All about the "ABSOLVENTA-Stipendium" (ABSOLVENTA-Scholarship)

FAQ

• What is the ABSOLVENTA-Stipendium (ABSOLVENTA-Scholarship)?
• Who can apply for the ABSOLVENTA-Scholarship?
• What can I use the Scholarship money for?
• What is the maximum amount I may apply for?
• How do I apply for the ABSOLVENTA-Scholarship?
• What should my application look like?
• When will the winners be announced for the ABSOLVENTA-Scholarship?
• Who decides whether I get the ABSOLVENTA-Scholarship?
• I won the ABSOLVENTA-Scholarship. What is next?
• Can I apply again next year?
• Who funds the ABSOLVENTA-Scholarship?
• How are the available funds raised?
• Who do I contact for additional support?

What is the ABSOLVENTA-Stipendium (ABSOLVENTA-Scholarship)?

The "ABSOLVENTA-Stipendium" is a scholarship initiated by the non-profit association Absolventa e.V. It offers all students the possibility to receive a scholarship, regardless of their academic history, social background and political opinion. Furthermore, the scholarship amount may range between 1 and 5.000 EUR and must support an educational purpose.

Once all applicants have officially applied for their individual ABSOLVENTA-Scholarship all users may democratically vote for them with a Facebook-Like. The total amount of funds from our supporters will then be split among the students with the most votes.

Who can apply for the ABSOLVENTA-Scholarship?

All German, Austrian and Swiss male and female students can apply for the ABSOLVENTA-Scholarship. Also foreign students may apply, if they are enrolled at a German, Austrian or Swiss University.

Postgraduates are equally admitted. Also, there is no age restriction. The most important condition for validation is to name a specific reason why you should be supported by the Scholarship. Furthermore, your reason has to support an educationl purpose. Also, please keep in mind that your application should include a maximum of three interdepending requests. For example, the costs for vaccination, visa and summer school abroad or a laptop and appropriate software.

It is also possible to apply in small teams (up to 4 people), if you’re all working at the same project (e.g. a thesis or a research). Also in this case the scholarship amount may range between 1 and 5.000 EUR and must support an educational purpose. If you’ll win as a team, send us your receipts or certified documents in order to prove that you are using the Scholarship money for educational purposes only. On the basis of your receipts you will then receive a refund. The Absolventa e.V. won’t split the money between the applicants of one team.

What can I use the Scholarship money for?

We support any purchases and undertakings on condition that they are directly linked to your studies (e.g. work material, notebook, tuition fees, language courses, field trips, travel costs for a semester abroad). Have a look at the winners of 2009 and 2010 for some inspiration.

The Scholarship is NOT intended to cover overall living expenses or to finance entire studies.

What is the maximum amount I may apply for?

The maximum Scholarship award for each winner amounts to 5.000 Euros. However, the individual amount strongly depends on a reasonable explanation why an applicant should be supported.

Applications are only valid if the proposed costs are plausible in respect to the purpose. For instance: An excursion of a geology student to the Himalayas may cost 1.000 Euro, the printing costs for a Master Thesis on the other hand add up to maybe 200 Euro.

Keep in mind that the total amount of donations from our supporters will be split between the applicants with the most votes. Therefore be fair with reference to your submission. The more students apply for lower amounts, the more applicants will be able to receive an ABSOLVENTA-Scholarship.

How do I apply for the ABSOLVENTA-Scholarship?

Please create your account here. Once you are logged in you can upload your application at www.stipendium.de.

Absolventa e.V. will then check your application and validate it if all requirements are met. Please understand that the validation process may take some time so be patient with the publication of your profile on our website www.stipendium.de

The profile includes your first name, your age, the reason why you should be supported as well as the amount you apply for. More information about the ABSOLVENTA-Scholarship and the application as well as voting deadlines are available in our blog as well as Facebook-fanpage.

What should my application look like?

It is up to the applicants to choose an appropriate application style. The application may include plain text, pictures, audio content, presentations (e.g. made with slideshare or prezi) and video. In any case should the applicant provide good reason why he or she should receive the Scholarship.

Please insert media via link and don’t use embedded codes. Youtube, Vimeo and picture-URLs will be embedded automatically. Other formats are going to be presented as a link in your profile.

When will the winners be announced for the ABSOLVENTA-Scholarship?

Winners of the ABSOLVENTA-Scholarship will be announced towards spring. Please check our blog and Facebook-fanpage for the latest updates.

Who decides whether I get the ABSOLVENTA-Scholarship?

The ABSOLVENTA-Scholarship is granted through democratic votes. The Absolventa e.V. team does not decide who wins. Instead any eligible user may vote for his favourite application(s) directly on www.stipendium.de.

In order to prevent manipulated votes, each voter needs to sign in with their Facebook account. Once you vote for an applicant, your vote will be published on your Facebook wall. Candidates with the most votes receive the democratic ABSOLVENTA-Scholarship.

I won the ABSOLVENTA-Scholarship. What is next?

Send us your receipts or certified documents in order to prove that you are using the Scholarship money for educational purposes only. On the basis of your receipts you will then receive a refund.

Can I apply again next year?

You may apply multiple times for the ABSOLVENTA-Scholarship regardless of winning or not. However you always need prove of being a student.

Who funds the ABSOLVENTA-Scholarship?

Any company that believes in supporting young academics and is willing to monetarily support the democratic ABSOLVENTA-Scholarship is contributing to the funds. You can have a look at current funders on our website.

How are the available funds raised?

Funds are provided by supporters of the ABSOLVENTA-Scholarship. Also advertising on www.stipendium.de helps to gather funds.

Who do I contact for additional support?

If you cannot find an answer to your question in the FAQ send us an email to kontakt@stipendium.de