Enabling women access to university studies
24 Nov 2025
Four of the scholarship holders have signed their scholarship agreement. Seen in the back row are (from left) Julia-Sophie Rothmann, Head of the IO, Birgit Hohmann, Representative for Women's Affairs and Gender Equality, and Dr Pouneh Ghaemdoust, Pre-College Project Coordinator. Two of the scholarship holders were still abroad at the time of the photo and were waiting for their visa. Photo: Fulda University of Applied Sciences
Pre-College at Fulda University of Applied Sciences is the solution for people who would like to study or learn a profession in Germany but do not yet fulfil all the conditions. During the preparatory year, prospective students acquire a direct university entrance qualification for Fulda University of Applied Sciences and also establish professional contacts in the Fulda and East Hesse region at an early stage. During pre-college, they attend specialised courses in a chosen department, complete an internship at an enterprise in the Fulda region and improve their German skills to C1 level. Now there is a special offer for women: the motivation scholarships.
Fulda University of Applied Sciences has set itself the goal of giving as many women and men as possible the opportunity to qualify for university studies or professional training with the Fulda Pre-College. So far, however, people who identify as female have been underrepresented among the participants in Pre-College Fulda. For this reason, women can now apply for one of six motivational scholarships for attendance at the Pre-College Fulda preparatory year. The scholarship includes an exemption from the participation fee of 1,950 euros and is funded by the Equal Opportunities and Diversity/ Advancement of Women division at Fulda University of Applied Sciences and the European Social Fund.
"With these six scholarships, we at Fulda University of Applied Sciences are consciously setting an example for gender equality and diversity. Educational equality is a basic requirement in our democratic academic system," says Julia-Sophie Rothmann, Head of the International Office (IO) at Fulda University of Applied Sciences, emphasising the importance of the scholarships.
Dr Pouneh Ghaemdoust, Pre-College Project Coordinator, agrees: "I firmly believe that equality and diversity of opportunity form the basics of a fair academic world. No one should be restricted in their goals. As women often still face structural hurdles, funding for women is particularly close to my heart. If we open up paths for them to realise their academic dreams, not only they, but our entire society will gain in diversity and strength - and this is what we are trying to support at Pre-College Fulda with six motivational scholarships for women."
Regular attendance and active participation
Female candidates who receive a motivation scholarship are initially released from the attendance fees for the Pre-College for the winter semester. Regular attendance, active participation in classes and successful completion of the winter semester of the Pre-College are required for further exemption from participation fees in the summer semester. In the selection procedure, applicants must answer certain questions in a letter of motivation, including the questions "How and where did I grow up?", "What was my previous life and education before Pre-College?" or "What opportunities for learning, studying and working do women have in my country of origin?".