Deutschlandstipendium – MHB joins the programme

The number of grants a university may award in this scheme depends on privately raised funds on the one hand, and on the number of students registered in the past winter semester on the other. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research BMBF sends out the official notification towards the end of each year.

Danzer expects an increase in the number of available scholarships from seven in 2017 to 13 in 2018, based on 164 enrolled MHB students in the winter semester 2016/17: “The challenge now is to recruit further private donors so that we can actually claim all public funds provided by the BMBF.”

The Federal Government set up the nationwide grant programme in 2011 with the idea to reward dedicated students for outstanding performance and support specialists of tomorrow in a format of public-private partnership where each euro from private donors is matched by public funds.

Danzer: “150 EUR per month from commercial enterprises, foundations and private individuals are a valuable contribution to the education of future physicians and psychologists. With an additional 150 EUR from public funds a student receives a total monthly allowance of 300 EUR. The duration of public funding corresponds to that of private funding commitments.”

The focus is on students and entrants whose personal motivation promises above-average performance during their studies and later careers. The grant is based on a deliberately broad definition of ‘performance’: it comprises good marks and academic performance and also the will to assume social responsibility or successfully overcome obstacles and resistance in one’s individual course of life and education.

“The grant of 300 EUR per month will be paid out on top of BAföG assistance for at least two semesters, and at most until the end of the standard period of study. This helps our students to concentrate on their studies of medicine or psychology,” says Danzer.

Universities play a decisive role in the implementation of the programme since they select recipients, organize the pay-out and recruit potential donors.

Danzer invites further supporters to join in: “Based on a prospective enrolment of about 260 students in the coming winter semester 2017/18, we might even be able to award up to 21 grants. But this would require a number of additional sponsors willing to support students with 150 EUR per month and thus contribute to better health services in the future.”

Federal Minister of Education Johanna Wanka thanked the many donors of the grant programme in a recent open letter: “It is impressive to see how many sponsors – from start-ups to DAX listed companies, from associations to private individuals – assume responsibility for talented and dedicated students. (…) A German scholarship culture has emerged within a comparatively short period, backed up jointly by federal authorities, universities and private sponsors and with benefits for all involved.”

In 2016 alone, 25,528 students profited from the programme. “The Deutschlandstipendium opens educational opportunities. This requires personalities like you who provide financial and moral support to young people. Recipients of this grant stand out not only for academic performance: 75 % of them do some kind of volunteer work. They can be rewarded thanks to your support, for which you receive my heart-felt thanks. I would greatly welcome your continued active participation in the success story of the Deutschlandstipendium”, so Wanka.  

If you are interested in supporting a student in the grant programme, please contact:
Dr. Eric A. Hoffmann
university spokesman and head of communications
Phone: +49 3391 39-14160
E-Mail: eric.hoffmann@mhb-fontane.de