TU Ilmenau - UniOnline: Investing in talent: City of Ilmenau becomes a Germany Scholarship sponsor for the first time

5. November 2026

39 Germany Scholarships, 18 sponsors, and a new member of the sponsorship network: The TU Ilmenau is once again honoring particularly high-achieving and dedicated students in the 2026/27 academic year. On 29 October, the scholarships were presented to the students during a ceremonial event in the university's Auditorium Maximum. For the first time, the City of Ilmenau is also participating as a sponsor. In doing so, it is demonstrating its close ties to the university and its commitment to supporting young talent in the university community.

Stefan Riehmer

As part of the nationwide Germany Scholarship Program, 39 students at the TU Ilmenau will receive 300 euros per month for one year. Among them are Marlene Heinze, a fifth-semester student of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, and Johannes Remd, who is in his third semester studying Computer Engineering at TU Ilmenau: “What particularly impresses me about the Germany Scholarship is the model behind it,” said Remd in their joint acceptance speech: “Half of the scholarship comes from the federal government, and the other half from companies, foundations, and private individuals, many of whom are from this region.”

He himself is supported by the Ilmenau University Society, while Marlene Heinze is supported by TEAG. This year, the City of Ilmenau joins as a special new partner. Its commitment demonstrates how closely the city and the university are connected—and that the city actively supports its university and the dedicated, high-achieving young people studying there.

“Sponsoring a Deutschlandstipendium is an investment in the future – in young people, their ideas and their abilities,” said Ilmenau’s Lord Mayor Dr. Daniel Schultheiß, himself a graduate of TU Ilmenau, on the occasion of the scholarship award ceremony.

The fact that the City of Ilmenau is participating as a sponsor is an important sign of our close connection with our Technical University and with the people who shape our university location. We want to demonstrate that the development and future prospects of our students are close to our hearts. Their willingness to perform, their commitment and their creativity are an asset to our city and the entire region. At the same time, this support is a commitment to a strong partnership between the city, the university, business and society. I wish all scholarship recipients every success on their journey ahead and hope that, even after completing their studies, they will continue to consider Ilmenau an attractive place to live and work.

15 Years of Germany Scholarship at TU Ilmenau

The TU Ilmenau has participated in the Germany Scholarship program since its nationwide launch in 2011. Over the past 15 years, the university has awarded a total of more than 700 scholarships.

Academic performance is not the only factor considered. The selection process also takes into account volunteer work, special achievements, and awards. Personal educational backgrounds and challenges can also play a role, such as coming from a non-academic family or working while studying. Selection is based on anonymized data and is carried out by the Academic Affairs Committee at TU Ilmenau.

A strong commitment to young talent

The two students, Marlene Heinze and Johannes Remd, delivering their thank-you speech during the scholarship award ceremony in the Audimax at TU Ilmenau.

Stefan Riehmer

The Germany Scholarship connects students with a diverse network of sponsors from the business community and society. Their commitment makes an important contribution to fostering young talent while also strengthening the ties between the university, the business community, and society. In addition to financial support, students gain valuable contacts with companies and other sponsors. But to Johannes Remd and the other students receiving support, the Germany Scholarship means much more:

It takes the pressure off us in our day-to-day lives and shows us that our work is valued.

Marlene Heinze feels the same way:

I think everyone […] who’s in university knows this situation: You’re sitting in the library with a stack of assignments in front of you for an exam in a few days. You really should be organizing something for your club or something like that, but you’re already exhausted. Then you ask yourself: What’s the point, anyway? Will I even be able to pull this off? […] I think that by receiving the Germany Scholarship, we’ve gotten an answer: ‘Your effort is worth it; you’re being noticed; we see your potential and what you’re accomplishing. We want to support you in this.’ For me, this is the first time that my achievements don’t just matter to me, but that others think they’re cool, too.

What makes it special for Johannes Remd, too, is who this recognition comes from:

Behind every scholarship are real people who have made a conscious decision to invest in students. For me, that’s exactly what makes the difference. It’s not just anonymous funding, but a connection between us at the university and those who will later put what we’re learning here into practice.

Marlene Heinze says she’s especially happy to see that people are investing in young people:

It’s nice to know that someone trusts us and believes in us just like that, without really knowing us. We’d like to express our heartfelt thanks for that. Maybe someday we’ll be able to give back in the same way.