FRANKFURT. The Deutschlandstipendium is an excellent opportunity for students to receive financial support while focusing on their academic career. This year, 620 talented Goethe University students have the chance to benefit from the government-funded scholarship program. For the first time, the annual maximum limit based on student numbers, as stipulated by the Scholarship Program Act – which foresees 617 scholarships for Goethe University in 2025 – has been exceeded. Scholarships beyond this quota come from the unused scholarship quota of other universities in Hesse and must be applied for through the state.
Scholarship recipients are selected, among others, by jurors from the Goethe University’s 16 faculties. One of the key eligibility requirements is strong academic performance and students’ social engagement and commitment also receive significant consideration. In addition to being of great value to society, such commitment also helps cultivate essential skills like teamwork, a sense of responsibility and empathy, which are highly important in professional life.
Equal opportunities are a cornerstone of the Deutschlandstipendium: 32 percent of scholarship recipients have a migration background; 16 percent hold a foreign passport. Fourteen percent receive support through the Federal Students Assistance Act (BAföG), and 41 percent are first-generation college students. Beyond financial support, the scholarship offers recipients the opportunity to grow personally and professionally through the Young Leadership Program. In addition to individualized mentoring in project teams, this includes extracurricular programs and offerings, such as seminars, workshops, best-practice lectures, and networking opportunities. Together with fellow students from various disciplines and degree programs and guided by mentors from outside the university, scholarship recipients collaborate in project teams to develop innovative ideas.
This year’s award ceremony featured a diverse and engaging program. Goethe University’s Vice President for Study and Teaching, Prof. Viera Pirker, welcomed the guests and thanked all Deutschlandstipendium sponsors and supporters. In her speech, Pirker addressed the new scholarship recipients, emphasizing: “You are building the future of our society.” She shared her enthusiasm that the university can accompany students on their journey toward this goal.
Goethe University alumnus and stand-up comedian Jakob Schwerdtfeger delivered an entertaining and unique keynote on the topic “Masterpiece.” Schwerdtfeger, who studied art history, captivated the audience, including by performing an impromptu rap song based on words spontaneously suggested by the crowd.
Art was a major theme at this year’s Deutschlandstipendium Awards, whose vernissage format gave attendees the opportunity to view artworks available for auction through an online platform provided by the Wilhelm Döbritz Art and Auction House (Frankfurt). The auction runs until December 1, and all proceeds will be donated to the Deutschlandstipendium. Among the pieces are six created by students from the Institute for Art Education, two by Dr. Manfred Fuchs, and Ottmar Hörl's “White Rose”, acquired during the pandemic thanks to funding by Biotest AG.
A total of 7,972 scholarships have been awarded at Goethe University Frankfurt since 2011. According to the matching principle, the amount raised by the university for Deutschlandstipendium recipients is doubled each year by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR). In 2025, 280 private individuals, 45 companies, and 52 nonprofit organizations donated a total of €1,116,000 to Goethe University Frankfurt. Including the federal funds, this means a total of €2,232,000 has been raised for scholarship recipients.