Once you have submitted your application documents, they are usually first checked for completeness. The rest of the process differs between scholarship providers.
In the case of the largest organisations for the promotion of gifted students (Begabtenförderungswerken), the next step is usually an invitation to a pre-selection interview in which, for example, current topics are brought up or content from your personal CV is addressed. If you make a good impression, you will usually be invited to a main selection interview. However, a rejection does not mean that you do not deserve to receive a scholarship, but simply that your personality does not suit the foundation in question. The main selection interview may include similar elements to the pre-selection interview; group discussions or presentations are also possible.
There is no denying that these situations can be stressful, as you will probably put yourself under a certain amount of pressure. It is therefore good to know that you do not usually have to answer everything perfectly in order to convince the scholarship providers, as there are also a number of other aspects that can speak in your favour. The application process is completed around six months after submitting your documents. At the end of the process, you will hopefully have an acceptance letter in your hands.
For the Germany Scholarship (Deutschlandstipendium), on the other hand, applications are made directly to your university. Details will be announced by the university in good time before the start of the application process. The documents submitted are forwarded by the university to the relevant faculty, where a pre-selection takes place. A personal selection interview is possible, but is generally not the rule. Finally, the application is accepted or rejected.
