At the certificate award ceremony in lecture theatre 3A on 10 December 2025, President Anja Steinbeck stated with obvious pride: “Here this evening, commitment meets talent and generosity shapes the future. Dear donors, your generous support sends a strong signal of trust in the next generation, in young scientific talents, the so urgently needed experts – in short: those who will hold positions of responsibility tomorrow and beyond.”
The scholarship recipients count among the top 5 – 10% in their year; alongside grades, social criteria, commitment and exceptional life situations are also taken into account. Nine scholarships have been awarded to students with children and 45 to students from non-academic families. All scholarship holders will receive €300 per month for one year.
The scholarship is not only intended to honour performance to date, but also to act as an encouragement and incentive, emphasised Steinbeck: “Pass on the trust placed in you to others in the future – in your career or here at HHU.”
In addition to financial support, the non-material support provided is a key component and success factor in this scholarship programme. “Get-together events” involving donors and scholarship recipients serve to facilitate intergenerational dialogue and provide early career orientation.
Joachim Tomesch, Head of the Events, Marketing and Fundraising Unit, offered an insight into the hard work involved behind the scenes in his presentation “Finding donors – Supporting talents”. He outlined the “12-month marathon” that runs from gaining new donors and the selection procedures to collaboration with the Ministry.
The President asserted: “Our »Seizing Opportunities« programme is an expression of the ideal at the heart of a university – a community of individuals who study and research here, who want to understand the world and who never tire of working hard to take another step forward every day.”
At the reception, donors and scholarship holders took the opportunity to engage in personal dialogue.
Background:
The German National Scholarship is financed via 50% public and 50% private funding. HHU has awarded a total of 5,715 scholarships worth almost €21 million since 2009.
