SBW Berlin Scholarship for International Student 2024

Discover the SBW Berlin Scholarship for international students. Learn about eligibility, application requirements, the selection process, and repayment options. Explore how this scholarship can support your studies in Berlin or Potsdam and fund your social impact projects.

About SBW Berlin Scholarship

The SBW Berlin scholarship helps young people from other countries who are already doing good things in their communities. They must plan to use what they learn in school to help social or non-profit projects in their home countries.

The scholarship is given based on professional skills, personal qualities, and financial need. It can be used for bachelor’s or master’s degrees at a university or applied sciences school in Berlin or Potsdam. All types of study areas can be supported, including science, social studies, and arts.

Sometimes, the scholarship can support vocational training in Berlin or Potsdam. It is important for applicants to work with a non-profit or social organization in their home country. The focus is on their past social work and their motivation. After finishing their studies or training, scholarship recipients should continue their social projects in their home country.

Recipients must plan to work on their professional goals for at least 18 months after their funding period or graduation. They can either work in their home countries or do non-profit work in Germany, but they need a notarized repayment plan. They must also keep meeting with SBW Berlin to talk about their professional progress.

From the start of the funding period, SBW Berlin helps all scholarship recipients work towards their professional goals. This includes using their studies in their project work and working with a non-profit or social institution in their home country.

The scholarship does not support studies in other parts of Germany or abroad. Funding is only for the regular study or training period.

Who can apply?

Who Can Apply?

  • Foreign nationals from countries needing development assistance.
  • Holders of a student visa for Germany or a residence permit for studying in Germany.

Note:

  • Students already funded by another scholarship in Germany are not eligible.
  • Exception: Assistance under the Federal Education Assistance Act (BAföG), where the scholarship amount is adjusted according to the BAföG allowance.

Requirements

Applicants must:

  • Be between 18 and 30 years old.
  • Have professional or volunteer experience in the non-profit/social sector (proven by a letter of recommendation from a social institution).
  • Prove that they have not stayed in Germany for more than 18 months before applying.
  • Have qualifications for university entrance.
  • Intend to work in their country of origin for at least 18 months after graduation or engage in non-profit work until the repayment plan is fulfilled.
  • Prove a relatively low net income.
  • Have average grades corresponding to a German grade point average of at least 2.0.
  • Have no first-degree family members who reside permanently in Germany.
  • Apply before starting university education or be fully enrolled in the first, second, or max. third semester at a state-recognized university (in Germany or abroad), or apply for a master’s degree shortly before or after obtaining a bachelor’s degree.

Responsibilities

  • Interested in social work and developing social projects.
  • Have worked with or plan to work with a non-profit or social institution in their home country.
  • Good academic performance.
  • Plan for continuing education after graduation.
  • Clear and transparent about professional goals.
  • The scholarship cannot be used to financially support family members or others.

Benefits

SBW Berlin’s Expectations for Applicants and Scholarship Recipients

  • SBW Berlin supports students during their studies in Berlin or Potsdam.
  • Students are expected to show social commitments and develop non-profit or social projects in their home country.
  • Students must collaborate with a local non-profit organization or social institution.
  • Students need to work on their own projects and present them during the application process by submitting a project description.
  • Projects should aim to:
    • Support people in need.
    • Align with the objectives of the non-profit or social institution.
    • Provide a greater benefit to society.

Application Process

Deadlines and Application Documents

  • No Application Fees: SBW Berlin does not charge any application or processing fees.
  • No Fixed Deadline: Applications are accepted all year round.

Application Process:

Letter of Recommendation:

  • Proof of the applicant’s social commitment is required.
  • A non-profit organization or social institution must submit a letter of recommendation on behalf of the applicant as a PDF to application@sbw.berlin.
  • After reviewing the letter, outstanding applicants will be granted access to the application form.

Complete Applications: Only complete applications will be considered. Applicants must submit the following documents:

  • Letter of recommendation from a non-profit organization, social institution, or one of SBW Berlin’s partner organizations (by email).
  • Application form (a link will be shared with outstanding applicants).
  • Project description (two to five pages).
  • Qualification for university entrance.
  • Information about the net household income.
  • Copy of the last school or university certificate showing the grade point average and a grade overview.
  • Copy of the highest academic degree (high school diploma or university certificate) showing the grade point average and a grade overview.

Additional Documents (if available):

  • Admission to a university or university of applied sciences (Fachhochschule) in Berlin or Potsdam.
  • Internationally recognized language certificate for the language in which your studies will be taught.
  • All obtained university certificates and records of achievements (graded and ungraded).
  • All previous work, training, apprenticeship, and internship certificates and references.

Recommended Documents (not mandatory):

  • One or two letters of recommendation from professors, schoolteachers, employers, etc.
  • Evidence of the net household income.

    Submission Requirements:

    • All applications and enclosed certificates and supporting documents must be submitted in German or English.
    • If the original document is in another language, a translation into German or English is required.
    • Non-certified copies and simple translations are sufficient for the application.
    • Certified copies may be required during the verification process after successful selection.

    Contact:

    Selection Criteria

    Collaboration with Non-Profit/Social Organization:

    • Proven collaboration between the applicant and a non-profit/social organization in the applicant’s home country is required.

    Financial Need:

    • Applicants must meet the financial need criteria similar to those outlined in § 1 BAföG (German Federal Education Assistance Act).
    • The amount of funding depends on the personal financial circumstances of each applicant.
    • Applicants whose total household income does not exceed the average income officially stated for their home country are considered.
    • All sources of household income, including employment, business activities, property, child benefit, or pensions, will be considered.

    Intellectual Ability:

    • Applicants must demonstrate intellectual abilities, as shown in their application documents and during the interview, that indicate they can meet the performance requirements of their studies.

    Personality and Social Commitment:

    • Applicants should show that their personality and social commitment suggest they will achieve the goals of the scholarship.
    • The ability to cooperate with a non-profit organization or social institution in their home country is crucial.
    • The applicant’s non-profit/social project will also be evaluated.

    Additional Financial Resources:

    • Any additional financial resources needed for the project will be decided on a case-by-case basis.

      Selection Process

      Phase 1: Initial Review

      • Review the letter of recommendation from the applicants.
      • Decide whether to grant applicants access to the application portal.
      • Share the application portal link via email if approved.

      Phase 2: Application Review

      • Carefully review the application form, applicant’s grades, and financial situation.

      Phase 3: Interview

      • Conduct an interview or video conference with candidates deemed suitable based on their application documents.
      • The interview may include:
      • A practical task.
      • Discussion of the planned community/social project, including objectives and a timetable for the first six months.

      Final Selection

      • Make the final decision on the scholarship recipients.

      Verification Process

      After the selection, the following documents are required if they have not already been submitted:

      Personal Documents:

      • Copy of your passport with a current passport picture.
      • Copy of your student visa for Germany or residence permit for studying in Germany.

      Financial Evidence:

      • Evidence of the net household income.

      Academic Documents:

      • Evaluation report from Uni-Assist or other evidence converting grades to the German grading system.
      • Copy of your latest school or university certificate with a grade overview if a new certificate has been issued since submitting the scholarship application.
      • Copies of all university certificates and performance records (graded and ungraded).
      • Copies of study-specific work, training, and internship certificates.
      • Legalization of your highest academic qualification (e.g., university-entrance diploma or Bachelor certificate) if from a foreign institution.

      Language Proficiency:

      • Copy of an internationally recognized language certificate for the language in which your study program will be taught.

        Project Details:

        • Finalize and agree on the details of the project to be supervised with the candidates.
        • The project description will become part of the scholarship contract.

        Return to the Home Country and Repayment Obligation

        After the end of the funding or the course, scholarship recipients have two options:

        a. Return to Home Country:

        • Return to their home country.
        • Develop and implement their projects locally for at least 18 months in cooperation with a local non-profit organization or social institution.
        • No obligation to repay the grant.

        b. Remain in Germany:

        • Stay in Germany after the end of their studies or funding.
        • Repay the financial benefits of the SBW Berlin scholarship.
        • The notarized repayment plan must be completed in 12 monthly installments, starting 3 months after the end of the study or funding period.

        Final Provisions:

        • Notification of Changes:
          • Inform SBW Berlin immediately of any changes in the circumstances that formed the basis of the funding.
        • Graduation Information:
          • Notify SBW Berlin about graduation and submit a copy of the diploma or degree certificate.
        • Performance Records:
          • Submit current university transcripts and/or performance records (graded and ungraded) after each semester.
        • Scholarship Contracts:
          • Further rights and obligations are detailed in the scholarship contracts, which may vary slightly from one another.

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