The foundation awards some 200 scholarships annually to doctoral graduates. The foundation attaches great importance to sponsoring foreign students. The sponsorships concerned are full sponsorships. Besides the formal requirements, the foundation particularly wishes applicants to operate according to the principles of the foundation and to be willing to assume political and social responsibility. In return, students are well provided for. In parallel to the material support, immaterial support is also provided;for example a supporting programme and regional fora are organised. The study scholarships are open students of all disciplines. However, applicants for a doctoral sponsorship must already have acquired admission to the doctorate at a state or state-recognised higher education institution in Germany, or if they hold a foreign degree they must have been admitted to a doctorate by a higher education institution in Germany.