Study Abroad Scholarships

The department has scholarships and grants for undergraduate students who will study abroad in German-speaking countries in the next academic year. The scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit, with some consideration given to financial need.

Awards are contingent on the student being accepted into one of the University's Learning Abroad Center (LAC) programs and on the ability to travel between North America and Europe.

The Scholarships:

  • Frank D. Hirschbach Scholarship for Study Abroad in a German-speaking country
    A $4,000 scholarship was established in honor of Professor Frank D. Hirschbach, who was committed to developing and directing study abroad programs to Germany and Austria. This scholarship is open to undergraduate students of German in any field in CLA who are continuing language studies abroad in a German-speaking country.
  • Max Kade Travel Grants for Study in Germany
    Up to 4 travel grants of $1,000 each for undergraduate GSD majors with a German emphasis who will be participating in a study abroad program or an internship in Germany.

Eligibility requirements:

  • For all our study abroad scholarships
    • Must have a minimum GPA of 3.0
    • GSD majors and minors must have their study-abroad programs pre-approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of German, Nordic, Slavic & Dutch
    • Receipt of award for all these scholarships is contingent on proof that you have been accepted into the program
  • Hirschbach Scholarship: Additional requirement
    • Must have applied to an academic study-abroad program in Germany or Austria
  • Max Kade Travel Grant: Additional requirement
    • Must be a GSD major and must have filed a program with our department
    • Must have completed at least one German course (3xxx-level or above) in the major or minor at UMN

Application Instructions:

The Hirschbach scholarship has two cycles, one deadline in Fall term (for use the following Spring or Summer terms) and one in Spring term (for use the following Spring or Fall terms). The Kade scholarship has one cycle in Spring (for use the following Fall term or the following academic year). 

The deadline for the Spring 2024 Hirschbach cycle and the Kade is March 29, 2024.

  1. Application form 
  2. A statement that includes the following (applications without this information will not be considered):
    1. location, dates, and description of the study-abroad program to which you have applied
    2. some background information on yourself, including your knowledge of German
    3. how the program fits into your academic plans and long-term goals
    4. a brief indication of financial need   
  3. An unofficial UMN transcript as a pdf. 
  4. A letter from a German instructor (preferably a faculty member) for the Kade;  for the Hirschbach scholarships, a letter from a non-German faculty member is also acceptable (NOTE: The letter must reach the Department by the application deadline, so you should request it as soon as possible)

Email the first three items as attachments to gnsd@umn.edu. The instructor submits the letter of recommendation directly by email to gnsd@umn.edu.