Since 2016, I have been volunteering for the non-profit organization Arbeiterkind that provides information, mentoring and support for first-generation students, beginning in the last two years of high school and supporting them all the way through higher education up to starting their professional lives. Arbeiterkind tries to bridge the gap in information, support and through that, resources, that first-generation students are missing compared to students coming from families with an academic background. If you are looking for support or for a way to support first-generation students, I can warmly recommend this organization.

Here is a list of free resources for first-generation students (and for other groups that are under-represented in higher education) in Germany:

• Arbeiterkind (online network and local groups all over Germany)

• Erste Generation Promotion

• Netzwerk Chancen 

• SWANS Initiative

• Project Access (incl. UK and US)

I have been in the privileged position to fund and enrich my studies with a scholarship (US: fellowship/award) of the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes (German Academic Scholarship Foundation). Besides the funding that provides a lot of freedom and opportunities such as studying abroad, the most valuable part of the scholarship is the inspiring network and the extracurricular learning opportunities it offers. Applying for a scholarship can be intimidating, which is why many first-generation students hesitate or do not even consider it an option, even if they are exceptionally qualified. Many other groups are also under-represented in scholarship applications, which is a problem that a number of organizations in addition to Arbeiterkind try to tackle. 

Here is a list of scholarships, and organizations helping with scholarship applications in Germany:

• Arbeiterkind (advice/help with scholarship applications and funding in general)

• ApplicAid (mentoring during the scholarship application process)

• StipendiumPlus (overview of the government-funded scholarships in Germany)

• Deutschlandstipendium (scholarship available at most German universities)

• Aufstiegsstipendium (scholarship for people who did vocational training/already have some work experience before starting uni)

• B-First (Claussen-Simon-Stiftung) (scholarship specifically for first-generation students)

If you are currently based in a country other than Germany and interested in studying or researching in Germany, the DAAD will be your first address. Besides providing all the relevant and official information on their website, they have a scholarship database and pages on funding opportunities. 

Contact me if you want to connect on the topic of equity in higher education, seek exchange, or know of any additional resources that I should add to the list.