A scholarship comprises financial, material or non-material support that can be awarded to pupils, students or trainees, but also to athletes or artists. It is the most valuable promotion, because the scholarship does not have to be paid back. It ensures financial support during training or studies and enables scholarship holders to concentrate fully on their professional or academic careers. In addition, a scholarship is regarded as a plus point in the curriculum vitae, as future employers recognize from it that an applicant has performed well and thus has high potential. The application for a scholarship is usually made in writing, but sometimes a personal interview is required. What must be included with the application depends on the requirements. These can include proof of enrollment, certificates, and certificates of union or party affiliation. Some providers also require a letter of motivation in which the applicant explains in detail the reason for participating in the scholarship program. In the case of the Ziegert scholarship, a specialist issue from the real estate sector must also be addressed, either in the form of an essay or a PowerPoint presentation.

Providers and types of scholarships can be found in different areas. Organizations that award such funding can be, for example, churches, political parties, trade unions as well as companies. In addition, various associations offer scholarships related to specific fields of study. These can be, for example, scholarships for master's students who have already earned a first professional degree and are pursuing the next higher qualification of master's. However, it is not only students who have the option of taking advantage of such financial support, as many organizations and associations also offer a scholarship for school students, supporting talented individuals with high potential at an early stage. In addition, some organizations support students who want to spend part of their studies abroad through a scholarship for the semester abroad. The best-known scholarships include those offered by the Begabtenförderungswerke, the BMBF's Deutschland-Stipendium, the Auslandstipendium for professionals, and scholarships for foreign students or semesters abroad offered by the German Academic Exchange Service. In addition, there are a large number of scholarships from various providers - for example, the Ziegert Scholarship.

In principle, it is permitted without further ado to apply for several scholarships and funding programs. However, a combination of scholarships is only possible in some special cases, as funding programs are sometimes excluded due to political or other orientation. Some organizations also state directly in the announcement that funding is only available to applicants who are not already receiving other support in the form of a scholarship. In this case, it is worth taking a closer look at the conditions. A combination is possible, for example, in the case of support from the Deutschlandstipendium, if it is coupled with scholarships that are independent of performance and talent.

Due to the large number of funding programs and organizations offering scholarships, it makes sense to search various databases to get an overview of the current scholarship offerings and to find out the respective participation requirements. This allows interested parties to directly filter out all offers that fit them and their professional as well as personal profile. Many organizations also offer advice on the subject of scholarships. These can be, for example, special advisory institutions at their own university, but also special institutions that focus on promoting young talent.

The amount of support provided through a scholarship varies and depends on different factors. Some organizations cover the cost of the entire course of study or training, while others pay monthly contributions to help cover the cost of daily necessities. Other funding options include book grants, non-material support through continuing education and seminars, or establishing contacts in the business community. The costs of the scholarship are usually covered by the provider itself, sometimes in cooperation with companies. The Ziegert scholarship includes, for example, a fixed annual sum of money, which is covered by Ziegert EverEstate, as well as the opportunity to introduce oneself in an interview on the Ziegert blog and to present one's idea to a panel of experts.