Hans-Peter Wild Talent ScholarshipsFind answers to your questions regarding a scholarship application

How often are the Hans-Peter Wild Talent Scholarships awarded?
The Hans-Peter Wild Talent Scholarships are awarded once a year at the beginning of the winter semester.

How long is the scholarship period?
The award period is generally two semesters. An extension is possible on request and after a successful aptitude- and performance-based review. The scholarship is intended to support the student, in the ideal case, until the standard end of their course.

Is it possible to extend the scholarship period?
Yes, an extension of the award period is possible on request and after a successful aptitude- and performance-based review. The scholarship is intended to support the student, in the ideal case, until the standard end of their course.

What happens if I take a semester off?
During a leave of absence for personal or family reasons, for instance, the scholarship will not be paid. When resuming your studies after a leave of absence, the scholarship award period will be adjusted upon notification of the scholarship recipient. If the payment of the scholarship is suspended during the leave of absence, any scholarship funds already paid during the leave of absence must be repaid. If the student is pursuing a semester abroad or doing a study-related internship, the payment of the scholarship can continue during that time. In this case, an extension of the funding period will not take place.

Is it possible to receive simultaneous study grants?
Anyone receiving aptitude- or performance-based financial support, on average 30 € or more per month, cannot receive a Hans-Peter Wild Talent Scholarship. However, applicants have the possibility to give up an existing aptitude- and performance-based grant in favor of the Hans-Peter Wild Talent Scholarship. During the funding period of a Hans-Peter Wild Talent Scholarship, a different and temporary funding is possible if a leave of absence from the Hans-Peter Wild Talent Scholarship takes place. During this leave of absence from the Hans-Peter Wild Talent Scholarship, scholarship payments will be suspended. There will be no prolongation of the funding period.

Can I accept a position for research assistants („HIWI“) or do a paid internship while receiving a Hans-Peter Wild Talent Scholarship?
A max. 25% position for graduate assistants at Heidelberg University is compatible with the scholarship if there is no connection to the scholarship in terms of content and time. For instance, if you receive a scholarship for your studies in physics, you cannot accept a position for graduate assistants in the field of physics. A paid internship at Heidelberg University is compatible with the scholarship if it is a mandatory internship. When it comes to a voluntary paid internship at Heidelberg University, the facts must be verified separately. Please get in touch with us.

Do I have to pay back the scholarship later?
No.

Is the receipt of the Hans-Peter Wild Talent Scholarship tax-free?
Whether the scholarship is tax-free depends on the individual case. Please contact your tax office for clarification.

I am already studying at Heidelberg University. Can I apply?
You can apply for a Hans-Peter Wild Talent Scholarship if you are a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree programme applicant to a MINT subject for the first semester and you have not yet completed or will complete a course of studies at Heidelberg University before commencing your studies. This is why students already enrolled at Heidelberg University in the specific MINT subjects as well as graduates of Heidelberg University cannot apply for a scholarship. However, students who have already received a Hans-Peter Wild Talent Scholarship during their bachelor’s programme are not affected by this rule.

I am currently in the preparatory course of the Studienkolleg. Can I apply?
Yes, you can apply if you are a Bachelor’s or Master’s programme applicant for MINT subject at Heidelberg University for the upcoming winter semester. However, a funding during the preparatory course of the Studienkolleg is not possible.

How can I apply?
The application must be submitted in electronic form. During the application period from May 1 to July 15*, you can apply online by using the respective link on this website. Applicants then have to register in the application portal in order to be able to log in to the application portal with their registration data (email address and password).

* The application period can be postponed for important reasons, e.g. if the organised study operations are delayed. The grace period will be postponed accordingly.

Please note the following steps:

1. Registration for the online application portal during the application period.
2. Fill in the online application, upload the required documents and submit it by the end of the application period.

In which language can the documents be submitted?
The application documents can be submitted in German and English. If your documents are in a different language, you have to submit an official translation in German or English. Please always also submit the corresponding original version of the document.

Which selection criteria are essential?
In addition to the performances achieved in school (final grade of university entrance qualification for applicants to a Bachelor’s degree programme in the MINT field) and your studies, so far (final grade of first university diploma for applicants to a Master’s degree programme in the MINT field, your current average grade matters if you have not yet completed your first university diploma), the following criteria are considered:

1. National and international MINT-related prizes and awards
2. For applicants to a Bachelor’s degree programme in the MINT field, supporting MINT-related documentation on participation in working groups | seminars/pupils‘ academies, for applicants to a Master’s degree programme, supporting MINT-related documentation on conferences, presentations and poster presentations given, (co-) publications
3. MINT-related voluntarily completed internships
4. Vocational training in a MINT field
5. Letter of motivation
6. Two recommendation letters from professionals in the MINT field. These can be, for example: teachers, lecturers, associate professors, research group leaders, academic staff, lecturers within the framework of a pupils‘ study programme or pupils‘ academy lasting several weeks

How do I verify my performances?
In general, you have to indicate your final grade as proof of your performances. As an applicant to a Bachelor’s degree programme in the MINT field, please upload your university entrance qualification certificate. As an applicant to a Master’s degree programme in the MINT field, please upload your first university diploma that is relevant for your Master’s degree programme in the MINT field by the end of the application period.

I will not be able to submit my first university diploma-certificate relevant for taking the Master’s degree programme in the MINT fields by the end of the application period. What do I have to do?
If you do not have your first university diploma by the end of the application period, it is sufficient to submit a provisional certificate from the university confirming your academic performances, so far (ideally with an average grade). Please note that you have to submit your missing certificate by the start of the first week of the lecture period of the semester following the application period, at the latest. If you still should not have your diploma by then, an official confirmation of the completion of the first university degree (including the final grade) that is relevant for the Master's degree programme can be submitted in justified exceptional cases. However, in these cases, the first university diploma must be submitted as soon as it is available.

Do foreign certificates require anything additional?
To apply for a Hans-Peter Wild Talent Scholarship, you need a copy of the foreign university entrance qualification (for applicants to a Bachelor’s degree programme in the MINT field) or of the first university diploma (for applicants to a Master’s degree programme in the MINT field) including a final grade and a certified translation (except for certificates in English) in English or German. The translation is usually prepared by a sworn specialist translator. Additionally, a conversion in the equivalent grade in German must be submitted. If it is not available, we will request an internal conversion. For all other foreign documents, a certified translation in German or English is necessary in addition to the original document.

I do not have a conversion of my grade to the German equivalent. What do I have to do?
If it is not available, we will request an internal conversion.

What average grade do I need to have to apply?
The Hans-Peter Wild Talent Scholarships want to support particularly high-achieving up-and-coming students with an outstanding university entrance qualification or first university diploma. However, since other criteria are important in the selection process in addition to grades (see “What selection criteria are essential?“) and the number of applicants is also decisive, we cannot specify a minimum grade required for the application.

What requirements must be met for the “participation in workings groups, seminars and, pupils‘ academies“ criteria as well as when having completed a pupils‘ study programme?
You can only submit documents confirming your participation in working groups, seminars, pupils‘ academies and your completion of a pupils‘ study programme if you are applying for a Bachelor’s degree programme in the MINT field. The selection process only takes working groups, seminars and pupils‘ academies was well as pupils‘ study programmes into account that took place within the last three years prior to the start of the application period. Please note that your proof must indicate the period and duration of the working group, pupils‘ academy, seminar or pupils‘ study programme. Please note that you have to complete all appropriate fields of the online application form concerning your participation in working groups, seminars, pupils’ academies or pupils‘ study programmes. It is mandatory to upload a relevant proof of your participation.

What requirements must be met for the “participation in conferences, presentations given, poster presentations as well as (co-) publications“ criteria?
You can only submit documents confirming your participation in conferences (e.g. confirmation of participation or ticket), presentations given, poster presentations as well as (co-) publications (e.g. abstract and publication source | abstract and commitment to publication) if you are applying for a Master’s degree programme in the MINT field. The selection process only takes conferences, presentations given, poster presentations and (co-) publications into account that took place within the last three years prior to the start of the application period. Please note that your proof must indicate the date of the conference, presentation given or poster presentation as well as the date of the publication (co-)publication. Please note that you have to complete all appropriate fields of the online application form concerning your participation in conferences, presentations given etc. It is mandatory to upload a relevant proof of your participation in conferences, presentations given etc.

What requirements must be met for the “internships” criteria?
Internships in the MINT field of at least four weeks duration and not mandatory for study and examination regulations or during your school period, for instance, are taken into consideration, if they ended no later than three years prior to the application time period. Please note that you have to complete all appropriate fields of the online application form concerning your internship. It is mandatory to upload a relevant proof of your internship.

What requirements must be met for the “professional training“ criteria?
Professional training must have been in the MINT field and at least two years in duration. Please note that you have to complete all appropriate fields of the online application form concerning your professional training. It is mandatory to upload a relevant proof of your professional training.

What requirements must be met for „awards and prizes“ selection criteria?
The selection process takes MINT-related prizes, awards and scholarships into account that were received within the last three years prior to the application period. Please make sure that there is a date on your proof. Please also make sure that when filling out the online application to fill out all the corresponding fields for each award as well as upload the corresponding proof.

What requirements must be met for the recommendation letters?
Two letters of recommendation from professionals in the MINT field (e.g. teachers, lecturers, associate professors, research group leaders, academic staff, lecturers in the context of a pupils‘ study programme or a pupils academy lasting several weeks) must be submitted. Please note that recommendation letters from university tutors cannot be taken into account. You can either upload the letters in the application form or the MINT professional directly sends their letter of recommendation to hpw_scholarships@uni-heidelberg.de. Please note that the letter of recommendation must be received until the end of the application period. The letter should state why you are a suitable candidate for a Hans-Peter Wild Talent Scholarship. In addition to performance and talent in the MINT field, other aspects such as special engagement and initiative can also be addressed.
The length of the letter should not exceed 3 DINA4 pages.

Can missing documents be submitted at a later time?
Please note that you can upload missing documents at any time during the application period as long as you have not submitted your application online.

If you have already submitted your application, it is unfortunately no longer be possible to change your application. If you notice an error before the end of the application period or would like to complete your application, please contact hpw_scholarships@uni-heidelberg.de. We will then make sure that you can process your application, again. Please make sure to send your application again before the application deadline, otherwise it cannot be considered.

After the end of the application period, it is no longer possible to submit any documents. There is only one exception which is if your first university diploma could not be submitted by the end of the application period (see I will not be able to submit my first university diploma relevant for taking the Master’s degree programme in the MINT fields by the end of the application period. What do I have to do?).

What requirements must be met for the letter of motivation?
The letter of motivation is part of the application form. You have a maximum of 2,500 characters (including spaces) to explain your reasons for applying, online. A letter of motivation uploaded in addition to this will not be considered in the selection process.

How is it decided who gets a Hans-Peter Wild Talent Scholarship?
A scholarship selection committee reviews the applications submitted in due form and time and decides who should receive a funding by taking into account the relevant criteria (see “Which selection criteria are essential?). The overall impression of the applicant is decisive.

Will I receive confirmation on the status of the application and selection process?
Please understand that we cannot provide any feedback on the current status during the ongoing application and selection process. After completion of the application and selection process, every applicant will be notified by email. These emails will probably be sent in September.