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Sharin, special education teacher, Foundation for Gifted and Talented Vocational Education.

© Martina Hengesbach​/​TU Dortmund

Were you aware before your studies that you had all the prerequisites for a scholarship? How did you become aware of the topic?

I applied for the scholarship before I started my studies and have been supported since the beginning of my studies. Thus, I found out about the requirements for the scholarship before I started my studies. In order to receive a scholarship, one must first meet the requirements. I met the basic requirements for the first round of applications for the advancement scholarship by completing my education and having work experience. One can also fulfill the requirements through a recommendation from one's employer or particularly good grades. In the second application round, you go through an online competency check, and at the end you have to be convincing in a personal interview.

In addition to good to very good performance in school, training/career and studies, commitment can also be a prerequisite for a scholarship. What kind of commitment did you show?

Social commitment is seen as very positive and valued. One should have interdisciplinary competence and sufficient social skills. However, an official activity in the social field is not necessarily required to meet the prerequisites. It can also be very personal things that show that one has social skills. It is desirable to think a little outside the box and to learn about social issues.

I have been involved in the social sector for ten years now and have also worked professionally in the social sector. I have worked with people with disabilities for many years. For the last six years I have been working in a child and adolescent psychiatric ward in the care and education service. I am also involved in animal welfare, having adopted a rescued dog myself.

What tips would you give to prospective students and students who are interested in / would like to apply for a scholarship?

Find out about the basic requirements for a scholarship from the Stiftung Begabtenförderung berufliche Bildung (SBB). If you meet the basic requirements, take time to think about your motivation for studying. Just be natural at the interview and tell something about yourself. The face-to-face interview is with judges from many different professions, and often they are even former scholarship recipients. Most of them were in the same situation as you, so you don't need to be so excited. They are all very nice and interested in you as a person.

What do you think about your program so far? What are you benefiting from most? What do you like most?

I benefit from the financial security and the great training program. The scholarship allows you to develop in a variety of ways.

If you successfully apply for the scholarship, you get access to StipNet. You regularly receive offers for further education that can help you in your studies. For example, "Mental exam preparation", "More than just quoting: Mastering writing processes in your studies". You can register for these events, which take place at many different locations. The seminars take place all over Germany. Through the scholarship, one gets a variety of opportunities to develop oneself. The Förderwerk supports the personal development of the scholarship holders. Through the network, one can also exchange ideas with other scholarship holders and support each other in their studies.