Scholarship for Career Changers

IU Internationale Hochschule GmbH offers the “Stipendium für Branchenwechsler:innen” as part of its IU Stipendium & Förderung. The stated purpose is to provide financial support for the selected studies through a discount on the study fees, and the program is described as a monthly 50% stipend in multiple categories.

This stipend is aimed at people who plan a conscious restart in another industry. In the stated requirements, an industry change is required, and the motivation letter must describe the decision for the industry change, the goals in the new industry, and why IU’s support would help.

Applications are submitted via the IU scholarship application form, including the selected desired course of study. The application is stated to be valid for the month the application is submitted. Documents are uploaded in the second step, within 24h, and the applicant receives an acceptance or rejection notification by the 15th of the following month. Missing documents result in a rejection.

If accepted, the discount code must be redeemed within 6 weeks in the online application on IU’s website. The applicant then signs the study contract within the required timeframe; the scholarship claim is stated to expire once the deadline for signing has passed. The chosen study start can be set further in the future, and access and information are provided at the contract start.

• Discount on the study fees (amount stated as “50% stipend” in the IU Stipendium & Förderung description).

1. Fill in the scholarship application form for distance-learning scholarships (Stipendien) and specify your desired program. The application is stated to apply for the month in which it is submitted.
2. Upload the required documents within 24h during step 2 of the application form.
3. Receive an acceptance or rejection. IU states it will inform you by the 15th of the following month. Your personal discount code is sent by email. If documents are missing, IU sends a rejection.
4. Activate the stipend: redeem the discount code within 6 weeks in your online application on IU’s website. IU states that important information is included in the acceptance email.
5. Sign the study contract by the stated deadline; IU states the scholarship claim expires once the signing deadline has passed. The chosen study start can also be further in the future.
6. Start your study program: IU states you receive access and information at the contract start.

• Motivation letter (max. one DIN A4 page) as PDF.
• Curriculum vitae (Lebenslauf).
• Higher education entrance qualification for the selected study program (examples given: Abiturzeugnis, Bachelorurkunde, Berufsnachweise).
• Other supporting documents (example given: Geburtsurkunde des Kindes for single parents; example given: Schwerbehindertenausweis for people with disabilities). For the Branchenwechsler:innen category, the page specifies the motivation letter content requirement, but it does not list a specific additional document.