Student Scholarships (Cologne Gymnasium and Foundation Fund)
Financial support for gifted students on their path to the Abitur, especially in cases of high ability or insufficient family or state support. Application deadlines are March 1 and October 1 each year. Initial applications via the online portal, follow-up applications by email.
Discover your potential with AI support
- Find out if this grant matches your project
- Develop your application together with AI
- Get matched with many more suitable grants
Grant criteria
Funding objective
Support for gifted young people to obtain their university entrance qualification and to finance special educational projects in cases of high giftedness or financial gaps.
Eligible expenses
- School education from grade 10 onwards
- Boarding school or full-day school fees
- Funding of special educational programs
- Material resources (e.g., instrument subsidy)
Non-eligible expenses
- Foreign stays without professional justification
Eligible to apply
- Individuals
Funding requirements
- Average grade of the last report card at least 2.0
- Giftedness or social hardship
- Verifiable funding gap
Documents required for application
- Motivation letter
- The last two school report cards
- Cost overview (tabular form)
- Proof of costs (e.g. school/boarding fees)
- Proof of parents' income
- School reference
- Proof of family members in education
- Curriculum vitae (optional)
- Internship certificates (optional)
- Proof of special burdens (optional)
- Other certificates/documents (optional)
- Photograph (optional)
Evaluation criteria
- Academic Achievement
- Social Urgency
Description
The Student Fund of the Cologne Gymnasial and Foundation Fund financially supports highly gifted as well as socially disadvantaged young people from grade 10 (in exceptional cases from grade 8) at grammar schools in North Rhine-Westphalia on their path to the Abitur. With a non-repayable grant, school education costs, boarding or full-day fees, special educational offers, and material resources such as instrument subsidies can be covered. Requirements include an average grade of at least 2.0, a verifiable funding gap, and either high giftedness or social urgency. The board of trustees decides twice a year on the allocation of funds based on academic performance and social situation.
Applications are submitted by March 1 and October 1 each year: initial applications exclusively via the online portal, follow-up applications by email. Required documents include an informal letter of motivation, the last two report cards, a cost overview in the portal form, proof of costs (e.g., school fees), parents' income statements, as well as a school reference and proof of trainees in the family. Supplementary documents such as a CV, internship certificates, or evidence of special burdens are optional. After the deadline, the office reviews the applications, followed by the board meeting in April or November. The fund thus specifically supports young people whose family or state support offers are insufficient, providing them with equal opportunities on the path to higher education qualification.
Ready to secure your funding?
Register now and let our AI guide you through the application process – from eligibility check to finished application.