Hans-Peter Wild Talent Scholarships Find answers to your questions regarding a scholarship application
Please note, that the FAQ - list is updated regularly (last update: 03.04.2025).
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 of the funding 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 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 from studies the scholarship payments will be suspended, in general. When resuming your studies after a leave of absence, the funding 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.
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. This must be communicated by the scholarship recipient. During this leave of absence from the Hans-Peter Wild Talent Scholarship, scholarship payments will be suspended. In this case, the funding period will not be adjusted.
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?
Scholarship recipients are required to concentrate on the purpose of the scholarship. Taking up gainful employment is only permitted if it does not impair the achievement of the scholarship purpose. As a rule, this requirement is deemed to be met if the time required for one or more gainful employments does not exceed a quarter of the monthly working hours of a full-time job.
Gainful employment at Heidelberg University is only permitted if the activities within the scope of the employment and the scholarship are separate in terms of content. This means that if you are funded in the subject of physics, for example, you cannot generally accept a student assistant position in the physics department. Please always let us know if you wish to take up gainful employment.
Do I have to pay back the scholarship later?
No.
Is the receipt of the Hans-Peter Wild Talent Scholarship tax-free?
Whether the receipt of the Hans-Peter Wild Talent Scholarship is tax-free in accordance with the Income Tax Act depends on the individual case. As a scholarship holder, you are responsible for paying taxes in Germany and abroad. Please contact your tax office or the responsible tax authority for clarification. Scholarship holders indemnify Heidelberg University against any third-party claims in this regard.
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 consecutive Master’s degree programme applicant for a MINT subject for the first semester at Heidelberg University and you have not yet completed or will complete a course of studies at Heidelberg University before the requested funding 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 until then.
However, Master’s 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 or the Studienkolleg. Can I apply?
Yes, you can apply if you are a Bachelor’s or consecutive Master’s programme applicant for the first semester of a MINT subject at Heidelberg University for the upcoming winter semester. However, a funding during the preparatory course or 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.
Application process
How can I apply?
The application must be submitted in electronic form via the online application portal provided for this purpose. During the application period usually from 1 May to 15 July (23:59 CET)*, 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:
- Register in the online application portal during the application period.
- Complete the entire online application form, upload the required documents and submit your complete application until the end of the application period at the latest.
In which language can the application documents be submitted?
The application documents can be submitted in German and English. If your documents are written in a different language than German or English, you have to submit an official translation in German or English. Please always upload the original document and the corresponding official translation in your application.
Which criteria are essential?
The Hans-Peter Wild Talent Scholarships are awarded based on aptitude and performance as well as the personal career with focus on the MINT field. The following are:
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a) applicants for a MINT bachelor's degree programme:
the university entrance qualification
b) applicants for a consecutive MINT Master's degree programme:
the grade of the university degree that is relevant for the MINT Master's programme or, if the degree is not yet available until the end of the application deadline, alternatively the current average grade for the academic achievements completed up to that point in the corresponding first university degree programmeas well as the following MINT-related activities
- completed vocational training
- national and international prizes and awards
- practical experience (e.g. internships, student traineeships, working student activities, employment relationships)
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published (co-) publications, lectures or poster presentations given at conferences, as well as participation in conferences, seminars, pupils` academies, pupils` study programme and working groups
The MINT-related criteria listed under no. 4-5 will only be taken into consideration if they are not mandatory for study and examination regulations or during your school period and ended no later than 3 years prior to start of the application period (usually on 1 May of each year).
Subordinately, the scholarship committee should consider other factors such as the CV, the motivation presented in the online application form and the letters of recommendation as part of the overall impression of the respective application, regarding its selection.
How do I verify my performances?
a) you are an applicant for a MINT bachelor's degree programme:
upload your university entrance qualification certificate indicating your final grade in your application.
b) you are an applicant for a consecutive MINT Master's degree programme:
upload your certificate of the first university degree relevant to the MINT Master's programme indicating your final grade in your application. If you do not have this certificate until the end of the application deadline, upload a current certificate from the university confirming your achievements up to that point indicating the average grade.
I will not be able to submit my first university diploma-certificate relevant for taking the Master’s degree programme in the MINT fields until the end of the application period. What do I have to do?
If you are an applicant for a consecutive MINT-Master`s degree programme, you should ideally apply with your first university degree certificate that is relevant for your MINT Master’s degree programme. If you do not have this certificate until the end of the application deadline, upload a current certificate from the university confirming your achievements up to that point (indicating the average grade) as an alternative in your application.
Do foreign certificates that are not in German or English require anything additional?
If the original certificates to be submitted are in a language other than German or English, you must always upload an official translation of the relevant document into English or German in addition to the original document in your application. This translation is usually prepared by a sworn specialist translator. In addition, foreign grades must be converted into the German grading system (German equivalent grade). Ideally, you can upload an official conversion in your application. If you do not have such an official conversion, you can use the Modified Bavarian Formula to determine your German equivalent grade. Please upload your conversion in your application.
I do not have a conversion of my grade to the German equivalent. What do I have to do?
If you do not have an official conversion, you can also calculate your German equivalent grade using the Modified Bavarian Formula and indicate it in your application accordingly. Please upload your conversion in your application.
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 “Which 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 recommendation letters?
We must receive at least 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) by the end of the application period (usually on 15 July, 23:59 CET of each year). You can either upload the letters in the application form or the MINT professional can send the letter of recommendation directly by email to hpw_scholarships@uni-heidelberg.de. 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 a special engagement and one’s own initiative can also be addressed.
The length of the letter should not exceed 3 DINA4 pages.
Please note that recommendation letters from university tutors cannot be taken into consideration.
If two letters of recommendation are not submitted by the application deadline (usually on 15 July of each year, 23:59 CET), this will result in exclusion from the process.
What do I need to consider in my CV?
Please create a CV in tabular form with focus on the MINT field and upload it in your application.
If no CV has been uploaded by the application deadline (usually on 15 July of each year, 23:59 CET), this will result in exclusion from the process.
What requirements must be met for participation in conferences / seminars / pupils‘ academies / pupils‘ study programme and working groups?
Information on participation in conferences, seminars, pupils` academies, pupils` study programme and working groups will only be considered in the selection process if they are MINT-related, are not a mandatory part of the curriculum at school or the studies and ended no later than 3 years prior to start of the application period (usually on 1 May of each year).
Complete all the relevant fields in the online application form and upload the proof in the appropriate place. The proof must contain your full name (first and last name), allow a time classification (e.g. date, time period) and show the MINT connection.
Possible proofs are: for a conference participation e.g. confirmation of participation or admission ticket | a pupils‘ study programme e.g. certificate of enrollment per semester | working groups e.g. information on school report at the end of the school year
What requirements must be met for published (co-) publications / lectures or poster presentations given at conferences?
Information on published (co-) publications and lectures or poster presentations given at conferences will only be considered in the selection process if they are MINT-related, are not a mandatory part of the curriculum at of school or the studies and ended no later than 3 years prior to start of the application period (usually on 1 May of each year).
Complete all the relevant fields in the online application form and upload the proof in the appropriate place. The proof must contain your full name (first and last name), allow a time classification (e.g. date, time periode) and show the MINT connection.
Possible proofs are: for published (co-) publication e.g. letter of confirmation or excerpt from the publication with abstract | for lecture or poster presentation given at conferences e.g. letter of confirmation or programme excerpt.
What requirements must be met for practical experience?
Practical experience in the MINT field of at least four weeks duration will only be taken into consideration in the selection process if they are not a mandatory part of the curriculum at school or the studies and if they ended no later than 3 years prior to the start of the application period (usually on 1 May of each year). Practical experience that is prescribed in the respective study and examination regulations or during school cannot be taken into account here.
Complete all the relevant fields in the online application form. In the “brief description” field, the internship should be named and the job should be briefly described. Upload the proof in the appropriate place. The proof must contain your full name (first and last name), allow a time classification (e.g. date, time periode) and show the MINT connection. Ideally, this should also indicate the weekly working hours and the total duration of the internship.
Please note: Internships, employment relationships such as study or school-related employment (e.g. student assistants („HIWI“), working student) as well as permanent employment over a long period of time can be listed under practical experience here.
What requirements must be met for completed vocational training?
Vocational training in the MINT field will only be considered in the selection process if it is a completed vocational training in the MINT field.
Complete all the relevant fields in the online application form and upload the proof in the appropriate place The proof must contain your full name (first and last name), allow a time classification (e.g. date, time periode) and show the MINT connection.
Please note: A “duales Studium” is generally considered vocational training, as it is a combination of academic training and practical work experience. All other forms of study, however, are not counted as vocational training.
What requirements must be met for prizes and awards?
Prizes and awards in the MINT field will only be considered in the selection process if they were received no later than 3 years prior to the start of the application period (usually 1 May of each year).
Complete all relevant fields in the online application form, indicating each award or prize individually (e.g. per round). Upload the proof in the appropriate place. The proof must contain your full name (first and last name), allow a time classification (e.g. date, time periode) and show the MINT connection.
Scholarships in the MINT field can also be listed here. Prizes awarded as part of the university entrance qualification at the suggestion of the school management are classified as regional. Participation in competitions with placings and/or qualification for a subsequent competition round can be specified here.
Please note: The “MINT-Zertifikat” itself does not constitute an award, but it can serve as proof of activities in the MINT field; provided that it contains all the necessary information to evaluate the activity.
Can changes be made to the application and missing documents be added?
As long as you have not submitted your application online, you can make changes to your application and upload missing documents at any time during the application period.
If you have already submitted your application, it is unfortunately no longer 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. If still possible, we will reactivate your application so that it can be revised.
Please note that in this case you must resubmit your application until the end of the application period (usually on 15 July 23:59 CET of each year) at the latest, otherwise it cannot be considered.
No documents for the selection procedure can be submitted after the end of the application period (usually on 15 July 23:59 CET of each year).
If your application has not been sent by the application deadline, you will be excluded from the process.
What requirements must be met when presenting the motivation?
The presentation of your motivation is part of the application form. You have a maximum of 2,500 characters (including spaces) to explain your reasons for applying. Please do not upload an extra letter of motivation, as it 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 consideration the relevant criteria (see “Which selection criteria are essential?). Decisive for the selection is also the overall picture of the applicants, which results from the CV, the motivation presented in the online application form and the letters of recommendation submitted.
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.
