icon-symbol-logout-darkest-grey

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

Please note, that the FAQ - list is updated regularly (last update: 23.11.2023).

General information

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 end of the standard period of study in the respective degree programme.

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 students, in the ideal case, until the end of the standard period of study in the respective degree programme.

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 leave of absence is granted for a semester abroad or for 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, another temporary aptitude- or performance-based grant 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 student assistants („HIWI“) or do a paid internship at Heidelberg University while receiving a Hans-Peter Wild Talent Scholarship?
A max. 25% position for student 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 student 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 the requested approval period (usually the following winter semester).

This means that an application is not possible for students who are in their second semester or higher in the corresponding MINT degree programme at the beginning of the funding period (usually the following winter semester) or who have obtained a university degree from Heidelberg University by then.

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 a MINT subject at Heidelberg University for the upcoming winter semester. However, a funding during the preparatory course of the Studienkolleg is not possible.
Please note: The application for a scholarship is not an application for a university place. Therefore, please apply additionally for a university place at Heidelberg University.

I have gone beyond the standard period of study; can I still apply for an extension?
The maximum funding period for the Hans-Peter Wild Talent Scholarship is based on the standard period of study. The maximum funding period can be extended on request. Reasons must be provided for having exceeded the standard period of study, such as a disability, pregnancy, care and upbringing of a child, engagement as an elected member in the university committee or part of the student self-administration or a degree-related sojourn abroad without leave of absence. The request must be made in writing by using the form provided by Heidelberg University. The reasons for the delay in the course of the study must be explained and proven. The signed request and evidence must be uploaded together with the other documents within the deadline for the extension.

Application process

How can I apply?
The application must be submitted in electronic form. During the application period from 1 May to 15 July*, 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.

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 application 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 (with an average grade).

Do foreign certificates require anything additional?
To apply for a Hans-Peter Wild Talent Scholarship, you need the foreign university entrance qualification (for applicants to a Bachelor’s degree programme in the MINT field) or the first university diploma or if applicable, a certificate from the university of the academic achievements so far (for applicants to a Master’s degree programme in the MINT field) including a final / average 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 such an official conversion is not available, you can calculate your German equivalent grade using the Modified bavarian formula. 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  there is no official conversion available, you can calculate your German equivalent grade using the Modified bavarian formula and enter it in your application accordingly.

What minimum 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?
Only applicants for a Bachelor`s degree programme in the MINT field can provide information about the participation in working groups, seminars, pupils‘ academies and the completion of a pupils‘ study programme. The selection process only takes working groups, seminars and pupils‘ academies as 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 you have to fill in all fields associated with each entry and appropriate proof must be submitted of the period or duration of the participation in workings groups, seminars and, pupils‘ study programme. The proof must show a temporal and personal connection to the respective information.

What requirements must be met for the “participation in conferences, presentations given, poster presentations as well as (co-) publications“ criteria?
Only applicants for a Master`s degree programme in the MINT field can provide information about the participation in conferences presentations given, poster presentations as well as (co-) publications. 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 you have to fill in all fields associated with each entry and appropriate proof must be submitted. The proof must show a temporal and personal connection to the respective information. Possible proof of a conference participation is e.g. confirmation of participation or admission ticket, for a lecture is e.g. confirmation letter or programme excerpt, for a poster presentation is e.g. confirmation letter or programme excerpt as well as for the publication of a (co-) publication is e.g. confirmation letter or excerpt from publication with abstract.

What requirements must be met for the “internships” criteria?
Internships in the MINT field of at least four weeks duration (full-time equivalent) 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 you have to fill in all fields associated with each entry and appropriate proof (ideally with details of the weekly working hours) must be submitted. The proof must show a temporal and personal connection to the respective information. In the “brief description” field, the internship placement should be named and the job should be briefly described.
Please note: Other employment relationships such as study or school-related employment (e.g. student assistants („HIWI“), working student activities) and employment relationships may not be stated here or will not be taken into account in an entry.

What requirements must be met for the “vocational training” criteria?
Vocational training must have been in the MINT field and at least two years in duration. Please note that you have to fill in all fields associated with this entry. It is mandatory to upload a relevant proof of your vocational training. The proof must show a temporal and personal connection to the information.

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. The proof must show a temporal and personal connection to the respective information. Please specify each award individually (e.g. per round). Prizes within the framework of the general higher education entrance qualification, which were awarded at the suggestion of the school management, are regional prizes. Participation in competitions with placings and/or qualifying for a subsequent competition round can be indicated here.

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. If you are selected for a scholarship, a certificate of your undergraduate degree and/or a certificate of enrolment that is not yet available must be submitted later.

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.

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.