The Studienkolleg zu Berlin endows excellent students with vital awareness about the objectives and values of Europe in preparation for their future duties and responsibilities in the worlds of science, business, politics, culture and administration. It enables participants to experience European diversity and provides them with an opportunity to explore their own questions – beyond the borders of academic disciplines, the different European countries and the university system.
With this objective, the Studienkolleg invites about 30 gifted students of all disciplines from Germany and other European countries to spend a year in Berlin. Along with continuing their studies at one of the universities in Berlin or Brandenburg, the scholarship holders also take part in the Studienkolleg’s accompanying programme. This programme’s core module is a project on current issues relating to Europe on which teams of participants from different countries and disciplines cooperate during the entire academic year. The project work is supplemented by weekly evening events and by several seminars. For the foreign students a German class is provided. The Studienkolleg’s language is German.
The Studienkolleg zu Berlin is a joint initiative of the German National Academic Foundation and The Hertie Foundation, in cooperation with the Berlin Institute for Advanced Study and the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
-> current academic student (of any discipline)
-> completion of basic studies (in at the least third year of study in one discipline)
-> up to 28 years old
-> excellent academic achievements
-> strong interest in European issues
-> ability to work in a team and willingness to do intensive project work
-> commitment to social causes
-> all candidates have to apply independently for a place at a university in Berlin or Brandenburg
For Foreign Candidates
-> EU-citizenship; for citizens of other European countries exceptions are possible
-> very good knowledge of the German language as well as of one other European foreign language (spoken and written)
-> two references by two academics are to be included in the application
For German Candidates
-> must already be Studienstiftung scholars by the time of the application
-> very good knowledge of two foreign European languages (spoken and written)
-> independent application; no references needed
Offered Benefits
The scholarship is awarded for a duration of eleven month. It consists of the following:
-> monthly scholarship of 800 euros
-> one-time grant of about 400 euros to support the project work and travels
-> for foreign scholarship holders: a one-time mobility grant of 1,000 euros
-> the costs for the programme and the administration of the Studienkolleg are covered by the two supporting organisations
-> during the academic year the participants are members of both supporting organisations and have access to their choice of lectures etc.; after the college year the participants become their alumni
