Scholarship ceremony of the Deutschlandsti­pendium

© Sven Ellger/TUD

Sponsors and scholarship holders meet at the annual scholarship celebration to exchange ideas, get to know each other and meet up again. The informal atmosphere provides an opportunity to talk about career prospects and idealistic support. You can find a review of previous celebrations under References.

Review of the Scholarship Ceremony on January 30, 2026

On January 30, 2026, TU Dresden celebrated a special anniversary: for 15 years, the Deutschlandstipendium has been supporting committed and high-achieving students. Over 300 guests from the university and industry came together to celebrate a decade and a half of joint and sustainable investment in education and the future.

The anniversary highlighted the lasting impact of the program. Since its introduction, the Deutschlandstipendium has established itself as a reliable source of support for young talent and has accompanied numerous talented individuals on their academic journey. The year 2026 also sent a strong signal for this success story: with 376 scholarships awarded, a new high was reached once again. The new record shows how much the community around the Deutschlandstipendium at TU Dresden has grown after 15 years – supported by a dedicated network of sponsors and scholarship holders.

The evening began with a warm welcome from the Deutschlandstipendium team. The hosts Franziska Plathner and Sophia Trotzer guided the audience through the program and began by inviting them on an entertaining journey through 15 years of Deutschlandstipendium: a picture gallery full of highlights, little anecdotes, funny moments, and many wonderful encounters. In addition to memories of successful projects and growing networks, it was an opportunity to look back on the past years together. It became clear how many people have been associated with the Deutschlandstipendium for a long time and have accompanied its development over the years. 

A key part of the journey is the new Vice-Rector Academic Affairs Across the Life Course, Prof. Dr. Niels Modler, who has been formally responsible for the Deutschlandstipendium since August last year. He addressed the approximately 300 guests at the anniversary celebration with a personal welcome speech. His commitment to the program extends far beyond his current role: he has been supporting the Deutschlandstipendium as a sponsor for three years – long before it became part of his department's area of responsibility.

For the 15th anniversary of the Deutschlandstipendium, we had a big goal: to give 15 students a scholarship to help them with their studies. The rector of TU Dresden, Prof. Dr. Ursula Staudinger, teamed up with the TUD Foundation to launch this special fundraising campaign called GEMEINSAM+15. The scholarship recipients of the Gemeinsam+15 fundraising campaign were honored at the scholarship ceremony with a festive presentation of certificates for their achievements and commitment.
In addition to the program, musical performances by Sharon Hüfken (aka Tiliah) and Philip Kleinsorge provided atmospheric moments.
Afterwards, the get-together in the Alte Mensa invited guests to network and exchange ideas in a relaxed atmosphere.

With 105 sponsors supporting the program and numerous working groups, the Deutschlandstipendium at TU Dresden is a great example of solidarity and community. The scholarship ceremony for the 2025/26 academic year has once again proven that academic excellence and social engagement can go hand in hand. We would like to thank everyone involved and look forward to another successful scholarship year! 

Scholarship Ceremony 2026