The Hans Weisser Scholarship offers scholarship holders the opportunity to gain new perspectives and impulses for their project, for the next career step, or for their business idea. The scholarship also supports further qualification projects in the Abroad Funded for a duration of two to 12 months. Applicants for this scholarship should have a university degree and at least two years of professional or entrepreneurial experience.
What exactly is being funded?
Funding is available for individual continuing education in the form of a free project whose design and content, as well as its (possibly non-university) location, make the achievement of self-defined and explicitly stated learning objectives likely and are convincingly presented in a comprehensible manner. These projects could include, for example, the following:
- Travel abroad for research purposes for a project, a non-profit venture or a start-up idea or
- Networking trips to establish international contacts or
- Internships to learn from experts outside Germany.
- Certificate or qualification program
- Study stays with a clear goal (from Master's level onwards) or research phases in which the necessary skills for the next individual development step are acquired.
The funding period is a minimum of two and a maximum of 12 months. Further training must be initiated between April and December 2023. The scholarship is valid only for the actual duration of the stay abroad. Projects taking place in German-speaking countries are not supported.
What benefits do scholarship holders receive?
- 1,500 euros/month living allowance for two to a maximum of 12 months
- The scholarship can be increased to 2,500 euros per month if a child and caring partner accompany the scholarship holder
- For an additional child, this amount increases by 500 euros
- Up to 25,000 euros in fee subsidies annually for a maximum of 12 months
- Entry fee of 500 euros
- Travel allowance of 500 euros (for short and medium-haul flights) or 1,000 euros (for long-haul flights)
- Admission to the German Business Foundation and its network as well as to the alumni network of the Hans Weisser Scholarship Programme and the sdw Alumni eV
- Opportunity for mentoring throughout the entire duration of the scholarship
- Kick-off workshop and annual meeting of the Hans Weisser Alumni
The application portal is open until 18 October 2022. Application documents can be submitted online.
What happens after the application?
After a preliminary selection based on the submitted documents, the strongest applicants for the Hans Weisser Scholarship Program will be invited for interviews. According to the organizers, preference will be given to individuals who aspire to make a genuine contribution to society with their newly acquired qualifications. Equally, attention will be paid to identifying projects that would not be realized without the funding for financial reasons. Applicants should address both aspects in their application.
The one-hour selection interviews with representatives of the Hans Weisser Foundation and the German Business Foundation will take place digitally on January 19 and 20, 2023. The kick-off workshop for the newly admitted scholarship holders is planned for March 18, 2023, in Berlin.
Further information about the scholarship can be found here.
