German National Academic Foundation

The German National Academic Foundation, formally known in German as the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes, is a non-political, non-denominational and ideologically independent scholarship foundation headquartered in Bonn, with a further office in Berlin. It supports students and doctoral researchers whose academic or artistic ability, personal qualities and commitment indicate that they may make an outstanding contribution to society. Its work combines financial assistance with an extensive programme of academic, cultural and personal development. The foundation was established in Dresden in 1925 as a department of the Deutsche Studentenschaft, an association of German student committees. It was dissolved under National Socialism in 1934 and replaced by the Reichsförderung within the Reichsstudentenwerk. The organisation was re-established as a registered association in Cologne in 1948 and subsequently became the best-known and largest of Germany’s thirteen scholarship organisations for gifted students, commonly called Begabtenförderungswerke. Admission is highly selective. Candidates may be nominated by schools, university professors, examination boards, alumni and selected partner organisations. Students can also enter through a national assessment test, while students in music, the visual arts and performing arts may be nominated through specialist university procedures. Selection seminars assess intellectual ability, motivation, communication, social competence, social engagement and breadth of interests through interviews, presentations and group discussions. Doctoral candidates apply with the support of their supervisors and must present an outstanding academic record together with an ambitious and innovative research project. The foundation’s general scholarship is available to undergraduate, graduate and doctoral researchers. Student support can include a monthly study allowance, need-based assistance calculated with reference to Germany’s BAföG system, insurance subsidies, family-related supplements, international study grants and partial tuition support. Doctoral researchers receive a separate monthly award and research allowance under federal funding rules. Financial support is accompanied by summer academies, research groups, language courses, workshops, conferences, mentoring by liaison professors and opportunities for scholars to organise their own activities. The Studienstiftung also operates or participates in special programmes. These include the Max Weber Programme for students in Bavaria, the McCloy Academic Scholarship Program, the ERP scholarship programme, the Carlo-Schmid-Programme and the KAUST–Studienstiftung partnership for research and postgraduate opportunities in science and technology. In the arts, the foundation cooperates with institutions such as the Beethoven-Haus to support young composers. The foundation is primarily financed through public resources, especially federal support, supplemented by contributions from the German states and municipalities, foundations, companies, programme partners and private donors. It has supported more than 100,000 students and doctoral candidates since its establishment, according to the supplied reference material, and maintains a large alumni network in Germany and abroad. Its alumni include prominent figures in science, mathematics, economics, law, the humanities and public life. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has served as patron since 2017, continuing a tradition in which German federal presidents act as patrons of the foundation.

The Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes emerged during the interwar period as a mechanism for identifying and supporting students regarded as exceptionally promising. It was founded in Dresden in 1925 as a department of the Deutsche Studentenschaft, which represented German student committees. The original organisation did not survive the political transformation of Germany after 1933. In 1934 it was dissolved under National Socialist rule and its role was taken over by the Reichsförderung, a department of the Reichsstudentenwerk. After the Second World War, the scholarship foundation was re-established in Cologne in 1948 as a registered association. In the Federal Republic it developed into a nationwide institution supporting academically and artistically gifted students without affiliation to a political party, denomination or ideological movement. Its mandate focuses not only on academic excellence but also on independence, initiative, social responsibility and the ability to contribute constructively to society. The foundation’s selection system expanded beyond traditional school and university nominations. Secondary-school principals may nominate particularly strong students, while university professors and examination boards can nominate students after they have demonstrated achievement in higher education. Alumni and selected partner organisations also provide nominations. Since 2010, early-stage university students have had an additional route through a centrally administered assessment test. Candidates who pass the initial stage normally attend a multi-day selection seminar involving individual interviews, presentations and group discussions. The process is intended to evaluate academic potential alongside motivation, communication, social skills, extracurricular interests and civic engagement. Support is structured as a combination of money and educational opportunity. Depending on eligibility and need, scholars may receive a basic allowance, BAföG-related support, insurance subsidies, family supplements and assistance for study abroad. Doctoral researchers receive separate funding arrangements. The foundation’s academic programme includes two-week summer academies, shorter scholar-organised academies, language courses, workshops, research groups, conferences and mentoring by volunteer liaison professors. These activities create an interdisciplinary community in which scholars from different fields can pursue interests beyond their formal degree programmes. Alongside its general scholarship, the Studienstiftung has developed open programmes in cooperation with public bodies, universities and other organisations. The Max Weber Programme was introduced in Bavaria in 2005 under the Bavarian Elite Support Act. Other programmes support study and research in public policy, international affairs, economics, science and technology. The KAUST partnership offers selected participants opportunities connected with the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, while arts-related partnerships provide residencies and other forms of support for emerging composers and performers. The foundation belongs to Germany’s network of scholarship organisations for gifted students and receives substantial public funding, while also drawing on foundations, companies, municipalities, federal states, programme partners and individual donors. Its patronage has traditionally been associated with the office of the Federal President; Frank-Walter Steinmeier assumed the role in April 2017. The organisation is now one of Germany’s most prominent institutions for merit-based academic support, with a substantial alumni community that includes internationally recognised scientists, mathematicians, economists, legal scholars and cultural figures.

• 2017

  Federal presidential patronage continued

  [1]Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkesen.wikipedia.org

  Frank-Walter Steinmeier became patron of the foundation, continuing a tradition associated with German federal presidents.

• 2010

  Assessment-test route introduced

  [1]Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkesen.wikipedia.org

  Students in the first two university semesters gained an additional self-application route through a national assessment test.

• 2005

  Max Weber Programme introduced

  [1]Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkesen.wikipedia.org

  The foundation began operating the Max Weber Programme for students in Bavaria.

• 1948

  Post-war re-establishment

  [1]Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkesen.wikipedia.org

  The organisation was re-formed as a registered association in Cologne.

• 1934

  Organisation dissolved under National Socialism

  [1]Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkesen.wikipedia.org

  The foundation was dissolved and replaced by the Reichsförderung within the Reichsstudentenwerk.

• 1925

  Foundation established in Dresden

  [1]Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkesen.wikipedia.org

  The Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes was founded as a department of the Deutsche Studentenschaft.

Highly selective, independent national scholarship foundation combining merit-based financial support with broad academic, cultural and civic development opportunities.

• Student scholarship

  General scholarship

  The core programme supports exceptionally talented undergraduate and graduate students. It combines financial assistance, including a standard study allowance and possible need-based support, with academic enrichment such as summer academies, workshops, language courses, research groups and mentoring. Scholars may also receive support for overseas study, tuition and family-related costs, subject to the applicable rules and assessment of need.

• Doctoral research funding

  Doctoral scholarship

  The doctoral programme supports researchers with outstanding academic records, broad interests, social engagement and demanding, innovative research projects. Applications are submitted with supervisors and may include a monthly award, research allowance and additional family-related support under federal scholarship guidelines.

• Academic enrichment

  Summer academies

  Two-week subsidised summer academies are a central element of the foundation’s educational programme. They bring scholars from different disciplines together for intensive discussion, lectures, artistic work and collaborative learning. Scholars can also propose shorter academies and conferences, including recurring meetings organised around shared interests or identities.

• Regional scholarship programme · 2005

  Max Weber Programme

  The Max Weber Programme provides support for eligible high-achieving students in Bavaria. It is administered by the Studienstiftung under a programme introduced by the Bavarian regional administration through the Bavarian Elite Support Act.

• International research and study programme

  KAUST–Studienstiftung programme

  This partnership with the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology supports selected scholars in science, technology, engineering and related disciplines through research internships or routes into master’s and doctoral study. The programme operates with the support of the German Foreign Office.

• 2010

  Added a self-application assessment routeStrategy

  Background

  The foundation traditionally relied heavily on nominations from schools, universities, examination boards and other institutions. A broader access route was created for early-stage university students.

  Action taken

  Since February 2010, first- and second-semester students have been able to register for an assessment test. The strongest performers may then be invited to a selection seminar.

  Aftermath

  The assessment test became an additional pathway into the foundation’s rigorous selection process.

  Source

• 2005

  Expanded into the Bavarian Max Weber ProgrammeStrategy

  Background

  Bavaria created a regional elite-support scheme under its Bavarian Elite Support Act.

  Action taken

  The Studienstiftung began administering the Max Weber Programme for eligible students in Bavaria.

  Aftermath

  The foundation broadened its role beyond its general national scholarship programme while retaining its academic-support model.

  Source

1. 1Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkesen.wikipedia.org
2. 2German National Academic Foundation official websitestudienstiftung.de