FAQ

The Deutschlandstipendium amounts to 300 euros per month. 150 euros of this is covered by private sponsors such as companies, foundations, alumni and other private individuals. The other 150 euros are covered by the federal government. The Deutschlandstipendium is paid directly to the scholarship holders by the University of Kassel. The funding is awarded regardless of income and can also be received in addition to BAföG.

Sponsored students should have their backs free for as long as possible and be able to concentrate on their education. The sponsorship usually lasts at least two semesters and covers a maximum of the standard period of study. The University of Kassel checks annually whether the scholarship holder still meets the eligibility criteria and whether state as well as private funds are still available.

No, the University of Kassel decides whether and to whom it offers the Deutschlandstipendium. The universities make their selection on the basis of the legal requirements.

In principle, all courses of study at the University of Kassel are eligible for funding.

All students of the University of Kassel who are in the standard period of study during the funding period and are enrolled at the University of Kassel can be funded with the Deutschlandstipendium. Nationality, political or religious orientation, and even the field of study are irrelevant.

Excluded from funding are:

• Students who already receive a talent and performance-based scholarship of 30 euros or more per month (cf. exclusion of double funding).
• Doctoral students
• Students at federal institutions of higher education as well as students at administrative colleges with aspirant salaries.

The exclusion of double sponsorship applies: Anyone who already receives talent- and performance-based material support averaging 30 euros or more per month cannot receive a Deutschlandstipendium. A detailed tabular overview of the admissibility of receiving other scholarships at the same time as the Deutschlandstipendium is available from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

The decision on the awarding of the Deutschlandstipendien at the University of Kassel is made by an awarding committee attached to the President of the University of Kassel, consisting of a member of the Presidential Board (chair) and three other members (a professor, a student, an academic staff member). The chair is held by the current Vice President for Academic Affairs, the other members are nominated by the representatives of the respective status group in the Senate.

The selection criteria are regulated by the "Statutes of the Deutschlandstipendium at the University of Kassel", the "Law for the Creation of a National Scholarship Program" (§ 3 StipG) and the "Regulation for the Implementation of the Scholarship Program Law (§ 2 StipV).

The Scholarship Program Act (StipG) and the Scholarship Program Ordinance (§ 2 StipV) specify the selection and funding criteria, which the universities can structure.

The Deutschlandstipendium is intended to support talented and capable students. For this reason, academic performance and academic achievements, as well as awards and prizes, are important criteria for assessing the performance and talent of applicants.

When awarding the Deutschlandstipendium at the University of Kassel, in addition to the performance and talent-related criteria, extracurricular social commitment, social background, and overcoming biographical obstacles caused by one's origins also play an important role. In order to be able to take the applicant's entire personality into account in the application and selection process, we ask about your professional and academic successes, your social and community involvement, and your special personal and family circumstances in accordance with the selection criteria set out in Section 2 (2) of the StipV. These are to be proven e.g. by school, training, internship and work certificates, proofs, certificates, copies of identification or letters of recommendation from recognized organizations.

School performance (e.g. the Abitur grade) and achievements from previous studies are an important indication of the applicant's ability and talent. However, other criteria also count, such as involvement in an association, politics or the church, raising one's own children, caring for close relatives, helping in the parental business or overcoming particular biographical obstacles.

No, the Deutschlandstipendium does not count towards the BaföG. The Bafög and the Deutschlandstipendium are two complementary programs. Students can take advantage of both funding opportunities at the same time without deductions.

No, the Deutschlandstipendium is generally not offset against other social benefits, such as unemployment benefit II. An exception is the receipt of housing allowance.

No, the receipt of the Deutschlandstipendium does not affect the receipt of child benefits.

Yes, however, recipients of housing allowance must note that the Deutschlandstipendium, like other scholarships, is taken into account at half in the calculation of annual income. For further questions on the subject of scholarships and housing allowances, please contact your local housing allowance office.

Yes, the Deutschlandstipendium is taken into account to reduce child 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.

No, in contrast to funding under the BaföG, scholarship holders do not have to repay the funds received under the Deutschlandstipendium.

The Scholarship Program Act (StipG) was designed in such a way that Germany scholarships do not generally constitute income subject to tax or social security contributions (see also Section 3 (9) of the Articles of Association).

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 that is subject to contributions (this also includes scholarships) exceeds an assessment basis specified by the legislator, the corresponding income is subject to contributions. Please contact your health insurance fund for more information.