account, such as family or personal circumstances or those resulting from an immigration background. Academically strong students coming from the working class are especially encouraged to apply.
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The specific departments decide who receives the scholarship. The department creates a selection committee, which then chooses the best candidates based on a rankings system. The departments use their contacts to then choose suitable sponsors for each recipient.

Students of all degree programmes* at TU Darmstadt have the opportunity to be supported by the Deutschlandstipendium. The available scholarships are then distributed proportionally between each department, based on the amount of students they have registered.

*Exception: The Master's programmes “Political Theory” and “International Studies/Peace and Conflict Research” are offered in cooperation with the Goethe University Frankfurt. For these two degree programmes an application is only possible at the Goethe-University Frankfurt. Please note that application periods in Frankfurt may be different.

In this case, it is important to differentiate between degree-mandatory national and international internships, and other types of internships. Mandatory internships within Germany are integrated into a course of studies and do not conflict with the continuation of the scholarship. The same is true for internships abroad, insofar as the internship fulfils an obligatory portion of your degree. This can be seen as a “degree-relevant period abroad.” Students who take a leave of absence to complete other types of internships, which are not directly relevant to their course of studies, are not able to receive the scholarship during this time.

The scholarship “Deutschlandstipendium” ends upon exmatriculation on March 31 or September 30.

In the event of exmatriculation on a specific date, the payment ends at the end of the month of exmatriculation.

In case of a changing the university to the same field of study, the Deutschlandstipendium will only continue to be paid until the end of the semester if the change takes place in a current semester.

The scholarship funds continue to be paid out during degree-relevant study abroad periods taking place within the funding period. This also applies to students who are receiving a DAAD mobility scholarship as part of the ERASMUS program.

According to maternal rights laws, pregnancy is a valid reason for a leave of absence from studies. The scholarship funding will continue during maternal leave of absence till the end of the appropriation period.

As of January 1st 2012, several benefits and forms of financial assistance, including the Deutschlandstipendium, no longer affect the receipt of Kindergeld. According to the “Steuervereinfachungsgesetzt 2012” (tax simplification law 2012), as of January 1st 2012 the income of grown children for the receipt of Kindergeld will no longer be monitored. Up until January 1st 2012 the Deutschlandstipendium did have an impact on the receipt of Kindergeld. It fell, however, under the tax-exempt amount of 8,004 Euro unless other incomes were listed.

The Deutschlandstipendium has no effect on the contribution to the statutory health insurance as long as the scholarship holder is compulsorily insured in the statutory health insurance (usually until the completion of the 14th semester or the 30th year of life). The case is different if the scholarship holder is (subsequently) insured as a voluntary member. For voluntary members, the legislator has prescribed the levying of minimum contributions. If the income of the insured person subject to contributions (this also includes scholarships) exceeds an assessment basis specified by the legislator, the corresponding income is subject to contributions.

Yes. However, recipients of housing assistance (“Wohngeld”) have to note that the Deutschlandstipendium, like other scholarships, is taken into account at half in the calculation of the annual income. For further questions on the topic of scholarships and housing assistance, please contact your local housing assistance office.

Yes. The Deutschlandstipendium is taken into account in the child maintenance to reduce the need for support. Students who have reached the age of majority are required to support themselves from their own resources before asserting claims against their parents. The Deutschlandstipendium counts as part of the scholarship holder's own income.

The laws governing scholarship distribution (“Stipendienprogramm-Gesetz” or “StipG”) are arranged so that the funds are not subject to taxation or social security contributions.

No, the Deutschlandstipendium does not affect the receipt of other social services such as unemployment insurance (Arbeitslosengeld II). An exception is the receipt of housing assistance (Wohngeld).

Yes. Students who are receiving BAföG from the state are also eligible to receive the Deutschlandstipendium. BAföG does not affect the scholarship amount, as the two are complementary programs.

That depends on the sum and the type of scholarship. Students who are receiving other achievement and abilities-based financial aid from any national or international institutions are not eligible for the Deutschlandstipendium. This does not apply if the sum of the aid per semester received adds up to less than 30 Euro per semester. Non-material aid from e-fellows also does not exclude an applicant from the program.

Financial aid from any of the following agencies renders a student ineligible for the Deutschlandstipendium:

• Casanuswerk
• Stiftung der Deutschen Wirtschaft
• Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung
• Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung
• Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung
• Hans-Böckler-Stiftung
• Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung
• Ernst-Ludwig-Ehrlich-Stiftung e.V.
• Evangelisches Studienwerk Haus Villigst
• Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung für die Freiheit
• Hans-Seidel-Stiftung
• Max-Weber-Programm
• TU-eigene Stipendienprogramme

Students who are receiving a scholarship from DAAD may not simultaneously receive a Deutschlandstipendium, as both scholarships are academic and abilities-based. It is, however, possible to put the Deutschlandstipendium on hold during the receipt period of a DAAD scholarship. If you are receiving a partial scholarship from DAAD, you may receive the Deutschlandstipendium concurrently.

Yes. Students who are receiving BAföG from the state are also eligible to receive the Deutschlandstipendium. BAföG does not affect the scholarship amount, as the two are complementary programs.

Concurrently receiving university's scholarships is not allowed, if these scholarships are academic and abilities-based. E.g. Programs, which are building softskills or interdisciplinary skills or mentoring programs can be received concurrently.