Extensive Research and Doctoral Support Provided by the Heinrich Böll Foundation over 35 Years
Heinrich Böll Foundation Expands Scholarship Program for 35th Year
The Heinrich Böll Foundation, one of Germany's leading talent promotion organisations, is set to begin a new academic year with the addition of 180 more young scholars and doctoral candidates to its ranks. This marks a significant expansion of the program, which has been supporting high-achieving students since 1990.
The Foundation, funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space, and the Federal Foreign Office, is renowned for its commitment to democracy and advocacy for greater diversity and educational equity. Over the years, it has awarded scholarships to more than 5500 students and doctoral candidates, many of whom are now working worldwide for democracy, human rights, environmental protection, gender equality, and the rights of minorities.
The scholarship program provides financial support to talented young people who demonstrate civic courage and come from underrepresented groups, including women in STEM fields, first-generation academics, people with migration backgrounds, people of color, and refugees. The Foundation's mission is to broaden horizons through contact with committed scholarship holders and their diverse perspectives.
Local university groups provide additional support, advice, and mentorship to scholarship holders. These networks foster a sense of community and enable scholars to learn from one another's experiences and insights.
Jan Philipp Albrecht, the director of the Heinrich Böll Foundation, is an alumnus of the scholarship program. He recalls that the scholarship allowed him to continue his voluntary work alongside his studies without financial strain and opened up a broad horizon through contact with committed scholarship holders and their diverse perspectives.
The application process for the Heinrich Böll Foundation scholarships is held twice a year, on March 1st and September 1st. Approximately 2000 applications are received each year, and currently, the Foundation supports 1800 students and doctoral candidates.
Scholarship holders benefit from an extensive program of up to 500 individual events per year, including summer academies, seminars, educational trips, conferences, workshops, and self-organized working groups. These events provide opportunities for scholars to engage with experts, network with peers, and further their research and professional development.
The Heinrich Böll Foundation's scholarship program is staffed by 34 employees. The Foundation was founded by the late Nobel laureate Heinrich Böll, and since its inception in 1990, it has been committed to promoting young talent and fostering a more inclusive and equitable society.
