Deutschlandstipendium

Information for students

No matter at which school you study your Bachelor or Master with us, use your commitment and talent to apply for a Deutschlandstipendium at Leuphana. With the Deutschlandstipendium of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, you will be accompanied and supported on your academic path in a joint project of politics, business and science. The aim of the scholarship program is to improve the study and living conditions of talented and high-achieving students and to create a network between sponsors, scholarship recipients and the university at an early stage. Social commitment and special social circumstances are also taken into account when selecting scholarship recipients. The scholarship holders of the Deutschlandstipendium receive 300 euros per month for a period of two semesters, 50% of which is provided by private sponsors (companies, foundations, private individuals) and another 50% by the federal government. Non-material support is also possible.

Application period

Leuphana University of Lüneburg is awarding 24 new scholarships for the 2024 summer semester. The next application phase is planned for February 2025.

Further details and the call for applications 2024 are published below. This can serve as a guide, as the 2025 tender is likely to be formulated in a similar way.

Last Call

APPLICATION FOR THE SUMMER SEMESTER 2024

With the Deutschlandstipendium scholarship from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), a scholarship program has been created that meaningfully accompanies and supports performance-oriented and socially committed students on their academic path in a joint project of politics, business and science. From the start of the 2024 summer semester, Leuphana University of Lüneburg is expected to be able to offer 23 scholarship places for students on all courses as part of this scholarship program.

The aim of the scholarship program is to improve the study and living conditions of particularly talented and high-achieving students and to create a network between sponsors, scholarship holders and the university at an early stage. Social commitment and special social circumstances are also taken into account when selecting scholarship holders.

Please read the entire invitation to tender below. It is also available as a pdf-download at the bottom of this page.

Support from the Deutschlandstipendium is independent of income and can be combined with support from BAföG. Double funding through other performance-based, material benefits from the organizations for the promotion of gifted students is legally excluded (for exceptions, see StipG §4). There is no legal entitlement to the scholarship. Scholarships are paid for two semesters, starting with the summer semester 2024.

Applications are open to Bachelor's students enrolled at Leuphana University Lüneburg in the College, Master's students in the Graduate School and Bachelor's or Master's students in the Professional School. The scholarships are awarded in accordance with the "Guidelines of the Presidential Board of Leuphana University of Lüneburg for awarding the Deutschlandstipendium". Applications must state the degree program in which the student is enrolled or has applied for.

Selection criteria
The selection criteria of Leuphana University of Lüneburg are based on the official selection criteria of the Federal Government's Scholarship Program Act (cf. § 2 StipV). This means:

  • for first-year bachelor students, the average grade of the university entrance qualification, taking into account the individual grades relevant to the chosen subject, or the special qualification that entitles the applicant to study at this university,
  • for students who are already enrolled, the academic achievements to date, in particular the average grade and the CPs achieved. For students on a Master's degree course, also the final grade of the previous degree course.

The overall assessment of the applicants' potential also takes into account

  • special successes, achievements, awards and prizes,
  • a previous or existing professional activity (with a minimum duration of 6 months) or extracurricular internships (with a minimum duration of 6 weeks),
  • extracurricular or extracurricular commitment (to a significant extent) such as voluntary work, social, societal, university or political commitment or participation in religious communities, associations or clubs as well as other voluntary work.
  • special personal or family circumstances (such as proven illnesses and disabilities, proven care of own children, especially as a single parent or close relative in need of care, work in the family business (to a significant extent), gainful employment during studies (to a significant extent), a migration or refugee background) or status as a first-time graduate.

The Deutschlandstipendium scholarships are initially awarded for a period of two semesters at a rate of 300 euros per month, with 50% of the sum being provided by private sponsors (companies, foundations, private individuals) and a further 50% by the federal government. Funding is unilateral and does not require anything in return. The funding period begins on April 1 of each year. The maximum funding period is generally based on the standard period of study and can only be granted beyond the standard period of study in justified cases. An extension of the maximum funding period must be applied for in writing, stating the reasons.

Current information on the application procedure can be found at the following link: www.leuphana.de/deutschlandstipendium

Applications must be submitted electronically using the online application form. The Link will be published on this website, when the application period starts.

Application documents
While completing the online application form, the application documents can be uploaded as labeled below. Please also label the files with your surname (e.g. CV_Mustermann) so that all documents can be clearly assigned to you.  

1.    Signed application agreement,
2.    Certificate of higher education entrance qualification (for foreign certificates, a translation and conversion into the German grading system)
3.    Certificate of enrollment, stating the current semester of study, or letter of admission for first-year students,
4.    Study certificate stating the (individual) standard period of study,
5.    Curriculum vitae in tabular form,
6.    Higher semesters: Proof of previous study or examination achievements with average grade and number of CPs earned to date by means of current proof.

As well as, if applicable - according to the information in your application - certificates or evidence for:
7.    Successfully completed previous studies
8.    Special awards, achievements and prizes
9.    Previous internship and job references
10.    Extracurricular or extracurricular commitment
11.    Special personal or family circumstances: Chronic illnesses and disabilities; care of own children or relatives in need of care; migration background (according to §6 of the Migration Background Survey Ordinance) or refugee background (refugee background no longer than 60 months after arrival in Germany), work in the family business or gainful employment during studies (to a significant extent); status as a first-time graduate.

If the application documents are not written in German or English, an officially certified translation into German must be enclosed.

Important notes

  • Only complete applications uploaded by the deadline will be considered. Please do not submit any unsolicited documents after the application deadline, as we will no longer be able to consider them.
  • All documents MUST be attached in PDF format, other formats cannot be considered for evaluation. All supporting documents must be submitted in electronic form and only via the online form. Paper documents will not be accepted. All documents must be uploaded to the application server.
  • Please do not send any inquiries about the Deutschlandstipendium to the faculties or schools. Please also do not request any expert reports from professors for your application; such reports will not be included in the selection process.
  • Simultaneous receipt of another scholarship will be reviewed when the Deutschlandstipendium is approved. Parallel scholarship funding may be possible and depends on the type of funding. As a general rule, anyone who already receives material support based on talent and performance that amounts to an average of 30 euros or more per month cannot receive a Deutschlandstipendium. An overview of the admissibility of receiving some scholarships at the same time as the Deutschlandstipendium can be found on the BMBF website  . There is a statutory obligation to provide information during the scholarship period. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research carries out spot checks to avoid double funding. Leuphana University of Lüneburg is obliged to provide the necessary data for this purpose (see §4 StipG).
  • Please refrain from asking questions about the status of processing. All applicants will be notified in writing once they have been selected.


The application period begins on 1.2.2024 and ends on 15.2.2024

Selection is based on the recommendation of the scholarship selection committee by the Executive Board of Leuphana University of Lüneburg.

Thank you for your interest in the Deutschlandstipendium at Leuphana University of Lüneburg and we wish you every success with your application.

FAQ from students

  • Who are the private sponsors?
  • Who can apply?
  • How should an ideal candidate be?
  • How can I apply?
  • Is the scholarship also paid during a semester of leave?
  • When is then next application period?
  • How much money will the scholar get?
  • When will I receive feedback on whether my application was successful?

FAQ from students

Who can apply?

Every bachelor or master student (first and higher semester of all nationalities) at Leuphana College, Graduate School or Professional School can apply. The scholarship is determined by the normal period of your study.

Doctorate students or students who have a scholarship already can not apply.

How should an ideal candidate be?

Aim of the scholarship is to support talented and high-achieving students at public and state recognised universities in Germany. In addition to excellent academic results, the cirteria for receiving a scholarsip include civic engagement and special personal achievements. The candidates' social and family background is also taken into account.

How can I apply?

The application is made online during the specified application period via the link

https://awards.leuphana.de/datenabfrage/deutschlandstipendium

Students who have difficulties with the online application due to physical limitations can contact the representative for students with disabilities or chronic illnesses, Mr. Lenz-Johanss.

Is the scholarship also paid during a semester of leave?

No, the scholarship is not paid during a leave of absence from studies.

When is then next application period?

The period for the next application is expected to be in February 2025.

How much money will the scholar get?

The scholars will be supported by 300 Euro per month. 150 Euro are supplied by private donors and 150 Euro by the Federal Government. The Deutschlandstipendium is awarded irrespective of income, even on top of a BaAföG grant.

When will I receive feedback on whether my application was successful?

You will be informed about the outcome of the application process as soon as the committee has made its selection and this has been confirmed by the Presidium (probably from April, 1st 2024). You will then receive an acceptance or rejection by e-mail.

Who are the private sponsors?

  • Adalbert Zajadacz Stiftung
  • Alumni- und Förderverein der Leuphana Universität Lüneburg
  • CLAGE GmbH
  • Claudia Pörings
  • Expert Hanse-Verbund
  • Frank Schach
  • Leuphana Universitätsgesellschaft Lüneburg
  • Lions Club Lüneburg Ilmenau
  • Lucia-Pfohe-Studentenstiftung
  • plietsch! Steuerberatungsgesellschaft mbH
  • Sparkasse Lüneburg
  • Spendengemeinschaft Golfturnier
  • Stiftung der Volksbank Lüneburger Heide
  • Studio Hamburg Serienwerft GmbH / Rote Rosen
  • Univativ GmbH

FAQ Online-Application

  • How can I take back information I have accidentally clicked on for benefits/personal circumstances?
  • Is there a form that can be used to prove that you are a first-time graduate?
  • How should the attachments be uploaded as pdfs?
  • My question is not answered on this page
  • Which documents should I keep ready for my application?
  • Where can I find the application agreement?
  • I am no longer in the standard period of study, can I still apply?

FAQ Online-Application

Below are the most important general questions and the FAQ for the online application. You can interrupt the application process at any time and continue it later in the application period. To do this, you only need to log in again, so it is worth registering early in the online tool.

Which documents should I keep ready for my application?

After completing the online-form, you upload your documents:

  1. signed application agreement,
  2. university entrance qualification (foreign testimonies has to be calculated in the German grade system),
  3. matriculation certificate with subject-related semester
  4. signed curriculum vitae,
  5. students in higher semesters: transcript of records with grades and credit points.

- Additionally, according to your application:

  1. testimonial about previous finalized university study(ies),
  2. testimonial about previous midterm exams,
  3. certificates about prizes and awards,
  4. testimonials and certificates about work experiences and internships,
  5. certificates about voluntary commitment,
  6. other testimonials to be authorized to study at Leuphana Professional School,
  7. certificates about your special social background (refugee, family, first academic, ...).

Please mark the title of your pdf-files with your name.

Where can I find the application agreement?

The application agreement is stored in the online portal as a pdf download under point 1. Simply click on the corresponding link.

In addition, the agreement is now also deposited here: Application agreement 2024  (pdf-download).

I am no longer in the standard period of study, can I still apply?

The maximum funding period is based on the standard period of study, that is correct. However, it can be extended in justified exceptions (hardship cases). This justification must be attached to the application with supporting documents. An extension of the standard period of study due to the Corona Pandemic is possible. Please note the following:

The individual standard period of study has been automatically adjusted at Leuphana (increase of 1 to 3 semesters depending on enrollment).

-> Higher semesters therefore enter the number in the form that is noted on their current matriculation certificate under "Regelstudienzeit individuell" and attach the matriculation certificate as proof of your application. If this individual standard period of study is not stated on your matriculation certificate, please enquire about it in the Infoportal.

-> First semester students enter the normal standard period of study.

How can I take back information I have accidentally clicked on for benefits/personal circumstances?

If you have accidentally clicked on something, you can remove it again via "no details". This answer option was added especially for this purpose.

Is there a form that can be used to prove that you are a first-time graduate?

No. If neither parent has an academic degree from a university or university of applied sciences, you may indicate that you are a first-time university graduate. In the scholarship agreement, you prove with your signature that the information is correct. An extra declaration is no longer necessary.

How should the attachments be uploaded as pdfs?

In contrast to previous years, in this procedure the files are always uploaded directly at the point where you enter your details on the topic. The files no longer need to be bundled.

My question is not answered on this page

If you have a question that is not answered on this page, you can always send an e-mail to deutschlandstipendium@leuphana.de.
TIP: You should also have a look at the nationwide page of the Deutschlandstipendium, there is another FAQ with many hints: https://www.deutschlandstipendium.de/de/haeufig-gestellte-fragen-1706.html