TANDEM – The Scholarship for First-Time College Students

The Scholarship

What sets the TANDEM scholarship program for “first-generation students” apart is that it provides scholarship recipients with one-on-one mentoring from a university professor whose field of expertise and location align with the student’s academic program. This facilitates regular exchanges throughout the course of their studies.
In addition, the Deutsche Universitätsstiftung offers scholarship recipients two workshops on key competencies per year, personalized one-on-one coaching sessions with professional coaches during their studies, networking events, subject-specific events, a study-related on-demand budget, and a digital package. Networking is a top priority. Whether with their mentor, the Foundation, the Foundation’s sponsors, or fellow scholarship recipients—by the end of the scholarship program, recipients have built a wide network of contacts and know how to establish and maintain their professional networks.
Support from TANDEM is provided for the entire duration of the first degree program—from the first days at the university through the final exam, with the option of continued funding for a master’s degree.

Services

• Assignment of a university professor in a related field and from the local area as a mentor
• Support for mentoring relationships provided by the DUS
• Seminars on developing key competencies (twice a year)
• Reimbursement of travel expenses for the scholarship’s seminar program
• Coaching sessions for individual career and life planning
• Participation in academic events (e.g., DHV Symposium) and integration into relevant networks (e.g., Career Day)
• Provision of a digital package worth 500.00 euros (one-time per scholarship term)
• Provision of a study-related on-demand budget per year per scholarship recipient

Requirements

• Start of studies in the winter semester of 2026/27
• Parents without an academic degree
• Admission to a German university or university of applied sciences (dual-track universities and private universities are excluded)
• Volunteer work
• Abitur or other certificate of university admission with a grade of at least “good”

Application deadline: September 1, 2026

Please submit your application by September 1, 2026, via email in a single PDF file addressed to Ms. Anna Bartsch. Your application should include a letter of motivation (max. one page) in which you describe your expectations for the scholarship, a resume in table format (max. 2 pages), and your high school diploma (deadline) in a single PDF file via email to Ms. Anna Bartsch:

Further information is available on the foundation’s website at https://www.deutsche-universitaetsstiftung.de/stipendienprogramme/tandem/.