Evaluation and accompanying research: Germany Scholarship on the road to success

Evaluation: Success in the acquisition of scholarships regardless of the region

The proportion of non-academic children among the Germany Scholarship holders is 50 percent – the same as for all students.

The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) was legally obliged by the Scholarship Program Act (StipG) to check four years after the start of the program whether sufficient private funds would be raised at all university locations or whether compensatory measures would be necessary. The evaluation examined the framework conditions that influence the success of universities in the acquisition of funding to date. The study showed that the regional location of higher education institutions has no measurable influence on the number of scholarships obtained. In addition, other factors, such as the range of subjects, do not play a significant role. However, the duration of the universities’ participation in the Germany Scholarship was identified as an important success factor. According to the final report published in March 2016, the longer the universities are part of the Germany Scholarship, the longer the funding rate increases.

Accompanying research provides results on the social structure of the Germany Scholarship

In addition to the legally required evaluation, the BMBF commissioned research accompanying the Germany Scholarship, which was carried out by Rambøll Management Consulting GmbH and published in May 2017. Among other things, this should make statements about the social structure of the scholarship holders and provide information about the motivation and structure of the sponsors.

The accompanying research was able to prove that the recipients of the Germany Scholarship represent a cross-section of the general student body and that the proportion of non-academic children among the Germany Scholarship holders is around 50 percent, as is the case with all students.

Among other things, it was also possible to show that students with a migration background receive above-average support through the Germany Scholarship.

Quantitative survey at 50 universities Rambøll Management Consulting GmbH was able to obtain the relevant data from a representative survey of around 2,300 scholarship holders and 50 universities

. In addition, the 435 sponsors of the Germany Scholarship were surveyed. Here, it was shown that companies have the largest share of sponsors (65 percent), followed by foundations and private individuals (12 percent each).

Providing impetus and motivating

participation
In addition, the accompanying research analyzed the ways in which universities can successfully attract scholarship holders. Among other things, the questions were considered as to the advantages of a multi-stage selection process, how students are motivated to apply, and how students can be involved in the planning of funding offers.