HNU: What gave you the idea to apply for the Deutschlandstipendium?
Marc Wegner: I applied for the Deutschlandstipendium because I was convinced by the idea of a scholarship that is supported by both the state and companies. It was particularly important to me that both performance criteria and social commitment were important in the selection process.
Could you describe how the application and selection process worked?
The application process is very well presented on the HNU website. Thus, I only had to follow the instructions for a successful application. On the one hand, this includes proof of academic achievement at school and university, and on the other hand, certificates of volunteer work. In addition, I wrote a resume with a letter of motivation and waited for feedback from the university. The selection interview was very pleasant. Questions were asked on a wide variety of topics. It is therefore a good idea to build up a certain background knowledge of social issues. After a few weeks, I finally received notification that I had been selected for the scholarship.
What do you benefit from as a scholarship holder? What are the benefits you receive specifically?
We scholarship holders all receive 300 euros per month for a limited period of one year. After that, you have to apply again. In addition to the money, the company presentations and contacts are of particular interest. For this purpose, all companies that support the scholarship introduce themselves during the year. For the internship semester or a job offer after graduation, it is a very good opportunity to make one or two contacts already during your studies. In addition, there was a chocolate tasting and a cocktail course at the last two handover ceremonies. For me personally, this was very interesting, as I completed further training as a bartender alongside my studies and thus learned one or two new tips and tricks.
Looking to the future, to what extent do you think the scholarship will open doors for you?
As already mentioned, the scholarship provides me with a great basis for already gaining insights into different industries and getting an idea of the field I would like to work in later. Of course, it also doesn't hurt to already make contacts in the companies so that I can possibly apply on my own initiative away from the job postings.
How would you encourage other students to apply who may be hesitant or have respect for the application process?
In my opinion, everyone who meets the criteria to apply should apply. You can only win at this. Even if you don't get selected, you still get to experience early on how the application process and interview works and what is important. I can therefore advise everyone to look into the Deutschlandstipendium. The effort is really very small compared to what you get.
And what specific tips for the application would you give other students?
When applying and especially during the interview, you should remain authentic. Testimonials from other scholarship holders are certainly helpful. I myself helped a fellow student with her application and took away her fear of the selection interview. Of course, it doesn't hurt to think in advance about how you will react to certain questions during the interview. However, the most important thing is to stay calm and not get too excited. After all, there is nothing to lose, only to gain.
