FRANKFURT. Students who are eligible for a Deutschlandstipendium scholarship must have good grades and display social commitment. Having been selected by jurors from the university's 16 faculties, they receive a monthly stipend of €300 for a maximum of two years to support their studies. This allows them to study more intensively, since they can spend less time financing their studies. Thanks to the state-funded scholarship program, this is now possible for 600 students – that's 50 more scholarship holders than in 2023. At 40 percent, the proportion of Deutschlandstipendium scholars with a migration background is also higher than in previous years.
At the annual award ceremony held on November 13, numerous scholarship holders collected their documents in person, and also met their sponsor. 650 students and sponsors filled the Casino building on Goethe University’s Westend Campus, whose stage was designed as a writing room, in keeping with the motto of Goethe's 275th birthday, and on which the evening unfolded like a literary program: In addition to Goethe University’s Schreibzentrum, which presented its services as well as the student-run literary magazine “Jonny”, university archivist PD Dr. Michael Maaser delivered a witty lecture.
Making two out of one: That is the principle according to which the Federal Ministry of Education and Research each year doubles the sum raised by Goethe University for Deutschlandstipendium scholars. In 2024, a total of €1,080,000 was donated to Goethe University by 250 private sponsors, 61 non-profit organizations and 50 companies – €35,000 more than in the previous year. After applying the federal government's matching principle, the scholarship holders had €2,160,000 at their disposal. Donations from non-profit organizations (NPO) have accounted for more than half of the total volume of Deutschlandstipendium funds raised by Goethe University since the program was first set up in 2011.
Prof. Sabine Andresen, Goethe University’s Vice President Equal Opportunities, Career Development & Advancement, Diversity and Gender Equality honored the thirteen most loyal NPO and company sponsors at this year's award ceremony. In thanking them, she emphasized that their decision to invest financially and ideally in the education of young people and provide equal opportunities to students regardless of their background deserves the utmost respect. Turning to the sponsors, Andresen said: “It is thanks to your active support that talented students can realize their full potential.”
In addition to financial support, Deutschlandstipendium’s Young Leadership Program gives scholarship holders the opportunity to develop both personally and professionally. The range of services extends from individual support in project teams to study-related programs and offers, such as seminars, workshops, best-practice lectures, and networks. Together with fellow students from different faculties and degree programs, the scholarship holders work on innovative ideas in project teams, and are accompanied by non-university mentors.
Since 2011, 6,752 Deutschlandstipendium scholarships have been awarded at Goethe University Frankfurt, corresponding to a funding amount of €12,153,600. According to the federal government's matching principle, Goethe University students have received around €25 million through the Deutschlandstipendium to date.