Weblinks
Weblinks
My Social Networks
- XING - Social Network for Business Professionals
- LinkedIn - Professional Network
- Facebook - Social utility that connects people with friends
- StudyVZ - Social network for students
- Twitter - Microblog
- Plaxo - Smart address book
- Google Plus - Real life sharing
Institutions
- European Union (EU) English Site/German Site
- Bank for International Settlement (BIS)
- UNESCO
- World Bank
- World Trade Organization (WTO)
Studying in Germany - Links for Foreign Students
- International Office (Hochschule Harz)
- DAAD - German Academic Exchange Service
Business Newspapers
- Financial Times / German Edition
- Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
- Handelsblatt
- The Economist
- The Wall Street Journal
Information Ressources
- LEO Online Dictionary
- CIA World Factbook
- Job Hunters' Bible (What Color is Your Parachute)
- OANDA - Currency Information
- Onvista - Company/Stock News and Info (German Site)
- Holidays around the World
Fellowships/Grants/Sponsoring Organizations (mostly in German only)
- Studying Abroad - DAAD website
- various programs (via International Office)
- The German-American Fulbright Commission: Studying in USA - no free choice of universities - very selective but highly recommended
- GIZ Deutsche Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit (formerly InWEnt Gesellschaft für Internationale Entwicklung): Traineeships abroad
- BAFöG: Federal grants/credits - strictly need-based
Major Merit-Based Fellowships/Grants
All listed foundations are presented at Stipendium Plus - Begabtenförderung im Hochschulbereich. Often they grant additional funds for studying abroad.
- Cusanuswerk - close to Catholic Church
- Ernst Ludwig Ehrlich Studienwerk - Jewish community members
- Evangelisches Studienwerk e.V. Villigst - close to Lutheran Church
- Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung - close to SPD
- Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung - close to FDP
- Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung - close to CSU
- Hans-Böckler-Stiftung - close to unions
- Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung - close to Bündnis 90/Die Grünen
- Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung - close to CDU
- Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung - close to PDS
- Stiftung der Deutschen Wirtschaft
- Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes - German National Merit Foundation
Selection is generally based on proven intelligence (read: good grades in school and/or college) combined with social, civil, religious or political activities. The fundamental belief behind this is that good grades alone just show that you are working hard, good grades combined with extracurricular activities indicate a keen intellect. Contrary to popular belief you do not need to be member of a political party. A high proportion of applicants to the party-related organizations are, so your chances are actually higher without such a (common and thus boring) "streamlined" resume . One exception to this is the Böckler-Stiftung, where union membership and/or an secondary education-background like having reached your high school diploma via evening classes are very beneficial for the application.
Selection procedures typically include a written application followed by an assessment center. Sponsorship ends after graduation and tends to be higher than BAföG, especially while studying abroad (and is given as grants, not as credit). Many foundations also sponsor foreign students coming to Germany to study here.
If you have any questions regarding these opportunities, please do not hestitate to ask your professors, especially Prof. Klauk (Cusanuswerk), Prof. Neugebauer (Böckler-Stiftung) and Prof. Fischbach (Adenauer-Stiftung).
